ACC Basketball power rankings: Wake Forest rises, Virginia slides down

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - DECEMBER 22: Jayden Gardner #1 of the Virginia Cavaliers defends Hunter Tyson #5 of the Clemson Tigers in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on December 22, 2021 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

14 of 15

ACC Basketball Dontrez Styles North Carolina Tar Heels (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /

team. 441. . 9-3 (1-0). . Tar Heels . 2

The Tar Heels have been a team that takes one step forward and then another step back so far this season. They couldn’t stop either Purdue or Tennessee in the NIT Tip-Off Tournament but then turned around and had their best performance of the season in a 21-point victory over Michigan, followed by a 79-62 road win at Georgia Tech.

Things seemed as if they were on the right path until they lost by 29 points to Kentucky, nearing giving up 100 points. The defensive issues flared up once again for Coach Hubert Davis and North Carolina, which now ranks in the bottom half of most categories in the ACC.

The only reason why they remain so high is that the offense can be top-notch. The team has five double-digit scorers after 12 games, led by Armando Bacot and Caleb Love at 15.1 ppg apiece. Transfer forwards Brady Manek and Dawson Garcia are combining to produce 23.1 ppg and 11.6 rpg, while guard RJ Davis is at 13.0 ppg and 3.5 apg.

The Tar Heels are a team that can shoot the ball well (top-20 in 3PT%) and has a number of ways to beat you. If they were just an average defensive unit, they’re probably safely No. 2 in the ACC and ranked in the AP top 25. But as long as those defensive problems persist, they’re at risk to lose to just about anyone in the conference and damaging their resume.