ACC Expansion: Power Ranking ACC Basketball Teams with Syracuse and Pittsburgh

With the Syracuse Orange and Pittsburgh Panthers being formally accepted into the ACC, it is time we see how this shakes up the power rankings in the conference. While Duke and North Carolina have dominated the conference over the last few years, these new teams are also going to compete for the ACC crown.

The ACC now has three top 5 teams and four top 15 teams. The ACC has lost some of its swagger in the last few years, but the addition of these two elite teams will help them gain it back.

These are the new power rankings of the ACC including Syracuse and Pittsburgh.

14. Wake Forest

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons went 8-24 last year with a 1-15 conference record. They were absolutely pitiful, and they have not gotten much better.

While the team returns leading scorer and rebounder Travis McKie, who averaged 13.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last year, they have lost their next best scorer in J.T. Terrell. They also have their best passer in C.J. Harris, who averaged 3.5 assists per game.

The Deacons are bringing in three decent recruits, but the team is not going to be much better than last season. I wouldn't expect them to win more than three conference games.

13. Georgia Tech

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets went 13-18 with a 5-11 conference record last season. They struggled to say the least and they will be even worse this year.

Georgia Tech has lost its best player in Iman Shumpert. Shumpert led the team in points (17.3) , rebounds (5.9) and assists (3.5) per game last season. While they still have Glen Rice Jr., who was second in all three of those categories, the team will not be the same without Shumpert, who was also an excellent defender.

The team's only recruit is Julian Royal, a highly touted power forward. He is in the ESPNU Top 100, but he is pretty low in it. Royal is going to help make up for the loss of Shumpert, but this year's team will still be worse.

12. North Carolina State

The North Carolina State Wolfpack went 15-16 and 5-11 in conference last season. The team looked lost, and they will now be without leading scorer Tracy Smith.

The team still has C.J. Leslie, Richard Howell and Lorenzo Brown to lead them. Fresh faced point guard Tyler Lewis, who is their only recruit, is in the ESPNU Top 100.

This Wolfpack team is pretty young and has a lot of potential, but this is not their year.

11. Virginia Tech

The Virginia Tech Hokies went 22-12 last season, including 9-7 in conference play. They lost their best player in Malcolm Delaney, and they are sure to struggle this season.

The Hokies also lost Jeff Allen and Terrell Bell from last year, and the best player they return is Erick Green.

The only recruit for the Hokies is PF Montrezl Harrell, and while he is pretty good, he is not good enough to make up for their losses.

The Hokies are going to be pretty bad this season, and it's going to be a long season for Tech fans.

10. Maryland

The Maryland Terrapins went 19-14 including a 7-9 conference record last season, but they are about to drop in the standings.

Maryland has lost their best players in Jordan Williams, Adrian Bowie and Dino Gregory. While they still have Terrell Stoglin, the team has lost most of its talent.

The team has one good recruit joining them in SG Nick Faust. Faust is in the ESPNU Top 100, and he should be and impact-player this season. While these he alone does not make up for the loss of three good players, he can certainly help.

9. Boston College

The Boston College Eagles went 21-13 including 9-7 in conference last season. They were a pretty good team, but they have suffered tremendous losses.

The Eagles have lost their top two scorers in Reggie Jackson and Joe Trapani, their top two rebounders in Trapani and Corey Raji, and their top two assist-men in Jackson and Biko Paris. This team has lost so much, they are bound to suffer the consequences.

Boston College has nine recruits coming in, but it seems as though only two or three will make a big impact. This is a young team made up of freshmen, and this is going to be a year for them to adjust, not compete.

8. Clemson

The Clemson Tigers went 22-12 last season, including 9-7 in conference games. The Tigers were led by Demontez Stitt and Jerai Grant, but both of them have left Clemson. The Tigers are in for a rough year.

The Tigers are bringing in five recruits, none of whom are in the ESPNU Top 100. While two recruits (Bernard Sullivan and K.J. McDaniels) are pretty good, these recruits are nowhere near making up for Stitt and Grant, who were No. 1 and No. 2 in scoring, and led Clemson in rebounds and assists as well.

Clemson is not looking good this year, and the addition of Syracuse and Pittsburgh will only hurt them.

7. Florida State

The Florida State Seminoles were one of the Cinderellas this season, reaching the Sweet 16 as a No. 10 seed. They went 23-11 last season, including 11-5 in conference play.

The Seminoles have lost their best player in Chris Singleton, who went to the NBA. They also lost Derwin Kitchen, who was second on the team in scoring and led the team in assists.

Florida State is bringing in two good recruits to join Bernard James and Michael Snaer. Florida State will be a solid team, but don't count on another run in the NCAA tournament as they might not even make it this season.

6. Virginia

The Virginia Cavaliers went 16-15 with a 7-9 conference record last season, and they are going to be even better this year.

The Cavs have lost their second-best scorer in Mustapha Farrakhan, but they still have Assane Sene, Mike Scott, Jontel Evans and Sammy Zeglinski. This is going to be a good team that is joined by three top-notch recruits.

Virginia's three recruits are SG Malcolm Brogdon, SF Paul Jesperson and  Darion Atkins. Brogdon and Jesperson are both in the ESPNU Top 100, and Atkins just missed the cut. These three are going to make immediate impacts when they come into college, and they will make Virginia a good team.

5. Miami

The Miami Hurricanes went 21-15 last year despite a disappointing 6-10 record in conference play. Unlike other teams on this list, Miami still has its three best players.

Miami has Malcolm Grant, Durand Scott and Reggie Johnson all coming back. Grant led the team in points and assists, Johnson led them in rebounds and Scott was second in all three categories. This team's core is made up of three upperclassmen, and they are now a legitimate contender.

Miami's only 2011 recruit is shooting guard Bishop Daniels. He is a solid player, but he is not going to be a superstar for this team. They don't need him to be a star yet, but he will help back up Scott and Grant.

This Miami team is the strongest we've seen in years, and they are going to surprise some people this season.

4. Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Panthers are the first of the two new ACC teams on this list. The Panthers went 28-6 last season, including 15-3 in the Big East. The Panthers were a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, but they suffered an early exit at the hands of the Butler Bulldogs.

Pittsburgh has lost two great players in Brad Wanamaker and Gary McGhee, but they still have some good talent returning. The most important player on this squad is Ashton Gibbs, who averaged about 17 points per game and shot 49 percent from three last season.

The Panthers are also bringing in four good recruits, including center Khem Birch, who is one of the best big men in the class.

While they lost a lot of talent, the Panthers will still be very competitive this season.

3. Duke

The Duke Blue Devils were also a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament last season, going 32-5, including 13-3 in conference.

Duke has lost its three best players in Nolan Smith, Kyrie Irving and Kyle Singler, but they are being joined by five great recruits, including No. 1 overall recruit Austin Rivers.

This is a young Duke team with only one senior (Miles Plumlee) on the roster. Led by Rivers, but with 12 players who will contribute, this Duke team is going to be very flexible.

Duke is ranked in the top 5, but this may be a bit high. Duke is a great team, but they aren't going to be THAT good.

2. Syracuse

The Syracuse Orange are the second and final new addition on this list. The Orange were great last season, going 27-8, including 12-6 in Big East play.

The Orange are returning just about everyone from last season, including Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph. Even with center Rick Jackson departing, the Orange can utilize Fab Melo and Rakeem Christmas.

Christmas is one of the three great recruits for Syracuse, and this team is going to be stacked. Jim Boeheim and this team are going to be elite, and they could be the best team in just about any other conference.

1. North Carolina

Roy Williams' North Carolina Tar Heels are the best team in the nation, hands down. The team went 29-8 including a 14-2 record in conference play.

The Tar Heels are bringing back just about their entire team. They have Kendall Marhshall, Dexter Strickland, Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller all coming back, and they all have a chance to make it to the NBA.

UNC's starting five will be joined by two top 12 recruits in PF James Michael McAdoo and SG P.J. Hairston. These two are top-notch recruits who would be starting for any other team.

North Carolina is easily the best team in college basketball, and they are the best team in the ACC.

Josh Schoch is an aspiring sportswriter dedicated to bringing you everything related to college basketball, the NFL, MLB, NBA, Fantasy Football and more. Follow him on Twitter.