ACC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2022-23 season

Mar 27, 2022; Philadelphia, PA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels pose for a photo after the Tar Heels defeated the St. Peters Peacocks in the finals of the East regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

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ACC Basketball North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Terquavion Smith Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

10. NC State Wolfpack

Starting with the season-ending injury to center Manny Bates, the Wolfpack’s defense was so bad that it didn’t matter how many points Dareon Seabron and Terquavion Smith scored last year. And they did try their best to outscore opponents but the lack of a big man and inconsistent scoring from the supporting cast ultimately doomed them to last place.

Both Smith and Seabron waited until the last days of the deadline to make their decisions with the NBA Draft and in the end, Seabron left and Smith stayed. Losing the guy who led NC State in all three main categories hurts but Smith, who averaged 16.3 ppg as a freshman, will be a national breakout candidate and could easily put up 20 ppg next season.

The rest of the roster got completely revamped and it now has plenty of size and more defense. The projected starting frontcourt inside features 6’11 Utah transfer Dušan Mahorčič and Winthrop forward DJ Burns. And in the backcourt, Ole Miss transfer Jarkel Joiner and 6’8 guard from La Salle Jack Clark will add depth and can play off the ball with Smith.

There are still some questions as to how effective the transfers will be in the ACC and how the starting point guard position works out but by landing Smith, the Wolfpack should be out of the bottom-3.