ACC Power Rankings: FSU Jumps Two Spots While Pitt and Virginia Tumble

The ACC had its ups and downs in Week 3 of the college basketball action. Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, NC State, and Syracuse remain ranked 1-though-5 in the ACC Power Rankings.

While the top five remain unchanged, six teams moved up, with Florida State being the biggest mover, going from No. 17 to No. 15. Meanwhile, Virginia and Pitt fell to No. 10 and No. 17, respectively.

ACC Power Rankings: FSU Jumps Two Spots While Pitt and Virginia Tumble

1. Duke Blue Devils 7-0. No Change

Duke went 3-0 this past week. The Blue Devils opened the week by snapping a two-game losing streak to Kansas with a 78-66 victory at Madison Square Garden. Cameron Boozer posted his third double-double, and second straight that included at least five assists, to lead three players in double-figures. The victory over KU was the Blue Devils’ first since 2019 (also in the Champions Classic), and therefore the first of Jon Scheyer’s era. The victory over the Jayhawks was the Blue Devils’ ninth straight at MSG.

Duke ran past Niagara and Howard in the Brotherhood games. Former Blue Devils Greg Paulus coaches Niagara, and Kenny Blakeney directs Howard. Six-foot-11 sophomore Patrick Ngongba continues to be highly efficient, producing his best stretch in the early season with 46 points, on 15 of 16 shooting, and 19 rebounds in the three games this week. This is the second straight year the Blue Devils are unblemished after seven games and the third time this decade.

Next Game: vs.No. 21 Arkansas (5-1) on November 27, CBS Thanksgiving Classic in Chicago.

2. Louisville Cardinals 4-0. No Change

Louisville improved to 5-0 for the first time this decade with a 74-64 victory over arch-rival Cincinnati on Friday. While the Cardinals’ 74 points were a season low, the 64 points were the second-fewest of the season. Ryan Conwell and Mikel Brown Jr. combined for 47 points for the Cardinals against the Bearcats. It was the fourth straight game that Conwell and Brown Jr. each had scored at least 18 points. The pair is the top-scoring duo in NCAA basketball at 40 points a game.

Up Next: Nov. 24 vs. Eastern Michigan and Nov. 26 vs. NJIT

3. North Carolina Tar Heels 5-0. No Change

UNC is 5-0 for the first time since 2022-23, following its 74-61 victory over Navy earlier this week. The 74 points were a season-low for the Tar Heels, who got 23 points and 13 rebounds from freshman sensation Caleb Wilson. Wilson has made an impact on both ends of the floor, producing a double-double for the season while also recording nearly four steals/blocks a game. The Tar Heels’ victory over Navy was the program’s 2,400th.

What’s Next: Fort Myers’ Tip off: vs. St. Bonaventure on Nov. 25 and vs. Michigan State on Nov. 27.

4. North Carolina State Wolfpack 4-0. No Change

NC State heads to the Maui Invitational undefeated after defeating VCU 85-79 in its lone game this past week. Despite recording its lowest scoring output of the campaign, the Wolfpack is still third in the nation in scoring at 100 points a contest. Darrion Williams, who has tallied 60 points and 17 rebounds over the last two outings, leads five Wolfpack players in double-figures at 23.3 points a game.

Next Up: Seton Hall in Maui, guaranteed two games in the Maui Invitational.

5. Syracuse Orange 4-0. No Change

The Orange are 4-0 for the first time since 2017-18 as they face a difficult draw against No. 2 Houston and No. 24 Kansas in the Players Era Festival. SU has scored 78 points in all four games and owns the No. 1-ranked defense with a defensive rating of 77.8.  JJ Starling returned after missing almost the entire first three games. Eight players are averaging at least five points a game.

Next Up: Players Era Festival:  No. 2 Houston on Monday and No. 24 Kansas on Tuesday.

 

6. Virginia Tech Hokies 5-0. Up One Spot

Virginia Tech is 5-0 for the first time in three seasons. The Hokies are 35th in the nation in scoring (95.2). 44th in offensive efficiency
(122.5) and 11th in field goal attempts (69.2). Four players are averaging at least 12 points a game, with Toibu Lawal compiling a double-double (14.8 points, 12.0 rebounds) and Neoklis Avdalas (15.2 points, 5.8 assists) among the leaders.  Leading scorer Amari Hansberry (16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds) missed the Hokies’ last game against Bryant with a minor injury.

Next Up: Battle For Atlantis: vs. Colorado State (Nov. 26), guaranteed three games in the Battle for Atlantis

7. Wake Forest Demon Deacons 4-2. Up One Spot

Wake Forest bounced back from a one-point loss to No. 11 Texas Tech in the opening round of the Baha Mar Championship with a buzzer-beating win over Memphis (69-68) in the consolation game. Juke Harris continued his outstanding start with a pair of double-doubles in the Bahamas while Myles Colvin, who hit the game-winning three-pointer, tallied 19 points in each contest.

Next Up: hosting Campbell (Nov. 25) and Northeastern (Nov. 28)

8. Clemson Tigers 6-1. Up One Spot

Clemson swept their three games this past week, including narrow victories over WVU (70-67) and Georgia (97-94 OT) to win the Charleston Classic. The Tigers’ bench, which goes five deep, was essential to their victories in Charleston. Clemson reserves scored 61 points and outscored their opponents by nine over the last two games. The win over Georgia gave the Tigers their second title in the event.

Next Up: home versus Alabama A&M on November 28.

9. SMU Mustangs 6-0. Up One Spot.

SMU is off to its best start since 2015. The Mustangs hit the century mark for the third time in four games in their victories over Arkansas Pine Bluff and Arkansas State.  The Mustangs rank in the top 30 of the country in scoring (93.3), field goal percentage (51.2%), assists (19.8), steals (11.3), and turnovers forced (17.8).

Kevin Miller — who totaled 32 points, 16 assists, and 10 steals over the last two games – leads five players averaging double-figures, including three over 15 points, with 19.5 points. Jaron Pierre Jr., the Mustangs’ second leading scorer, also had a big two games, though nothing compared to that of BJ Edwards.  Edwards, third on the team in scoring (15.9), recorded a rare triple-double against Arkansas State with 24 points, 13 assists, and 10 steals.

Next Up:  Vs. Radford (Nov. 24), at Mississippi State (Nov. 28)

10. Virginia Cavaliers 5-1. Down Four Spots

Virginia went 1-1 in the Greenbrier Tip-off Tournament Mountain Division, defeating Northwestern (83-78) on the opening day before falling to Butler (80-73) on Sunday.  Thijs De Ridder and senior guard Malik Thomas led the way for the Cavaliers in West Virginia. Ugonna Onyenso finished the tournament with eight blocked shots, all coming against Butler.

Next Up: hosting Queens on November 28.

11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 5-1. No Movement

Georgia Tech is 5-1 after just six games for the second time in the last 10 seasons, with 2020-21 being the other, the last time the Yellow Jackets made the NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets are seventh in defensive rating at 83.1, but they rank 343rd offensively. They also outrebound opponents by nearly four boards per game. Senegalese nationals Mouhamed Sylla, who averages a double-double for the season, and Baye Ndongo combined for 24 points, 18 rebounds, and two blocks a game.

Next Up: Emerald Classic vs. DePaul in the semifinals on Nov. 28. Nov. 29 vs. either LSU/Drake.

12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4-1. No Movement.

Notre Dame followed its narrow loss to Ohio State with a close victory over Bellarmine in its lone game this week. Leading scorer Markus Burton (19.4 points) topped the 20-point mark for the third time this season against Bellarmine. Carson Tawt has posted double-figure rebounds in each game this season and leads the NCAA with 12.4 boards a contest. Meanwhile, freshman Jalen Haralson has emerged as a reliable shot-maker over his last three appearances, totaling 46 points on 17 of 28 shooting (60.7%).

Next Up: Players Era Festival vs. No. 24 Kansas (Nov. 24) and Rutgers (Nov. 25).

13. Miami Hurricanes 5-1. No Movement

Miami went 2-1, beating up on Elon and Delaware State after falling to Florida by 14 in Jacksonville.  Senior forward Malik Reneau has scored at least 19 points in all six games this year.

Next Up: ESPN’s Events Invitational vs. BYU (Nov. 27); then play Georgetown/Dayton (Nov. 28)

14. California Golden Bears 5-1. Move Up 1 Spot

Cal went 2-0 this past week. The Golden Beas are top 100 offensively, averaging 85.2 points while shooting 49.2% from the field and 36.3% from the 3-point line. Syracuse transfer Chris Bell appears to be coming into his own as he has scored in double-figures in each of his last five appearances, including putting up 21 points against Sacramento State this week. Delaware transfer John Camden also had a strong week with 34 points on 11 of 24 shooting, including 6 of 16 from the 3-point line.

Next Up: vs. No. 19 UCLA (Nov. 25) in the Empire Classic

15. Florida State Seminoles 4-1. Moved Up 2 Spots

FSU followed up its two-point setback to Florida with easy victories over UT Martin and Georgia Southern. St. Bonaventure transfer Lajae Jones continues his rise and leads the Seminoles with 17.8 points on 46.7% shooting from the field and 3.4 threes at a 42.5% clip. Jones poured in 36 points on 10 of 21 shooting, all field goal attempts coming from the 3-point line.

Next Up: hosting Cal State Bakersfield (Nov. 25), vs. Texas A&M (Nov. 28) in Tampa (FL)

16. Stanford Cardinal 4-1. No Movement

Stanford had its four-game winning streak snapped with an eight-point home loss to Seattle as star freshman Ebuka Okorie finished with 17 points, on 5 of 15 shooting, thus snapping his run of scoring at least 20 points at four games.

Next Up:  Acrisure Invitational in Palm Desert, vs. Minnesota (Nov. 27), vs. Saint Louis/ Santa Clara (Nov. 28)

17. Pittsburgh Panthers 4-3. Down 3 Spots

Pitt went 1-2 this past week, losing to UCF in the Legends Classic and then falling to Quinnipiac by eight at Petersons Events Center. Defense was a huge issue for the Panthers in the last two games, as opponents are shooting 54.5% from the field (60-110) and 48.5% from the 3-point line (17-35). Brandin Cummings sat out the Quinnipiac game with a lower-body injury.

Next Up: hosting Ohio State on Nov. 28.

 

18. Boston College Eagles 3-4. No Movement