Good evening, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sports fans.
Gary Parrish, CBSSports.com national men’s college basketball insider, has “a ridiculously early look” at the 2015-16 Men’s College Basketball Preseason Top 25 poll.
And there’s a lot of good news for the ACC (from the early look at this top 25, Hoos coming in at #1 – and Tobacco Road takes center stage again, eh?):
1. VIRGINIA
Notable players definitely gone: Darion Atkins
Others expected to leave: None
Notable players expected to return: Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill, Justin Anderson, Mike Tobey, London Perrantes, Marial Shayok, Evan Nolte, Devon Hall
Others expected to join the roster: Jarred Reuter
Why the Cavaliers are ranked here: Virginia is expected to return eight of the top nine scorers from a team that finished 30-4 and won the ACC regular-season title. Justin Anderson could turn pro, and, if he does, this ranking might change. But, at this point, Virginia is a reasonable pick for the nation’s top spot.
2. NORTH CAROLINA
Notable players definitely gone: None
Others expected to leave: None
Notable players expected to return: Marcus Paige, Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks, J.P. Tokoto, Justin Jackson, Joel Berry, Joel James, Nate Britt, Theo Pinson
Others expected to join the roster: Luke Maye
Why the Tar Heels are ranked here: It’s possible Brice Johnson will turn pro. But, for now, he’s projected as a returning starter, which means UNC is projected to return every relevant player from a team that finished 12th in KenPom’s final ratings.
15. DUKE
Notable players definitely gone: Quinn Cook
Others expected to leave: Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones
Notable players expected to return: Grayson Allen, Amile Jefferson, Matt Jones, Marshall Plumlee
Others expected to join the roster: Chase Jeter, Luke Kennard
Why the Blue Devils are ranked here: Tyus Jones isn’t necessarily a lottery pick like Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow, point being that he might return to Duke. If the freshman point guard does, obviously, the Blue Devils will move up a few spots.
16. NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Notable players definitely gone: Ralston Turner
Others expected to leave: None
Notable players expected to return: Cat Barber, Trevor Lacey, Kyle Washington, Abdul-Malik Abu, BeeJay Anya, Cody Martin, Caleb Martin, Lennard Freeman
Others expected to join the roster: None
Why the Wolfpack are ranked here: Remember that talented N.C. State team that eliminated Villanova from the NCAA Tournament? Most of the best pieces from that roster should be back — including Cat Barber.
21. MIAMI
Notable players definitely gone: Joe Thomas
Others expected to leave: None
Notable players expected to return: Sheldon McClellan, Angel Rodriguez, Tonye Jekiri, Davon Reed, Manu Lecomte, Deandre Burnett, Ivan Cruz Uceda, Omar Sherman, Ja’Quan Newton, James Palmer
Others expected to join the roster: Kamari Murphy, Anthony Lawrence Jr.
Why the Hurricanes are ranked here: Every relevant player from a team that played for the NIT title is back, and the Hurricanes will add Oklahoma State transfer Kamari Murphy. So Miami probably won’t be on the wrong side of the bubble again next season.
25. FLORIDA STATE
Notable players definitely gone: Kiel Turpin
Others expected to leave: None
Notable players expected to return: Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Montay Brandon, Devon Bookert, Phil Cofer, Jarquez Smith, Boris Bojanovsky, Robbie Berwick
Others expected to join the roster: Dwayne Bacon, Malik Beasley, Terrance Mann, Christ Koumadje
Why the Seminoles are ranked here: Leonard Hamilton received good news when Xavier Rathan-Mayes announced he would return to Florida State for at least another season. Consequently, the Seminoles will be almost as talented as anybody in the ACC.
You can also expect Louisville and Syracuse to be better than most media folks think coming in with the 4th and 7th ranked 247 men’s basketball recruiting classes, respectively (and terrific coaches in Rick Petino and Jim Boeheim) – along with improved men’s basketball teams from Virginia Tech (Buzz Williams landing the top player in Virginia in Chris Clarke – and the nation’s 21st ranked recruiting class according to 247Sports) and Wake Forest.
This all adds up to a potential banner year for ACC basketball – this was the ACC that @TalkinACCSports and I grew up with – and we think it’s back.
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