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

6. NC State Wolfpack - 16-9 (8-6)

After losing to Pittsburgh, NC State went on the road to take on Wake Forest in a bubble battle. In a close game, the Wolfpack lost 83-79, despite 31 points from DJ Horne, along with 13 points and 12 rebounds off the bench from Mohamed Diarra. But with their backs against the wall, they found a way to beat Clemson on the road in a thriller, 78-77.

Horne had another 27 points, with Diarra just a rebound shy of another double-double. Jayden Taylor, who moved to the bench this game for Diarra, had 12 points. The Wolfpack are at home for the next couple of games, taking on Syracuse and Boston College next.

5. Pittsburgh Panthers - 17-8 (8-6)

The hottest team in ACC Basketball is the Panthers, having won 7 of the last 8 games to get back in the bubble picture. They got a signature road win over Virginia, with Blake Hinson scoring 27 points in the team’s 74-63 breakthrough. Hinson followed that up with a career-high 41 points in the 86-59 victory over Louisville at home, tying his own program record of nine made three-pointers.

Pittsburgh has a couple of big games this week, starting with a road battle at Wake Forest, looking for a season-sweep. After that is a matchup at home with Virginia Tech, another key bubble battle.