ACC Basketball: 10 biggest storylines to watch for 2022-23 season

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 27: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange reacts in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game against the Houston Cougars in the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

3 of 10

Dane Goodwin Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

8. Two of the best shooting teams look to stay that way

Virginia Tech and Notre Dame both made the NCAA Tournament last season, completing a semi-rebuild on both sides. One reason why was that each of these teams was some of the best three-point shooting teams in both the ACC and nationally. The Hokies were 3rd in the country at 39% as a team, with the Fighting Irish making 38%, good for No. 12.

Now, both programs enter this upcoming season without their respective stars. Keve Aluma was an All-ACC forward for multiple years with the Hokies and lead them in scoring. Forward Justyn Mutts is back and the team did land Wright State transfer Grant Basile to beef up the frontcourt but Aluma was as consistent as they came and he allowed the guards to have plenty of space to score.

The same can be said about Blake Wesley, a freshman guard that came in and immediately led the team in scoring and took the Irish from the bottom half of the league to the NCAA Tournament. His ability to create for himself and get to the basket allowed the surrounding sharpshooters to produce at a high level. He’s also gone, with top-30 freshman JJ Starling potentially replacing him in the lineup.

The good news for both teams is that all of the elite shooters are back for this season. But without the stars that helped set the table, it’ll be a bit harder to have all that open room to shoot from deep. Whichever team can closely replicate last year’s success from deep, has a good shot at getting back to the Big Dance.