ACC Basketball power rankings: Dukes falls down, NC State and Pittsburgh moves up

8. North Carolina Tar Heels 16-10 (8-7)

The Tar Heels have found themselves squarely on the bubble and without Ohio State on a long losing streak, now doesn’t have any Quad 1 wins on its resume. That made the past week, games against Wake Forest and Clemson, so important.

On the road at the Demon Deacons, UNC couldn’t stop Tyree Appleby or the rest of the team, losing 92-85 despite scoring 60 points in the second half. Caleb Love missed his first nine shots of the game but rebounded for 24 points in the end. RJ Davis had 16 points while the other three starters each had at least 10 rebounds.

Against Clemson, the Tar Heels’ defense managed to step up in a big way, getting out to an early lead. The offense was both efficient and effective, ultimately pulling out the 91-71 win. Love had 23 points on 6/9 shooting from three-point range, while Armando Bacot had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

UNC couldn’t keep up the winning momentum, losing at home to Miami on Monday, 80-72. That puts them in the middle of the ACC standings and firmly on the bubble, still without a Quad 1 win. The Heels don’t play again until this Sunday when they take on NC State on the road in a “must-win” opportunity for them.