ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Duke Tops List of Early-Season Contenders

(The ACC Basketball Power Rankings for the week of Dec. 12-19)

In what has been an exciting week in college football (From the bowl-selection show, post-season awards and the Heisman due to be announced soon) the same can not be said for college basketball, or for ACC basketball more specifically.  

A week after losing its first ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the conference is in a state of turmoil. The top teams have problems that need to be addressed, and the struggling teams continue to struggle.

In a week that has seen few games and even fewer high-notes, its difficult to imagine how the ACC schedule will impact the progress of the "teams-in-training."

Let's kick these rankings off with the top-tier teams, followed by the teams that are still trying to find their way in the big scheme of things.

1. Duke (7-1, 0-0 ACC):

The Duke Blue Devils have been one of the lone bright spots for the ACC this season. Racking up early-season wins against an always dangerous Arizona State team and No. 13 UConn to win the NIT Season Tip-Off, the Blue Devils worked their way to the fifth spot in the nation. 

However, Duke has lost its stride of late.

Entering the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Duke was a perfect 10-0 in the event. But after their loss to Wisconsin sealed the Big Ten's first-ever win in the challenge, the Devils left Madison with more questions than answers.

A home victory over St. John's in which the Duke big men provided the spark left the Blue Devils at 7-1 entering a week off for exams.

Which Duke team will show up after the break: The Duke team that defeated the No. 13 Huskies in NYC or the out-of-synch team from Madison?

2. North Carolina (7-2, 0-0 ACC):

Who would have ever seen this coming: Duke and UNC carrying the load for the ACC during the pre-season months? I'll tell you who, the media that voted both Duke and UNC the first-ever co-favorites to win the conference.

After an early loss to Syracuse, the Tar Heels rebounded to defeat fourth-ranked Michigan State at home in a rematch of last year's national title game.

The Tar Heels played great team defense and showed great strides in the win against the Spartans, although that didn't carry over into the Heels' next contest.

Given that they have played one of the toughest early-season schedules in the country, the Tar Heels looked tired in a loss to Kentucky in Lexington.

Roy Williams has a young and talented team in Chapel Hill; however, they must first learn to play together in order to become one of the elite teams in the country.

3. Georgia Tech (6-1, 0-0 ACC):

After a disappointing 2-14 mark in the ACC a year ago, the Yellow Jackets were not invited to participate in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (The Big Ten has 11 teams, the ACC has 12. The team with the worst record in the conference from the year before is not allowed to participate in the current year's event.)

The Yellow Jackets did find time to schedule a very tricky home match-up against a talented and underrated Siena squad in the place of hosting a Big Ten team. The Jackets escaped with a win from that game, a 74-61 defeat of the Saints.

Led by ACC Freshman of the Year candidate Derrick Favors, this versatile and quick Georgia Tech team is looking to leave its mark on the conference unlike it has in years past. The Jackets have the personnel and talent to succeed in the ACC this year, only question is do they know that?

T4. Clemson (7-2, 0-0 ACC):

Leading at home, 51-28, in the second half against an Illinois team that was struggling to hit shots from the floor, and you would automatically add a tally to the win column for Clemson, right? Think again.

Illinois became the first team in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge to overcome a 20-point deficit, leaving the Clemson Tigers and their fans stunned. This huge comeback win also kept the Big Ten alive in the event.

Blank stares and confused faces filled Little John Coliseum once the final buzzer sounded. Was this the beginning of a down-hill spiral for the Tigers, or would this fuel Oliver Purnell's team to value a lead and guard it with their lives throughout the course of the season? Only time will tell.

T4. Maryland (5-3, 0-0 ACC):

In case you were wondering, after Illinois' huge comeback win over Clemson and Maryland's win over a young and talented Indiana squad, it was difficult to choose between the Terrapins and the Tigers. That's why I have two number fours on this list.

The Terrapins never had control of their match versus Tom Crean's group of inexperienced Hoosiers; however, they were never really challenged of their lead near the end of the game.

Although this approach may help you win early games, it will not help you come ACC play.

A difficult game vs. third-ranked Villanova was up for Gary Williams' team. The Terps fought hard but were eventually beaten, 95-86.

Although the Terrapins have three losses, they were all against quality opponents. This is a team that should be very dangerous come March, led by senior point guard Greivis Vasquez. 

5. Florida State (7-2, 0-0 ACC):

The Florida State Seminoles lead the group of "questionable" teams in the conference this season. A glaring 7-2 record looks great on paper; however, three of those wins come against Mercer, Stetson, and Jacksonville. Not exactly a tough early season schedule.

The Seminoles do have two quality wins on their resume, one vs.SEC-opponent Alabama and the other against Big East-foe Marquette. The wins against both of these teams helped Florida State take home the Old Spice Classic in late November.  

They have play two very difficult road games versus ranked teams, Florida and Ohio State, both resulting in their only two losses of the season. Although a very talented group, they have yet to succeed against the elite teams. That factor alone could spell trouble in Paradise for the Seminoles. 

6. Boston College (6-3, 1-0 ACC):

Who would have thought that the season after Tyrese Rice's departure, the Eagles of Boston College would still be in contention to win ACC games? No one during the off-season really gave Boston College a chance to do any damage without their star player returning.

Well doubters, think again. After early wins at Providence and at Michigan, the Eagles returned to Chestnut Hill to face a familiar ACC foe: Miami. After a rollercoaster ride of a game, the Eagles prevailed with a win, 61-60, following a questionable call.

Boston College did win their ACC opener, however, and improved to 6-2 on the year. The Eagles would have probably been ranked higher, but a home loss to Harvard really did the Eagles in. Boston College has proved that they are better than expected; how good is the true question.

7. Wake Forest (5-2, 0-0 ACC):

Jeff Teague and James Johnson are just two of the big names that left college early for the NBA. It just so happens that both played for the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest, with both players slowly developing into great college basketball players before making their decisions.

Regardless, the Demon Deacons have started this season where they left off last, threatening to win ballgames. A tough loss to the fourth-ranked Boilermakers of Purdue is just one instance of a game in which the Deacons held a lead for most of the first half and was on the verge of an upset.

The loss didn't seem to phase the players, however, as they later went on the road to upset No. 17 Gonzaga, 77-75.

This team will be in close games the rest of the season, and will have opportunities to win several ACC games. Although very talented, how will the loss of Teague and Johnson effect this team come March? 

8. Miami (8-1, 0-1 ACC):

The Hurricanes opened the season 8-0. You'd think that they would have a few quality wins, right? North Carolina Central, Nova University, Tulane, UNC-Wilmington, Florida Gulf Coast and USC-Upstate accounted for six of those wins, with the other two coming against Minnesota and South Carolina.

None of those sound too difficult to handle, except the game against an underappreciated Minnesota team. Otherwise, the Hurricanes season began against Boston College, their ninth game on the year.

An up and down game from tip-off, the thriller ended wit a controversial call in favor of the Eagles of Boston College, handing the Hurricanes their first loss of the year. It's difficult to make much of early games, but it's safe to say that Miami has yet to be brutally tested.

9. Virginia Tech (7-1, 0-0 ACC):

Virginia Tech, like Miami, has had some pretty easy games to start the season off. Wins against Brown, UNC-Greensboro and Campbell University got the Hokies off to a quick 3-0 start. The Temple Owls then upset the Hokies at home, 61-50.

Coming off their first loss of the year, the Hokies struggled to defeat Delaware in overtime the next game out. A win against a sputtering Iowa team in Iowa City gave Seth Greenberg's team some confidence, however.

The Hokies have since defeated SEC opponent Georgia and high-scoring VMI to steady the ship somewhat. Although the loss against Temple is still in the back of their minds, Virginia Tech is still a talented team; I just don't see it all coming together for the Hokies later on in the season.  

10. NC State (6-1, 0-0 ACC):

What to say about the Wolfpack of NC State? Sidney Lowe is now in his fourth-year at the reigns of the basketball program in Raleigh, and it is safe to say that the first three years have not gone as smoothly as he may have wanted.

Since taking the coaching job at NC State, the Wolfpack have not finished better than tenth in the conference standings. This season got off to a 5-0 start, with a big win over SEC-opponent Auburn.

Next time out, however, the Pack lost their way as they were beaten at home by a pesky Northwestern team, 65-53.

Although their loss to the Wildcats was their first on the year, Lowe and NC State rebounded to upset Marquette on the road, 77-73.

You never know what you are going to get when NC State steps foot on the hardwood this year, but one thing is for sure: They will bring an intensity and passion for the game that is hard to overmatch.

11. Virginia (4-4, 0-0 ACC):

Tony Bennett was supposed to save Virginia from it's mediocre play a season ago, but all he seems to have done is consistently help find the Cavaliers new ways to lose.

Sylven Landesberg, the ACC Rookie of the Year from last season, has tried his hardest to lead the Cavs to wins, but so far nothing has worked.

Bennett has tried to get his Virginia players to buy into his new schemes on both offense and defense, but after many attempts has not yet found the right solution to his team's ever-growing list of problems.

Losses to South Florida, Penn State, Stanford and Auburn have not helped Bennett as he is getting adjusted to his new lifestyle on the east coast. Pencil in Virginia for last place in every ACC power ranking this season; unless, that is, a miracle occurs.