The ACC is starting to separate itself into definitive tiers. Who is in each and how do they shake out?
Just over two-thirds of the way into the conference schedule, the ACC is finally starting to separate into tiers. There are four teams which are all but eliminated from NCAA Tournament contention, five that sit firmly on the bubble, and six that are essentially locks to make the postseason. The ACC is looking to get ten or eleven out of the fifteen teams into the Tournament, a feat that would set the conference apart as one of the best in the sport’s history. Unless something crazy happens, it seems very possible and maybe even likely.
There were not a whole lot of major changes in the power structure of the ACC in the past week, just lots of little ones. No team moved more than three spots, a first since these rankings debuted five weeks ago. Only one team stayed in the same slot, the fewest since the second iteration of the rankings. That said, let’s get to it. Here’s how the ACC stacks up in Week 15.
Unfortunately it was only a matter of time until Boston College fell to the last spot in these rankings. They are the only team in the ACC under .500 overall and hold last place alone in the conference standings. Their losing streak has reached nine games, pending a matchup with Notre Dame on Tuesday night after this was written. They blew some good shots to get wins this week as the played Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech, two of the worst teams in the conference besides themselves. The Eagles managed to be tied with the Panthers at halftime before Michael Young scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half to put them away. They followed that up by allowing 29 points to Georgia Tech’s Tadric Jackson in a double-digit loss. They’ll need to get their defense right if they hope to get another win. That won’t be easy, though, as three of their remaining five games come against ranked competition. Including the aforementioned bout with Notre Dame and a trip to Tallahassee to face Florida State.
One of the most disappointing teams in the country, NC State did nothing to lift supporters spirits this week. They lost by 23 to Florida State and then by 30 to a beatable Wake Forest team. Their defense has been atrocious as they’ve ceded 80 or more points in seven straight games, including an average of 91.5 in their two games this week. While Dennis Smith Jr. has been bashed for his sometimes mindless defense, they need to improve down low as a pair of big men took them to task this week. FSU’s Jonathan Isaac and Wake’s John Collins scored 21 and 23 points respectively to lead their teams. They combined to shoot a ridiculous 15-23, and unless the Wolfpack can find a way to stop the bleeding near the rim, no amount of Smith Jr.’s heroics can save them. This week gets no easier as they are tasked with stopping the likes of Isaiah Hicks, Kennedy Meeks, and Bonzie Colson in matchups with ranked teams North Carolina and Notre Dame.