Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball: Updated way-too-early power rankings for 2023-24 season

By Tristan Freeman

Jan 11, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers forward PJ Hall (24) celebrates after scoring and being fouled against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers forward PJ Hall (24) celebrates after scoring and being fouled against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports /
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ACC Basketball Blake Hinson #2 of the Pittsburgh Panthers (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
ACC Basketball Blake Hinson #2 of the Pittsburgh Panthers (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

7. Pittsburgh Panthers

2022-23 season record: 24-12 (14-6)

After four years without a winning record, Coach Jeff Capel finally had the breakthrough with the Panthers, making the NCAA Tournament and winning a couple of games. They did it without two of their supposed-to-be best players, as John Hugley only played eight games this past season.

He’s gone, along with all four of the team’s key guards. That includes First-Team All-ACC guard, Jamarius Burton and starting point guard, Nelly Cummings. Who they do have back is Dior Johnson, a top-40 guard that missed all of last season due to legal troubles. Joining him in the backcourt is Ishmael Leggett, who led Rhode Island with 16.4 ppg last season.

The other incoming transfer is Zach Austin, a 6’7 wing from High Point that averaged 14.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg, along with two blocked shots a game. The small forward is the projected starter on the wing in a frontcourt set to bring everyone else back. That includes leading scorer Blake Hinson, along with starting center, Federiko Federiko. Twins Guillermo and Jorge Diaz-Graham are promising stretch forwards, while the team also added former Michigan commit and four-star center, Papa Kante.

Assuming Hinson does return from the NBA Draft process, the frontcourt will be one of the best in ACC Basketball yet again. The questions in the backcourt will need to be answered in order to make the NCAA Tournament again but if Johnson is as good as his high school tape showed, he could be ready to be a lead guard for Pittsburgh.