The media has spoken, and once again the ACC runs through Durham. Duke was picked as the preseason favorite to win the 2025–26 ACC men’s basketball title after earning 34 first-place votes and 866 total points in the annual media poll.
Louisville came in just behind with 15 first-place votes and 842 points, setting up what could be a fun race at the top. North Carolina, NC State, and Virginia rounded out the top five, while new ACC member SMU landed in sixth — a pretty strong debut for the newcomers.
Here’s how the full poll shook out:
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Duke (866, 34)
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Louisville (842, 15)
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North Carolina (741)
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NC State (710)
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Virginia (623)
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SMU (616)
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Clemson (510)
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Miami (500)
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Syracuse (489)
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Notre Dame (477)
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Wake Forest (412)
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Virginia Tech (355)
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Georgia Tech (315)
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Pittsburgh (301)
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Florida State (221)
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California (156)
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Stanford (138)
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Boston College (107)
Once again, the Carolinas seem to be the center of the ACC universe, but Louisville looks more than capable of crashing the party. The Cardinals are loaded with young talent and could easily make things interesting by March.
Cameron Boozer Sweeps the Headlines
It’s no surprise that Duke’s Cameron Boozer was the big winner in the preseason awards. The freshman phenom was voted both Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Boozer, the son of former Duke star Carlos Boozer, enters college as one of the most hyped recruits in recent memory. He received 19 votes for Player of the Year and 43 for Freshman of the Year, leading both categories comfortably.
If Boozer is as good as advertised, he’ll give Duke a chance to not only win the ACC but make a deep NCAA Tournament run.
Preseason All-ACC Teams
First Team
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Cameron Boozer, Duke
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Markus Burton, Notre Dame
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Darrion Williams, NC State
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Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
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Ryan Conwell, Louisville
Second Team
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Isaiah Evans, Duke
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Boopie Miller, SMU
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JJ Starling, Syracuse
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Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech
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Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Louisville landed two players on the first team, and that backcourt of Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell might be one of the most exciting duos in the country. Markus Burton looks ready to build on his breakout year at Notre Dame, and UNC freshman Caleb Wilson could be a major storyline by midseason.
What It All Means
Duke being on top isn’t exactly shocking, but the ACC feels more balanced than it has in years. Louisville is trending up fast, Carolina has a nice blend of youth and experience, and NC State still has plenty of firepower.
SMU could also be a sneaky pick to finish higher than expected in their first year in the league.
Between Boozer, Brown Jr., and Wilson, the ACC is loaded with young stars who should make this season one of the most entertaining in recent memory.
