clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Duke Picked First In ACC, Banchero Poised For A Dominant Year?

Things are looking good for Duke early

By JD King
Duke Countdown To Craziness
 DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 15: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Duke Blue Devils gets a defensive rebound during Countdown To Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 15, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina.
Photo by Lance King/Getty Images

Pre-season honors generally don’t mean much but it’s nice when your guys get them. They just have to prove it’s justified. Things don’t always go according to plan.

In this case, Duke freshman Paolo Banchero has been picked for ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Player of the Year.

Duke was also picked to finish first in the ACC. Florida State is second, UNC third and Virginia fourth.

The problem with Virginia that everyone gets wrong is this: Tony Bennett’s system is designed to keep the score low, the game close and to wear you down. And at the end of the game, when you’re tired, even if they have a bad offensive team, they’re in a position to win - which they usually do.

  1. Duke
  2. Florida State
  3. UNC
  4. Virginia
  5. Virginia Tech
  6. Louisville
  7. Syracuse
  8. Notre Dame
  9. NC State
  10. Georgia Tech
  11. Clemson
  12. Miami
  13. Wake Forest
  14. Pitt
  15. Boston College

1. Duke (47), 11322. Florida State (14), 10343. North Carolina (5), 10014. Virginia (9), 9495. Virginia Tech (5), 8576. Louisville (1), 7917. Syracuse, 7818. Notre Dame, 5999. NC State, 55510. Georgia Tech, 52411. Clemson, 43012. Miami, 42813. Wake Forest, 27414. Pitt, 25315. Boston College, 112

More From Duke Basketball Report