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College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 18

By Nathaniel Reeves

Feb 1, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason (0) celebrates after forcing a turnover during the second half of the game against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason (0) celebrates after forcing a turnover during the second half of the game against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 4, 2017; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard London Perrantes (32) gestures on the court against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers won 67-42. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard London Perrantes (32) gestures on the court against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers won 67-42. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Virginia Cavaliers

Last week: 20-9, 10-7 ACC
Last rank: 19

Whatever was ailing the Cavaliers two weeks ago appears to be fixed, as Virginia is finally playing good enough offensively to support one of the best defenses in the nation heading into the ACC Tournament.

Virginia had just one game in the final week of the regular season, an easy 67-42 victory over Pittsburgh at John Paul Jones Arena. While the Panthers aren’t very good, Virginia looks like a completely different team than even 17 days ago, when it lost its fourth straight game in an ugly 54-48 overtime home defeat against Miami.

The Cavaliers’ defense is playing an elite level over the past three games, including holding North Carolina to its lowest point total since 1979 back on Feb. 27. An even more welcome sign was London Perrantes having his best shooting performance of the year on Saturday, while recent contributions from Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome have also helped.

Outside of that ugly mid-February stretch, the Cavaliers own a resume worthy of an Elite Eight contender or more, and can beat anyone if Perrantes can effectively carry the offense. Virginia still ranks fifth in KenPom’s overall adjusted efficiency ratings behind the No. 1 defense that allows opponents to shoot just 39.1 percent from the field.

The Cavaliers slipped all the way to the No. 8 seed in the loaded ACC and will take on the winner of Georgia Tech-Pittsburgh in Wednesday’s second round.