Around the ACC: Week 12

1. Syracuse (19-0, 6-0): Every stellar team seems to have a nemesis that always plays them close, regardless of the matchup on paper. For the Orange, that team is Miami, which overcame a huge early deficit to take the lead on Syracuse, before C.J. Fair and Co. reasserted themselves to keep their record unblemished.

2. Pittsburgh (18-2, 6-1): If you want to see a passing clinic, go find the tape of Pitt's demolition of Clemson. The Panthers made 27 field goals, and recorded assists on 24 of those baskets. Jamie Dixon's squad ranks 10th in the nation with 17 dimes per game.

3. Virginia (15-5, 6-1): Since falling to Duke Jan. 13, the Cavaliers really haven't been tested, winning all three of their games against Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech by double-digits. Virginia travels to Notre Dame and Pittsburgh this week, looking for a pair of road wins to stay in the conference title hunt.

4. Duke (16-4, 4-2): Rebounding has the Blue Devils back on track and brimming with confidence. They'll need both this week, as they travel to Pittsburgh and Syracuse for a pair of heavyweight bouts with the class of the ACC.

5. Wake Forest (14-6, 4-3): The Demon Deacons weren't the trendy pick to be in this spot come midseason, but Devin Thomas and Codi Miller-McIntyre have kept Wake Forest within striking distance. Syracuse and Duke loom in the near future for the Demon Deacons, with Georgia Tech sandwiched in between.

6. Florida State (13-6, 4-3): For a team with three 7-footers on the roster, the Seminoles sure didn't play to their size advantage Saturday against Duke. Leonard Hamilton's squad was outrebounded 47-24, surrendering 27 offensive rebounds and 29 second-chance points.

7. Clemson (13-6, 4-3): After a promising start to conference play, Brad Brownell's bunch has fallen on hard times. The Tigers were blown out in a pair of road games last week, falling at Pittsburgh and North Carolina by a combined score of 156-104.

8. N.C. State (13-7, 3-4): Earlier in the year, the Wolfpack were on the losing end of a last-second game-winner. They got revenge Sunday, as T.J. Warren's basket in overtime sent N.C. State to an 80-78 victory against Georgia Tech.

9. Maryland (11-9, 3-4): The Terrapins gave Pittsburgh a scare Saturday night at the Comcast Center, fighting back into the game but coming up short in the final seconds. Dez Wells continues to power Maryland, averaging 14.6 points per game.

10. North Carolina (12-7, 2-4): The Tar Heels split a pair of games last week, falling at Virginia 76-61 before coming up with a much-needed win by taking care of Clemson 80-61 at home. The Tar Heels should be favored in their next four games leading up to the Feb. 12 home game against Duke.

11. Georgia Tech (11-9, 2-5): After an eight-point win at Boston College to start the week, the Yellow Jackets came up short of a road sweep when they fell to N.C. State in overtime Sunday. They'll return to the friendly confines of Atlanta to face North Carolina on Wednesday.

12. Notre Dame (11-9, 2-5): Notre Dame couldn't stop its recent bleeding last week, falling to Florida State and Wake Forest. Center Garrick Sherman has asserted himself as Mike Brey's go-to scorer in the absence of leading scorer Jerian Grant, upping his numbers to 15.2 points per game to go with 8.3 rebounds.

13. Miami (10-9, 2-5): The Hurricanes are through with the roughest part of their schedule, having played Syracuse close twice and getting blown out by Duke at home. Miami needs to find consistent offensive production from players not named Rion Brown.

14. Boston College (5-14, 1-5): The Eagles played just once last week, falling 68-60 at home to Georgia Tech. They defeated Virginia Tech 62-59 Jan. 11, and will look to replicate that success with a season sweep Wednesday night.

15. Virginia Tech (8-11, 1-6): The ACC continues to be unkind to the Hokies, who have lost six straight. They'll have a chance to earn their second win when they face another struggling team in Boston College this week.