ACC Basketball power rankings: Florida State takes top spot, Duke slides

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

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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SYRACUSE, NY – NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

. 11-7 (4-3). . Orange . 5. team. 445

Jim Boeheim’s squad is streaking at the right time. The Syracuse Orange has held up well this year against great competition and they enter Wednesday’s matchup with Notre Dame on a three-game winning streak featuring two tough road wins. Over a two-week span, the Orange knocked off Virginia, Boston College, and Virginia Tech.

Buddy Boeheim has been highly productive over the Orange’s current three-game winning streak, averaging 20.6 points per game over that span. And while Buddy has personally had a hot streak, the Orange have been a great offensive unit all season. The potent offensive ability of the 2019-20 Syracuse team lies in their bevy of competent 3-point shooters. In expected fashion, the Orange’s ability to shoot has effectively kept them in every game due to the ugly nature of college basketball offense this season.

In Syracuse’s win over Virginia, they hit five more 3-pointers than the Cavaliers. Syracuse won the 3-point battle by two 3-pointers in their win over Boston College. Syracuse shooting came back down to earth in a big way against Virginia Tech (25% from 3) but it didn’t matter as Buddy Boheim pulled out a 26-point performance.

Syracuse has a chance to keep their streak going with a winnable road matchup with Notre Dame ahead of a home matchup with Pittsburgh to end January. Pitt has been a tough out all season so the Orange will need their perimeter shooting to show up to get a stress free win against Jeff Capel’s squad. The Orange are trying to gain separation in the ACC standings from Virginia, Virginia Tech, and NC State, and their current stretch of games makes that a real possibility.