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The past three seasons have followed a familiar pattern for ACC men’s basketball programs.
For much of the regular season, questions are raised how strong the historically decorated conference still is. On Selection Sunday, fewer teams than usual make the NCAA Tournament. By the tournament’s final rounds, it enjoys a redemptive arc: The ACC’s death has been greatly exaggerated.
Will that pattern hold in 2024-25? Before the season tips off, here’s where programs stand:
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1. Duke
Cooper Flagg is as touted a freshman as there has been in years. And to think, he’s one of four five-star players in Durham.
2. North Carolina
Reigning conference player of the year RJ Davis returns, but the big question is how UNC will fare down low without program fixture Armando Bacot.
3. Wake Forest
Wake Forest has improved under Steve Forbes, but hasn’t yet made an NCAA Tournament. Expect that to change this season.
4. Louisville
Louisville is talented, but how all its pieces mesh will determine just how much it improves after Kenny Payne’s disastrous college basketball coaching tenure.
5. Pitt
Jeff Capel has deftly molded Pitt into one of the ACC’s best programs after a frustrating first four seasons.
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6. Clemson
After making the Elite Eight, a 2025 NCAA Tournament berth would mark Clemson’s first consecutive appearances under 15th-year coach Brad Brownell.
7. Miami
Few teams in the conference had a more disappointing season last year. Jim Larrañaga’s team should be much more competitive.
8. Notre Dame
Micah Shrewsberry turned what might have been the ACC’s least talented roster into one of the league’s hardest outs by the end of the season.
9. Virginia
Following Tony Bennett’s sudden retirement, this team won’t (and shouldn’t) get the same benefit of the doubt after it was picked…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/acc-basketball-power-rankings-duke-101014374.html
Author : The Fayetteville Observer
Publish date : 2024-10-28 10:10:00
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