Does #GoACC basketball ever get old? Last week, Cat Barber torched Miami as NC State silenced the ’Canes, Syracuse toppled then-No. 25 Notre Dame by 15 and North Carolina fell in conference play for the first time all year, 71-65 at Louisville.
Oh, and Virginia? Our Cavaliers might have finally reversed thrust on a slumping season after scoring big W’s at Wake Forest and Louisville. Might’ve — fingers crossed. Duke, meanwhile, is scuffling — bizarrely enough — and just dropped out of the Associated Press poll after eight-plus seasons in the Top 25.
Let’s get on to the rankings:
15. Boston College (no change)
Record: 7-14 (0-8 ACC)
Last week: 62-72 L vs. Florida State, 62-89 L at No. 2 North Carolina
This week: Feb. 3 at No. 9 Virginia, Feb. 6 at No. 19 Louisville
Boston College, Boston College. Does anyone remember Tyrese Rice, Craig Smith and Sean Williams? Does anyone remember 2005-6, when the Eagles finished 28-8 and made the Sweet 16?
Right now, it’s hard to.
14. Wake Forest (no change)
Record: 10-11 (1-8 ACC)
Last week: 71-72 L vs. No. 11 Virginia, 62-85 L at No. 25 Notre Dame
This week: Feb. 2 vs. Clemson, Feb. 6 vs. Florida State
Believe me, I’m happy Virginia overcame near-impossible odds Tuesday against the Demon Deacons. But that must’ve been one tough loss for Wake Forest. Coach Danny Manning’s team won just once in January, and earlier W’s against LSU, Indiana and UCLA have all but faded away. Still, with home games against Clemson and Florida State this week, the Demon Deacons could (maybe) turn things around.
13. NC State (no change)
Record: 12-11 (2-8 ACC)
Last week: 83-90 L vs. Georgia Tech, 85-69 W vs. No. 15 Miami
This week: 73-77 L at Florida State, Feb. 6 at Duke
I’m not sure we’ve talked enough about Cat Barber, who dropped 30 on Miami over the weekend before lighting up Florida State for 31 Monday. NC State’s had some very talented players in recent years — T.J. Warren, C.J. Leslie and Julius Hodge come to mind — and Barber’s the latest.
12. Georgia Tech (no change)
Record: 12-9 (2-6 ACC)
Last week: 90-83 W at NC State, 57-60 L at Syracuse
This week: Feb. 2 vs. Duke, Feb. 7 vs. No. 17 Miami
Now, I’m no basketball coach, but the Yellow Jackets can’t be too upset about their play this past week. Road-bound and saddled with three consecutive conference L’s, Georgia Tech feasted at the free-throw line against NC State before striking some fear into Syracuse — or at least the Orange’s fans. The Ramblin’ Wreck might not be knocking on the door of an ACC title just yet, but Coach Brian Gregory’s team seems to be making strides.
11. Virginia Tech (down 2)
Record: 12-10 (4-5 ACC)
Last week: 83-91 L vs. No. 16 Louisville, 71-90 L at Pittsburgh
This week: Feb. 2 at Syracuse, Feb. 6 vs. Clemson
For the Hokies, this week of #GoACC basketball is big to say the least. After consecutive losses against Notre Dame, North Carolina, Louisville and Pittsburgh, our maroon-and-orange friends get a road matchup with Syracuse and a home game against Clemson.
Tech’s reserves have scored just four points combined over the last two games. The starting lineup is carrying this offense right now — by necessity — and the results haven’t been great.
10. Clemson (down 2)
Record: 13-8 (6-3 ACC)
Last week: 73-60 W vs. Pittsburgh, 65-76 L at Florida State
This week: Feb. 2 at Wake Forest, Feb. 6 at Virginia Tech
The Tigers’ loss in Tallahassee certainly ranks among the most surprising results of the past week, because Clemson came into the game playing some serious #GoACC basketball. Aside from star forward Jaron Blossomgame — who played all 40 minutes and scored 22 points — and guard Jordan Roper, the Tigers’ starting five shot just 3-for-24. What’s more, only backup center Sidy Djitte put up more than a couple tries while shooting better than 50 percent.
Just a cold night, I guess.
9. Florida State (up 2)
Record: 15-7 (5-5 ACC)
Last week: 72-62 W at Boston College, 76-65 W vs. Clemson
This week: 77-73 W vs. NC State, Feb. 6 at Wake Forest
Don’t look now, but the Seminoles have won three in a row to reach .500 in ACC play for the first time all year. The latest W — a four-point decision against NC State driven by freshmen Dwayne Bacon and Malik Beasley, who combined for 35 points.
8. Duke (down 1)
Record: 15-6 (4-4 ACC)
Last week: 69-80 L at No. 15 Miami
This week: Feb. 2 at Georgia Tech, Feb. 6 vs. NC State
What I want to know is, when did Grayson Allen get this good? The guy came up big in the Blue Devils’ 2015 national-title win against Wisconsin — pouring in 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting — and then-teammates Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones all jumped ship for the NBA, so maybe there’s no reason to be too surprised. But 20.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game? Mr. Allen can play.
7. Syracuse (up 3)
Record: 15-8 (5-5 ACC)
Last week: 81-66 W vs. No. 25 Notre Dame, 60-57 W vs. Georgia Tech
This week: Feb. 2 vs. Virginia Tech
The Orange have been a new team since Coach Jim Boeheim’s return from a nine-game suspension. In Boeheim’s absence, Syracuse dropped five games and struck out in four road contests. But with the NCAA’s sixth-winningest coach back in action, the Orange are 5-2 and have only lost to North Carolina and Virginia.
6. Notre Dame (no change)
Record: 15-6 (6-3 ACC)
Last week: 66-81 L at Syracuse, 85-62 W vs. Wake Forest
This week: Feb. 3 at No. 17 Miami, Feb. 6 vs. No. 2 North Carolina
The Irish returned to the AP Top 25 on the strength of four consecutive conference W’s — and then lost promptly to semi-hot Syracuse. The Carrier Dome’s always a tough place to play, if I’ve heard right, but Coach Mike Brey could not have liked yielding 80-plus points for the fourth time since the start of ACC play. With Miami and North Carolina next on the docket, the Irish seem to have two choices — shoot the lights out or get down and guard.
5. Miami (down 2)
Record: 16-4 (5-3 ACC)
Last week: 80-69 W vs. No. 24 Duke, 69-85 L at NC State
This week: Feb. 3 vs. Notre Dame, Feb. 7 at Georgia Tech
The Hurricanes played a curious week of #GoACC hoops, picking up a win against Duke before falling on the road to Team Cat Barber — or, excuse me, NC State. Miami boasts a deep, talented roster — four Hurricanes average double figures, and center Tonye Jekiri is hauling in 9.8 boards per game — but thus far, Coach Jim Larrañaga’s group has struggled on the road. Big surprise in a season like this one?
4. Pittsburgh (no change)
Record: 17-4 (5-3 ACC)
Last week: 60-73 L at Clemson, 90-71 W vs. Virginia Tech
This week: Feb. 6 vs. No. 9 Virginia
Okay, before we say anything basketball-related about this team, we’ve got to talk geography. Pittsburgh, cartographers say, is so far west in Pennsylvania we’re almost talking Ohio. So, of course — in the aftermath of conference shake-ups — the Panthers play in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Griping aside, I’ve always liked Coach Jamie Dixon’s teams, and if I’d seen them play, I’m sure I’d say this year’s bunch is no exception. Pitt hasn’t been great of late — the Panthers have traded wins and losses since starting the season 14-1 (3-0 ACC) — but Saturday’s game against Virginia could be very good. Pitt last hosted the Cavaliers in 2014, when Malcolm Brogdon found net on a game-winning trey-ball.
3. Louisville (down 1)
Record: 18-4 (7-2 ACC)
Last week: 91-83 W at Virginia Tech, 47-63 L vs. No. 11 Virginia
This week: 71-65 W vs. No. 2 North Carolina, Feb. 6 vs. Boston College
The Cardinals’ win against North Carolina last night could hardly have come at a better time. Fresh off a 16-point loss to Virginia at the KFC Yum! Center, Louisville straight up responded. Virginia’s victory in Kentucky looks even better now than it did over the weekend.
Also, have you seen Chinanu Onuaku shoot free throws? He made two and missed one against the Heels, for those keeping score. I’m a fan if the ball’s going in.
2. Virginia (up 3)
Record: 17-4 (6-3 ACC)
Last week: 72-71 W at Wake Forest, 63-47 W at No. 16 Louisville
This week: Feb. 3 vs. Boston College, Feb. 6 at Pittsburgh
Road wins against the Demon Deacons and Coach Rick Pitino’s Cardinals — who’d never lost by more than 15 at home — have our Cavaliers riding high. With cellar-dwelling BC coming to Charlottesville Wednesday night, Coach Tony Bennett’s team might just be looking at a five-game conference win streak. Did you see that banker from Darius Thompson? Maybe not Aaron Rodgers throwing a Hail Mary to force OT against Arizona, but not too far off.
Really, things are looking very much up for Virginia, which hadn’t won on the road in ACC play before the Wake Forest game. With a couple more weeks like this one, the Feb. 27 matchup with Carolina should have folks talking.
1. North Carolina (no change)
Record: 19-3 (8-1 ACC)
Last week: 89-62 W vs. Boston College
This week: 65-71 L at No. 19 Louisville, Feb. 6 at Notre Dame
After Maryland knocked off Iowa last Thursday at the Xfinity Center, the Tar Heels stood as the only major-conference team without a loss in league play. So, even after Louisville’s statement Monday night, we’ll cut Carolina some slack. After all, it’s not every day your team wins at the Yum! Center.
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