ACC Basketball Rankings February 22 To March 1: Maryland Survives Busy Week

The Maryland Terrapins played three games in six days and came through with flying colors. They won all three, including an incredible buzzer beating win over Georgia Tech. For the first time this year, the conference appears to really have settled on which teams will make the NCAAs and which won't.

I think the top six teams in the standings are in good shape if NCAA selections were made today. The bottom five teams have to win the ACC tournament. Only Georgia Tech is in limbo and still could play themselves in or out over the next two weeks.

Previous ACC Basketball All About Sports Blog Rankings:

Preseason
Dec 13-Dec 20 |Dec 21-Dec 28 |Dec 28 - Jan 4 |Jan 4 - Jan 11 |Jan 11 - Jan 18
Jan 18 - Jan 25 |Jan 25 - Feb 1 |Feb 1 - Feb 8  |Feb 8 - Feb 15 |Feb 15 - Feb 22

1) Duke Blue Devils (23-4, 11-2) Last week  1

For the second straight week, Brian Zoubek has come up with nice numbers. He had ten  points against Miami and then had 16 rebounds against Virginia Tech. Like I alluded to last week, when he plays this well, Duke becomes a fringe Final Four team. That means a lot for Duke. If they aren't hitting their threes, they can get contributions inside.

This past week they won at Miami then took Virginia Tech's best shot at Cameron in a 67-55 win. I really like the way Duke is playing. They step out of conference Thursday to play Tulsa, then go on the road Sunday to face Virginia.

2) Maryland Terrapins (19-7, 9-3) Last week 3

The Terps beat Virginia, won at NC State and stunned Georgia Tech on a buzzer beater to complete a 3-0 week. You know what other tournament requires winning three or four  games in a handful of days? It is the ACC tournament, where the Terps will be one of the favorites.

They'll want to make sure they get one of those top four ACC seeds, so next couple of weeks are big. This week is home game with Clemson on February 24th, then it is on the road to Virginia Tech on February 27th.

3) Clemson Tigers (19-7, 7-5) Last week  5

Clemson had one game this past week. They defeated Virginia 72-49 in a game where the Tigers could have named the score. The Tigers look good today for an NCAA bid, but they end the season with a brutal stretch. Check out these last four games: @Maryland, @Florida State, Georgia Tech and @Wake Forest. Yikes!

Forward Jerai Grant scored 18 against the Cavs and is one of the conference's most improved players the last several weeks. The game with Maryland is Wednesday and Florida State is Sunday.

4) Virgina Tech Hokies(21-5, 8-4) Last week 4

The Hokies really pushed Duke in a 67-55 loss at Cameron. That was the toughest ACC game the Blue Devils have had so far. Earlier in the week, the Hokies beat Wake Forest 87-83 in a nice resume building win.

The Hokies are second in the ACC in scoring defense. This week they head to Boston College on February 24th and then get a critical ACC seeding game with Maryland at home.

5) Wake Forest Demon Deacons (18-7, 8-5) Last week  2

I thought Wake Forest was ready to establish itself with Duke and Maryland as the class of the ACC. I guess I was wrong. Losing on the road at Virginia Tech is one thing, but that was a disappointing effort in a 14-point loss at NC State.

Still the Deacs aren't in bad shape. They are still solidly in the NCAAs, get a week off and then get a home game with a North Carolina team that is showing no signs of threatening anyone.

6) Florida State Seminoles (19-7, 7-5) Last week  6

Florida State went on the road this past week to Virginia and came up with a nice 19-point win. The Noles are very close to locking up an at large bid. This is a critical week upcoming for them. There is road game Wednesday at North Carolina and then Florida State plays Clemson in Tallahassee.

If FSU wins both they are in, lose one and there is still a little work to do. Chris Singleton leads the ACC in steals and Solomon Alabi is second in the ACC in blocked shots. Those contributions are a big part of the reason the Noles are such a strong defensive team.

7) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (18-9, 6-7) Last week  8

Georgia Tech came oh so close to winning at Maryland. A win there would have put the Jackets over the NCAA hump. When you have lost an incredible 33 of your last 39 ACC road games though, you don't often win the close road games. The Jackets beat UNC 68-51 Tuesday, where they just out manned the Heels.

The Jackets get a week to stew over the Maryland loss before facing Boston College Saturday in another must-win game.

8) Boston College Eagles (13-13, 4-8) Last week 10

The Eagles kept the North Carolina Tar Heels reeling in their 71-67 win last Saturday. They lost at Florida St. 62-47. They are near the bottom of several ACC defensive categories, but they've played reasonably well at home.

They could throw a wrench in the ACC race if the could get a home win over Virginia Tech on Wednesday or a road win at Georgia Tech on Saturday.

9) Virginia Cavaliers (14-11, 5-7) Last week 7

Virginia is officially out of gas. Last in the ACC in scoring just isn't going to get it done. The Cavaliers lost all three of their games this week, including a 85-66 defeat to Maryland, 69-50 to Florida St. and 72-49 to Clemson.

I think an NIT bid would be a nice accomplishment for a team most expected to finish last in the ACC, so there's still plenty to play for. They head on the road February 23rd to play Miami, then get Duke at home February 28th.

10) Miami Hurricanes (17-9, 3-9) Last week - 9

The Canes only had one game this past week. They fought hard, but lost at home to Duke 81-74. Miami has been stellar at home and have the kind of week ahead that could at least give them sight of the NCAA bubble.

They have Virginia at home on Feb 23, then NC State St at home February 27th.

11) North Carolina State Wolfpack(15-13, 3-10) Last week 12

I've been predicting for weeks that Wolfpack were going to pull off a big upset on someone in the ACC. They did this past Saturday with 68-54 win over Wake Forest. If you catch NC State on the wrong day like Wake did or Duke did earlier in the season, they'll beat anyone in the ACC.

They did lose earlier in the week 67-58 to Maryland. Next Saturday they play at Miami.

12) North Carolina Tar Heels (14-13, 3-9) Last week  11

One year removed from the National Title, the Tar Heels are in my opinion the worst team in the ACC. That is unbelievable no matter who they've lost from their lineup. They lost 68-51 at Georgia Tech, where they trailed 41-21 at the half. It was the worst half of basketball I've seen ACC team play all year. Scoring was like pulling teeth for the Heels.

Against Boston College, they finally got back Tyler Zeller from injury and he scored nine points in 16 minutes, but UNC still lost 71-67. Wednesday they play Florida St. at home before heading on the road to Wake Forest Saturday.