The Florida State Seminoles took the crown of the best ACC Basketball team last season. Who are the favorites to win it in 2020-21?
At the start of last season, there were a number of storylines and predictions regarding ACC Basketball. The first was that there was a trio of teams (Duke, UNC, and Louisville), with Final Four aspirations, while many others were bunched together as teams vying for the NCAA Tournament overall.
There certainly were logjams, with five teams separated by two games in the middle, one separating the bottom six teams as well as one between those all ranked in the top-4. In the end, it was Florida State, who went from unranked to finishing first in the league (16-4) overall. Duke, Louisville, and Virginia (15-5) finished right behind before four games separated No. 4 and 5 in the league.
Overall, it was a down year for the ACC. Only four teams were projected as safely in the NCAA Tournament field, while NC State was the only other viewed as a reasonable at-large candidate. Multiple teams were viewed as “disappointing”, with North Carolina right up there at the top. They went from being preseason top-10 good with future lottery pick Cole Anthony to finishing tied for last in the conference with a 6-14 record.
Expect a bounce-back campaign for the conference next season. Quality underclassmen have gained a year in experience and a number of sit-out transfers will be eligible to play. There are some All-Conference players gone but with eight teams ranked in the top-40 in incoming recruiting classes, look for the overall talent to still be there.
It’s early and there are still some NBA Draft and transfer decisions to be made but for now, here’s a way-too-early look at where the ACC Basketball teams stand for 2020-21.