Now that college basketball is nuzzling into the middle of its offseason, we're addressing what has happened in the seven major conferences since early April. We started with the American and we're on to the ACC. Five more are on the way.

The ACC was the nation's deepest conference last season. That may not be the case in 2017-18. The top of the league will be a tick below what it was last season, the middle a bit softer, and the bottom about the same. There is a lot to recap from the past three months and more to look forward to come the fall. The ACC is always entertaining -- and it's coming off a landmark NBA Draft.

Let's look at the changes the league's gone through since the day after UNC cut down the nets.

Biggest names returning

The ACC always has a reliable batch of standout players, but there's an undeniable talent drain, as you'll see below. The incoming freshman class isn't as talented as last year's -- a nationwide trend for 2017-18. Still, there could have been 10 more players on the list above, and Allen is a universe apart from everyone else. There's no one remotely as famous or recognizable in the sport as him.

Impact players who left

Whether they went in the NBA Draft or graduated, a lot of fun players left the conference, and no program will be hit harder than Florida State, while no program figures to get better, despite the losses, than Duke.

Coaching changes

Kevin Keatts, NC State: In a 15-team league, it's unusual to start a new season with only one new coach. The former UNC Wilmington coach takes over for Mark Gottfried, who was fired in February (but coached out the remainder of the season). Keatts, 44, is no stranger to the ACC, with previous experience as a Louisville assistant (2011-14).

Fans will get another season to cheer or jeer Duke's Grayson Allen. USATSI

Three biggest ACC headlines of the 2017 offseason:

Louisville's 2013 banner hangs in the balance: It's the biggest news in the sport. In mid-June, we learned how seriously the NCAA's Committee on Infractions is taking the escort scandal that has hovered over Louisville the past 20 months. Rick Pitino is likely going to have to sit five ACC games next season. Louisville may have to pay back millions made off NCAA Tournament victories that could be wiped from the records. Included is the 2013 national title (plus the 2012 Final Four). Louisville is appealing much of the NCAA's findings and sanctions. There will be more to come this fall. Here's a breakdown of the potential fallout Grayson Allen returns to Duke: Allen had a tumultuous season with well-chronicled suspensions for tripping. Because of that, and the fact he potentially could have been a second-round pick, returning for another season may have seemed daunting. A lot of people weren't expecting Allen back. Whether it's good for college basketball is a complex question. What we do know is Allen is an All-America candidate. Should he stay out of trouble and lead Duke to a very good record while regularly posting 20-point games, it will be tremendous for college hoops. Cam Johnson's saga ends with him transferring from Pitt to UNC: Johnson wanted to transfer after graduating in three years, only to be hindered by his school. The PR onslaught against Pitt came over a month's time. Eventually, the school allowed Johnson to play where he wanted: at North Carolina. Once again, a coach/program holds transfer restrictions on a player before succumbing to pressure.



