\nUp next: 1\/31 at Boston College, 2\/4 vs Miami<\/p>\n
4. Miami Hurricanes (16-5, 7-4)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 5<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: W 86-63 at Florida State, L 71-68 at Pitt<\/p>\n
Miami\u2019s offense exploded in the win over Florida State on Tuesday, ending their nine game losing streak against the Seminoles. Nijel Pack and Isaiah Wong each scored 18 points and knocked down four three-pointers, and every starter scored at least 12 points. The Hurricanes had 26 assists as a team. Against Pitt on Saturday, Miami led by eight with two-and-a-half minutes remaining, but Pitt closed the game on an 11-0 run to win it. Miami is 3-4 in their last seven games, but three of those losses were by three or fewer points. Jim Larra\u00f1aga\u2019s team has come so close to adding some nice road wins to the resume, but has struggled to finish out games away from home. This is still a very good team capable of winning games in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 1\/31 vs Virginia Tech, 2\/4 at Clemson<\/p>\n
5. Duke Blue Devils (15-6, 6-4)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 4<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: L 78-75 at Virginia Tech, W 86-43 at Georgia Tech<\/p>\n
Kyle Filipowski\u2019s 29 points weren\u2019t enough to put the Blue Devils over the top in Blacksburg on Monday. Dariq Whitehead injured his leg in the loss, which held him out for Saturday\u2019s game vs Georgia Tech. Duke gave the Yellow Jackets the \u2018ole double up special, winning by 43. The Blue Devils split this week moved their true road game record to 2-4 on the season. Of note: Duke is No. 1 in the country in offensive rebounding percentage. The Whitehead injury stings, but Jon Scheyer still has plenty of talent at his disposal as his team saddles up for an important two-game home stretch this week against in-state rivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 1\/31 vs Wake Forest, 2\/4 vs North Carolina<\/p>\n
6. Pitt Panthers (15-7, 8-3)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 8 <\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: W 81-79 vs Wake Forest, W 71-68 vs Miami<\/p>\n
This veteran Pitt team fought their way to two important wins at home this week, strengthening their NCAA Tournament resume and moving to third place in the ACC. The Panthers set a program record with 18 made three-pointers in the win over Wake Forest. Blake Hinson scored 24 and was responsible for eight of the triples. Hinson kept things rolling in the comeback win over Miami, scoring 21 points and drilling five more three-pointers. Jamarius Burton added 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, continuing to strengthen his case as a First Team All-ACC candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 2\/1 at North Carolina<\/p>\n
7. NC State Wolfpack (17-5, 7-4)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 7<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: W 85-85 vs Notre Dame, W 79-77 at Wake Forest<\/p>\n
The Wolfpack went 2-0 this week and are now winners of six of their last seven. Jarkel Joiner exploded for 28 in the win over Notre Dame on Tuesday, and although they only won by three, NC State held the lead for the final 16 and half minutes of the game. Kevin Keatts\u2019 group played from behind for most of the game Saturday in Winston-Salem, but was able to secure a big-time road victory on the back of DJ Burns\u2019 career-high 31 points. What Keatts has done with this team without Jack Clark and Dusan Mahorcic is very impressive. It appears that they both might return to the lineup soon, which will make this team even more dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 2\/1 vs Florida State, 2\/4 vs Georgia Tech<\/p>\n
8. Virginia Tech Hokies (13-8, 3-7)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 10<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: W 78-75 vs Duke, W 85-70 vs Syracuse<\/p>\n
The Hokies finally got back in the win column this week after a brutal seven-game losing streak. Grant Basile was fantastic this week, going for 24 points and seven rebounds against Duke, and 25 points and five assists against Syracuse. Hunter Cattoor\u2019s presence has revitalized Mike Young\u2019s team, and they are starting to look like the team that started this season 11-1 again. Cattoor knocked down six triples on his way to 20 points against Syracuse, and then added 16 points and five long balls against Duke. The Hokies have two huge quad one opportunities coming up this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 1\/31 at Miami, 2\/4 vs Virginia<\/p>\n
9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (14-8, 6-5)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 6<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: 1\/25 L at Pitt, 1\/21 L vs NC State<\/p>\n
It was a rough week for the Demon Deacons, who have now lost three straight games. Tyree Appleby\u2019s game winning three-point attempt clanged off the rim on Wednesday in Wake Forest\u2019s loss to Pitt. On Saturday, the Deacs simply had no answer defensively for DJ Burns, allowing a crucial home game slip that they controlled for the most part to slip away. Tyree Appleby\u2019s early-season efficiency has gone out the window as of late, especially from three-point range. Across the last five games, he\u2019s shooting 7-37 (18.9%) from long distance. Wake\u2019s NCAA Tournament hopes took a huge hit this week, and with both of this week\u2019s games coming away from home, things aren\u2019t getting any easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 1\/31 at Duke, 2\/4 at Notre Dame<\/p>\n
10. Syracuse Orange (13-9, 6-5)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 9<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: L 72-68 vs North Carolina, L 85-70 at Virginia Tech<\/p>\n
Syracuse was oh-so-close to taking down North Carolina at the Carrier Dome on Tuesday, but two crucial late-game missteps proved too costly. Joe Girard saved the ball from going out of bounds under the Orange basket which led to a dunk for Pete Nance, and with a chance to tie or take the lead eight seconds later, Judah Mintz was called for a flagrant offensive foul. Mintz went for 21 points and eight assists in the loss at Virginia Tech on Saturday, but the 2-3 zone was no match for the Hokies sharpshooting. Syracuse can beat plenty of the teams ahead of them in the power rankings on any given night, but they are far too inconsistent because of their youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 1\/30 vs Virginia, 2\/4 at Boston College<\/p>\n
11. Florida State Seminoles (7-15, 5-6)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 11<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: L 86-63 vs Miami, L 82-81 vs Clemson<\/p>\n
Florida State came up empty on a two-game homestand this week against two of the best teams in the conference. Against Miami, things got out of control fast. The Seminoles trailed by 20 less than eight minutes into the game, and never made things interesting. Against shorthanded Clemson, Leonard Hamilton\u2019s unit started slow once again, quickly falling behind 16-2. This time, Florida State stormed back, and put themselves in a position to win before Clemson\u2019s late game heroics. It\u2019s surprising that Hamilton hasn\u2019t been able to get his guys to play better on the defensive end, but things are definitely starting to improve offensively. The Seminoles knocked down 13 threes in the loss Saturday, and Baba Miller scored a season-high 11 points. Safe to say this is the best seven-win team in the country, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 2\/1 at NC State, 2\/4 at Louisville<\/p>\n
12. Boston College Eagles (10-12, 4-7)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 12<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: W 75-65 vs Louisville, L 76-57 at Virginia<\/p>\n
Boston College was close to achieving the impossible on Wednesday \u2014 losing to Louisville. The Eagles closed the game on a 17-7 run and were able to win by double digits. In Charlottesville on Saturday, Earl Grant\u2019s team was fantastic for the opening 10 minutes, but Virginia settled in defensively and controlled the second half. Quentin Post continues to play like an All-ACC level player, but there simply isn\u2019t enough going on around him. Over his last three games, Post is averaging an incredible 25.0 points and 8.7 rebounds. If the supporting cast can start hitting some more shots, don\u2019t be surprised if BC pulls off a few upsets down the stretch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 1\/31 vs Clemson, 2\/4 vs Syracuse<\/p>\n
13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-12, 2-9)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 13<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: L 85-82 at NC State, W 76-62 vs Louisville<\/p>\n
Notre Dame put up a valiant fight against NC State, but couldn\u2019t secure that elusive first road win of the season. On Saturday, JJ Starling scored 22 points in the 14-point home win over Louisville. All the Fighting Irish have to show for so far during Mike Brey\u2019s last season are home wins over the two worst teams in the conference. The ninth-best offense in the conference (in KenPom adjusted efficiency) hasn\u2019t come close to offsetting the last-place defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 2\/4 vs Wake Forest<\/p>\n
14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-13, 1-10)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 14<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: L 72-51 at Clemson, L 86-43 at Duke<\/p>\n
How did this team beat Miami back on Jan. 4? The Yellow Jackets have lost seven straight, the last five of which all came by 11 points or more. This team can\u2019t do anything right offensively. They only attempted 10 total free throws in the two losses this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nUp next: 2\/1 at Louisville, 2\/4 at NC State<\/p>\n
15. Louisville Cardinals (2-19, 0-11)<\/strong><\/p>\nLast week: 15<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s results: L 75-65 at Boston College, L 76-62 at Notre Dame<\/p>\n
Louisville hosts Georgia Tech at home on Wednesday. This is the chance. Kenny Payne has to be licking his chops. <\/p>\n\n\nUp next: 2\/1 vs Georgia Tech, 2\/4 vs Florida State<\/p>\n
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