ACC Basketball power rankings: Pittsburgh, Clemson rises, Miami and Syracuse falls

10. Florida State Seminoles - 13-12 (7-7)

That early 5-1 start to ACC play feels like a distinct memory, as they’ve lost 6 of the last 8 games. The last three were tough games, no doubt. But FSU wasn’t able to beat any of them, falling to Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Duke to fall to .500 in the league. 

The schedule gets lighter, as the Seminoles take on the middle of the conference. Up first is Boston College at home, a game that could determine who gets a bye in the pending conference tournament. A road battle with Clemson follows, with FSU looking to avoid a season sweep.

9. Syracuse Orange - 16-10 (7-8)

This past week was the ultimate “1 step forward, 1 step back” for the Orange, who started out with a massive 86-79 home win over North Carolina to reignite their small at-large hopes. The guard duo of Judah Mintz and JJ Starling combined for 48 points, while Chris Bell and Maliq Brown also were in double figures. 

However, the big win was followed by a 65-60 road loss at Georgia Tech to take away any momentum. Mintz/Starling combined for 32 points but the supporting cast didn’t do nearly enough to win. They remain on the road at NC State in a “must-win” battle, followed by a home game against Notre Dame.