Duke, UNC Crack the Top 10 in Preseason AP College Basketball Poll
Preseason AP Top 25:
1. North Carolina (47)
2. Gonzaga (12)
3. Houston (1)
4. Kentucky (2)
T5. Baylor
T5. Kansas
7. Duke
8. UCLA
9. Creighton
10. Arkansas
11. Tennessee
12. Texas
13. Indiana
14. TCU
15. Auburn
16. Villanova
17. Arizona
18. Virginia
19. San Diego State
20. Alabama
21. Oregon
22. Michigan
23. Illinois
24. Dayton
25. Texas Tech
READ: Jim Boeheim calls out the Big Ten
Conference Breakdown:
ACC: 3, SEC: 5, Big 10: 3, Big 12: 5, Pac-12: 3, Mountain West: 1, American: 1, Atlantic 10: 1, Big East: 2, WCC: 1
Three ACC teams make the top 25:
1. North Carolina
This is UNC's 10th preseason AP No. 1 ranking of all time. After falling just short in the 2022 National Championship game against the Kansas Jayhawks, the Tar Heels are deservedly placed at the top. Hubert Davis’ squad went 29-10 last year and brings back four of its five starters. UNC surprised many by reaching the title game last year as an 8-seed, but expectations are high this season — the Heels are a favorite to win the ACC and make a deep tournament run come March.
READ: 2022-23 ACC Basketball Preview: Clemson Tigers
7. Duke
In legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final season, the Blue Devils won 32 games and reached the Final Four where they fell to rival UNC in an 81-77 thriller. Former Duke star Jon Scheyer is now running the show, looking to continue Coach K’s tradition of excellence. Duke loses its three leading scorers from last year, but roster turnover is something this program deals with every year.
18. Virginia
The Cavaliers were up and down last season, finishing in the middle of the pack in the ACC with a 21-14 overall record. Head coach Tony Bennett’s group reached the NIT quarterfinals before getting bounced by St. Bonaventure. There’s cause for optimism around the UVA program, though, with the team’s top six scores all returning. The Cavs will look to build on last year’s campaign and take a leap in the 2022-2023 season.
READ: Week 8 ACC Football Power Rankings
ACC Teams in Preseason Top 25 by Year:
2021: 4
2020: 4
2019: 4
2018: 7
2017: 5
2016: 5
2015: 4
2014: 5
2013: 6
2012: 7
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Ben is a managing editor and lead contributing writer for Deacons Daily. Ben has a year of experience as the Sports Editor for the Old Gold & Black, and a year of experience as the publication’s print managing editor. He has a journalistic profile of over 40 published news and sports pieces for the Dayton Daily News.