Busting Brackets
Fansided

ACC basketball: Power ranking the league down the stretch

By Michael Walton

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - January 31: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts to a call in the first half during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at John Paul Jones Arena on January 31, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - January 31: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts to a call in the first half during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at John Paul Jones Arena on January 31, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 03: Wendell Carter, Jr.
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 03: Wendell Carter, Jr. /

Last week: Win 80-69 at Georgia Tech – Win 74-52 vs Virginia Tech 

Duke is sitting in a nice spot considering the ups-and-downs of this season. They still have a shot at an #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and a National Championship is the goal for Coach K and company. The great rivalry game at North Carolina was supposed to be a way for the Blue Devils to bounce back from a surprising loss to St. John’s. Instead, the loss to the Tar Heels showed that when you force Trevon Duval into reckless turnovers, the team is beatable.

A shocking statistic from the game against UNC is that Duke was actually beat on the glass. Rebounding is Duke’s top strength this year. They ended with a combined +22 advantage in rebounds in their back-to-back wins against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

Freshman sensation Marvin Bagley III won’t (didn’t) play against Clemson, and if Duke is without him for longer, they will need more out of (freshman frontcourt mate) Wendell Carter. He has averaged 14.4 ppg, but 16 ppg in the first two games without Bagley III.

This week: Wednesday vs Louisville (H) – Saturday vs Syracuse (H)