UNC Basketball: ACC power rankings to begin 2020

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – DECEMBER 07: Mamadi Diakite #25 of the Virginia Cavaliers shoots over Garrison Brooks #15 and Leaky Black #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on December 7, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

Tier 2 Teams:

6. Miami Hurricanes

The reason I really like this Hurricane team is because of the dynamic balance they offer on a nightly basis. They have a three-headed monster in Chris Lykes, Kameron McGusty and Dejan Vasiljevic. All three average over 15 points per game, and shoot the ball well from beyond the arc. What really makes this team standout is the fact that among these three players, they are all upperclassmen. Two of them are juniors, and Vasiljevic is a senior. Age is always an advantage in the college game, and that’s why this team could surprise some teams.

5. Virginia Tech Hokies

The Hokies lost Kerry Blackshear Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from last year’s team, but they have done a great job replacing those two with freshman standout Landers Nolley II. The freshman guard has found himself in the top-five for scoring in the conference, as the bulk of the non-conference season comes to an end. He’s the driving force for the Hokies, and they are only going to go as far as he can take them. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a freshman, but it’s the truth. This Hokie squad is talented, but nothing extraordinary. They will have some big wins and some disappointing losses that will ultimately keep them in the middle to the upper tier of the conference.

4. Virginia Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have a pair of ugly losses on their resume, but other than that, Virginia has been a very good team. They’re led by Mamadi Diakite, a senior forward who produces on both ends of the court. Diakite averages 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds a game while managing to contribute a block and a steal per night as well. Per the usual, this team is driven by the defense, and this may be the best defensive squad Tony Bennet has had to date. The Cavaliers are first in the nation in points allowed, and plan on bringing that tenacious defense with them into conference play. This team lacks offensive consistency, but if the Cavs can find their groove on that side of the ball, then they are primed for another deep run in the tournament.

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