On Monday, the Associated Press released its men’s top 25 poll for this week. After a busy weekend of ACC basketball, there is some moving and shaking amongst the league’s teams. In total, six ACC teams are in this week’s poll, including two top-10 squads. Let’s take a look.
- No. 3 Virginia
- No. 7 Duke
- No. 18 Miami
- No. 19 Clemson
- No. 20 North Carolina
- No. 23 Florida State
Quick Thoughts
- After wins over Virginia Tech and then No. 12 UNC, Virginia is the top ACC team in the poll. This is also the highest a UVA team has been ranked since the 2015-16 season.
- More importantly for the Cavaliers: The team’s extraordinary defense, led by Isaiah Wilkins, ranks No. 1 in the nation, per KenPom.
- Duke continues to field the nation’s No. 1 offense — 125.6 points per 100 possessions, according to KenPom — but the Blue Devils slip after Saturday’s loss to NC State.
- The Blue Devils went 1-1, but Marvin Bagley continues to amaze. In Division I ball, there have been just 11 games this season of at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 75 percent shooting. Bagley accounts for two of them; both of them occurred last week, too.
- Perhaps a little overshadowed by the Lonnie Walker Hype Train, freshman guard Chris Lykes broke out for Miami. In the Canes’ six-point win over Florida State, the 5-foot-7 Lykes played big: a career-high 18 points on 10 field goal attempts.
- Sunday’s win over FSU was a nice bounce-back game for Miami after a midweek upset at Georgia Tech. The Canes fell three spots in this week’s AP Poll.
- Clemson continues to handle its business. The Tigers rank No. 10 in the nation in defensive efficiency, and against Louisville, Clemson forced 21 turnovers (26.6 percent turnover rate) in the overtime victory.
- Once again, North Carolina struggled on offense in defeat. According to KenPom, the Heels scored just 0.83 points per possession — the team’s second-lowest total this season. In three of UNC’s four losses this season, the Tar Heels have mustered under one point per possession.
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