Duke is the consensus favorite to win the ACC again this season, earning a whopping 45 of 49 possible first-place votes in the media poll released Tuesday. That’s right, the Blue Devils were tabbed to finish atop the league, and honestly, are we even surprised at this point?
The Blue Devils Are Rolling, But Who Else Is Making Moves?
The Blue Devils are walking into the season as heavy favorites, and it’s for good reason. They’re bringing back a core nucleus of their returning production from last season, with names like Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr, and Patrick Ngongba II leading the charge. But that’s not all. Duke also nabbed former Wisconsin star John Blackwell, plus they’re welcoming a seriously talented freshman class. Keep an eye on Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje from that group, because some folks are already whispering he could be the No. 1 pick in the 2028 NBA Draft. This team has earned back-to-back No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, so the optimism around them is real. With the NCAA Tournament field expanding this season, there’s even more hope for a stronger ACC showing overall.
But Duke isn’t the only squad trying to make some noise. Louisville went big in the transfer portal this offseason, snagging former Kansas big man Flory Bidunga. And Miami? They quietly put together an impressive transfer portal class too, landing former Villanova guard Acaden Lewis and Georgia big man Somto Cyril. North Carolina is entering a whole new era with Michael Malone taking over as head coach. Malone’s got deep NBA ties, but this is his first college head coach gig after being an assistant way back in the 1990s at Oakland, Providence, and Manhattan. It’s going to be wild to see how that plays out.
The ACC Poll Dropped, And One Team Got DONE DIRTY
Alright, so here’s the official ACC preseason media poll breakdown:
- Duke (45 first-place votes)
- Virginia (1 first-place vote)
- Louisville (1 first-place vote)
- Miami (1 first-place vote)
- North Carolina
- Clemson
- Florida State
- NC State
- Virginia Tech
- SMU
- Syracuse
- Pitt
- Stanford
- Wake Forest
- California
- Notre Dame
- Boston College
- Georgia Tech
Now, that’s all fine and dandy, but let’s talk about the real shocker: Virginia at No. 2. Look, Virginia is a good basketball team, no doubt about it. But one pollster out there thinks they’re massively overrated at second place, putting them fourth on their own ballot behind Duke, Miami, and Louisville. Even with Thijs De Ridder coming back, dropping them two spots from the media’s consensus is a huge statement. That’s a pretty hot take, especially when two other colleagues still had UVa at No. 2! Virginia’s schedule is no joke either, with tough road games against North Carolina already on the books. This poll has set up some serious drama for the season.
So, the season is just around the corner. Can Duke live up to the sky-high expectations? Can Miami prove the media poll totally missed the mark and climb higher than No. 4? And will Virginia show everyone they’re legit at No. 2, or will the whispers of being overrated become a full-blown roar? Get ready, because the ACC season is about to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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