It has been six long months since Villanova beat North Carolina in an instant classic to win the National Championship. We’ve seen talented players leave the college ranks and a new crop enroll ready to replace them. We’ve seen coaches across the nation find new homes and work tirelessly all summer to craft their rosters for opening day. Well fellow college basketball fans, that day is upon us, college basketball is back!

It is an especially exciting time in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which features five teams in the Top 25, as well as another six receiving votes. The level of talent across the conference is as good as it’s been in the past couple of decades. This includes four of the previous eight national champions and eight Final Four participants in the same time span. This year, Duke is the consensus favorite to win the title and opens the season as the #1 team in the nation, however, they aren’t the only team with Final Four aspirations. North Carolina, Syracuse, Louisville, and N.C. State all have enough talent to make a deep run come March.

Standings

Duke North Carolina Virginia Syracuse Louisville Miami North Carolina State Florida State Virginia Tech Clemson Notre Dame Pittsburgh Wake Forest Georgia Tech Boston College

(NCAA Tournament teams are in bold)

Duke is the preseason favorite to win the national title so it comes as no surprise that they top the ACC preseason predictions. The ACC has twelve teams that have the talent to make the NCAA Tournament this year, now that’s not to say all twelve of those teams will make the tournament. I think the number will be closer to nine with FSU, Va Tech, Clemson, and Notre Dame vying for the final couple of spots. North Carolina State has a ton of talent and could be a dark horse this season if all their new players can mesh.

Player of the Year

Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson, Sr.- Blossomgame tested the NBA waters last June, but after not hearing what he wanted to hear he made the decision to return to Clemson for his senior year. The 6’7 forward is the ACC’s second-highest returning scorer from last season averaging 18.7 PPG, behind only to Grayson Allen of Duke. He was also Clemson’s leading rebounder a year ago and is in position to repeat that feat this year. What sets Blossomgame apart from the rest is his level of efficiency scoring from anywhere on the court. Last season the senior shot 51% from the field, 45% from behind the arc, and 78% from the free throw line. A handful of other returning players come close to matching those percentages, but none of them were the center of their team’s offense like Blossomgame was.

Defensive Player of the Year

Tyler Lydon, Syracuse, So.- As a freshman last season, Lydon was forced to play in the middle of Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone thanks to a lack of depth for the Orange. The fact that he is undersized to play center at 6’8, 210 lbs, Lydon still excelled and is the Orange’s returning leader in blocks and steals. In Syracuse’s run to the Final Four last season, Lydon averaged 4 BPG and 1.2 SPG. This season he should spend more time on the wings of the 2-3 zone which will put him in position to trap and force more steals. One other thing to watch is the fact that the Orange are looking to press this season which could help Lydon’s stats on that side of the ball.

Freshman of the Year

Dennis Smith Jr, North Carolina State, Fr.- The gem of N.C. State’s 2016 recruiting class is North Carolina native Dennis Smith. The 6’3 point guard is a consensus top 10 player in the nation and selected the Wolfpack over ACC rivals Duke and North Carolina. Smith is an explosive athlete that can get to the rim at will and finish with thanks to his terrific body control. An improving shot from deep will make Smith one of the most difficult players to defend in the entire conference. While he is capable of putting up big scoring numbers, Smith is also at ease running an offense and getting his teammates involved. Smith actually arrived at N.C. State last spring and was able to adjust to college early while rehabbing a torn ACL prior to his senior season. While he may not be the highest rated recruit coming into the ACC he will be given the keys from day one and the Wolfpack will live or die with Smith’s performance.