ACC men’s college basketball power rankings: Duke, Louisville on top as season wraps up

In just two days, an ACC men’s basketball regular-season champion will be crowned, with archrival North Carolina the only thing standing between Duke and a title.

While Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils remain on top, what does the rest of the conference look like? Here’s a look at where the ACC’s 18 programs stand heading into their regular-season finales:

(These rankings take into account games through Wednesday, March 5)

ACC basketball power rankings

1. Duke

Kon Knueppel has been on fire lately, averaging 16.6 points and shooting 52.4% from 3-point range over the past five games. The Blue Devils are a virtual lock for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

2. Louisville

A shorthanded Cardinals team has leaned the past two games on Chucky Hepburn and Terrence Edwards Jr., who scored 111 of Louisville’s 164 points in wins against Pitt and Cal.

3. Clemson

With a victory Wednesday at Boston College, Clemson tied a program record with 25 regular-season wins. The 17 ACC wins for Brad Brownell’s team are already a program record.

4. North Carolina

North Carolina hasn’t beaten a team ranked higher than 89th in the NCAA’s NET rankings during its six-game win streak, but a victory Saturday against Duke or a lengthy run in the ACC tournament should be enough to get UNC in the field.

5. Wake Forest

Steve Forbes has elevated Wake Forest from it was before he took over, but this is the third time in the past four seasons a late-season skid will likely cost them an NCAA Tournament berth. 

6. SMU

SMU went 2-3 over a five-game stretch without injured leading scorer Boopie Miller, a run that could ultimately keep them from the NCAA Tournament.

7. Stanford

Stanford squandered a nine-point lead with 8:30 remaining in a loss at Notre Dame that snapped a three-game win streak.

8. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is 7-2 since February, with big man Baye Ndongo averaging 20 points and 14.3 rebounds per game over the past six contests.

9. Virginia

It likely won’t be enough to get interim coach Ron Sanchez the full-time gig, but Virginia is 5-3 in its past eight games after a 10-12 start to the season.

10. Florida State

Coach Leonard Hamilton’s distinguished career is ending on a sour note, with the Seminoles 3-9 since Jan. 19.

11. Pitt

With five years left on his contract, coach Jeff Capel isn’t going anywhere. But Pitt, which is 4-12 since Jan. 5, have some serious issues to address this offseason.

12. Virginia Tech

Coach Mike Young will reportedly be back next season with an increased NIL package, a wise move from a program lacking in talent.

13. Notre Dame

Notre Dame’s win against Stanford clinched its spot in the ACC tournament.

14. Syracuse

Orange athletic director John Wildhack told the Syracuse Post-Standard that coach Adrian Autry will return next season.

15. Cal

Cal has gone 2-8 in their past 10 games after an 11-9 start.

16. NC State

One year after winning the ACC tournament, the Wolfpack is one of three teams that will not take part in the 15-team event this season.

17. Boston College

Jaeden Zackery torched his old team with 21 points in Clemson’s win against the Eagles.

18. Miami

Miami officially have its man in Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas.

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