ACC Basketball Power Rankings: 1/22

1. Duke Blue Devils (LW: 2) 15-2 (4-1)

Last Week: W vs UVA 72-70; Next Week: @ Pitt 1/22, vs GT 1/26, @ ND 1/28

Defining performance of the week: A win over #4 ranked UVA in primetime - The 2019 Blue Devils were built for these types of matchups, and heralded freshman RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson stepped up in the big moment to score 57 points and pull out a close game at Cameron Indoor.

2. Virginia Cavaliers (LW: 1) 16-1 (4-1)

Last Week: W vs VT 81-59, L @ Duke 70-72; Next Week: vs Wake 1/22, @ ND 1/26

Defining performance of the week: Knocking off in-state rivals convincingly - This was supposed to be the season that Virginia Tech closed the gap, but the Cavaliers established they still sit atop the basketball mountain in Virginia with a 22-point victory.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (LW: 4) 15-4 (5-1)

Last Week: W vs ND 75-69, W @ Miami 85-76, W vs VT 103-82; Next Week: vs ND 1/15, @ Miami 1/19, vs VT 1/21

Defining performance of the week: Capping off a perfect week with a blowout - after navigating single-digit wins against two of the lesser ACC programs, UNC put it all together at the right time to destroy a top-10 ranked Virginia Tech by 21.

4. Louisville Cardinals (LW: 6) 13-5 (4-1)

Last Week: W vs BC 80-70, W @ GT 79-51; Next Week: vs NC State 1/24, vs Pitt 1/26

Defining performance of the week: Building momentum with easy wins - The Cardinals took advantage of a light week by making light work of BC and GT, pushing Louisville near the top of the conference. They trail ACC-leaders UNC by .5 games.

5. Virginia Tech Hokies (LW: 3) 15-3 (4-2)

Last Week: L @ UVA 59-81, W vs Wake 87-71, L @ UNC 82-103; Next Week: vs Syracuse 1/26

Defining performance of the week: Laying 2 eggs against top competition - the Hokies weren’t quite ready for the bright lights, resulting in an up-and-down week that included two blowouts by 20-plus points sandwiched around an easy victory over lowly Wake Forest.

6. Syracuse Orange (LW: 7) 13-5 (4-1)

Last Week: W vs Pitt 74-63; Next Week: vs Miami 1/24, @ VT 1/26

Defining performance of the week: Capitalizing on the post-Duke high - after the upset of the season in which the Orange took down the Blue Devils, Cuse continued their strong play with a double-digit victory over Pitt.

7. NC State Wolfpack (LW: 5) 15-3 (3-2)

Last Week: L @ Wake 67-71, W @ ND 77-73; Next Week: @ Louisville 1/24, vs Clemson 1/26

Defining performance of the week: Rebounding from an early week disappointment - the Wolfpack are talented, but not without flaws as evidenced by their loss to last-place Wake Forest. Top teams show resiliency, however, and NC State stopped the bleeding with a late week victory over Notre Dame.

8. Pittsburgh Panthers (LW: 9) 12-6 (2-3)

Last Week: L @ Syracuse 63-74; Next Week: vs Duke 1/22, @ Louisville 1/26

Defining performance of the week: Hanging tough with a hot Cuse squad - Pitt only took the court once last week, and while they left empty-handed, they maintained their standing above the lower-tier of the ACC.

9. Florida State Seminoles (LW: 8) 13-5 (1-4)

Last Week: L @ BC 82-87; Next Week: vs Clemson 1/22, @ Miami 1/27

Defining performance of the week: Another early-season letdown - the Noles were a top-10 team nationally at New Years, and now find themselves near the bottom of the ACC. A third-straight loss to BC proved that the early season rankings may have been a mirage in Tallahassee.

10. Clemson Tigers (LW: 11) 11-6 (1-3)

Last Week: W vs GT 72-60; Next Week: @ FSU 1/22, @ NC State 1/26

Defining performance of the week: Turning the tide - Clemson, like FSU, had loads of promise in the early stages of the season before the bottom fell out after the New Year. The Tigers ended a 3-game losing streak with a 12-point victory over Georgia Tech.

11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (LW: 10) 10-8 (2-3)

Last Week: L @ Clemson 60-72, L vs Louisville 51-79; Next Week: vs ND 1/22, @ Duke 1/26

Defining performance of the week: Crash and burn - The Yellow Jackets had a great start to conference play, falling just 3 points shy of a 3-0 record. In one week, however, GT is freefalling after getting stomped by Clemson and Louisville.

12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (LW: 12) 11-7 (1-4)

Last Week: L @ UNC 69-75, L vs NC State 73-77; Next Week: @ GT 1/22, vs UVA 1/26, vs Duke 1/28

Defining performance of the week: Close but no cigar - the Fighting Irish managed to keep games with quality opponents UNC and NC State close, losing by a combined 10 points.

13. Boston College Eagles (LW: 14) 10-7 (1-4)

Last Week: L @ Louisville 70-80, W vs FSU 87-82; Next Week: @ Wake 1/26,

Defining performance of the week: Bowman fuels the upset - BC guard Ky Bowman dropped 37 points to lead the Eagles over FSU, giving BC a signature victory what looks like a down year.

14. Miami Hurricanes (LW: 13) 9-8 (1-4)

Last Week: L vs UNC 76-85; Next Week: @ Syracuse 1/24, vs FSU 1/27

Defining performance of the week: Canes give up another second half lead - it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, the Canes will build a lead and fade late. The same was true Saturday against UNC.

15. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (LW: 15) 8-9 (1-4)

Last Week: W vs NC State 71-67, L @ VT 71-87; Next Week: @ UVA 1/22, vs BC 1/26

Defining performance of the week: Learning how to win - the Demon Deacons are one of the youngest teams in the nation, and with that comes plenty of growing pains. Wake Forest moved in the right direction with a hard-fought victory over NC State.