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Media Day for ACC Basketball—or Operation Basketball as they call it—took place today in the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. This was the first opportunity for media to ask all of their questions to ACC basketball coaches and player reps from each school, but it’s also that time of year where they ask us media folks to submit a preseason ballot.
As a proponent of transparency, I have decided to share the ballot I submitted, along with reasoning for each choice. The results will be announce tomorrow (Thursday).
First Team All-ACC
RJ Barrett, Fr., Duke
Luke Maye, Sr., North Carolina
Ky Bowman, Jr., Boston College
Ty Jerome, Jr., Virginia
De’Andre Hunter, RSo., Virginia
Preseason Player of the Year
Ty Jerome, Jr., Virginia
Preseason Rookie of the Year
RJ Barrett, Fr., Duke
Projected ACC Order of Finish
- Virginia
- Duke
- North Carolina
- Syracuse
- Florida State
- Virginia Tech
- Clemson
- Notre Dame
- NC State
- Miami
- Louisville
- Boston College
- Wake Forest
- Pitt
- Georgia Tech
Reasoning
For the first team, I think the one player that is practically guaranteed is Luke Maye. He averaged a double-double last season with 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for the Tar Heels. His name is being thrown around for national player of the year and to be a first team All-American, so it’s a pretty safe bet that Maye will have a big season. I was torn between RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson (both for this spot and for ACC ROY), but I think Barrett may have a more dynamic game than Williamson. I expect to look foolish about this.
Ky Bowman, VT’s Justin Robinson, and Syracuse’s Tyus Battle were the three I was deciding between for this spot, but Bowman is just too exciting of a player to leave him off here. Bowman played just shy of 40 minutes a game for BC last season, averaging 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He’s got a bit of a turnover problem, but as an upperclassman that should hopefully right itself (except when playing UVA, then turn it over all you want).
The final two spots go to Virginia’s Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter because I think they’re going to be just unbelievably good this season. I had a hard time leaving Kyle Guy off, especially as a first-teamer last season, but with Guy calling his teammate the, “best point guard in the country”, it makes it a little easier. Hunter obviously missed the biggest game of the season, but now that he’s got a year of Bennett’s system under his belt I expect him to shine in every aspect of the game. Isaiah Wilkins’s graduation leaves a hole in Virginia’s rebounding, which Hunter is perfectly poised to fill.
Jerome got my vote for ACC POY for the reasons stated above. I think he is going to be the best all-around player in the league this season. Debated giving it to De’Andre, but I there’s just something about Jerome coming into this season that makes me really high on his abilities.
For ROY, I almost went with Zion Williamson, but if you put Barrett first team...he’s kind of got to be rookie of the year, right? At the time of voting, I can see the media splitting the votes for first team and ROY, but it’s almost guaranteed to be one of the Duke freshmen.
Leave a comment below to let me know what you think!
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The start of the Virginia Basketball season is right around the corner, and we are counting down the days until the Hoos welcome Towson to John Paul Jones Arena on November 6. Every day until tip-off, we’ll be feeding you everything you need to know to be ready for the 2018-2019 campaign. Missed a day or joining us late? Catch up here.