ACC men's basketball power rankings: Duke stays on top, but Pitt's closing in

ACC men’s basketball power rankings: Duke stays on top, but Pitt’s closing in

Posted by Admin December 1, 2024 Basketball

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The first month of the 2024-25 college basketball season is officially in the books, with Feast Week and its various multi-team events having wrapped up.

With conference play set to begin this week — believe it or not — here’s where the ACC’s 18 men’s basketball programs stand in early December:

(These rankings take into account games through Saturday, Nov. 30)

ACC basketball power rankings

1. Duke

The Blue Devils’ two losses have come by a combined eight points to a pair of top-10 teams, but in each game, their lack of an elite point guard was evident in crunch time.

2. Pitt

With three victories over power-conference teams, the Panthers have a strong argument to be above Duke, but remain at No. 2 for now following a buzzer-beating win at Ohio State.

3. North Carolina

Though they were at least able to come away with a win, coming back from 21 down to beat Dayton, the Tar Heels’ two losses at the Maui Invitational showed they still have work to do.

4. Louisville

The Cardinals went 2-1 at the Battle 4 Atlantis, including a 29-point drubbing of Indiana, but may have lost standout big man Kasean Pryor to a gnarly looking leg injury.

5. Clemson

Ian Schieffelin had 18 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Tigers past previously undefeated Penn State in the title game of the Sunshine Slam Beach Division.

6. Wake Forest

Though their win against Michigan looks increasingly impressive, the Demon Deacons now have a pair of double-digit losses to major-conference teams after a 17-point setback against Florida.

7. Florida State

Leonard Hamilton’s Seminoles haven’t beaten a team in the KenPom top-100, but at 7-1, they’re in better shape than most of their conference mates.

8. Cal

Like Florida State, the Golden Bears don’t have a KenPom top-100 win, but that could change Tuesday against Missouri.

9. NC State

The Wolfpack dropped a pair of games at the Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego, putting forth a strong effort against No. 12 Purdue before getting handled by BYU.

10. SMU

The Mustangs blew past Washington State by 17 to pick up their most impressive win of the young season.

11. Syracuse

The Orange will have its hands full Tuesday against a different kind of orange — a top-10 Tennessee team that looks like one a viable national title threat.

12. Stanford

A loss to a talented Grand Canyon team can be forgiven. A seven-point home loss to Cal Poly? That’s a little less understandable.

13. Virginia

Since a humbling trip to the Bahamas, the Cavaliers have handled business, beating Manhattan and Holy Cross.

14. Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish are riding a four-game losing streak, but may be better than their 4-4 record, with an overtime setback against Rutgers and a four-point loss to Creighton to its name.