Busting Brackets
Fansided

ACC Basketball: Final Power Rankings and Team Grades for the 2017-18 season

By Tristan Freeman

BLACKSBURG, VA - FEBRUARY 26: Gary Trent, Jr.
BLACKSBURG, VA - FEBRUARY 26: Gary Trent, Jr. /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 10: Tournament MVP Kyle Guy
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 10: Tournament MVP Kyle Guy /

3. Clemson Tigers 25-10 (11-7)

2017-18 postseason result: NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen

Season Grade: A

Clemson finally had a breakthrough season, finishing tied for third in the ACC standings. That included losing the team’s second-leading scorer Donte Grantham in the second half of the season.

The Tigers didn’t have that clear star player as they had in the past, but did have five starters who scored in double figures. That and a strong defense was their key to success this season.

2. Duke Blue Devils 29-8 (13-5)

2017-18 postseason result: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight

Season Grade: B+

There were moments where Duke looked like they would win it all, as well as other times where they may not even reach the Sweet Sixteen. But the Blue Devils were a Grayson Allen made jumpshot away from reaching the Final Foul, and possibly giving eventual champs Villanova a tougher fight.

Since Duke was ranked No. 1 to start the year and the preseason favorite to win it all, I can’t give them an “A” since they failed to reach San Antonio. But it was still a fun year to watch a few more future NBA stars go at it.

1. Virginia Cavaliers 31-3 (17-1)

2017-18 postseason result: NCAA Tournament First Round

Season Grade: A

The historical natural of the UMBC loss cost them an “A+”, but it doesn’t take away from what was an incredible season for the Cavaliers. They went from an afterthought to start the season to the No. 1 overall seed, dominating the ACC in ways even Duke and North Carolina haven’t been able to do in their best years.

Next: Way Too Early ACC Rankings for 2018-19

Virginia’s fatal flaw of scoring will be talked about for another 300+ days before the next March Madness. But they won’t be underestimated again to start out college basketball season, as they were this past year.