ACC Basketball power rankings: Unbeaten Virginia leads the early list

ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Unbeaten Virginia leads the early season list

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers watches the clock during a timeout in the second half during a game against the Coppin State Eagles at John Paul Jones Arena on November 16, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images /

15. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-2)

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and head coach Danny Manning are at an interesting place through the first month of the season. They’re coming off a 93-91 overtime loss at the hands of the Houston Baptist Huskies at home this past Friday.

The Demon Deacons haven’t been the best team on defense and it showed in their recent home loss to Houston Baptist. The Huskies finished with 14 offensive rebounds and 12 made 3-pointers in the game.

In their first loss of the season against the Saint Joseph’s Hawks, they allowed 16 made 3-pointers as the Hawks shot 53.3 percent from behind the arc.

Manning has gotten a ton out of freshmen Jaylen Hoard and Sharone Wright Jr. and junior guard Brandon Childress. Outside of those three, the Deacons haven’t gotten much out of their bench.

Hoard is averaging 16.8 points and a team-high 9.8 rebounds per game, delivering on all fronts as a top-rated freshman. He recorded his second double-double of the season against Houston Baptist with 22 points and 15 rebounds but it wasn’t enough.

Wright is producing 11.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest for the Demon Deacons and has started in four of five contests. Childress leads the team in scoring and assists with 17.0 points and 5.0 assists per game. They’re still figuring out how to be a complete team and looking for their depth. Manning has his hands full and his ability to coach what he has should really be tested this year.