Def Pen Sports’ 2019-20 NCAA Preview series continues with the ACC. After looking at the conference’s projected top 10 players, we’re now going to take a look at the five most intriguing storylines to follow heading into the season. Considered by many to be the best conference in the country, these storylines for the ACC are definitely ones that you should keep an eye on.
Let’s get into it.
Chris Mack’s year two title chase
The expectations for Chris Mack’s Louisville squad in year two are through the roof. The Cardinals finished 7th in the conference at 10-8 last year and showed signs of extreme promise. This squad brings back virtually everyone in a year that features most ACC squads taking major personnel losses. To compound on that, Mack brings in the 12th ranked recruiting class nationally. This class features a 5-star, 3 4-stars, and grad transfer Fresh Kimble. Not many teams look as deep as this Louisville squad in the ACC or the country as a whole.
Throwing into the mix the obvious elite coaching prowess that Mack possesses, and Louisville could very well be the best team in the conference. It seems unreal to think that Chris Mack could unseat Coach K, Roy Williams, Jim Boeheim, Tony Bennett, and the cast of terrific ACC coaches in just his second year for an ACC title, but it is a very real possibility.
How will Virginia rebound after losing most of the key players on their championship squad?
Just a year after becoming the first number one seed to lose to a 16th seed in the NCAA Tournament, Tony Bennett and the Virginia Cavaliers managed to prove the naysayers wrong and win a national championship. The outlook for this season, however, isn’t quite as bright. Gone is the star backcourt of Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome, as well as lottery pick De’Andre Hunter and starting center Jack Salt.
This team is one of the more polarizing of the preseason, as some analysts have Virginia in the top 10 while some have them outside of the top 25 altogether. It remains to be seen who will be doing the bulk of the scoring, and whether or not Tony Bennett’s squad can sustain success with a roster lacking big-time talent.
VIRGINIA HAS DONE IT!@UVAMensHoops WINS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/4bpHHDIGBk
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) April 9, 2019
Can Duke end its regular-season drought?
One statistic that seems to fly under the radar is the fact that Duke, despite experiencing so much success this decade, has not won a regular-season ACC title since 2010. With one of their most well-constructed rosters since they became a one-and-done factory, there’s a solid chance for that to change this season.
The Blue Devils will be led by second-year point guard Tre Jones, already giving them more experience than they typically have. They also have a big-time supporting cast consisting, most notably, of five-stars Vernon Carey, Matthew Hurt, and Wendell Moore. Coach K’s roster this year will have a little bit of everything, and it will be interesting to see if they can turn it into a regular-season title for the first time in a decade.
Will NC State take a leap in year three of the Kevin Keatts era?
After heading over from UNC Wilmington, NC State head coach Kevin Keatts has experienced a lot of success in Raleigh, winning 45 games and making the NCAA tournament and NIT once each in his two seasons with the team. If Keatts really wants to be taken seriously in the country’s best conference, however, he’ll need to make an anticipated leap in year three.
The Wolfpack have their most talented roster of the Keatts era, led by senior point guard Markell Johnson, who should be one of the best players in the ACC. The expectation is for the Pack to contend for a top-five spot in the conference and make the NCAA tournament with ease. If that doesn’t happen, fans may need to temper their long-term expectations for their new head coach.
Should this be considered a rebuilding year for UNC?
The North Carolina Tar Heels have undeniably been a consistent, high-level winner for essentially the entire decade. For the most part, this reputation was built off the strength of its experience and returning players. Roy Williams is known for developing multi-year players into top-level college talent. This year appears to be different, as they lose much more talent than they return.
Luckily for them, they bring in an elite class of newcomers. 5-stars Cole Anthony and Armando Bacot headline a class that also features elite grad transfers Christian Keeling and Justin Pierce. Piecing together the new guys, similar to how Duke and Kentucky have done in recent years, will be a new feeling for Roy Williams.
This leaves fans confused as to what to expect from the Heels. They are supremely talented at the top, though not terribly deep and there is a lack of big-game experience throughout the squad. Cole Anthony will be one of the best players in the country, but the rest of the squad may not be able to keep up every night. This shouldn’t be viewed as a full-on rebuild year, particularly because they will lose a lot again after this season, but the Tar Heels will certainly have a different look and feel to their team this season.
