ACC Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf | Sep 25, 2019

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 05: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils drives past Jordan Chatman #25 of the Boston College Eagles during the second half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 05, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 80-55. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Rex Pflueger #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after fouling during the second half of the game against Oklahoma Sooners at Madison Square Garden on December 04, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

. Last Year: 14-19 (3-15). . Fighting Irish . 10. team. 443

Notre Dame was downright terrible in conference play last season, finishing in last place. However, you may notice their overall record looks much better than their ACC mark.

There’s something of a reason for that – injuries.

When healthy, the Irish beat Purdue and Illinois, suffered close losses to Oklahoma and UCLA and started 10-3. But star guard Rex Pflueger was injured in that victory over Purdue, and the Irish spiraled out of control without their leader. The offense was dreadful without their lead guard (it was the first time since joining the ACC that the Irish ranked outside the top 40 in the country in offensive efficiency, and they ranked 105) and the defense took a major hit without their best perimeter defender.

The result was a 4-16 finish to the season.

The good news is that Pflueger is back after receiving a medical redshirt, as is Mooney and senior guard T.J. Gibbs. When they’re on, that trio is talented enough to compete with any in the ACC.

Last year, the problem was consistency and finding enough play around them. Simply put, most of the players on the roster were dreadful. They will have to make significant steps forward if they’re going to finish in the top half of the conference.