ACC Basketball: Power Rankings

Stunningly, every team but Duke has at least four loses this season.

At this rate we’re going, the ACC will be lucky to squeeze four teams into the NCAA Tournament.

Luckily, just about every team in the conference has been wrapping up non-conference play on a steady diet of cupcakes.

No. 1 DUKE

The Blue Devils remained undefeated with wins agains Miami and UAB at home. Things are going to get a little tougher over the next few weeks.

Maryland comes into Durham for a visit this weekend. What can the coaching staff throw at Jordan Williams? My guess is they’ll let Williams have his points and just shutdown everyone else.

The reality is, there’s not much Gary Williams can throw at Duke to stop Nolan Smith.

No. 2 NORTH CAROLINA

The Tar Heels have feasted on the weakest stretch of their schedule. They’ve held both Rutgers and St. Francis (PA) to under 55 points.

The last time a North Carolina team held back-to-back opponents under 55, Matt Doherty was still the coach (2002-2003).

No. 3 NORTH CAROLINA STATE

They’ve been munching on cupcakes since mid-December and they have zero quality wins, but they’ve weathered the storm that was Tracy Smith’s injury.

He’s back and has averaged 15.5 in his first two games. His presence should begin to open things up for everyone else, including C.J. Leslie.

No. 4 FLORIDA STATE

The Seminoles want to be considered one of the elites of the ACC. It’s a good goal to have. It’s good to have goals. However, it helps to not lose to a third-rate SEC team.

A week after producing their best win (over Baylor), they lost to a 6-7 Auburn team, whose best win prior to FSU was against Middle Tennessee State.

Florida State is 10th in both shooting percentage (.432) and three-point shooting (.332) in the ACC.

No. 5 VIRGINIA TECH

When Dorenzo Hudson went down, I declared the Hokies dead in the water. My mistake. Since Hudson went out for the season, Virginia Tech is 5-0.

One win came against Renardo Sidney and Mississippi State and the other against Penn State.

They’ve done it with defense, giving up just 56 points per game. More importantly though, Erik Green has done a fantastic job stepping in for Hudson. The sophomore is averaging 14.6 per game.

He’s shooting 53-percent from the floor and has dished out 17 assists to only two turnovers.

No. 6 MARYLAND

Like most ACC teams right now, the Terrapins are wrapping up the bulk of non-conference play on cupcakes. It’s allowed them to work on the defense.

The Terps are fourth in the nation in Defensive Efficiency Percentage and they’re 88th in rebounds with 41.8 per game.

CONTINUE READING THE RANKINGS AT BIG DUKE BALLS.