Blue Devils and Tigers Remain Undefeated In ACC Play

Welcome back to the ACC with JP! A wild week 3 of ACC play has come to a close and we’ve got everything you need to know from wild finishes, upsets, and the continued existence of Boston College! Just as a reminder we’re going to be using the NET ratings released by the NCAA as a major factor for our tournament outlook. Top 50 is usually the cut-off for an at-large bid to the dance and the higher you are the better your seed typically is!

1. Duke Blue Devils 17-1 (6-0)

Last week: Won 71-56 @ Cal, Won 80-50 @ Stanford

Duke not only took care of business but did so in style on the west coast winning by a combined 45 points against Cal and Stanford with Cameron Boozer scoring 21 vs Cal and 30 the Cardinal which included out-scoring Stanford’s entire team in the 1st half. Against the Golden Bears Duke actually trailed late in the first half, but a 13-0 run to close the frame led to a comfortable win. At Stanford against a Cardinal squad coming off a major victory (that we’ll get to later) Duke controlled the pace and flustered Stanford into 18 turnovers and held the flamethrower that is Ebuka Okorie to just 9 points. Both wins were Quad 1s bringing Duke’s nation-leading total to 8 in that metric. 17-1 is Duke’s best record through 18 games since the 2010-11 season and the Blue Devils are favorites in every matchup going forward save for the February 21st meeting with Michigan in Washington D.C. per KenPom. Duke will return from their road trip to some time off before a Saturday showdown with Wake Forest at Cameron Indoor. Much like Stanford’s Okorie Duke is going to be faced with an elite #1 scorer in Wake’s Duke Harris (20.1 PPG) but Jon Scheyer’s squad should be more than up for the challenge.

Upcoming schedule: January 24th vs Wake Forest 5:45pm The CW

Tournament outlook: #2 NET, Strong contention for a #1 seed

2. Clemson Tigers 16-3 (6-0)

Last week: Won 74-50 vs Boston College, Won 69-59 vs Miami

Clemson is 6-0 in ACC play for just the second time in program history and did so in impressive fashion against one of the ACC’s best on Saturday. Before that, though, Clemson dispatched Boston College with ease behind 25 points from Nick Davidson off the bench. Against Miami in a battle of ACC unbeatens it was a different big man transfer chipping in for the Tigers as Carter Welling had 18 points and 9 rebounds in a game where Clemson never trailed and led by as many as 17. Clemson held Miami to 6-24 from long range and Miami’s Tre Donaldson, Malik Reneau, and Tru Washington to 8-29 from the field with 16 total turnovers for the Hurricanes as well. Brad Brownell’s squad is playing at a high level and with the Q1 win against Miami the résumé is shaping up nicely. Another opportunity this week at home vs an N.C. State team that is leaking air right now but should still be another high octane showdown in this rivalry. Then the Tigers will go to Atlanta to face Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Yellow Jacket.

Upcoming schedule: January 20th vs N.C. State 7pm ACCN, January 24th 12pm @ GT ACCN

Tournament outlook: #25 NET, Avoid the landmines

3. Virginia Cavaliers 16-2 (5-1)

Last week: Won 79-70 @ Louisville, Won 72-68 @ SMU

The Cavalier hype train has officially left the station after a 2-0 week on the road against high quality competition. The Cavaliers led wire-to-wire against Louisville and really a nine-point margin is deceptive as to the level of control exhibited by Virginia in this game. Louisville was never comfortable and never threatened at home! In their second game the Cavaliers held Boopie Miller to just 12 points in 35 minutes but SMU fought hard and led with under three minutes to play but Thijs De Ridder scored 7 of UVA’s 8 final points to secure a fifth straight victory. Malik Thomas chipped in 19 and 23 points in both wins as the San Francisco transfer has really been heating up in league play. Both wins for UVA were Quad 1 bringing their record to 4-1 with the 2nd most Q1 wins in the ACC behind Duke’s 8. They’ll have another one of those opportunities vs a wounded North Carolina squad that might be coming to Charlottesville at the wrong time. 

Upcoming schedule: January 24th vs North Carolina 2pm ESPN

Tournament outlook: #14 NET, Putting themselves in some serious convos

4. Miami Hurricanes 15-3 (4-1)

Last week: Won 81-69 @ Notre Dame, Lost 69-59 @ Clemson

Miami’s time as unbeaten in ACC play is over but the Hurricanes still had a solid week. In the win in South Bend the Hurricanes trailed early and were tied at half but a 13-1 run to start the 2nd half coupled with 18 Irish turnovers spelled doom for the home team. Miami dominated the paint shooting over 60% from 2 and knocked down 17 of 21 from the free throw line to lock down a solid win that could potentially end up a Q1 victory. Then in the matchup of undefeateds Miami just could never get going shooting 6-24 from downtown and turning the ball over on nearly 25% of their possessions against Clemson’s top-flight defense. Now Miami has a shot to stack some wins again with a current schedule featuring five consecutive games vs non tournament teams, but on the flipside that means that they really can’t afford any slip ups.

Upcoming schedule: January 20th vs Florida St. 7pm ESPNU, January 24th @ Syracuse 2pm ACCN

Tournament outlook: #30 NET, Still in good position just don’t lose to Florida State dude

5. Syracuse Orange 12-6 (3-2)

Last week: Won 94-86 vs Florida St., Lost 81-73 (OT) @ Boston College

The confounding case of the Orange continues as they followed their nice week 2 with a third straight win against Florida State before disaster struck. With a 7 point lead with just under 3 minutes remaining Syracuse would turn the ball over 4 times and keep Boston College around so Donald Hand Jr. could hit a game-tying three to send the game into an OT period where Syracuse would never lead. Giving Boston College their first ACC win in dramatic fashion is just another chapter in the book of Adrian Autry Syracuse. The nation’s third worst FT shooting team shot 64% from the line and the Orange turned it over a total of 18 times. The good news for Syracuse is the loss didn’t completely tank their metrics and their future schedule is littered with opportunities for quality wins but how much can you trust a team who can’t make the free ones or hang onto the ball to pull those out?

Upcoming schedule: January 21st vs Virginia Tech 9pm ACCN, January 24th vs Miami 2pm ACCN

Tournament outlook: #75 NET, 2-0 is a must this week

6. North Carolina State 12-6 (3-2)

Last week: Lost 78-74 vs Georgia Tech

The big thing N.C. State had going for them this year was that despite striking out on some big OOC opportunities the Wolfpack didn’t have a glaringly bad loss to tank their résumé. That ceased to be true after Saturday where Will Wade and company missed 21 3s and 9 FTs in a disaster home loss to Georgia Tech. Despite the Yellow Jackets going 2-8 from the line in the final moments NCSU just couldn’t capitalize and took one of the worst losses possible in conference play in 2026. In the silverest of linings Georgia Tech did move from Q4 to Q3 because of this so it’s not the worst thing ever but the Wolfpack’s metrics tanked with this one. Some soul searching is in order as they’ll have a big opportunity on Tuesday vs Clemson, a team N.C. State is 2-8 in their last 10 games against and then a chance to right the metrics ship against Pitt on Saturday. 

Upcoming schedule: January 20th @ Clemson 7pm ACCN, January 24th @ Pitt 12pm ESPN2

Tournament outlook: #34 NET, Don’t do that again

7. Stanford Cardinal 14-5 (3-3)

Last week: Won 85-90 vs North Carolina, Lost 80-50 vs Duke

Stanford’s two games this week were really a microcosm of the two sides of this team we’ve seen. When Ebuka Okorie is on one no lead is safe from the Cardinal as his 36 points and 9 assists helped Stanford to another double digit comeback win against North Carolina in a game where Stanford as whole shot 16-28 from 3 and recorded an assist on 62.5% of their made field goals. When Ebuka Okorie is off or a defense is able to force him off the Stanford offense struggles in a major way as they scored just 50 total points in a 30-point romp at the hands of Duke. Still a positive week for Stanford although the margin of defeat in the Duke game harmed the ratings a decent bit. Stanford will get some time off before a big home tilt against fellow ACC bubble team and major rival Cal on Saturday. The fate of the Cardinal’s season might just hang in the balance of the health of Chisom Okpara, their second leading scorer who missed this week with a lower body injury as someone who can take the load off of Okorie or pick up the rest of the team when he is struggling.

Upcoming schedule: January 24th vs Cal 8pm ACCN

Tournament outlook: #70 NET, Ebuka Okorie what do you have for me

8. Virginia Tech Hokies 14-5 (3-3)

Last week: Lost 77-76 @ SMU, Won 89-76 vs Notre Dame

Another week another heartbreaking loss for Virginia Tech as during the week coughed up a 4 point lead with fifteen seconds remaining to lose on a Boopie Miller half-court heave at the buzzer. The Hokies followed that up with a handling of Notre Dame at home for a much needed solid end to their week. Against SMU it was the same story with poor FT shooting, especially late, along with a star performance from an opposing guard ultimately dooming the Hokies. Against Notre Dame though Virginia Tech may have found the fortitude they’ll need going forward as they went on runs of 13-2, 10-0, and 10-0 again to take control of the game never letting their foot off the gas and knocking down their FTs to thwart any late game heroics as Notre Dame started knocking down some 3s to get back into it. It is a big week on the road for Mike Young’s team as they’ll need wins like these to get themselves on the right side of the bubble come March.

Upcoming schedule: January 21st @ Syracuse 9pm ACCN, January 24th @ Louisville 3:30pm The CW

Tournament outlook: #53 NET, Knocking on the door

9. Louisville Cardinals 13-5 (3-3)

Last week: Lost 79-70 vs Virginia, Won 100-59 @ Pitt

Starting a game down 14-0 against anyone would not be described by most people as ideal but especially in a game vs this year’s Virginia squad but that’s exactly what happened to the Louisville Cardinals at home on a Tuesday night. Shooting 10-38 from 3 and just being unable to run Virginia off the 3 point line was the difference in this one as Louisville suffered a disheartening home loss for the 2nd time in two weeks. With all the injury troubles and general malaise surrounding their recent play you could have expected Louisville to start slow against a bad Pitt team in a sleepy arena but Pat Kelsey’s squad did the exact opposite staking out a 18-3 lead before following that up with a 21-5 run on their way to a complete and utter obliteration of Pittsburgh. All five starters scored in double figures and Louisville shot a blistering 63% from the field in the game. With a team as banged up as this Louisville gets a much deserved week off before a home date with a feisty Virginia Tech squad on Saturday in what should be a really fun game.

Upcoming schedule: January 24th vs Virginia Tech 3:30pm The CW

Tournament outlook: #16 NET, if this team gets healthy watch out

10. North Carolina Tarheels 14-4 (2-3)

Last week: Lost 95-90 @ Stanford, Lost 84-78 @ Cal

North Carolina allowed Stanford and Cal to shoot a combined 30-54 from 3 in their two games this week. There’s not much else to say is there? An 0-2 week anywhere is bad but in Chapel Hill it may as well be a five-alarm fire especially as Duke went 2-0 against the same teams in emphatic fashion. Against Stanford UNC led for almost the entire game and even was up by as many as 12 points in the 2nd half but Ebuka Okorie took a flamethrower to UNC’s already tissue paper perimeter defense and the Tar Heels floundered down the stretch. Then vs the Golden Bears UNC was down early and down by 20 in the 2nd half before an 18-3 rally brought the Tar Heels to within 4 but they just could never draw even. Caleb Wilson had a pretty phenomenal week but even that wasn’t enough to stem the endless tide of points crashing in on UNC’s paltry defense. The good news for UNC is that they play the 2nd worst offense in the entire league at home in a get right game before a huge road game against a Virginia team firing on all cylinders right now.

Upcoming schedule: January 21st vs Notre Dame 7pm ESPN2, January 24th @ Virginia 2pm ESPN

Tournament outlook: #29 NET, Metrics could have been hit harder I suppose

11. SMU Mustangs 13-5 (2-3)

Last week: Won 77-76 vs Virginia Tech, Lost 72-68 vs Virginia

After the tough 0-2 road trip SMU went on you’d be hard pressed to find a sweeter moment than Boopie Miller’s half-court hero shot to win the game vs Virginia Tech last week. Trailing by as many as 8 and by 4 with 15 seconds left SMU pulled one out after VT missed 2 FTs following the Mustangs cutting it to 1 before Miller’s heave. Things came back down to reality a bit on Saturday as Virginia suffocated the Mustang offense but their ability to hang with the Cavaliers has to be commended. A potential third Q1 win awaits the Mustangs as they move on to Winston-Salem on Tuesday to take on Wake before coming back home to face listless Florida St. in what could be a really solid week for their résumé.

Upcoming schedule: January 20th @ Wake Forest 9pm ACCN, January 24th vs Florida St. 4pm ACCN

Tournament outlook: #33 NET, Winning at Wake would go a long way

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons 11-7 (2-3)

Last week: Won 69-68 @ Florida State

Leave it to the kings of confusing results to be the only team this season to play Florida State in a rockfight as Wake Forest managed to avoid disaster in Tallahassee. FSU led by 9 with 4 and a half minutes to go but Juke Harris, Myles Colvin, and Nate Calmese led Wake to victory. Now Steve Forbes and friends are actually in a really interesting spot, with a 2-0 week this week they could easily propel themselves into the bubble conversation. That’s easier said than done of course but few teams will have the résumé opportunities that Wake Forest does down the stretch.

Upcoming schedule: January 20th vs SMU 9pm ACCN, January 17th @ Duke 5:45pm The CW

Tournament outlook: 58th NET, We’ll talk next week

13. California Golden Bears 14-5 (2-4)

Last week: Lost 71-56 vs Duke, Won 84-78 vs North Carolina

California played 3 really good halves of basketball this week which is pretty impressive considering their competition. The win vs North Carolina will be a big one to hang their hat on if they can stack some wins together going forward in league play. Against UNC the Golden Bears assisted on nearly 70% of their made field goals and bombarded the Tar Heels from range in a display of shooting that has to carry forward if they want to make it to the dance for the first time since 2016. Cal has lost their last 5 vs Stanford and they’ll head on the road with a big opportunity on Saturday.

Upcoming schedule: January 24th @ Stanford 8pm ACCN

Tournament outlook: #59 NET, Build off that big win

14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 11-8 (2-4)

Last week: Lost 89-66 vs Pitt, Won 78-74 @ North Carolina State

How Georgia Tech was this week? None more Georgia Tech was this week. A listless home loss to a fellow ACC bottom dwelling Pitt squad before jumping up and biting the Wolfpack for the upset of the year in the conference so far. In the loss to Pitt the Yellow Jacket defense allowed the Panthers to shoot over 60% from 2 and 11-25 from 3 in a game where Pitt just never stopped scoring. Against N.C. State, Georgia Tech’s defense was able to make life very uncomfortable holding the Wolfpack to just three scorers in double-figures in a 37.1% FG shooting effort by the whole team. An 18-3 Georgia Tech run in the 2nd half put them out in front and allowed them to survive some late FT woes. Now Damon Stoudamire’s team will try to go for their second consecutive upset vs Clemson on Saturday.

Upcoming schedule: January 24th vs Clemson 12pm ACCN

Tournament outlook: #141 NET, OutKast getting back together is more likely

15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 10-8 (1-4)

Last week: Lost 81-69 vs Miami, Lost 89-76 @ Virginia Tech

Notre Dame fell to 3-5 without Markus Burton this year (the 3 wins being against Idaho, Evansville, and Stanford) as a rough patch has turned into a nightmare for the Irish. Notre Dame played Miami to a draw at half before surrendering a 13-1 run that they just could never overcome and against Virginia Tech on Saturday they didn’t wait nearly as long to bow out, going down by double digits at the break and by as many as 20 in the 2nd half. Notre Dame has finished with a negative assist to turnover ratio in four of five ACC games which is a real testament to the lack of ball handling depth behind Burton. Notre Dame will look for their 2nd ever win in Chapel Hill on Tuesday before returning home against Boston College. Surely not right?

Upcoming schedule: January 21st @ North Carolina 7pm ESPN2, January 24th vs Boston College 6pm ACCN

Tournament outlook: #78 NET, Have I ever told you the definition of insanity?

16. Pittsburgh Panthers 8-10 (1-4)

Last week: Won 89-66 @ Georgia Tech, Lost 100-59 vs Louisville

Pitt got their first win in ACC play in emphatic fashion before being sent right back into the cellar by a raging Louisville team. Against Georgia Tech it was a breath of fresh air as Pitt hit double digit 3s for just the sixth time this season and their first in nearly a month since they blew apart Penn State. Jeff Capel’s squad had a very balanced attack that never let Georgia Tech back into the game after an initial 16-5 lead. Then against Louisville just about everything they could have done wrong in forty minutes of basketball happened. The good news for Pitt is they go on the road to another very bad ACC team! The bad news is they host another likely very angry red and black ACC team as well. Good luck!

Upcoming schedule: January 21st @ Boston College 7pm ACCN, January 24th vs North Carolina State 12pm ESPN2

Tournament outlook: #114 NET, They still have fewer wins than the Pittsburgh Steelers

17. Boston College Eagles 8-10 (1-4)

Last week: Lost @ Clemson 74-50, Won vs Syracuse 81-73 (OT)

I am going to say something nice about Boston College. The Eagles are a pretty solid defensive squad that ranks fairly highly in KenPom and forced 18 turnovers and a paltry shooting night by Syracuse to earn their first ACC win of the season. This ends nice things about Boston College. The Eagles will look to win their second straight game vs Pitt at home before going on the road to take on rival Notre Dame on Saturday where they have won two of their last three.

Upcoming schedule: January 21st vs Pitt 7pm ACCN, January 24th @ Notre Dame 6pm ACCN

Tournament outlook: #163 NET, Patriots vs Jarrett Stidham for a chance at the Super Bowl

18. Florida State Seminoles 7-11 (0-5)

Last week: Lost 94-86 @ Syracuse, Lost 69-68 vs Wake Forest

And then there was one. Florida State is the last ACC team without a win in conference play after Boston College and Pitt both graduated from these ranks during week 2. That didn’t stop FSU from trying though as they played in two pretty close games including blowing a 9 point lead with four and a half minutes to go against Wake Forest at home. The quest for a win hits the road this week in a rivalry matchup with Miami before taking this defense to play against Boopie Miller, who may just break the SMU single game scoring record.

Upcoming schedule: January 20th @ Miami 7pm ESPNU, January 24th @ SMU 4pm ACCN

Tournament outlook: #136 NET, Even Leonard Hamilton has aged watching this