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Duke Blue Devils Tabbed The Preseason Favorite In The ACC

By Jack Crosby

Mar 5, 2014; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Rasheed Sulaimon (14) drives the ball during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Wake defeated Duke 82-72. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2014; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Rasheed Sulaimon (14) drives the ball during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Wake defeated Duke 82-72. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the college basketball season right around the corner, the Duke Blue Devils have once again been tabbed as the favorite in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball. 

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Despite yet another unceremonious exit in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament and losing one of the top stars in college basketball, Jabari Parker, Coach K and the Duke Blue Devils have once again been called upon as the preseason favorite in the mighty Atlantic Coast Conference.

With star guards Rasheed Sulaimon and Quinn Cook, plus forward Amile Jefferson returning, it’s not really all that much of a shocker to see Duke picked as the top team in the conference before the season starts. Plus, they will also be loaded with the addition of 6-11 freshman center Jahlil Okafor, who is expected to make a Parker-like impact right off the bat, if not more.

Right behind them in second are the North Carolina Tar Heels, led by junior Marcus Paige, who averaged 17.5 points per game last season for Roy Williams and company.

Here is a look at how the voting process played itself out for the ACC.

Team & Points
1. Duke (41): 935

2. North Carolina (12): 870

3. Louisville (3): 847

4. Virginia: 824 (7)

5. Syracuse: 706 (2)

6. Pitt: 592

7. Notre Dame: 515

8. Florida State: 506

9. NC State: 478

10. Miami: 442

11. Clemson: 330

12. Wake Forest: 221

13. Georgia Tech: 195

14. Boston College: 184

15. Virginia Tech: 155

Who do you see coming away with the ACC when the year is over? Can Duke or Carolina hold strong, or will someone behind them take the crown? Like, say, newcomer Louisville? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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