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College Basketball ACC Power Rankings: Week 16

By Charlie Maikis

Jan 14, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) reacts in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Seminoles 96-83 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) reacts in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Seminoles 96-83 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 4, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward John Collins (20) blocks the shot of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets center Ben Lammers (44) in the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Wake defeated Georgia Tech 81-69. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward John Collins (20) blocks the shot of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets center Ben Lammers (44) in the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Wake defeated Georgia Tech 81-69. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
11

Pittsburgh Panthers

Last week: 15-12, 4-10 ACC
Last rank: 12

Pittsburgh continues to do a valiant job pulling themselves out of the gutter, now having won three of their last four games. After a brutally close loss to Virginia Tech early last week, the team rallied to beat a great Florida State team. They’ve scored 80 or more points in those three recent wins, so getting their offense going outside of stars Jamel Artis and Michael Young is key. They did that this week, getting 29 from big man Sheldon Jeter in the big win over the Seminoles. Jeter dominated the huge FSU front line, shooting 12-14 including 4-5 from 3. The Panthers may have played their way onto the bubble, and if they can beat Wake Forest and North Carolina this week they may be right in the thick of things. With two ranked wins already on their resume, adding a third against UNC would be huge for a team that looked sunk just weeks ago.

10

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last week: 16-12, 7-8 ACC
Last rank: 10

Georgia Tech’s bubble hopes took a hit this week. They split crucial games against fellow bubble teams Syracuse and Miami. In losing to the lowly NC State Wolfpack, though, their resume got significantly worse. With two of three games remaining against unranked opponents, the Jackets still have a solid chance of finishing ACC play with a .500 record. They’ll need big man Ben Lammers, who had 15 combined blocks in the three games last week, to continue to lock down the paint. They head into this week with Notre Dame looming. The Irish only won the last matchup of these two by two points, so picking up a win here would be huge for Josh Pastner’s team. Even if they don’t make the NCAA Tournament, Georgia Tech has thoroughly overachieved this season.