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ACC College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 15

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By @writered21

ACC Power Rankings For Week 15

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Duke made the most noise in the ACC last week with a win over arch-rival North Carolina in Durham on Wednesday night. The Blue Devils are rounding into form offensively, but is their defense enough to carry them to the top of the ACC and beyond? And what about Syracuse after thier win over Louisville on Wednesday? Let's see what this week's power rankings have to say.

15. Boston College (9-16, 1-12 ACC)

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15. Boston College (9-16, 1-12 ACC)

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The last time the Boston College Eagles won a basketball game, the New England Patriots hadn't yet been crowned Super Bowl champions for the fourth time. That win, by two points over Georgia Tech, is the only success the Eagles have found in what has become another long, wasted year for BC in the ACC.

14. Georgia Tech (12-14, 3-11)

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14. Georgia Tech (12-14, 3-11)

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The Yellow Jackets appeared to be sinking quickly toward the bottom of the ACC before putting it all together for one night anyway in a win over Clemson. But Georgia Tech ranks outside the top 200 in scoring offense, assists and field goal percentage, a combination that gets you nowhere in a league with as many top defensive teams as the ACC.

13. Virginia Tech (10-16, 2-11)

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13. Virginia Tech (10-16, 2-11)

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The Hokies were playing better basketball, getting a couple wins and playing close in their losses, and then this past week happened. Virginia Tech was battered twice in a row at Clemson and Miami, losing by a combined 45 points and not coming closer than 21 in either contest.

12. Wake Forest (12-15, 4-10)

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12. Wake Forest (12-15, 4-10)

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In a league with three excellent teams, three very good teams, five middle-of-the-road teams and four bad teams, the Demon Deacons are trying desperately to escape that bottom rung. A win over No. 2 Virginia on Saturday would have helped that effort, but even in a tough one-point loss, Wake Forest showed progress. Konstantinos Mitroglou hit six three-pointers in that game.

11. Clemson (15-11, 7-7)

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11. Clemson (15-11, 7-7)

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The Tigers are another team that was trying to get out from their current place in the ACC hierarchy, but that loss at Georgia Tech on Monday, along with now having dropped three of four, has made life difficult for Clemson. Well, that and an offense that is even worse statistically than that of Georgia Tech. The Tigers are 296th in the nation in scoring at 62.2 PPG and 288th in shooting (41.0 percent).

10. Miami (17-9, 7-6)

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10. Miami (17-9, 7-6)

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The Hurricanes took advantage of a pair of games last week against the ACC's bottom-feeders, defeating Boston College and Virginia Tech to keep their hopes alive for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Miami has games left at No. 12 Louisville (tomorrow) and at home vs. No. 15 North Carolina (Feb. 28), and wins in both might be necessary for the Hurricanes to feel safe.

9. Florida State (15-12, 7-7)

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9. Florida State (15-12, 7-7)

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FSU also feasted on the ocean floor of the conference last week, winning by four at Georgia Tech and by nine at home over Boston College. Now, things get more difficult, as the Seminoles enter a three-game stretch that features games at No. 2 Virginia on Sunday, at Miami on Wednesday and then home to No. 12 Louisville next Saturday.

8. N.C. State (15-11, 6-7)

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8. N.C. State (15-11, 6-7)

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Just when you think the Wolfpack are out, they pull you back in. After losses at Wake Forest and at home to Virginia, each by four points, it appeared N.C. State was folding up the tents for the season. But then last Saturday, the Wolfpack delivered an inspired effort in a 74-65 upset win at Louisville. Now, the Wolfpack have four winnable games and a trip to rival North Carolina to close out the campaign.

7. Pittsburgh (17-10, 6-7)

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7. Pittsburgh (17-10, 6-7)

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Pitt looked lost offensively for several stretches against Virginia in a 61-49 loss on Monday night. It was quite the contrast from the showcase the Panthers put on just 48 hours earlier in an 89-76 win over North Carolina that wasn't anywhere near that close. Pitt gets back to their Big East roots tomorrow going to Syracuse, before hosting Boston College on Tuesday.

6. North Carolina (18-8, 8-5)

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6. North Carolina (18-8, 8-5)

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This has just been one of those years for the Tar Heels. From accusations of improprieties off the court, to the death of legendary former head coach Dean Smith, to now a loss at Duke and a run of four losses in five games. Most troubling for the Heels in that time is that the best defensive effort they've turned in was giving up 68 to BC. In losses to Louisville, Virginia, Pitt and Duke, UNC has allowed 83.5 PPG.

5. Louisville (20-6, 8-5)

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5. Louisville (20-6, 8-5)

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Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals are 22nd in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 59.4 PPG. But that has risen a bit after Louisville's last two outings -- both losses. The Cardinals were handled by N.C. State at home and then went to Syracuse where they were beaten 69-59. Louisville has three games left with Miami, Georgia Tech and Louisville to get it together before finishing conference play at home against Notre Dame and Virginia.

4. Syracuse (17-9, 8-5)

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4. Syracuse (17-9, 8-5)

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This is probably high for the Orange, but you have to give them credit for the win over Louisville and they played pretty hard in an 80-72 loss to Duke the game before that. Tomorrow, Syracuse gets a chance to erase the sting of a Feb. 7 loss at Pitt when the Panthers come to the Carrier Dome. Then, it's No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 4 Duke and No. 2 Virginia all in a row for the Orange.

3. Notre Dame (23-4, 11-3)

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3. Notre Dame (23-4, 11-3)

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The Irish did nothing wrong last week, beating Clemson narrowly and handling Wake Forest by 13. But Notre Dame has just one ranked team left on the schedule, at No. 12 Louisville on Mar. 4, and you get the feeling the Fighting Irish need to win that game to re-establish the perception that they can win the ACC Tournament. That 30-point loss at Duke on Feb. 7 hurt Notre Dame more than just in these power rankings.

2. Duke (23-3, 10-3)

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2. Duke (23-3, 10-3)

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If you wanted to argue that Duke should be first in these rankings based on recent form and a win at Virginia on Jan. 31, no one would think less of you for it. The Blue Devils are still heavily reliant on the three-point shot which will get them beat at some point when it matters, but freshman post Jahlil Okafor showed some offensive moves against UNC on Wednesday that any defender in the country would be hard-pressed to stop one-on-one.

1. Virginia (24-1, 12-1)

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1. Virginia (24-1, 12-1)

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There was almost no argument to be made about the top spot here when Virginia nearly blew a 13-point lead and barely held off pesky Wake Forest 61-60 last Saturday. The 12-point win over Pitt on Monday was a little more convincing and the defense is as good as ever, but the offense has to be better overall for Virginia to be a factor deep into the postseason. UVA hosts FSU on Sunday night.

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