As the calendar nears the end of January, ACC men’s basketball enters an uncomfortably familiar territory, with only one team, Duke, in the top 25 of the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and a lock to make the NCAA Tournament (though Louisville and Clemson are inching closer to that).
Here’s where the ACC’s 18 programs stand:
(These rankings take into account games through Wednesday, Jan. 22)
Last week: 1
Cooper Flagg is averaging 23.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game over his past eight games, thrusting himself near the top of national player of the year conversation.
Last week: 2
The Cardinals’ win streak is up to nine games after a 25-point drubbing of SMU in which Reyne Smith drained a school-record 10 3-pointers and Chucky Hepburn dished out a school-record 16 assists.
Last week: 3
The Tigers are 7-1 since a Dec. 17 overtime loss at rival South Carolina. Chase Hunter scored a combined 43 points in wins last week over Syracuse and Pitt.
Last week: 5
Wake Forest is surging, with six straight wins entering a huge meeting with Duke. Hunter Sallis is averaging 23.3 points per game since Dec. 17.
Last week: 4
Noth Carolina has lost two in a row, but it’s not exactly reeling: Each setback was by just a point.
Last week: 6
An overtime setback at home to Clemson was Pitt’s fourth consecutive loss, their longest skid in three years.
Last week: 9
Stanford picked up its biggest win yet in the ACC, defeating North Carolina 72-71 thanks to a last-second jumper from Duke transfer Jaylen Blakes.
Last week: 7
The 14-5 Mustangs have been throttled by the ACC’s best teams, losing to Duke, North Carolina and Louisville by a combined 67 points.
Last week: 8
Leonard Hamilton’s Seminoles had won four of their past five before a 77-68 loss at Cal.
Last week: 15
Cal is the biggest mover this week, jumping five spots in the jumbled middle of the conference after back-to-back wins.
Last week: 12
After trailing by as many as 17 points, Syracuse fought back valiantly to knock off Notre Dame 77-69.
Last week: 10
The wheels are falling off for the Wolfpack, losers of three straight and five of its past six.
Last week: 11
An 18-point rout of Boston College on Jan. 13 has been Notre Dame’s only relief since New Year’s Eve, with a 1-5 record in its past six games.
Last week: 14
A 71-64 win against Virginia Tech on Wednesday ended a four-game losing streak.
Last week: 13
After getting to .500 in conference play last week, the Hokies have dropped two in a row.
Last week: 16
An 18-point win over Boston College ended Virginia’s losing streak at five games, their longest skid since 2010.
Last week: 17
The Eagles have lost five in a row. All but one was decided by at least 18 points.
Last week: 18
Only eight weeks left in the season, Canes. It’ll be over soon.
