NCAA Basketball: 8 bold predictions for conference play in 2019

By Brian Rauf | Dec 30, 2018

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 08: Joey Hauser #22, Sam Hauser #10, and Markus Howard #0 of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts in overtime against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Fiserv Forum on December 08, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers calls to his team in the first half during a game against the William & Mary Tribe at John Paul Jones Arena on December 22, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

4) Virginia, not Duke, will win the ACC

Duke is the most talented team in the country and has the highest ceiling, yet I don’t think they’ll win the ACC.

That distinction will belong to Virginia, who swept both the ACC regular season and tournament titles last year.

Yes, get all of your UMBC and NCAA Tournament jokes out now. All of them are warranted. But when it comes to dominating the regular season, no one does it with as much ruthless consistency as the Cavaliers.

Defense travels in college basketball and no one plays it to the level Virginia does. With a healthy De’Andre Hunter, they have the length, athleticism, size, and system to stymie any opponent they face.

Their offense has also gotten better, too, as they rank in the top 10 in efficiency on that end of the court and rank second in turnover percentage.

Duke will be a top 5 team all season long but have a young team that has not been tested on the road. They’re bound to suffer a hiccup or two because of their shooting struggles.

Virginia has shown us that they don’t suffer those hiccups when healthy. It might be boring but expect UVA to win the ACC again.

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