Not too much has changed going into the last week of the regular season; Duke is not back, Carolina takes the crown, and Boston College still sucks. Besides that, we’re all just looking forward to the last week of the season and the conference tournament in Brooklyn next week.
The Top 5
1. North Carolina 25-5 (13-3)
Another year, another conference championship for the Tar Heels. After defeating Louisville and Pittsburgh this week, coupled with Duke dropping a couple of games to Syracuse and Miami, UNC has locked up the ACC regular season title. While they still have some tough games remaining this week, Carolina will basically be in cruise control until Brooklyn or the Big Dance.
2. Louisville 23-6 (11-5)
I know they took a hard loss in Chapel Hill this week, but that does not change anyone’s view of the Cardinals. Going in to March, everyone believes that they are a strong Final Four contender with their stout defense and senior leadership. Pitino has put together a good squad. This week they will be taking on Wake and Notre Dame, looing to improve their seeding for the tourney.
3. Florida State 23-6 (11-5)
The Seminoles didn’t need to do anything overtly impressive to jump up in the rankings this week with everyone else losing. Behind a 32 point win against Boston College and eeking out a two point victory against Clemson at Littlejohn, Florida State has climbed up to second in the ACC standings. Leonard Hamilton’s squad will look to finish out one of their best seasons ever on the road against a scuffling Duke squad, and then the regular season finale at home against the surging Miami Hurricanes.
4. Miami 20-8 (10-6)
I felt odd about including the Hurricanes in last week’s rankings, but it paid off in a big way. Miami is just now hitting their stride with wins against Virginia and Duke. This team has plenty of quality wins now and should be a lock for the tournament. This week they look forward to matchups against Virginia Tech and the aforementioned Florida State.
5. Duke 22-7 (10-6)
Just when we all thought Duke was back… BOOM! They’re gone again. After a mid-season Coach K back surgery to rally the troops, K decided they were peaking too early and decided to have Grayson Allen fake an injury so they could lose a couple more. After these latest losses to Syracuse at the buzzer and Miami, Duke is all but guaranteed to run through the ACC tourney and into the Final Four. They will try to get back on track this week against Florida State and North Carolina.
Play of the Week:
Syracuse for the WIN! The beat Duke, 78-75 after John Gillian drills a buzzer beater. #CUSE pic.twitter.com/aScgZBGJuZ
— FOX Sports Radio1340 (@1340AMFOXSports) February 23, 2017
Performance of the Week: John Gillion, SYR (26 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 5-5 FT and 3-4 3 PTs) in win vs. Duke
For the second time this season, Gillion gets the award sweep. It’s his world and we’re all just living in it.
Game of the Week: #19 Notre Dame at #8 Louisville