Only one more week of tune-ups before Atlantic Coast Conference play begins. Here are this week’s ACC Power Rankings, based on myriad factors, including how teams have performed lately and the foes they've faced:
1. Duke: The 11-0 Blue Devils took the week off, but they remain the top team in the ACC, and nation. Mason Plumlee continues to lead the league in rebounding (11.5 per game), although his team ranks 11th in the league in rebounding margin (minus-0.3). Duke returns to the court Saturday versus Santa Clara.
2. NC State: Forward C.J. Leslie scored a career-high 33 points en route to the Wolfpack’s fifth straight win, over St. Bonaventure, last weekend. It marked the first time he has scored 20 or more points this season, as five NC State players are averaging double figures.
3. Maryland: The Terps allowed a 20-point lead to dwindle to three before beating Stony Brook last Friday. Maryland is fourth in the nation in both assists (18.6) and rebounds (44.4) per game.
4. North Carolina: The Tar Heels didn’t get much of a test during a blowout victory against McNeese State, but they will get one Saturday against No. 20 UNLV. Coach Roy Williams still wants a more balanced attack inside, but three different players have started at center over the past three games.
5. Virginia: Old Dominion had lost nine in a row before using a 21-4 second-half run to stun the Cavaliers -- and maybe serve up a wake-up call?. “I hope they weren’t feeling [good about] themselves: ‘Hey, we won [eight] in a row,’” coach Tony Bennett said after the loss, according to The Washington Post. “I would hope that’s not the case, but if it was, this will certainly bring you back to reality.”
6. Miami: Without big man Reggie Johnson (jammed thumb), the Hurricanes skidded to a 1-2 finish in the Diamond Head Classic, beating Hawaii before losing to No. 4 Arizona, then Indiana State. Wednesday’s game against La Salle will mark their final test before ACC play.
7. Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets have now won four straight, and six in a row at home at new McCamish Pavilion. Midseason Kentucky transfer Stacey Poole made his Tech debut last weekend, scoring seven points in the second half of his team’s win over The Citadel. But the Jackets still rank last in the league in field goal percentage (43.0).
8. Florida State: After sitting out the previous game because of disciplinary reasons, senior Michael Snaer returned with a 30-point game to help top Charlotte. That three-point win means FSU has now won three in a row since losing three straight.
9. Virginia Tech: Erick Green notched a career-high 31 points to edge Bradley by a point, but his 26 points the following day weren’t nearly enough during a blowout loss to Colorado State in the Las Vegas Classic. The Hokies have now lost three of their past five since their 7-0 start.
10. Clemson: BYU transfer Damarcus Harrison showed his potential by notching 15 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists off the bench in a win over South Carolina State. And the Tigers could use some more of that, as they rank 250th in the nation in points (64.4 per game), 195th in rebounds (34.8) and 220th in assists(12.3).
11. Boston College: BC halted Providence’s six-game winning streak, and now the Eagles have won three straight. Ryan Anderson continues to pace his team with 16.1 points (third-best in the ACC) and 9.7 rebounds (second-best in the ACC) per game.
12. Wake Forest: After beating UNC Greensboro earlier this week, coach Jeff Bzdelik said his team is starting to come together and find their roles at the right time. We’ll see. The Deacons have one more nonconference game, against Xavier, before opening their conference slate at Duke. They’re still getting outrebounded by an average of 1.9 per game, and allowing foes to shoot 43.6 percent.