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ACC College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 16

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By @writered21

ACC Power Rankings For Week 16

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The battle at the top of the ACC went from a three-team race down to two in the last week, as Notre Dame's shocking home loss to Syracuse was enough to put the Fighting Irish out of the running after Virginia thumped Wake Forest on Wednesday night. Now, it's the Wahoos and Duke that will decide the top seed. Which team has the edge in this week's power rankings?

15. Boston College (9-18, 1-14 ACC)

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15. Boston College (9-18, 1-14 ACC)

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The Eagles are finishing up pretty much as they did a season ago. They have a great player in Olivier Hanlan and nothing else. Hanlan went for 39 last week, but Boston College still lost at Pittsburgh. It's a shame to see the Eagles wasting Hanlan's considerable talent.

14. Georgia Tech (12-16, 3-13)

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14. Georgia Tech (12-16, 3-13)

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The Yellow Jackets were so close to moving up higher than No. 14, but they failed to execute at the end and were beaten by Louisville. Georgia Tech is another program in the ACC that really hasn't made any progress this season.

13. Virginia Tech (10-18, 2-13)

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13. Virginia Tech (10-18, 2-13)

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Speaking of near-misses, the Hokies have had the ultimate near-misses in the ACC this season in Blacksburg, falling to Virginia by three and to Duke in overtime this week. It's far easier to envision a brighter future for Virginia Tech than it is for BC or Georgia Tech.

12. Wake Forest (12-16, 4-11)

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12. Wake Forest (12-16, 4-11)

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Wake was a chic upset special pick on Wednesday when they hosted No. 2 Virginia, a team to which they had lost by just a point in Charlottesville less than two weeks prior. Instead, the Demon Deacons were destroyed, 70-34. Wake is clearly the best of the bottom four teams in the league this season, but head coach Danny Manning has work to do to get them to the next tier.

11. Clemson (15-12, 7-8)

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11. Clemson (15-12, 7-8)

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Perhaps as usual anymore, we've reached the latter stages of an ACC regular season and Clemson really isn't a factor. The Tigers have just one win in their last five games, that a 75-54 victory at home over Virginia Tech. The Tigers are 303rd in the nation in scoring offense at 62 PPG.

10. Florida State (15-14, 7-9)

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10. Florida State (15-14, 7-9)

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Florida State may have the most electrifying player in the ACC in freshman Xavier Rathan-Mayes, who in an 81-77 loss at Miami on Wednesday night, scored 26 points in three minutes and 36 seconds late in the game! He finished with 35, the second time he's reached that total this season. He's a reason for FSU fans to be excited looking toward next season.

9. Miami (18-10, 8-7)

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9. Miami (18-10, 8-7)

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Miami almost saw their NCAA Tournament hopes derailed for good by Rathan-Mayes' insane finish, but the Hurricanes survived and still could make a statement about their postseason intentions with a win at home over No. 15 North Carolina tomorrow. Games at Pitt and Virginia Tech follow, so Miami has a chance to finish 21-10 heading into the ACC Tournament.

8. North Carolina (19-9, 9-6)

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8. North Carolina (19-9, 9-6)

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Of course, if the Tar Heels don't get their act together soon, a win over them isn't going to mean much for anyone's postseason resumes. North Carolina may still be ranked No. 15 in the country, but the Tar Heels have lost three of their last four and five of seven. Yes, three were to ranked teams (Louisville, Virginia and Duke), but those are the teams UNC is supposed to be beating every once in a while.

7. N.C. State (17-11, 8-7)

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7. N.C. State (17-11, 8-7)

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The Wolfpack's landmark win in Chapel Hill continued a late-season hot streak that has given North Carolina State fans a reason to be hopeful come Selection Sunday. Wins over Louisville and the Tar Heels of late and a winnable stretch to close the regular season (home to BC, Clemson and at Syracuse) have State in a similar position to Miami heading home.

6. Pittsburgh (19-10, 8-7)

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6. Pittsburgh (19-10, 8-7)

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Just when you think you can count out Pitt for the season, they thrash North Carolina at home and go to Syracuse and win, 65-61. The Panthers followed that up with the close win over BC in which Hanlan went off for 39. The schedule coming in, however, is deceptively tough. Pitt goes to Wake and Florida State, with a home game against Miami in the middle. That latter game is a bubble battle Pitt can't lose.

5. Louisville (22-6, 10-5)

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5. Louisville (22-6, 10-5)

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The Cardinals barely got out of Atlanta with a win on Monday night, escaping Georgia Tech by a 52-51 score. That and a two-point win over Miami, combined with the dismissal of guard Chris Jones for off-court issues, leaves many wondering where this Cardinals team is headed. We'll find out soon, as Louisville finishes up at Florida State, then home to Notre Dame and UVA.

4. Syracuse (18-10, 9-6)

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4. Syracuse (18-10, 9-6)

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Because of self-imposed sanctions, the Orange are basically playing out the string. With no ACC or NCAA tourneys to go to, Syracuse has their big week upcoming, at Duke tomorrow and home to Virginia on Monday. The finale in Raleigh will have major implications for N.C. State. Rakeem Christmas is averaging 18.1 PPG and 9.3 RPG for the Orange.

3. Notre Dame (24-5, 12-4)

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3. Notre Dame (24-5, 12-4)

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Notre Dame, which has been among the national leaders all season long in field-goal percentage, found it tough sledding against an inspired Syracuse team on Tuesday night, falling 65-60. Playing at home, the Fighting Irish shot a poor 34.7 percent from the field, hitting just 3-for-22 (13.6 percent) from the outside. The Irish must turn it around quick, as they visit Louisville on Mar. 4.

2. Duke (25-3, 12-3)

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2. Duke (25-3, 12-3)

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Duke is 11-1 in the last 12 games, including four wins over ranked opponents, two of which came on the road. Jahlil Okafor was a monster in the close OT win in Blacksburg, scoring 30 points and grabbing nine rebounds. But allowing 86 points to the Hokies has to be of concern. Duke isn't the best team in the country, but the Blue Devils can probably beat anyone in the nation not named Kentucky.

1. Virginia (26-1, 14-1)

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1. Virginia (26-1, 14-1)

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Without star wing Justin Anderson, the Cavaliers have now beaten three straight opponents by at least 10 points, including the 36-point romp in Winston-Salem on Wednesday. UVA has won seven straight and host state rival Virginia Tech tomorrow. Remarkably, the Cavaliers are now allowing just 49.9 PPG, an historically low number. But it gets tough soon, as the Cavs play at Syracuse and Louisville next week.

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