We’ve reached the midway point of conference play, so it’s high time we take a look at where each team stacks up as the ACC Tournament draws near.
1) Virginia Cavaliers 20-4, 9-3 ACC, 2nd in ACC
The Wahoos are beginning to show signs of the defensive juggernaut they were last season. After losing three of their first four conference games, the Cavs have quietly won six straight, including a 63-47 domination of the Louisville Cardinals on the road. Aside from road games at Duke and No. 12 Miami (Florida) the Hoos have an extremely favorable schedule the rest of the way.
2)North Carolina Tar Heels 20-4, 9-2 ACC, 1st in ACC
By far the most talented team in the ACC, the Heels have slipped over the past week after dropping road games at Louisville and Notre Dame. The Heels are also dead last when it comes to 3-point shooting in ACC play, shooting an abysmal 30.8 percent in conference play. ACC Player-of-the-Year candidate and senior Brice Johnson is the star of the team as he’s been a dominant force down low all season. But once senior Marcus Paige finds his shooting stroke again, this team will be a tough out, come March.
3) Miami Hurricanes 19-4, 8-3 ACC, 4th in ACC
The Hurricanes are by far the most veteran-laden team in the ACC this season. The Canes are undefeated at home during conference play this season and aside from a loss on the road against NC State, have a great tournament resume. With road games at North Carolina and Notre Dame still to come, the Hurricanes still have plenty to prove moving forward.
4) Louisville Cardinals 19-5, 8-3 ACC, 3rd in ACC
The Cardinals won’t be playing in either the ACC or NCAA Tournaments come March due to a self-imposed postseason ban, but that hasn’t stopped head coach Rick Pitino and co. Louisville entered ACC play after having steamrolled through an incredibly weak nonconference schedule (212th-toughest in the nation) and didn’t know if they could compete with preseason favorites North Carolina and Virginia. Eight wins later, including a win over the Heels, and the Cards are proving they can not only contend but maybe even win the conference regular season title.
5) Notre Dame Fighting Irish 17-7, 8-4 ACC, 5th in ACC
Aside from wins at Duke and home against North Carolina, the Irish have had an average season thus far. The Jan. 9 home loss to Pittsburgh hurts them the most since the Panthers have also been mediocre in conference play. Nonconference losses to Monmouth and Alabama don’t look pretty either.
6) Duke Blue Devils 18-6, 7-4 ACC, 6th in ACC
It’s been a rough season for head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his highly touted freshman recruiting class. The last time the Blue Devils were unranked in the AP Poll, Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” was the No. 1 song, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” was the No. 1 movie, the final book in the “Harry Potter” series was released and Bob Barker made his last appearance on “The Price is Right.” The win over Louisville Monday night was the Blue Devils’ first ACC win over a team with a winning conference record.
7) Syracuse Orange 16-8, 6-5 ACC, 10th in ACC
Senior Michael Gbinije’s leadership helped the Orange through a rough start to conference play. And his 17.2 points per game he’s averaged all season doesn’t hurt. The Orange also got its head coach back from suspension and has won six of its last seven.
8) Florida State Seminoles 16-7, 6-5 ACC, 9th in ACC
The ‘Noles, like almost every other team in the ACC, had a rough start to conference play. But winning six of their last eight, including a win over No. 13 Virginia, helped them recover from that awful start.
9) Pittsburgh Panthers 17-6, 6-5 ACC, 8th in ACC
The Panthers have been average over the last month or so. They’ve alternated wins and losses over their last eight games after a 13-1 start.
10) Clemson Tigers 14-10, 7-5 ACC, 7th in ACC
The most surprising team in the ACC this season, the Tigers, has stumbled after jumping out to a 5-1 start to ACC play. Wins over Louisville, Duke and Miami (FL) will be great for them come March but losses to UMass and Virginia Tech won’t.
11) Virginia Tech Hokies 13-12, 5-7 ACC, 11th in ACC
The Hokies are in their second year under head coach Buzz Williams and are making great strides toward relevancy. However, they’ve lost five of their last six games and don’t seem to be turning the corner anytime soon.
12) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 12-11, 2-8 ACC, 12th in ACC
The Yellow Jackets haven’t had much to celebrate about this season. With two wins in its last 10 games, Georgia Tech will find itself near the bottom of the ACC once again.
13) NC State Wolfpack 12-12, 2-9 ACC, 13th in ACC
The Pack had high hopes entering the season, but an injury to West Virginia transfer Terry Henderson and one 0-5 start to ACC play later has it looking for answers. The lone bright spot for the Pack has been the play of junior Cat Barber and sophomore Abdul-Malik Abu. Barber’s 23.5 points per game are tops in the ACC and Abu’s nine double-doubles rank T-22nd in the country.
14) Wake Forest Demon Deacons 10-13, 1-10 ACC, 14th in ACC
The Deacons’ lone conference win is a 77-74 win over, you guessed it, NC State.
15) Boston College Eagles 7-17, 0-11 ACC, 15th in ACC
The Eagles have lost 10 of their 11 conference games by 10 points or more. Next season can’t come quick enough.