Steve Moore is a regular contributor and the RTC correspondent for the ACC.

As of about 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, I was all set to make most of today’s ACC Update about Boston University’s shocking upset of Georgia Tech in Puerto Rico. After all, this is my tiny little segment of the Interwebs, so I can do with it as I please, right? But then, my beloved alma mater forgot how to shoot, and Derrick Favors stomped all over the poor Terriers. Oh well…I guess we’ll just have to beat UConn on Dec. 2.  Anyway, on to the real business at hand. The ACC update is slated to appear each Monday during the season, and will include a revolving collection of mini-features that may appear one week and not the next. That will be up to any readers/commenters. If you like something, speak up, and you’ll see it again!  Since there’s no real conference play yet, I’m just going with subjective rankings based on the games I’ve seen, and results so far.

ACC POWER RANKINGS (record as of Sunday, Nov. 22)

1. Duke (4-0)

• PAST: With wins over all the schools in the Carolinas you’ve never heard of, the Dookies haven’t been tested. But they have won by an average of 34.5 points. And if you’re worried about a lack of guard play, the Devils hit 18 threes in a romp over Radford.
• FUTURE: Arizona State (Wed.), then likely UConn (Fri.) at the Devils’ home away from home — Madison Square Garden. Two big wins, and Duke will likely stay atop this list.

2. North Carolina (4-1)

• PAST: Yes, the only game many people saw was a flat 16-point loss to Syracuse at MSG. But that’s the Orange’s quasi-home court, and it’s still early. There’s too much talent here to judge the Heels on one game.
• FUTURE: With five games already under their belt, the Heels take it easy this week with home games against Gardner-Webb and Nevada. But that Dec. 1 showdown with Michigan State is looming…

3. Georgia Tech (3-1)

• PAST: No, this is not only because the Jackets stomped BU on Sunday, but more because they LOST to a very good Dayton team. With raw talent like Favors and Gani Lawal, Paul Hewitt will get more out of that loss (to a likely Top 25 team, by the way), than he ever could from a 50-point rout over a weak cupcake.
• FUTURE: After a busy week in sunny Puerto Rico, Tech takes it easy with Mercer on Friday in Atlanta. An interesting game with Siena looms the week after, however.

4. Maryland (3-0)

• PAST: Nothing but cupcakes for the Terps leading up to their trip to Maui this week. As I said in my preview, I really love this team to win the ACC regular season crown, so they stay in the top tier for now.
• FUTURE: After they rout poor Chaminade on Monday (although I can’t feel bad for any college student who goes to school in Hawaii), Maryland will face Cincy/Vanderbilt and then either Gonzaga, Arizona, Wisconsin or Colorado.

5. Clemson (3-0)

• PAST: The Tigers made what could have been a tricky ROAD test at Liberty into a laugher, and beat up Presbyterian and Greensboro.
• FUTURE: Clemson heads west for the 76 Classic in Anaheim, where they will face Texas A&M (Thurs.) and a likely showdown with West Virginia (Fri.) in what could be the most interesting game of the week for any ACC team. Oh, they also might face Butler. So there’s that.

6. Wake Forest (3-0)

• PAST: The Deacons were No. 6 in my preseason predictions, and ho-hum wins over Oral Roberts (giggle), East Carolina and High Point won’t move them up or down…
• FUTURE: …and neither will wins this week over Winston-Salem State or William & Mary. But that Dec. 1 trip to Purdue could get my attention.

7. Miami (5-0)

• PAST: Miami waxed South Carolina on Sunday in Charleston. That’s a solid win. They also beat Nova (Southeastern).
• FUTURE: Games against South Carolina Upstate and Florida Gulf Coast.

8. Florida State (3-0)

• PAST: I admit, I didn’t watch the Noles’ games against Jacksonville, Stetson or Mercer…
• FUTURE: …But Thursday’s game against Iona could be interesting, as could a potential date with Michigan in the Old Spice Classic.

9. Virginia Tech (2-0)

• PAST: Did everyone in the ACC beat UNC-Greensboro this week? Well, the Hokies only won by 13.
• FUTURE: Tech plays AT Campbell today. If you know where that is, then you’re smarter than I.

10. Boston College (3-1)

• PAST: The Eagles were one of the few teams to lose this week, dropping a close one to a St. Joseph’s team that no one thought much of coming into the season. If that’s a sign of things to come, it could be a tough year up on the Hill.
• FUTURE: The Eagles return from the Virgin Islands for an interesting road date at Providence on Saturday before heading to Ann Arbor next week.

11. N.C. State (4-0)

• PAST: The Wolfpack edged Auburn Saturday night to earn something most ACC teams dared not attempt this early: A win over a big-conference foe.
• FUTURE: State hosts New Orleans on Saturday. No, not the Saints. They’d definitely lose that one.

12. Virginia (3-1)

• PAST: Virginia BC, and Georgia Tech are the only ACC teams with losses on their record so far, as the Cavs fell hard at South Florida.
• FUTURE: Expect many, many more of those “L”s in Charlottesville, starting this week against Stanford, and then possibly Kentucky (that could be UGLY).

THE RAMBLING RANT OF THE WEEK

In honor of the Rambling Wreck, this could be one of the not-always-recurring elements of your weekly ACC update, where I spend 150 words or less with a rambling rant on the week’s hot topic. This week: CUPCAKES.

I don’t get all the cupcakes. I know these schools get paid to come to you, and a win is a win in March. But this is not the BCS. The selection committee has proven year after year that they do more than look at your record. You’re telling me that the committee’s not smart enough to know the difference between a 6-0 start against Nova Southeastern, Presbyterian and Stetson — and a potential 3-3 start with juicy games against big-time opponents? Like a tough road test would kill you. In fact, it would help you get ready for the grueling ACC slate. So let me jump on the bandwagon that would like more UNC-Michigan State games and fewer laughers against UNC-Greensboro and High Point. (Oh, and would it be so hard to take one unconventional road trip a season, like Clemson at Liberty? That one worked out fine for the Tigers). Thank you, that is all.

WAITING IN THE TUNNEL

Since the last week didn’t have much to write home about, we look forward to a few noteworthy games coming up this week:

• GET YOUR TIVO/DVR READY. First of all, does anyone still have an actual Tivo anymore? Friday’s Duke-UConn matchup is still not a done deal, but let’s all hope it happens. It may seem unusual to watch a Duke team anchored by the front-court, but if you want to see Kyle Singler, Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas get tested, then let’s cross out fingers for a date with forward Stanley Robinson and UConn at MSG. And for Duke’s sake, let’s hope Coach K has better luck against the Huskies than Charlie Weis (sorry, I just couldn’t help myself).
• GET LEI’D. The Maui Invitational has become everyone’s favorite preseason tournament, and for good reason. A strong field will give Maryland some big tests, including Cincy or Vanderbilt in the second round. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to see Greivis Vasquez and the Terps face Gonzaga later in the week, as well. But, if you want to sound like a smart basketball fan…
• …GO SO-CAL-ING. Watch the 76 Classic in Anaheim. Just do it. Do it for me. Let everyone else watch Maui and Cancun and every other sunny locale. Look at the bracket and tell me there are not juicy matchups all over the place. Texas A&M/Clemson and Minnesota/Butler highlight the first round, which also includes UCLA/Portland and West Virginia/Long Beach State. If you’re lucky, you can avoid the Black Friday mall crowds and settle in with your favorite adult beverage for Clemson/West Virginia on Friday (2:30 ET/ESPN), and possibly Clemson/Butler in Sunday’s final. No preseason tourney this year has as many interesting storylines.

From Chestnut Hill to Coral Gables, Atlanta to College Park, and everywhere in between, have a Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy a much more intriguing week of ACC hoops — now with fewer turkeys…

rtmsf (3998 Posts)

This entry was posted on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 3:30 pm by rtmsf and is filed under acc, Checking In On. Tagged: 76 classic, acc, boston college, brian zoubek, clemson, derrick favors, duke, florida st, gain lawal, georgia tech, greivis vasquez, kyle singler, lance thomas, maryland, maui invitational, miami (fl), nc state, paul hewitt, stanley robinson, unc, virginia, virginia tech, wake forest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.