ACC men’s basketball power rankings: Duke stays on top with red-hot Louisville rising

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Conference play is well underway in the ACC, with its 18 men’s basketball programs competing almost exclusively against each other for the rest of the 2024-25 season.

While it’s more jumbled in the middle, a clear top tier is starting to emerge, led by an obvious (and familiar) standard-bearer for the conference.

Here’s where the ACC’s programs stand:

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ACC men’s basketball power rankings

(These rankings take into account games through Wednesday, Jan. 8)

1. Duke

If there were any doubts about Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils’ standing atop the league, they erased them with wins over Pitt and SMU by a combined 56 points.

2. Pitt

In the rare moments the Panthers lose this season, they lose big. Two of their three defeats this season have come by at least 25 points. A big home game against Louisville awaits Saturday.

3. Louisville

Outside of Duke, the Cardinals are the hottest team in the conference, with five straight wins. In the most recent victory, they got a career-high 32 points from Colorado transfer J’Vonne Hadley.

4. Clemson

Brad Brownell fell to 0-7 all time at the KFC Yum! Center after a 74-64 loss to Louisville that snapped a three-game win streak.

5. North Carolina

The Tar Heels just may be turning a corner. Elliot Cadeau’s four-point play gave them a much-needed win at Notre Dame, which was followed by an 82-67 victory over SMU.

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6. SMU

There’s no shame in losing to Duke and North Carolina. Doing so by a combined 42 points, and with few quality wins on their resume, hurts a little more for the Mustangs.

7. Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons have looked crisp since a 10-day break between games over the holidays, with double-digit wins over Syracuse and NC State.

8. Florida State

Since the start of December, Ole Miss transfer Malique Ewin has averaged 17.4 points per…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/acc-mens-basketball-power-rankings-231231656.html

Author : The Fayetteville Observer

Publish date : 2025-01-09 23:12:00

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