The ACC is so back*.

*I reserve the right to rescind this statement the second one or more of these teams takes an incredibly dumb loss.

But seriously, through one singular week of the college basketball season, the ACC has felt a lot more normal. As of this writing (Monday night games will be covered next week) the league is 35-1 and picked up out of conference wins against the likes of Kansas, Providence, and Texas. There's only been one real scare, Georgia Tech winning in overtime against UMES. The only loss was Boston College in overtime against FAU, and the fighting Earl Grants were underdogs in that game anyways, so not exactly a surprising result. No one has to justify, "well maybe Detroit Mercy will be inside the top 300 this year!"

Week to week, I'm going to personally rank these teams using a blend of 1) my own personal numbers, 2) eye test (do not judge me being unemployed and having time to go back through these games, I don't judge you), and 3) pure, unadulterated bias. That's right, that means if I rank your team low, I personally do not like your school. If you're high, I'm currently trying to raise money so you can retain and recruit better.

Rankings

18: Boston College (1-1)

Why: Earl Grant is trying, okay? This team doesn't really have a ton, but I think they're going to at least be more fun than last year. This is a Donald Hand Stan account, but what on earth is going on with the hitch in his free throw motion? Can Jason Asemota continue shooting well? But if you're the only team with a loss you're gonna be here.

17: Georgia Tech (2-0)

Why: UMES? Really bees? In all seriousness, I don't want to get too down on the team or bash too much. Baye Ndongo didn't play in game one and Lamar Washington hasn't played in two games. The fun comes in with Mo Sylla looking like every bit of top-20 rated freshman. Him and Ndongo are going to give people hell in ACC play.

16: Cal (2-0)

Why: Cal is the current recipient of the "2024-25 Wake Forest flashing red light" award. They labored through the Cal State Bakersfield and Wright State, but the cherry on top is the team shooting 22.7% from beyond the arc. It seems rudimentary, but if you're going to shoot like that all year, you better figure out how to do something else in an elite way really fast. Being the 31st best teams at 2s will help, but is it sustainable?

15: Stanford (2-0)

Why: Ebuka Okorie, you have my attention. Need that three-point shooting to come around, but right now he'd be on my All-Buckets team. Chisom Okpara has been steady for them, especially but otherwise looking at the team... eh?

14: Florida State (2-0)

Why: Shoutout to r0bwithdabutter, aka Rob McCray, for setting the FSU school record for dishing out 17 assists in his debut with the Seminoles. I am just not someone who is going to shoot you up the rankings after skunking people in the 300s. I'll punish you for looking like garbage (GT), but if you win by double digits and don't really have issues, it's just a nice to have.

13: Pitt (2-0)

Why: I want to know more about this team. If Dishon Jackson can't go this year, I am not a believer in Corhen at the 5 for long stretches so that hurts their ceiling. Polo Minor is a fun, fun watch and in general Jeff Capel guards usually pan out to being productive. Do they have serviceable bigs?

12: Notre Dame (2-0)

Why: Little Shrewsberry has been a sniper so far. The obvious name in Markus Burton showed a ton of production but shoutout Cole Certa for maybe taking the sophomore leap? Carson Towt having 14.5 rebounds a game is honestly amazing and I just want him to stay doing that all year. No notes.

11: Miami (2-0)

Why: I want to see if the shooting is there against good teams. That's my biggest worry about this team, and while the shooting wasn't bad, how much do you take away from these games? They have an opportunity to shoot up the rankings with them heading to Jacksonville on Sunday to take on Florida. Even with just a good showing they'll move up. Win? The rest of the ACC will be on notice.

10: Syracuse (2-0)

Why: There's a ton of talent on this team, but are they coached well? Autry catching a stray in a game they weren't even playing in kinda sums that up!

9: Wake Forest (2-0)

Why: Is this going to be round two of a program-worst 3-point shooting team? Or do we believe the scrimmage + exhibition versus whatever that was the first two games from deep? Getting Cooper Schwieger back from injury should be a large boost, but they need Omaha Biliew to take a deep breath on offense to really supercharge this team. Enjoy Myles Colvin hitting his head on the backboard:

8: SMU (2-0)

Why: If there was a team that was ripe to fall, it's going to be this SMU team. The Texas A&M-CC game was absolutely disgusting and it finishing as an 11 point win did not do it justice. This is a team that's on thin ice for me because they spent all of last season kicking the crap out of bad teams only to throw up on themselves against anyone with a pulse. That has to change this year.

7: Virginia Tech (2-0)

Why: Runner-up for team of the week! They'll also have another award later, but shoutout to Mike Young. He's one of the best coaches in the sport, but one that got absolutely ravaged by NIL (or lack thereof) and the portal. A (seemingly) good win over Providence when they could've folded multiple times will be rewarded.

6: Clemson (2-0)

Why: Are you going to doubt the immortal Brad? Him versus Ed Cooley and Georgetown on Saturday is going to be cinema.

5: Virginia (2-0)

Why: Another team that I'm not so much weirded out by, but just want to see them against non-garbage teams. I didn't love the second half against North Carolina Central, but they were up 20 essentially the entire half before winning by 19. We've got a few more games before they find someone with a pulse. Thijs De Ridder is the truth though, can't hate there.

4: NC State (2-0)

Why: I want Will Wade to go every single game with getting a technical foul. Yes he is 2-for-2 on getting one and I need this bit to continue. Paul McNeil looks like he's worth every penny as a returner and those are the stories you want to see in college sports. Growth at the school you signed with and they trust you! Wake me up in December with this team though.

3: Louisville (2-0)

Why: A stat I came across on Twitter this morning, Louisville’s defensive rating has been .35 better with Isaac McKneely on the floor through their two ass-whoopings they've dished out. Small sample sizes are absolutely hilarious. I think I've seen this team as one with an insanely high floor, but I'm curious what the actual ceiling, regardless of the Pat Kelsey NCAAT stat.

2: North Carolina (2-0)

Why: Team of the week! I cannot believe people (me) thought an even-year Hubert Davis team wouldn't be one of the better ones in the country out of the gate. He got his Kansas win, and the vibes are tremendous... until Seth Tremble suffered a broken bone in his left forearm and is going to miss 6-8 weeks. That's a massive blow.

1: Duke (2-0)

Why: Until you dethrone them, they'll be here. I think this may not end up being the flashiest Duke team we've seen but good god man I think they're going to be a tough bunch. They took a bunch of punches from Texas down in Charlotte, and responded with one hell of a second half

Player of the Week: Caleb Wilson (UNC)

If I was a true hater, I would've gone elsewhere, but I really just could not justify it. He was my pick in the weekly ACC voting, the kid just has the juice. I can't hate on a dude that literally got his way over VERIZON. Absolute monster.

CAWB of the Week: Neoklis Avdalas (VT)

My vote for rookie of the week! Also, quick point of clarification: the CAWB of the week usually will be domestic. Nothing against our European and/or Australian brethren, just have to draw the line somewhere. That being said, Neo deserves something because that dude went ALL the way off. Yes his game looks like Luka, it's the obligatory mention. But Mike Young has himself a HOOPER.

One prediction for the week:

The ACC has 10 important non-conference games this week: Wake vs Michigan (in Detroit), Florida State at Florida, Kentucky at Louisville, Pitt at WVU, Cal at Kansas State, Georgia Tech at Georgia, Clemson at Georgetown, Butler at SMU, Notre Dame at Ohio State, and Miami (FL) vs Florida (in Jacksonville).

Give me the ACC covering in seven and outright winning in five. No I do not think Cal or GT win their games.