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ACC Basketball: Ranking all 18 programs after additions of Stanford, Cal, and SMU

By Tristan Freeman

Feb 5, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Stanford Cardinal head coach Jerod Haase during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Stanford Cardinal head coach Jerod Haase during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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ACC Basketball Head coach Steve Forbes of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons talks with Cameron Hildreth #2 and Damari Monsanto (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
ACC Basketball Head coach Steve Forbes of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons talks with Cameron Hildreth #2 and Damari Monsanto (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

In the 1990s and 2000s, the Deacons were a very good program that was consistently making the NCAA Tournament, including an Elite 8 appearance in 1996. The past decade hasn’t been as kind for the program, with one trip to the Big Dance in the past 13 years. Things have certainly improved under Coach Steve Forbes, who has led the team to a 43-24 record in the past two years.

Still, he hasn’t made the Big Dance with them yet, despite getting two elite transfers in Alondes Williams and Tyree Appleby. So it asks the question, is there a ceiling for the Demon Deacons as a program? They’re right in the North Carolina state that has a ton of prospects, though they not only have to battle the Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils for them but also other local threats.

And the name of the Demon Deacons has lost some shine as of late, not landing as many top-tier prospects. Plus, Coach Forbes has already been viewed as a candidate who can go elsewhere, which means that this isn’t viewed as a great long-term job to compete in ACC Basketball.

Wake Forest doesn’t have any inherit flaws that makes it a bad job. But the likes of Stanford and SMU aren’t going to be afraid of them either. And if Coach Forbes leaves, the program may have to rebuild all over again just to get back to the middle.