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ACC Basketball: Duke, FSU leads early power rankings for 2021-22 season

By Tristan Freeman

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils cuts down the net after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils cuts down the net after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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ACC Basketball Jae’Lyn Withers Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
ACC Basketball Jae’Lyn Withers Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Cardinals . 6. team. 438. . .

2020-21 season record: 13-7 (8-5)

Arguably the biggest snub of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Louisville will look to have a revenge tour next season. But they’ll have to do it without last season’s best players, as both Carlik Jones and David Johnson went pro. The transfer departures of Quinn Slazinski and Aidan Igiehon hurts the frontcourt a bit, however, the staff did a good job this offseason landing talent from the portal.

Former Miami forward Matt Cross will provide needed spacing at the four-spot, now that center Malik Williams will be back and hopefully healthy after missing all of last season. Jae’lyn Withers is back after averaging 10.0 ppg and a team-leading 7.7 rpg, while four-star freshman Roosevelt Wheeler and redshirt freshman Gabe Wiznitzer provide depth off the bench.

But back to the backcourt. The Cardinals did as good a job replacing all of that production, including landing Marshall point guard Jarrod West, along with Florida shooting guard Noah Locke. They also have El Ellis, considered by many to be the best guard in the 2021 Junior College transfer class. And most importantly, this top JUCO commit actually made it to campus.

I mentioned this a year ago and it remains true again. If Samuell Williamson, who did lead Louisville in rebounding at 8.1 rpg, can become a 12-15 ppg scorer next season, the Cardinals will be a second-weekend team. It’s not a given that the newcomers can step right in and have the same kind of impact that Jones did so the former five-star prospect has a chance to break out on the national stage and carry this team back to the postseason.