With the ACC holding its annual ACC Tip-Off event in Charlotte earlier this week, that means it’s time for the media to make their predictions for the upcoming college basketball season. This time last year, Carolina was the trendy pick to win the league, return to the Final Four, and compete for a national championship. This year, Carolina enters with less expectations, but is arguably the most intriguing team in the league, as everyone is curious to see how they bounce back after a down 2022-23 campaign.
Even though the Tar Heels aren’t the preseason favorite to win the ACC regular season title, which instead belongs to rival Duke, the ACC media still has high hopes for Carolina, as they were picked to finish third in the league, behind aforementioned Duke, and Miami, a team that the Final Four last season. The Tar Heels received 1 of the 51 first-place votes.
Here is the predicted order of finish, via GoHeels.com
School, Points
1. Duke (44), 757
2. Miami (5), 693
3. North Carolina (1), 670
4. Virginia (1), 593
5. Clemson, 570
6. Wake Forest, 440
7. NC State, 420
8. Virginia Tech, 390
9. Pitt, 380
10. Syracuse, 321
11. Florida State, 294
12. Boston College, 227
13. Georgia Tech, 157
14. Louisville, 108
15. Notre Dame, 100
First-place votes in parentheses
51 total voters
The media also makes their predictions for the preseason All-ACC teams, and Armando Bacot was selected to the first team, for the second straight season, as he is poised to finish off his legendary career at UNC in style. In addition to being a preseason first-team selection, Bacot was second on the preseason Player of the Year ballot, behind Kyle Filipowski. Oddly enough, Bacot is the only Tar Heel to be selected to any preseason All-ACC team, as R.J. Davis was not selected to any of the three preseason teams, despite averaging over 16 points per game last season.
Listed below, are the preseason All-ACC teams, via GoHeels.com
Preseason All-ACC
First Team
Kyle Filipowski, Duke, 51
Armando Bacot, North Carolina, 50
PJ Hall, Clemson, 48
Reece Beekman, Virginia, 44
Norchad Omier, Miami, 42
Second Team
Judah Mintz, Syracuse, 39
Nijel Pack, Miami, 34
Blake Hinson, Pitt, 33
Tyrese Proctor, Duke, 24
Quinten Post, Boston College, 23
While Carolina may have only had one player selected to a preseason All-ACC team, they do who the preseason Rookie of the Year on the roster, Elliot Cadeau, who might just be the most anticipated freshman the league has seen since Zion Williamson.
Here is the full voting, from GoHeels.com
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Elliot Cadeau, North Carolina, 40 votes
Jared McCain, Duke, 6
Caleb Foster, Duke, 3
Donald Hand Jr., Boston College, 1
Carlton Carrington, Pitt, 1
The Tar Heels open the 2023-24 season on November 6th, when they host Radford.
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