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ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Duke Blue Devils gelling at the right time

By Michael Walton

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 10: Teammates Jordan Goldwire #14, Wendell Moore Jr. #0 and Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils react after a play against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 10, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 10: Teammates Jordan Goldwire #14, Wendell Moore Jr. #0 and Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils react after a play against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 10, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 14: Teammates Jalen Cone #15 and Wabissa Bede #3 of the Virginia Tech Hokies (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 14: Teammates Jalen Cone #15 and Wabissa Bede #3 of the Virginia Tech Hokies (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

12. Virginia Tech (15-10) (6-8 ACC)

The Virginia Tech program has performed has struggled in ACC play in year one under Mike Young. The Hokies started the year with a win over Clemson, and then after more up-and-down play they eventually edged out a double OT win over North Carolina on January 22nd. What followed that was five straight ACC losses before Saturday’s win over Pittsburgh. That win was a much-needed one, as Virginia Tech’s NCAA tournament hopes are hanging on by a thread.

Virginia Tech’s early-season win over Michigan State still stands as by far their best resume win of the year and a road win over Syracuse is probably the only thing that even comes close to it. The Hokies having still gotten great production from redshirt freshman Landers Nolley II (17.2 points per game) and he didn’t pull the ball in the basket, he turned in an all-around 7-point, 12-rebound, 8-assist performance in Saturday’s win over Pittsburgh. Nolley went for 29 points on 54.5% in an overtime loss to surging Boston College but otherwise has turned in a collection of sub-40% shooting performances over this horrid stretch.

Virginia Tech has managed to shoot over 30% from 3-point range twice over their last three games which is a trend in the right direction after some particularly cold shooting against Florida State on February 1 that has continued off and on in stretches. The Hokies live and die by the 3-point shot and they came back in a big way against Pitt, knocking down 12 shots from 3-point range in a 10-point win.

The Hokies play Miami (FL), Duke, and Virginia over their next three games and will need their perimeter offense to see an uptick in production if they truly want to make a late-season run. Virginia Tech will need to go undefeated over that three-game stretch to truly show the mettle of an NCAA Tournament team.