ACC expert picks 2023-24: Predictions, projected order of finish, overrated and underrated teams, key players

The ACC is in a singular place heading into the 2023-24 season. The convention will play one ultimate 12 months with 15 league individuals ahead of including Cal and Stanford to the combo for the 2024-25 educational 12 months. 

For the second one consecutive season, the ACC despatched 5 groups to the NCAA Tournament and completed No. 7 within the KenPom.com convention scores at the back of each different Power-Six faculty and the Mountain West. The two earlier seasons ahead of ultimate, the ACC completed No. 5 within the convention energy scores.

During the ultimate twenty years, the ACC has had extra general luck in basketball height to backside as any primary convention. Five other league individuals (Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia and Louisville) have all received nationwide championships within the ultimate 21 years. 

Even although the convention is trending towards a sluggish decline, there may be explanation why for optimism that this season shall be other. Miami is recent off a marvel run to the Final Four and returns 3 starters. Duke heads into the season as a consensus top-5 workforce beneath second-year head trainer Jon Scheyer and returns 4 starters from an ACC Tournament championship roster. North Carolina is looking for an enormous leap again season after failing to make the NCAA Tournament after beginning as the highest workforce within the preseason polls.

CBS Sports ACC Preseason Player of the Year

Kyle Filipowski | F | Duke

One of the largest surprises of the offseason used to be Filipowski turning down NBA cash to come back again to Durham for some other season. Filipowski used to be the ACC Rookie of the Year and averaged 15.1 issues, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists because the Blue Devils received 9 consecutive video games towards the top of the season to seize the ACC Tournament identify. Filipowski will have to be one of the favorites to dethrone Purdue’s Zach Edey for National Player of the Year and some other high quality season with the Blue Devils may see his draft inventory jump come the 2024 NBA Draft.

Four extra players to observe within the ACC

Armando Bacot | C | North Carolina: Bacot is again with the Tar Heels for some other run after averaging 15.9 issues and 10.4 rebounds ultimate season. Both of the ones numbers had been a decline from his 2021-22 season that noticed him reasonable 16.3 issues and 13.1 rebounds throughout UNC’s run to the Final Four.

Blake Hinson | F | Pittsburgh: Hinson is coming off a career-high 15.3 issues and 6 rebounds. He helped lead Pitt to the NCAA Tournament for the primary time in six years and it marked the primary look in Jeff Capel’s stint on the faculty.

Nijel Pack | G | Miami: The Hurricanes misplaced their two main scorers from ultimate season to the NBA Draft and Pack is poised to be given a larger function after averaging 13.6 issues throughout the common season and 16.4 issues throughout the NCAA Tournament.

Tyrese Proctor | G | Duke: Proctor, like Filipowski, may’ve simply been a one-and-done candidate. Instead, he returns to Duke coming off a season by which he averaged 9.4 issues, 3.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds.

CBS Sports ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year

Elliot Cadeau | G | North Carolina

One of the largest weaknesses of the 2022-23 North Carolina roster used to be averaging simplest 12 assists in step with sport ultimate season, which ranked No. 264 within the country. With Caleb Love transferring directly to Arizona, Cadeau is poised to take over as the start line guard. He is one of the real flooring generals from the 2023 recruiting cycle and is a plug-and-play starter for trainer Hubert Davis. North Carolina hasn’t had a passing level guard of Cadeau’s skill in reasonably a while and he completed because the No. 12 general prospect after reclassifying from the 2024 magnificence.

CBS Sports ACC predicted order of end

Most overrated workforce

Virginia: The Cavaliers have one of the most productive coaches within the recreation, however it is exhausting to look them reside as much as their preseason billing as a result of of the lack-of revel in coming again. This is arguably Bennett’s least skilled roster he is had since he is taken over this system and changing 4 starters is not any simple job. The ACC might be broad open this 12 months, so it is monitoring that this is usually a growth or bust season for Virginia.

Most underrated workforce

Syracuse: In North Carolina’s first season post-Roy Williams, the Tar Heels made the Final Four. In Duke’s first season with out Coach Okay, the Blue Devils received the ACC Tournament championship. I’m now not announcing both of the ones issues will occur this season, however from time to time a brand new head trainer can carry new lifestyles to a program.  After all, it is most probably that Syracuse is going clear of Boeheim’s signature zone protection that is been a staple in faculty basketball for years. Syracuse being tabbed to complete No. 11 turns out low, however they’ve simplest completed within the top-5 of the standings as soon as since becoming a member of the ACC from the Big East in 2013.

CBS Sports ACC expert picks