Get ready for some heated debates and passionate discussions, because the ACC preseason poll predictions are in, and they're sure to spark some controversy!
The Syracuse men's basketball team has been picked to finish ninth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), according to a select media panel of 49 members. But here's where it gets interesting: the predictions are not unanimous, and there's a tight race among several teams.
Duke, the favorite, received 34 first-place votes and 877 points, while Louisville came in second with 15 first-place votes and 842 points. These two teams are clearly the front-runners, but the real battle is for the remaining spots.
Syracuse, with 489 points, is part of a closely-packed group of teams from 7th to 10th place, separated by just 33 points. This means that even a slight shift in votes could change the entire ranking!
Last season, Syracuse finished in 14th place with a league record of 7-13 and an overall record of 14-19. However, guard JJ Starling has been recognized as a standout player, earning a spot on the All-ACC Second Team in the preseason. Starling even received votes for ACC Preseason Player of the Year, along with other notable players like Darrion Williams of NC State and Cameron Boozer of Duke.
Here's the full breakdown of the ACC Preseason Poll and accolades:
2025 ACC Preseason Poll:
1. Duke (34 first-place votes) - 866 points
2. Louisville (15) - 842 points
3. North Carolina - 741 points
4. NC State - 710 points
5. Virginia - 623 points
6. SMU - 616 points
7. Clemson - 510 points
8. Miami - 500 points
9. Syracuse - 489 points
10. Notre Dame - 477 points
11. Wake Forest - 412 points
12. Virginia Tech - 355 points
13. Georgia Tech - 315 points
14. Pittsburgh - 301 points
15. Florida State - 221 points
16. California - 156 points
17. Stanford - 138 points
18. Boston College - 107 points
2025-26 Preseason All-ACC Team:
First Team:
- Cameron Boozer, Duke (46 votes)
- Markus Burton, Notre Dame (46 votes)
- Darrion Williams, NC State (45 votes)
- Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville (36 votes)
- Ryan Conwell, Louisville (36 votes)
Second Team:
- Isaiah Evans, Duke (24 votes)
- Boopie Miller, SMU (27 votes)
- J.J. Starling, Syracuse (27 votes)
- Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech (24 votes)
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina (24 votes)
ACC Preseason Player of the Year:
- Darrion Williams, NC State (23 votes)
- Cameron Boozer, Duke (19 votes)
- Markus Burton, Notre Dame (2 votes)
- J.J. Starling, Syracuse (2 votes)
- Donald Hand Jr., Boston College (1 vote)
- Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech (1 vote)
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina (1 vote)
ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year:
- Cameron Boozer, Duke (43 votes)
- Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville (3 votes)
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina (2 votes)
- Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech (1 vote)
So, what do you think of these predictions? Do you agree with the media panel's assessment of Syracuse's ranking? Or do you think they're underestimating the team's potential? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below! Let's discuss and see if we can predict the upcoming ACC basketball season together!
