ACC Basketball: Duke clear ahead, Pitt dead last in latest power rankings

Nov 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Trevor Keels (1) applauds as Duke Blue Devils forward Wendell Moore Jr. (0) is named Most Valuable Player of the Continental Tire Challenge after the Blue Devils defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 84-81 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

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ACC Basketball Miami Hurricanes Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

Miami’s roster features one of the best backcourts in the ACC this season with a healthy Kameron McGusty, Isaiah Wong, and DePaul transfer Charlie Moore. And from a statistical standpoint, the trio is doing well. The senior McGusty is having a great start personally, going for 16.9 ppg and 6.5 rpg, while Wong is putting up 15.1 ppg in eight games.

Yet in multiple games, something hasn’t looked right with the Hurricanes, on either end of the court. They gave up 95 points to Central Florida in a loss, along with 96 points in a 32-point blowout defeat to Alabama. They even struggled to beat Canisius, Florida Atlantic, and North Texas as well to this point.

Miami’s most impressive feat is winning the road, 63-58 at Penn State, although the Nittany Lions are projected to finish towards the very bottom of the Big Ten. Sam Waardenburg led them with 14 points and gave them much-needed frontcourt production, something that has been missing from their offense this season.

For the Hurricanes to need to be competitive in the ACC, they’ll need George Mason transfer Jordan Miller to give them more than 5.0 ppg, while last year’s starter Harlond Beverly has completely disappeared from the rotation to this point. They’ll have to play small most likely and the trio of guards will have to play at a consistently high level. But as a team they haven’t been able to show it yet.