Busting Brackets
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UNC drops, Virginia and Virginia Tech rises in latest ACC Basketball power rankings

By Tristan Freeman

Dec 4, 2022; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Michael Collins Jr. (2) reacts to his first half basket against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2022; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Michael Collins Jr. (2) reacts to his first half basket against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports /
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Clemson sophomore forward PJ Hall ACC Basketball Clemson Basketball Vs Wake Forest University Acc
Clemson sophomore forward PJ Hall ACC Basketball Clemson Basketball Vs Wake Forest University Acc /

team. 432. . 7-2 (1-0). . Tigers . 6

The Tigers were expected to be without star forward PJ Hall for most of the non-conference with a knee injury but only missed a couple of games. One of them was a loss to a bad South Carolina team but outside of that and a loss to a ranked Iowa team, Clemson has been able to handle business. That includes home wins last week over Wake Forest and Penn State in double-overtime to give them a high spot in the rankings.

While Hall was out or coming off the bench, forward Hunter Tyson picked up the slack. He had 24 points and nine rebounds in the Penn State win, averaging 14.2 ppg and 8.9 rpg on the season. The leading scorer is Chase Hunter, the breakout guard of the rotation, producing 14.9 ppg and 5.1 apg. And senior guards Brevin Galloway and Alex Hemenway are currently in double figures as well.

If there was a team that could’ve had a letdown to start the year, it was Clemson. Their best player was hurt and they had to replace its entire backcourt of starters. Instead, they’ve looked impressive and capable of staying in the top 6 of the ACC. But first, they have a trio of potentially tricky games against Towson, Loyola-Chicago, and Richmond to round out the non-conference. Others in this league have lost to worse opponents.