Good morning, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) fans. Let’s do an early dive into next season’s way-to-early preseason men’s basketball top 25. The season is barely over, but many of us already can’t wait until next year. Here is what @RobDauster had to say:
1. Duke
- Returning: Luke Kennard*, Matt Jones, Amile Jefferson*, Chase Jeter, Derryck Thornton
- Newcomers: Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum, Frank Jackson, Javin DeLaurier
- Why they’re here: We went with Duke at No. 1 over Kentucky because the pieces on the Blue Devil roster fit together better than Kentucky’s. Kennard and Jefferson will slide in perfectly alongside Giles, Tatum and Jackson, giving Coach K what may be the most explosive offensive team that he’s ever coached. The x-factor here is, obviously, the health of Giles’ knees. He’s now had both knees surgically repaired and will have not played basketball for a year by the time Duke’s season kicks off.
6. Virginia
- Returning: London Perrantes, Isaiah Wilkins, Devon Hall, Marial Shayok, Darius Thompson, Jarred Rueter
- Newcomers: Austin Nichols, Kyle Guy, Jay Huff, Mamade Diakite, DeAndre Hunter, Ty Jerome
- Why they’re here: Losing Anthony Gill and Malcolm Brogdon is a tough blow to overcome, but the Cavaliers now have a program that can survive personnel losses like that. Nichols will shine in that system, and we’re expecting one of Perrrantes, Hall, Shayok or Thompson to take a step forward offensively.
8. North Carolina
- Returning: Joel Berry II, Justin Jackson*, Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks, Nate Britt, Theo Pinson, Kenny Williams
- Newcomers: Tony Bradley, Brandon Robinson, Seventh Woods
- Why they’re here: Assuming that the Tar Heels get the guys back that they’re supposed to get back, they should actually have a better team next season than some may realize. Might they actually be able to repeat as ACC regular season champions?
10. Louisville
- Returning: Quentin Snider, Donovan Mitchell, Mangok Mathiang, Ray Spalding, Deng Adel, Anas Mahmoud
- Newcomers: Tony Hicks, V.J. King
- Why they’re here: The Cardinals are another team that are going to be better than I realized next season. They lose Damion Lee, but expect Mitchell, Adel, Spalding and Mahmoud to all take significant steps forward.
17. Syracuse
- Returning: Malachi Richardson*, Tyler Lydon*, Tyler Roberson, Franklin Howard, Kaleb Joseph
- Newcomers: Paschal Chukwu, Tyus Battle, Matthew Moyer
- Why they’re here: Richardson and Lydon are perfect for the style that Jim Boeheim wants to play, as is Tyus Battle. The question is whether or not they’re both going to be there next season.
20. Florida State
- Returning: Dwayne Bacon, Xavier Rathan-Mayes*, Terance Mann
- Newcomers: Jonathan Isaac, Trent Forrest, Mfiondu Kabevgele, C.J. Walker
- Why they’re here: There are talented pieces on this roster, and they should fit together better than the pieces on last year’s roster. Isaac is the wildcard here.
24. Virginia Tech
- Returning: Zach LeDay, Seth Allen, Justin Bibbs, Chris Clarke, Jalen Hudson, Justin Robinson, Kerry Blackshear Jr., Devin Wilson, Ahmed Hill, Ty Outlaw
- Newcomers: Khadeem Sy
- Why they’re here: Because this.
And that, my ACC friends, is some high praise to open the 2016-2017 campaign. Eight ACC men’s basketball teams in the pre-season top 25 at NBC’s College Basketball Talk (with Miami right on the outside).
