ACC Basketball: ACC Basketball Power Rankings for December

Jan 24, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Trevor Cooney (10) drives to the basket against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at the Carrier Dome. Miami defeated Syracuse 66-62. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

No. 10 Syracuse Orange

The only reason why the Syracuse Orange are not higher on this list is because they are going to be playing the next six games without Jim Boeheim on the sideline.

The NCAA totally botched the way they handled his suspension saying on the one hand that he was going to serve out his nine game punishment during ACC play only to have that decision change in appeal.

Syracuse would have been better off having Boeheim serving his time from Day 1 of the season. He would have been done paying his penance and things would be business as usual right now.

As it is the Orange are only 1-2 with assistant coach Mike Hopkins at the helm in place of Boeheim.

Syracuse Orange

The thing about Syracuse which is a major reason they could be higher in this power ranking, is that their losses are as respectable as their wins.

Syracuse has wins over two ranked opponents in No. 18 Connecticut and  No. 25 Texas A&M. They also have losses at home to Wisconsin and on the road at Georgetown and St. John’s.

Michael Gbinije has been strong for Syracuse all season long averaging 19.8 points on 51.2% shooting.

If Trevor Cooney can become more efficient with his stroke Syracuse would become deadly. Cooney has a nice scoring average at 14.0 points per game, but his 33.9% shooting from the floor and 31.5% shooting from deep leave a lot to be desired.

Once Jim Boeheim comes back Syracuse will be in the top five or top six. But until then, this team will sit at 10 and stay under the microscope.

Next: No.9 Wake Forest Demon Deacons