UNC back on top, and what to make of ACC’s player of the year race

Each week I’ll rank the ACC from best to worst. This isn’t a predicted order of finish but rather a reflection of where teams stand today. Records are current through games played on Sunday afternoon:

1. North Carolina (21-4, 10-2)

Trending: Up

This week: vs. Duke, Wednesday; vs. Miami, Saturday

UNC’s victory against Pittsburgh on Sunday was its most complete in a while – and just in time for the Tar Heels’ game against Duke on Wednesday.

2. Miami (20-4, 9-3)

Trending: Steady

This week: vs. Virginia Tech, Wednesday; at North Carolina, Saturday

Hurricanes have won seven of their past eight games after Sunday night victory at Florida State.

3. Duke (19-6, 8-4)

Trending: Up

This week: at North Carolina, Wednesday; at Louisville, Saturday

The first Duke-UNC game has become much more interesting amid Duke’s recent resurgence.

4. Virginia (20-5, 9-4)

Trending: Down

This week: vs. N.C. State, Monday

All four of the Cavaliers’ conference defeats have come on the road.

5. Notre Dame (18-7, 9-4)

Trending: Up

This week: at Georgia Tech, Saturday

Relatively easy closing stretch should give Notre Dame a top-four finish.

6. Louisville (23-8, 12-6)

Trending: Down

This week: vs. Syracuse, Wednesday; vs. Duke, Saturday

Cardinals’ mental fortitude – they don’t have much to play for, remember – will be tested after two straight losses.

7. Syracuse (18-8, 8-5)

Trending: Up

This week: at Louisville, Wednesday; vs. Pittsburgh, Saturday

Arguably the ACC’s hottest team, the Orange has won eight of nine.

8. Clemson (15-10, 8-5)

Trending: Down

This week: vs. Boston College, Wednesday; at N.C. State, Saturday

Tigers could have really used a victory last Monday at home against Notre Dame.

9. Florida State (16-7, 6-7)

Trending: Steady

This week: vs. Georgia Tech, Wednesday; at Virginia Tech, Saturday

Seminoles appear headed straight for a spot on the NCAA tournament bubble.

10. Pittsburgh (17-7, 6-6)

Trending: Down

This week: vs. Wake Forest, Tuesday; at Syracuse, Saturday

Speaking of the bubble, Pitt appears destined for it, too, as it stares down a 9-9 league finish.

11. Virginia Tech (13-12, 5-7)

Trending: Steady

This week: at Miami, Wednesday; vs. Florida State, Saturday

Hokies were 4-1 in the ACC at one point but reality has set in with losses in six of past seven.

12. N.C. State (13-12, 3-9)

Trending: Up

This week: at Virginia, Monday; vs. Clemson, Saturday

The Cat Barber Show continues to be one of the ACC’s most alluring – but if only he had help.

13. Georgia Tech (13-12, 3-9)

Trending: Steady

This week: at Florida State, Wednesday; vs. Notre Dame, Saturday

A 14-point loss at Clemson could be a sign of a team giving in.

14. Wake Forest (10-15, 1-12)

Trending: Down

This week: at Pittsburgh, Tuesday; vs. Boston College, Sunday

That November win against Indiana sure does seem like forever ago.

15. Boston College (7-18, 0-12)

Trending: Steady

This week: at Clemson, Wednesday; vs. Wake Forest, Sunday

Might the Eagles break through with their first ACC win on Sunday against Wake Forest?

Three points

1. ACC Player of the Year race is wide open, again

Who’s it going to be? UNC’s Brice Johnson? Virginia’s Malcolm Brogdon? N.C. State’s Cat Barber? Those appear to be the three front-runners for ACC Player of the Year honors and there’s good arguments for all three – and, perhaps, for Duke’s Grayson Allen. If Barber keeps playing the way he has it’d be difficult not to award him.

2. Sure Grayson Allen got away with a walk, but …

But the Duke sophomore still made a fantastic shot to beat Virginia on Saturday, for one. That seems to have gotten lost in the controversy of the moment. And, two: if the rest of the game received the same replay scrutiny as the final seconds, more questionable and controversial calls and no-calls would emerge. The result is the result. Allen made a winning play and an official missed a traveling call that, in full speed, would have been difficult to catch.

3. Mike Brey could be in line for Coach of the Year honors

While we’re on the subject of postseason awards, Brey has Notre Dame playing just about as well as any team in the league and he has emerged as a frontrunner, along with Clemson’s Brad Brownell, for ACC Coach of the Year honors. Without Jerian Grant, without Pat Connaughton, the Fighting Irish have won eight of 10 and are in the thick of things near the top of the ACC.

This story was originally published February 14, 2016 at 7:32 PM with the headline "UNC back on top, and what to make of ACC’s player of the year race."