Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils absolutely dominated the ACC preseason poll, grabbing a staggering 45 of 48 first-place votes. The rest of the conference barely got a say, honestly. It’s clear the league expects Duke to run things again in the 2026-27 season, and the numbers back it up big time.
The Blue Wall Is Unbreakable, Says the ACC
When the conference puts out a preseason poll, you expect some debate, some close calls. Not here. Duke absolutely steamrolled the competition, racking up 861 points. That’s a massive 83 points clear of the next closest school, Virginia, which managed just one measly first-place vote. Louisville and Miami also snagged one first-place vote each, but their total points, 758 and 753 respectively, weren’t even in the same zip code as Duke. North Carolina rounded out the top five with 658 points.
It’s a clear message from the voters: everyone sees Duke as the undisputed team to beat. They don’t just expect them to finish atop the ACC, they’re practically engraving their name on the trophy already. Look at the full breakdown:
1. Duke (45 first-place votes), 861 points
2. Virginia (1), 778 points
3. Louisville (1), 758 points
4. Miami (1), 753 points
5. North Carolina, 658 points
6. Clemson, 623 points
7. Florida State, 519 points
8. NC State, 502 points
9. Virginia Tech, 489 points
10. SMU, 443 points
11. Syracuse, 353 points
12. Pitt, 323 points
13. Stanford, 267 points
14. Wake Forest, 234 points
15. California, 225 points
16. Notre Dame, 153 points
17. Boston College, 150 points
18. Georgia Tech, 119 points
That’s a statement, plain and simple.
New Blood, Same Dominance
What makes the Blue Devils so formidable this year? It’s not just the returning talent, it’s the new faces who are already making waves. Jon Scheyer went out and pulled in one of the nation’s top transfer students, John Blackwell. You add that kind of experience and skill to incredible incoming freshmen like Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje and Deron Rippey Jr., and suddenly the roster looks even scarier. These guys aren’t just depth; they’re impact players who are expected to help keep Duke on top. It’s a testament to the program’s pull that they can reload with this kind of talent every single season.
This isn’t just about winning a poll; it’s about continuing a legacy. If Duke pulls off another ACC Championship this year, that’s not just a single title, that’s their third consecutive one. Think about that for a second: three straight. That’s dynasty-level stuff, and it’s what Jon Scheyer and these Blue Devils are chasing. The targets on their backs are huge, but with this kind of talent and preseason hype, they’re clearly ready for the challenge. Get ready, college basketball fans, because Duke is coming to play.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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