… I get knocked down
But I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down
Tubthumping-Chumbawamba
The ACC definitely got knocked down this past week but responded with aplomb, getting back up and scoring some big wins after a lackluster ACC/SEC challenge saw the ACC go up 6-3 after the first day only to lose the challenge on the second day 7-9.
Despite the losses, some that made less sense considering the second half comebacks three teams made to almost recapture victory that would’ve sealed a challenge win for the ACC, several teams, including some who actually won their challenge games, responded with big wins over the weekend.
As the non-conference season is slowly coming to an end, wins against Power 5 schools (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and Big East) have more value than the wins against the lesser known conferences as that is where a lot of the Q1 and Q2 wins are found, hence why getting wins in the challenge was such a big deal.
This is also exam week for a lot of schools so there aren’t a ton of games before the weekend. So, without further ado, here are this week’s ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings.
1. Duke Blue Devils (10-0)
Last week: won 67-66 against Florida, won 66-60 against Michigan State
The Blue Devils maintain their top spot this week by not only being the only remaining undefeated team in the conference but by also adding two more impressive wins to their resume. First, a home win against the Gators in the challenge, and then a road win against the previously unbeaten Spartans. Duke, who has a ten-day break in between games, will not play this week due to exams.
This week: no games scheduled
2. North Carolina Tar Heels (8-1)
Last week: won 67-64 against Kentucky, won 81-61 against Georgetown
The Tar Heels jump up two spots this week thanks to two resume building wins of their own. First they went on the road and scored a good win against a flawed Wildcats team in Lexington before returning home and scoring possibly their most complete win of the season at home against Georgetown. North Carolina is off until the weekend when they welcome in the Spartans, a team that will not help their resume with a win, but would definitely damage it with a loss.
This week: vs South Carolina Upstate (12/13)
3. Louisville Cardinals (8-1)
Last week: lost to Arkansas 89-80, won 87-78 against Indiana
The Cardinals drop a spot this week after getting knocked down on the road to Arkansas. However, they got back up from that loss and beat a ranked Hoosiers team in Indianapolis (another one of those neutral court games in name only). Like the Tar Heels, Louisville is off until the weekend when they welcome in the Tigers.
This week: vs Memphis (12/13)
4. California Golden Bears (9-1)
Last week: won 79-72 against Utah, won 67-61 against Pacific, won 93-71 against Dominican (CA)
The Bears move up another spot this week as they continue to find ways to win. California, who did not get to play in the ACC/SEC Championship, added three more this past week with victories over the Utes, Tigers, and Penguins (only a Division II school in California would nickname their team the Penguins). The Golden Bears will look to make it seven wins in a row when the welcome in the two win Demons on Saturday.
This week: vs Northwestern State (12/13)
5. SMU Mustangs (9-1)
Last week: lost to Vanderbilt 88-69, won 93-80 against Texas A&M in OT
The Mustangs tumble two spots this week after losing their first game of the season to the undefeated Commodores. However, they too got up again with a big “neutral” court win in a Texas showdown against the Aggies (the game was played in Arlington which is like 15 miles from Dallas where SMU plays). SMU will look to keep it going against the SEC this weekend when they take on the Tigers in another “neutral” court game in New Orleans.
This week: vs LSU (12/13)
6. Virginia Cavaliers (9-1)
Last week: won 88-69 against Texas, won 86-73 against Dayton, won 84-60 against Maryland Eastern Shore
Just like California, the Cavaliers were able to win three games this past week with victories over the Longhorns, Flyers, and Hawks. Like Duke, Virginia also has an extended break between games (11 days) as they prepare for exams.
This week: no games scheduled
7. Miami Hurricanes (8-2)
Last week: won 75-66 against Ole Miss, won 88-64 against Southern Miss
The Hurricanes swept through the Magnolia State last week with a challenge road win over the Rebels followed by a home win over the Golden Eagles. Miami, who moved up two spots this week, will next take on a team from the Pelican State when they welcome in Warhawks this weekend.
This week: vs UL Monroe (12/13)
8. Syracuse Orange (5-3)
Last week: won 62-60 against Tennessee
The Orange make the biggest jump this week (8 spots) thanks to a huge challenge win over the Volunteers. The win ended a three game skid for Syracuse and game them one of the biggest wins in the conference this season. This week the Orange will look to build off that when they take on the Hawks in Las Vegas and then return home to take on a dangerous Pride team who beat Pittsburgh last week.
This week: vs Saint Joseph’s (12/11), vs Hofstra (12/13)
9. Virginia Tech Hokies (8-2)
Last week: won 86-83 against South Carolina in OT, won 73-62 against George Mason
The Hokies climb three spots this week thanks to wins over the Gamecocks, an overtime road win in the challenge, and the Patriots, who were unbeaten before that game. Virginia Tech, who hasn’t played a rank team this season, will look to improve their home record to 6-0 with games against the Catamounts and Hawks this week.
This week: vs Western Carolina (12/11), vs Maryland Eastern Shore (12/14)
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3)
Last week: won 76-71 against Missouri, won 87-85 against TCU in OT
Like Syracuse, the Fighting Irish also climbed the ladder this week, moving up five spots thanks to two strong wins against Power 5 schools in the Tigers and Horned Frogs. Notre Dame will look to keep winning this week in home games against the Vandals and Purple Aces.
This week: vs Idaho (12/10), vs Evansville (12/13)
11. Clemson Tigers (7-3)
Last week: lost to Alabama 90-84, lost to BYU 67-64
If the Tigers could’ve just played two complete games this past week, they would be knocking on the door for second in these power rankings with two really strong wins. Instead they drop five spots this week thanks to a 15-point first half deficit against the Crimson Tide followed by a 24-point meltdown against the Cougars. The BYU loss was so bad that freshman AJ Dybantsa outscored Clemson in the second half 22-21 by himself. The Tigers will look to finally get back up again this weekend when they take on the Bears.
This week: vs Mercer (12/13)
12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-3)
Last week: lost to Oklahoma 86-68, won 75-66 against West Virginia
The Demon Deacons fall four spots this week after getting decimated by the Sooners at home before scoring their first Power 5 win of the season against the Mountaineers this past weekend. Wake Forest is also off this week for exams before returning Sunday to take on the Royals.
This week: Queens University (12/14)
13. Stanford Cardinal (7-2)
Last week: lost to UNLV 75-74
The Cardinal fall three spots this week after losing for the second time at home this season, this time to the Rebels. Stanford will look to get back up from that loss when they travel to take on the Spartans who are 0-2 against Power 5 squads this season.
This week: at San Jose State (12/13)
14. NC State Wolfpack (6-3)
Last week: Lost to Auburn 83-73, won 75-63 against UNC Asheville
The Wolfpack continued their trend of losing to Power 5 schools while beating lesser squads this past week with their road loss to the Tigers followed by their home win against the Bulldogs. NC State will look to break that trend this week with two home games, hopefully against the Jayhawks and not against the Flames.
This week: vs Liberty (12/10), vs Kansas (12/13)
15. Florida State Seminoles (5-4)
Last week: lost to Georgia 107-73, lost to Houston 82-67
Much like NC State, the Seminoles beat the teams they are supposed to but can not find a way to beat the teams they need to. Florida State fell to 0-4 this week against the Power 5 with losses to the Bulldogs and the Cougars. They will look to move to 6-0 against non Power 5 schools, while also ending a three-game losing streak, when they take on the Minutemen in a “neutral” court contest in Sunrise. Florida this weekend.
This week: vs UMass (12/13)
16. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-4)
Last week: Lost to Mississippi State 85-73, won 79-67 against Monmouth
The Yellow Jackets are the first of three teams that could honestly go in any order at the bottom of these rankings. Georgia Tech, who lost this past week to the Bulldogs before beating the Hawks this past weekend to end a three-game losing streak, will also have a ten-day break in between games to take exams.
This week: no games scheduled
17. Pittsburgh Panthers (5-5)
Last week: lost to Texas A&M 81-73, lost to Hofstra 80-73
The Panthers lost two straight home games this past week, first to the Aggies in the challenge and then to the Pride. The lost to Hofstra is the second bad home loss of the season for Pittsburgh (the other was to Quinnipiac), who is 1-4 in their last five games. It is that one win though that is keeping the Panthers from the bottom of this list as it came against Ohio State. Pittsburgh will look to end their current two-game losing streak when they travel to play the Wildcats this weekend.
This week: at Villanova (12/13)
18. Boston College Eagles (5-5)
Last week: lost to LSU 78-69 in OT, won 67-63 against New Haven
The Eagles almost moved up a spot this week despite an overtime loss to the Tigers (a game they should’ve won in regulation). Boston College did however get their second win in the past three games with a victory over the Chargers (a game they were losing by 10 at halftime). The Eagle will look to make it two wins in a row for just the second time this season when they take on the Minutemen in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts.
This week: vs UMass (12/10)
