The Raleigh News and Observer did a survey of ACC players at the media day.
Some highlights:
-- Other than their own coach, 8 of the 23 surveyed would want to play for Coach K
-- Most want to profit from NIL and to be paid by their school for what they do but their views are more nuanced than you might think
-- NBA 2K is their favorite video game
-- They have a love-hate relationship with Cameron Indoor Stadium
-- They find Louisville and UNC to have the nicest road arenas

The preseason picks have been announced. Duke picked to finish first which, I fear, is the kiss of death. It never works out the way it’s picked preseason.

http://theacc.com/news/2019/10/10/mens-b...orite.aspx

Duke picked to win as expected. That hasn’t turned out as predicted this decade.
ACC Preseason winner picks this decade

ACC Preseason Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Duke (51), 1564
2. North Carolina (19), 1493
3. Louisville (29), 1448
4. Virginia (12), 1405
5. Florida State, 1157
6. NC State, 1038
7. Notre Dame, 915
8. Syracuse, 910
9. Miami, 768
10. Pitt, 577
11. Clemson, 564
12. Georgia Tech, 437
13. Boston College, 382
14. Virginia Tech, 334
15. Wake Forest, 328

I know I'm biased and I won't dispute Duke at 1 with their incoming class, but I don't see ranking UNC #2 based on who is returning for the Heels and Cards, plus who is coming in. That feels like some of the Carolina media bias, not that this matters for anything. Flip UNC and UofL and it's how I would have voted the top 5. Despite the banner from April, I don't see how 12 people took Virginia 1st unless Tony Bennett has even more magic.

I would have had Cuse above the Irish, but I think those two and NC State appear on paper to be the middle that have a good shot at the NCAA, assuming you expect Mike Brey to once again have a team that's better than the individual parts, last year aside. Of course they need to stay away from that injury voodoo doll this season.

I haven't studied the bottom half of the league closely enough to quibble on ranking someone 10th vs 13th, apart from the fact that I expect the top 5 or 6 teams to rack up a lot of wins over the bottom 6 or 7 teams with a 20 game ACC schedule. I don't think this will be a banner year for league depth. You may hear national writers complain about the weakness of the bottom, but it could help get the top 8 to 9 into the NCAA, rather than have a bunch of meh teams in the NIT.

(10-10-2019 02:12 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  Duke picked to win as expected. That hasn’t turned out as predicted this decade.
ACC Preseason winner picks this decade

ACC Preseason Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Duke (51), 1564
2. North Carolina (19), 1493
3. Louisville (29), 1448
4. Virginia (12), 1405
5. Florida State, 1157
6. NC State, 1038
7. Notre Dame, 915
8. Syracuse, 910
9. Miami, 768
10. Pitt, 577
11. Clemson, 564
12. Georgia Tech, 437
13. Boston College, 382
14. Virginia Tech, 334
15. Wake Forest, 328

There are three teams decisively worse than Pastner's? How is that even possible?

(10-10-2019 02:12 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  Duke picked to win as expected. That hasn’t turned out as predicted this decade.
ACC Preseason winner picks this decade

ACC Preseason Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Duke (51), 1564
2. North Carolina (19), 1493
3. Louisville (29), 1448
4. Virginia (12), 1405
5. Florida State, 1157
6. NC State, 1038
7. Notre Dame, 915
8. Syracuse, 910
9. Miami, 768
10. Pitt, 577
11. Clemson, 564
12. Georgia Tech, 437
13. Boston College, 382
14. Virginia Tech, 334
15. Wake Forest, 328

I know I'm biased and I won't dispute Duke at 1 with their incoming class, but I don't see ranking UNC #2 based on who is returning for the Heels and Cards, plus who is coming in. That feels like some of the Carolina media bias, not that this matters for anything. Flip UNC and UofL and it's how I would have voted the top 5. Despite the banner from April, I don't see how 12 people took Virginia 1st unless Tony Bennett has even more magic.

I would have had Cuse above the Irish, but I think those two and NC State appear on paper to be the middle that have a good shot at the NCAA, assuming you expect Mike Brey to once again have a team that's better than the individual parts, last year aside. Of course they need to stay away from that injury voodoo doll this season.

I haven't studied the bottom half of the league closely enough to quibble on ranking someone 10th vs 13th, apart from the fact that I expect the top 5 or 6 teams to rack up a lot of wins over the bottom 6 or 7 teams with a 20 game ACC schedule. I don't think this will be a banner year for league depth. You may hear national writers complain about the weakness of the bottom, but it could help get the top 8 to 9 into the NCAA, rather than have a bunch of meh teams in the NIT.

Preseason buzz on Cole Anthony at UNC is extremely strong. We'll see. It's hard to be a freshman PG in the ACC no matter how talented you are.

BTW, note that Louisville got more 1st place votes than UNC but UNC finished above Louisville. I'd take that to mean that opinions on Louisville are a lot more varied than the opinions about UNC.

It's certainly possible to finish ahead of both Duke or UNC but it's really, really hard. Year in and year out those two schools excel in recruiting. You've got to bring in players that turn out to be better than expected and have a team that's more than the sum of its parts. U.Va has done that lately. Can they do it again? Can Louisville do it this season? I wouldn't bet on it. The tide against them is just too strong.

I wonder whether Louisville fully understood how difficult it would be to play in the same conference as Duke and UNC.

(10-10-2019 02:27 PM)Hallcity Wrote:  Preseason buzz on Cole Anthony at UNC is extremely strong. We'll see. It's hard to be a freshman PG in the ACC no matter how talented you are.

He does appear to be a special talent. UNC did not return much though compared to a typical year for Roy.

(10-10-2019 02:27 PM)Hallcity Wrote:  BTW, note that Louisville got more 1st place votes than UNC but UNC finished above Louisville. I'd take that to mean that opinions on Louisville are a lot more varied than the opinions about UNC.

That has to be what happened. The Cards got more 1st place votes, so you had to have some people vote them 4th/5th (or lower) potentially, where most didn't place UNC below 3rd.

(10-10-2019 02:27 PM)Hallcity Wrote:  It's certainly possible to finish ahead of both Duke or UNC but it's really, really hard. Year in and year out those two schools excel in recruiting. You've got to bring in players that turn out to be better than expected and have a team that's more than the sum of its parts. U.Va has done that lately. Can they do it again? Can Louisville do it this season? I wouldn't bet on it. The tide against them is just too strong.

I wonder whether Louisville fully understood how difficult it would be to play in the same conference as Duke and UNC.

No one disputes that those two recruit very well. UofL did have a highly rated class in their own right this year, returns most key contributors, and brought in one of the top PG grad transfers to try and address the perceived weak spot on the roster. That guarantees nothing of course as far as finishing 1st vs 4th or 5th in the ACC, but the high expectations are warranted heading into the year.

Head to head since joining the league, UVA has actually given UofL many more problems than Duke or Carolina. My hope is with a new coach and his different style Louisville can actually complete with the Cavs, but we'll see.

Danny Manning's last season at Wake?

Maybe they don't care since WF is a football school this year.

(10-10-2019 02:14 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 02:12 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  Duke picked to win as expected. That hasn’t turned out as predicted this decade.
ACC Preseason winner picks this decade

ACC Preseason Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Duke (51), 1564
2. North Carolina (19), 1493
3. Louisville (29), 1448
4. Virginia (12), 1405
5. Florida State, 1157
6. NC State, 1038
7. Notre Dame, 915
8. Syracuse, 910
9. Miami, 768
10. Pitt, 577
11. Clemson, 564
12. Georgia Tech, 437
13. Boston College, 382
14. Virginia Tech, 334
15. Wake Forest, 328

There are three teams decisively worse than Pastner's? How is that even possible?

That's probably what alerted the NCAA to the fact that he was cheating.

(10-10-2019 04:41 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  That's probably what alerted the NCAA to the fact that he was cheating.

Pastner sucks at cheating too.

Surprised the media picked FSU so high. I guess they do pay attention outside of 1 state.

FSU is not bad off despite losing 6 players from last years team. I really wish Fi would have returned for selfish reasons, but it’s looking like a good career move. FSU will have 2 stringy freshman at center and 1 grad transfer from Ole Miss trying to fill in for Fi. This will likely be FSU’s weak spot.

FSU will be particularly strong and deep at the 2 and 3. PG Trent Forrest might be the most underrated guy in the ACC; a lock down defender with the ability to carry the scoring load if needed. Oddly enough, there is not a true PG backing him up, what you have is a nimble 6’8” Raiquon Gray with great handles that some speculate will run the position not when Forrest is on the bench.

FSU also seemed to land a real gem in their last class named Patrick Williams. He should likely start at the 4 and it’s said he has 1 and done potential.

My prognostication for this team is that they will need a little bit of time to gel because of all the new faces, but should be peaking around February. It’s a typical LH team that will emphasize defense and wear you down with depth.

(10-10-2019 02:14 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  There are three teams decisively worse than Pastner's? How is that even possible?

Oh don't worry, he'll show you just how bad he is. It's not like he can get fired any time soon.

(10-10-2019 04:32 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  Danny Manning's last season at Wake?

Maybe they don't care since WF is a football school this year.

We care, but apparently the administration's plan is to burn the place down for the insurance money. Manning's buy out ain't cheap. At least that's what it feels like at this point.

Sad that it will take years to rebuild the program even if they make a good hire next time. What Wellman did to our basketball program is criminal.

(10-11-2019 10:19 AM)WakeForestRanger Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 04:32 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  Danny Manning's last season at Wake?

Maybe they don't care since WF is a football school this year.

We care, but apparently the administration's plan is to burn the place down for the insurance money. Manning's buy out ain't cheap. At least that's what it feels like at this point.

Sad that it will take years to rebuild the program even if they make a good hire next time. What Wellman did to our basketball program is criminal.

Hire Ryan Odom, he can beat UVa.

(10-10-2019 02:27 PM)Hallcity Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 02:12 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  Duke picked to win as expected. That hasn’t turned out as predicted this decade.
ACC Preseason winner picks this decade

ACC Preseason Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Duke (51), 1564
2. North Carolina (19), 1493
3. Louisville (29), 1448
4. Virginia (12), 1405
5. Florida State, 1157
6. NC State, 1038
7. Notre Dame, 915
8. Syracuse, 910
9. Miami, 768
10. Pitt, 577
11. Clemson, 564
12. Georgia Tech, 437
13. Boston College, 382
14. Virginia Tech, 334
15. Wake Forest, 328

I know I'm biased and I won't dispute Duke at 1 with their incoming class, but I don't see ranking UNC #2 based on who is returning for the Heels and Cards, plus who is coming in. That feels like some of the Carolina media bias, not that this matters for anything. Flip UNC and UofL and it's how I would have voted the top 5. Despite the banner from April, I don't see how 12 people took Virginia 1st unless Tony Bennett has even more magic.

I would have had Cuse above the Irish, but I think those two and NC State appear on paper to be the middle that have a good shot at the NCAA, assuming you expect Mike Brey to once again have a team that's better than the individual parts, last year aside. Of course they need to stay away from that injury voodoo doll this season.

I haven't studied the bottom half of the league closely enough to quibble on ranking someone 10th vs 13th, apart from the fact that I expect the top 5 or 6 teams to rack up a lot of wins over the bottom 6 or 7 teams with a 20 game ACC schedule. I don't think this will be a banner year for league depth. You may hear national writers complain about the weakness of the bottom, but it could help get the top 8 to 9 into the NCAA, rather than have a bunch of meh teams in the NIT.

Preseason buzz on Cole Anthony at UNC is extremely strong. We'll see. It's hard to be a freshman PG in the ACC no matter how talented you are.

BTW, note that Louisville got more 1st place votes than UNC but UNC finished above Louisville. I'd take that to mean that opinions on Louisville are a lot more varied than the opinions about UNC.

It's certainly possible to finish ahead of both Duke or UNC but it's really, really hard. Year in and year out those two schools excel in recruiting. You've got to bring in players that turn out to be better than expected and have a team that's more than the sum of its parts. U.Va has done that lately. Can they do it again? Can Louisville do it this season? I wouldn't bet on it. The tide against them is just too strong.

I wonder whether Louisville fully understood how difficult it would be to play in the same conference as Duke and UNC.

Only surprise is the Ville not ranked #1 and Duke/UNC/ UVa ranked behind at 2/3/4. Both UNC and Duke lost players while Louisville returns more.

AP preseason poll is out.

#4- Duke
#5- Louisville
#9- North Carolina
#11- Virginia

#30- Florida St
#39- Notre Dame
#41- NC State
#42- Syracuse

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...poll-first

It's amazing that VT didn't get picked to finish last in the conference.

Bede, Wilkins, Horne, and Kabongo are the only players returning who played meaningful minutes for last year's team (and Kabongo is out this season with an injury apparently).

I like what Mike Young has done in his first offseason, but there's a long way to go.