Just when you thought that things couldn’t get crazier in the ACC this season when it comes to men’s basketball, guess again. After it looked like Duke was going to go through the conference schedule unbeaten, Seth Trimble and North Carolina had other ideas.
Tied 68-68 with the Blue Devils at home on Saturday night, Trimble buried a corner 3-pointer in the final seconds left for the three-point win. That result tightens things up in the ACC and leaves Duke and Clemson tied at 10-1 in ACC play with a huge meeting looming next week at Cameron Indoor Stadium. With that said, here are the latest ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings with another week down in the 2025-26 conference schedule.
ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings: Feb. 9
Another week, two more losses for the Panthers. It feels like this is going to be it for Jeff Capel in Pittsburgh.
The Eagles took Miami down to the end before losing on Saturday at home, but like Capel at Pittsburgh, Earl Grant’s future in Chestnut Hill seems like it is teetering on a change coming following the season. The Yellow Jackets dropped both games in California last week and are in danger of missing the ACC Tournament this year unless they start stringing some wins together.
As much as there is going to be a race to see who can secure the four double byes in the ACC Tournament next month, there is going to be a race to avoid missing the tournament altogether. The Irish are going to be in that heated race.
When Virginia Tech lost on a late 3-pointer to the Demon Deacons last month in Winston-Salem, it’s going to end up being a loss that stings in more ways than one this season. Things are going from bad to worse for the Orange after two more road losses and some eye-opening decisions from Red Autry. Things in New York are reaching their boiling point with the fanbase.
Don’t look now, but the Seminoles found themselves buried at the bottom of the standings not too long ago, but now they are making a charge to get to the ACC Tournament next month.
See Wake Forest when it comes to Virginia Tech.
So the Hokies had a bye week to get ready for North Carolina State on the road, and they laid an egg in the first half was never able to recover. Their NCAA Tournament hopes are quickly fading.
Cal split their two home games against Georgia Tech and Clemson and remains on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
The Mustangs lost a nailbiter at home to NC State, but was able to avoid a letdown at Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Cardinals have a huge game at home on Monday night against NC State in a game that could shake up the ACC standings early in the week.
The Hurricanes survived a score at Boston College on Saturday. There is no hotter team in the ACC than the Wolfpack. The problem is, the top 5 are loaded and tightly packed. They have a tough road matchup on Monday night at Louisville. It was another week with a pair of wins for the Cavaliers, who continue to be in the mix for a double-bye in the ACC Tournament.
North Carolina made the top of the ACC tighter with their win over the Blue Devils. There is still a lot of basketball left before the rematch in Durham at the end of the season.
The Tigers took care of business with a sweep in California. They now must avoid a trap game against a struggling Virginia Tech team on Wednesday night before a trip to Duke next weekend.
Duke blew a second-half lead at UNC on Saturday night and lost at the buzzer. That sets up a huge game at home against Clemson next Saturday.
