Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball power rankings: Florida State takes top spot as Duke tumbles

By Michael Walton

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Leonard Hamilton of the Florida State Seminoles looks on against the South Florida Bulls during the second half of the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at BB&T Center on December 21, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Leonard Hamilton of the Florida State Seminoles looks on against the South Florida Bulls during the second half of the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at BB&T Center on December 21, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 14: Markell Johnson #11 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

. 13-5 (4-3). . Wolfpack . 6. team. 442

The NC State Wolfpack have settled firmly into the second tier of teams in the ACC, notching back-to-back wins over Miami and Clemson over the past week. Their offense leads the way and junior forward DJ Funderburk has been a big component of that, averaging 16 points over his last five games. The Wolfpack have a resilient team that will stick around in the ACC race based on talent alone.  NC State has shown the ability to win “ugly”, which is extremely important during this point of the season. In Saturday’s win over Clemson, NC State shot a terrible 39.2% from the field but was boosted by their seven offensive rebounds, 14 made free throws (21 attempts), and guard CJ Bryce.

Bryce returned on January 15 after missing four-straight games due to injury and he was essential in NC State’s win over Clemson. In a game that featured both teams shooting below 40% from the field and 26% from the 3-point line, Bryce scored 11 points including shooting 50% from the field and 3-point line. Bryce also led the playmaking charge against the Tigers on Saturday, racking up nine assists in 40 minutes. His blend of perimeter scoring and playmaking is key to a Wolfpack squad filled with athletic finishers and physical big men.

NC State is second in the ACC in points per game (77.4) and they will have a very interesting matchup with the stingiest defense in the nation at Virginia on January 20, and then they take on Georgia Tech on the road on January 25. If the Wolfpack can grind out a win over the Cavaliers, they have a good chance to put together a winning streak ahead of a February 1 matchup with Lousiville.