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#GoACC power rankings: Week 11

Can anyone catch Carolina?

<p>Devon Hall and Virginia check in at No. 5 in this week's edition of the #GoACC Power Rankings.</p>

Devon Hall and Virginia check in at No. 5 in this week's edition of the #GoACC Power Rankings.

Back in the day — as in, winter 2014, when the mid-Atlantic wasn’t Sweden-lite — The Cavalier Daily published some formidable power rankings each week of the ACC men’s hoops season. But things changed — Justin Anderson moved to Dallas, Bo Ryan retired, Duke dropped three conference bouts in a row — and before we knew it, the #GoACC rankings belonged to the past.

What can we say? The timing just feels right, because the ACC’s as topsy-turvy as it’s ever been: last week, NC State demolished Pittsburgh at Petersen Events Center, Georgia Tech traded haymakers with No. 16 Louisville and Clemson gave our Cavaliers a real scare behind star forward Jaron Blossomgame.

So here they are, back again: our first #GoACC power rankings of this not-so-young season.

15. Boston College

Record: 7-12 (0-6 ACC)

Last week: 53-67 L at No. 15 Miami, 49-76 L at Notre Dame

This week: Jan. 26 vs. Florida State, Jan. 30 at No. 2 North Carolina

As the only team in the ACC with a losing record and zero conference wins, it’s hard to rank these Eagles anywhere else. Boston College is losing by about 22 points per game in conference play — yikes. At least they have Florida transfer Eli Carter, who is doing his best Olivier Hanlan impression but is shooting just south of 40 percent.

14. Wake Forest

Record: 10-9 (1-6 ACC)

Last week: 68-83 L at No. 2 North Carolina, 63-77 L at No. 15 Miami

This week: Jan. 26 vs. No. 11 Virginia, Jan. 31 at Notre Dame

The Demon Deacons picked up their lone ACC win Jan. 10, when Coach Danny Manning’s crew edged NC State by three points at home. Wake Forest played Virginia Tech close just three days later, but three consecutive double-digit losses have the team staggering a bit.

Side note: Manning’s son, Evan, is now a senior at Kansas under Bill Self. He doesn’t play much, but he drains the three-ball when he does.

13. NC State

Record: 11-9 (1-6 ACC)

Last week: 78-61 W at Pittsburgh, 78-88 L vs. No. 24 Duke

This week: Jan. 27 vs. Georgia Tech, Jan. 30 vs. No. 15 Miami

The Wolfpack have actually played fairly well of late. Yes, they’re still 1-6 in conference play, taking some of the sheen off a 10-3 start. But NC State scored perhaps the most striking win of the past week, topping host Pitt by a whopping 17.

More importantly, Cat Barber has taken a leap in his third collegiate season. Here are Barber’s statistics last year: 12.1 points, 3.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game. And this year’s statistics: 22.1 points, 4.7 assists and 4.7 boards.

12. Georgia Tech

Record: 11-8 (1-5 ACC)

Last week: 71-75 L vs. No. 16 Louisville

This week: Jan. 27 at NC State, Jan. 30 at Syracuse

Anyone who watched the Yellow Jackets sting Virginia knows they’ve got some real weapons this year — and not just in the backcourt. Big men Charles Mitchell (a Maryland transfer) and Nick Jacobs (he played at Alabama) are combining for 22.4 points and 16.8 rebounds per contest, with the Ramblin’ Wreck enjoying a +8.2 advantage on the boards. The ACC Network folks are right: Adam Smith really does have a nice step-back jumper.

11. Florida State

Record: 12-7 (2-5 ACC)

Last week: 65-84 L at No. 16 Louisville, 72-74 L vs. Pittsburgh

This week: Jan. 26 at Boston College, Jan. 30 vs. Clemson

If I’m in need of a very tall person and can only ask #GoACC men’s basketball players for assistance, I’m heading to Tallahassee, where Michael Ojo, Boris Bojanovsky and Jean Marc Christ Koumadje all stand more than seven feet tall (Ojo’s the shortest at “just” 7-foot-1).

Joking aside, Florida State’s just okay this year. The ’Noles’ biggest win came against — you guessed it — Virginia, and they also have a win against VCU. Carolina, however, dropped 106 against them earlier this month, which I’ll just say doesn’t happen often against a Leonard Hamilton coached team.

10. Syracuse

Record: 13-8 (3-5 ACC)

Last week: 64-62 W at No. 24 Duke, 65-73 L at No. 11 Virginia

This week: Jan. 28 vs. Notre Dame, Jan. 30 vs. Georgia Tech

After a rough start to conference play, the Orange are back on track, and they gave Virginia a game Sunday night in Charlottesville, when Michael Gbinije and Malachi Richardson connected on 11 of 19 long-range jays. With games against Georgia Tech, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Boston College on the horizon, Syracuse might just keep winning.

9. Virginia Tech

Record: 12-8 (4-3 ACC)

Last week: 81-83 L at Notre Dame, 70-75 L vs. No. 2 North Carolina

This week: Jan. 27 vs. No. 16 Louisville, Jan. 31 at Pittsburgh

Our neighbors to the southwest are playing a loaded schedule right now. With games against Notre Dame, North Carolina, Louisville and Pittsburgh to conclude January, Coach Buzz Williams’ team has entered the gauntlet. The Hokies jump-started their season with a 4-1 opening to ACC play. Now, they’ve got two more chances for a big win.

8. Clemson

Record: 12-7 (5-2 ACC)

Last week: 62-69 L at No. 11 Virginia

This week: Jan. 27 vs. Pittsburgh, Jan. 30 at Florida State

You’ve probably heard this year the Tigers can play, and there’s a reason for this: before taking a loss at JPJ, Clemson reeled off five consecutive ACC wins, with three coming against top-20 teams — wow. The Tigers haven’t had a player like Blossomgame since probably K.J. McDaniels, who admittedly suited up in the orange and white as recently as 2014. Landry Nnoko’s solid inside, too.

7. Duke

Record: 15-6 (4-4 ACC)

Last week: 62-64 L vs. Syracuse, 88-78 W at NC State

This week: 69-80 L at No. 15 Miami

The Blue Devils have been in something of a tailspin of late, and Monday night’s defeat at No. 15 Miami certainly did not help. Coach K’s team could really use Amile Jefferson — who’s a walking double-double — but for now, it’s unclear when he will be back in the lineup.

6. Notre Dame

Record: 14-5 (5-2 ACC)

Last week: 83-81 W vs. Virginia Tech, 76-49 W vs. Boston College

This week: Jan. 28 at Syracuse, Jan. 31 vs. Wake Forest

Notre Dame lost a couple of great players in Jerian Grant (now playing in Madison Square Garden alongside Melo and Kristaps as a New York Knick) and Pat Connaughton (currently a Portland Trail Blazer). But Coach Mike Brey knows his stuff — he’s the only former Duke assistant to beat Coach K — and his team is doing just fine. The Irish have five guys averaging double figures and have won four in a row.

5. Virginia

Record: 15-4 (4-3 ACC)

Last week: 69-62 W vs. Clemson, 73-65 W vs. Syracuse

This week: Jan. 26 at Wake Forest, Jan. 30 at No. 16 Louisville

Look, I’m not sure just what to say about our Cavaliers right now. They have not won on the road in conference play and are not locking down opposing teams like last year’s bunch, which held Rutgers, Harvard and Georgia Tech to 26, 27 and 28 points, respectively. But Virginia has two wins in a row, and I’m loving Devon Hall in the starting lineup. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

4. Pittsburgh

Record: 16-3 (5-2 ACC)

Last week: 61-78 L vs. NC State, 74-72 W vs. Florida State

This week: Jan. 27 at Clemson, Jan. 31 vs. Virginia Tech

Coach Jamie Dixon’s squad started the year 14-1 (3-0 ACC), but since then the Panthers haven’t been too menacing. The NC State loss was certainly a surprise — Pitt trailed 44-19 at the half — and Florida State came close to giving the Panthers a full de-claw. Wednesday’s visit to Clemson should give some sense of where Pitt stands.

3. Miami

Record: 16-3 (5-2 ACC)

Last week: 67-53 W at Boston College, 77-63 W vs. Wake Forest

This week: 80-69 W vs. No. 24 Duke, Jan. 30 at NC State

These Hurricanes are crazy experienced, with two juniors and three seniors — Angel Rodriguez, Sheldon McClellan and Tonye Jekiri — in their starting five. And right now, coach Jim Larrañaga’s team is rolling, with three consecutive double-digit victories — yes, the first two came against Boston College and Wake Forest. Virginia’s win against Miami earlier this month is looking pretty nice.

2. Louisville

Record: 16-3 (5-1 ACC)

Last week: 84-65 W vs. Florida State, 75-71 W at Georgia Tech

This week: Jan. 27 at Virginia Tech, Jan. 30 vs. No. 11 Virginia

In all seriousness, I can’t root for Louisville after the ESPN report in October about a Louisville staff member paying for an escort service. The saddest thing is this same garbage likely happens elsewhere, too.

Right now, the Cardinals are the second-best team in the ACC. Let’s leave it at that.

1. North Carolina

Record: 18-2 (7-0 ACC)

Last week: 83-68 W vs. Wake Forest, 75-70 W at Virginia Tech

This week: Jan. 30 vs. Boston College

Carolina is the class of the ACC, and it’s not close with a roster that includes Marcus Paige, Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and big Roy Williams. Are you kidding me? The Feb. 1 matchup with Louisville seems like must-see #GoACC TV.

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