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

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

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 Clemson Tigers Al-Amir Dawes Nick Honor Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

. . . Tigers . 10. team. 432

2020-21 season record: 16-8 (10-6)

The first couple of weeks for Clemson essentially save its entire last season, as all of those wins held up and created a resume that was better than how the team looked in ACC Basketball play. The defense was top-notch at times but when it wasn’t the lack of scoring allowed them to get blown out several times.

The Tigers’ offense will take another blow with the departure of leading scorer, passer, and rebounder Aamir Simms. He was the lone double-digit on the roster and was an outstanding defender as well. The good news for the team is that they did land his likely replacement in 5th-year transfer Naz Bohannon, who averaged 16.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg last season. He’s 6’6 and isn’t the same defender as Simms but if he can score at a high level that would be a big boost for the team.

The Tigers also have another 5th-year transfer in David Collins, a four-year starter at South Florida that averaged double figures in each season. He’ll be the effective replacement for Cylde Trapp, a starter for Clemson that transferred to Charlotte.

For the Tigers to have any hope of getting back to the NCAA Tournament, not only will they need to remain a top-20 defensive unit, they’ll need big leaps from junior guards Nick Honor and Al-Amir Dawes. Both are capable of being double-digit contributors but with the unknown of how productive Bohannon will be in the frontcourt, the guards will have to lead the way.