ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Louisville and UNC climb into top 5

LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 26: Ryan McMahon #30 and Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrate against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on January 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 66-51. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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15. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-11) (1-6 ACC)

Last rank: 15th (↔)

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons were winless in ACC play when the last power rankings were released. Since then, they’ve at least gotten one victory, but they’ve also lost three more contests in conference play, keeping them at the bottom of the standings.

In their defense, four of their last six games have come against ranked opponents. They beat one of them, the NC State Wolfpack, 71-67, back on Jan. 15 behind 16 points and 10 rebounds from freshman forward Jaylen Hoard.

Wake Forest hasn’t gotten a victory since then, losing their last three contests. They fell at home by four points to the Boston College Golden Eagles, despite getting 22 points and 10 rebounds from Hoard. The Demon Deacons led by seven points with 6:17 to play before giving the Golden Eagles their second victory in ACC play.

Hoard is putting up 12.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest in ACC play so far. He had two single-digit performances against Virginia Tech and Virginia on the road before working out his rut against Boston College.

Brandon Childress has been their other bright spot on offense, averaging 15.6 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game in conference action, but they haven’t gotten much else.

They rank 14th in the ACC in 3-point field goal percentage (26.5 percent) and 12th in points per game (65.3) currently. With No. 23 Louisville on Wednesday and Clemson on the road on this Sunday, Wake will look to break out of their losing streak, though it will be tough sledding.