With the regular season's final stretch nearly upon us, our beats are here with another installment of The Chronicle's Power Rankings of each team vying for the ACC crown.
1. Duke (21-4, 11-3)
Previous ranking: 1 // Average ranking: 1.0
There’s no doubt that these Blue Devils are the most talented and postseason-ready group in the conference, but this fact still remains: with just six games left until the ACC tournament in Brooklyn, N.Y., Duke is in a dead heap for the regular-season title. Tuesday night’s in-state battle with Wake Forest is crucial, especially considering that Notre Dame hosts lowly Boston College the next evening. One thing that could spur head coach Mike Krzyzewski and company, though, is an efficient Trevor Keels. The brawny combo guard is averaging 16.7 points on 54.8% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc over the last three contests, a trend that could be just what the Blue Devils need to complement their already wide array of scorers. -Max Rego
2. Notre Dame (18-7, 11-3)
Previous ranking: 2 // Average ranking: 2.5
Since falling to Duke two weeks ago, the Fighting Irish have gotten back on track, not losing since and solidifying their second-place standing in the ACC. Notre Dame’s 11-3 conference record is actually the same as Duke’s, and with a remaining schedule of mostly weak teams hosted in its home arena, it’s not unreasonable to consider the Fighting Irish a regular-season title threat. The key for them in their final stretch is being more than a really good one-trick pony. While a great 3-point shooting team, figuring out how to convert when that’s taken away, which is what killed it against Duke, will be the million-dollar question for Notre Dame. It currently has NCAA tournament hopes, but success beyond making it to that point will largely depend on how it responds to adversity. -Sasha Richie
3. Miami (18-7, 10-4)
Previous ranking: 4 // Average ranking: 3.5
After a 2-0 week featuring wins against Georgia Tech and Wake Forest, it would appear that Miami’s midseason slump is coming to an end. Saturday’s win against the Demon Deacons was especially important for head coach Jim Larrañaga’s Hurricanes, who received star performances from Kameron McGusty and Isaiah Wong to inch closer to the top of the ACC standings. Yes, the red-hot Hurricanes of December and January have cooled considerably, but Saturday’s win is just the latest evidence that this veteran team is to be taken seriously. -Jonathan Levitan
4. Virginia (16-9, 10-5)
Previous ranking: 5 // Average ranking: 4.0
Last week, Virginia eked out a win against Miami. This past week, the Cavaliers did something a lot more impressive: down the Blue Devils. Sophomore guard Reece Beekman sank the game-winning shot in Virginia’s 69-68 win against No. 7 Duke. The team went on to beat Georgia Tech Saturday night in another defensive battle. Head coach Tony Bennett’s squad has impressed in the last two weeks, but it will take much more effort to rise further in the rankings. Virginia’s previous losses to N.C. State and North Carolina illustrate the heightened parity in the ACC, which also means that a win won’t push the Cavaliers up in the rankings, but a loss will certainly drop them out of the top five. Jayden Gardner and Kihei Clark must continue to excel for this upstart Virginia team to have any shot at the NCAA tournament. -Glen Morgenstern
5. Wake Forest (20-6, 10-5)
Previous ranking: 3 // Average ranking: 4.9
The Demon Deacons continue to be an enigma in the ACC. Clearly one of the more complete teams, they recently fell to Miami, their second loss against the Hurricanes this season. While graduate student guard Alondes Williams continues to impress, leading the conference in scoring and assists, his ball security has taken a tumble—the Oklahoma transfer turned the ball over seven times in Wake Forest’s latest loss. While head coach Steve Forbes’ squad still is solid in the top tier of the ACC standings, its shot at a top-four spot in the conference may be affected by its upcoming week—at our No. 1 ACC team in Duke, and at home against the No. 2 team, Notre Dame. -Micah Hurewitz
Complete rankings:
1. Duke (PR: 1 // AR: 1.0)
2. Notre Dame (PR: 2 // AR: 2.5)
3. Miami (PR: 4 // AR: 3.5)
4. Virginia (PR: 5 // AR: 4.0)
5. Wake Forest (PR: 3 // AR: 4.9)
6. North Carolina (PR: 6 // AR: 5.6)
7. Virginia Tech (PR: 9 // AR: 6.8)
8. Syracuse (PR: 8 // AR: 8.3)
9. Florida State (PR: 7 // AR: 10.1)
10. Clemson (PR: 10 // AR: 10.8)
11. Louisville (PR: 11 // AR: 11.4)
12. Georgia Tech (PR: 12 // AR: 12.0)
13. Pittsburgh (PR: 15 // AR: 12.3)
14. Boston College (PR: T-13 // AR: 12.9)
15. N.C. State (PR: T-13 // AR: 14.1)
Take a look at last week's Power Rankings here.
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