ACC Basketball: Duke front-runner in 2019-20 pre-season media poll

ACC Basketball: Duke deemed front-runner in 2019-20 pre-season media poll

By Neil Adler | Oct 10, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils reacts against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Journalists have cast their votes on ACC basketball in 2019-20, and Duke is projected to capture the conference’s regular-term crown.

Duke is the favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season trophy in 2019-20, according to press members who cover ACC basketball. The league’s annual preseason media poll, released on Thursday, places the Blue Devils at No. 1, followed in the top five by North Carolina, Louisville, defending NCAA champions Virginia and Florida State.

For a bit of context, this past spring, Duke, the Tar Heels, and the Cavaliers all earned No. 1 seeds in March Madness. UVA cut down the nets, while the Blue Devils advanced to the Elite Eight, and UNC bowed out in the Sweet 16.

Per the announcement unveiling the poll, Duke sits at No. 1 in the conference’s pre-season for the fourth-straight stanza, and also for the sixth instance in seven campaigns. The Blue Devils witnessed a huge amount of talent head to the pro ranks after 2018-19, however, as usual, Duke is restocking its roster with a handful of new five-star prospects, and stellar guard Tre Jones elected to return for his sophomore stint.

The entire ACC pre-season ballot, which is below, doesn’t contain that many surprises, from my perspective. I might quibble with a rating here or there, but basically, it’s solid. Naturally, until games actually occur, this is merely fodder and fun speculation. The Cardinals, at No. 3, could prove a tad low. I believe that Louisville will seriously contend for the league prize, buoyed by a ton of guys coming back, as well as a premier 2019 recruiting class.

Speaking of the Cardinals, junior forward Jordan Nwora is the Pre-season Player of the Year, and North Carolina guard Cole Anthony is the Pre-season Freshman of the Year.

Some collegiate-hoops analysts and writers feel that the ACC may slightly fall off in 2019-20, but I think part of that is due to the conference setting the bar so high in recent memory, with multiple national titles and Final Four appearances, as well as numerous other deep journeys in the Big Dance by league participants. I’m excited to experience 20 ACC contests for the inaugural occasion, and the potential of stronger parity throughout the conference in the upcoming term.

Pre-season Predicted Finish Order
1. Duke
2. North Carolina
3. Louisville
4. Virginia
5. Florida State
6. N.C. State
7. Notre Dame
8. Syracuse
9. Miami
10. Pittsburgh
11. Clemson
12. Georgia Tech
13. Boston College
14. Virginia Tech
15. Wake Forest

Pre-season All-ACC First Team
Jordan Nwora, Louisville
Tre Jones, Duke
Cole Anthony, North Carolina
John Mooney, Notre Dame
Mamadi Diakite, Virginia

dark. Next. Analyzing each ACC program's 2019-20 recruiting class

Pre-season All-ACC Second Team
Markell Johnson, N.C. State
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke
Chris Lykes, Miami
Garrison Brooks, North Carolina
Trent Forrest, Florida State