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5 questions entering the ACC

College basketball season is inching closer!

Between now and Nov. 3rd, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the ACC:

1. How can the ACC change its national perception?
By getting at least one third of its teams into the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Only four of the ACC’s 18 teams — Duke, Clemson, Louisville, and North Carolina — reached March Madness a year ago and there were many people — including me — who felt that the Tar Heels are zero business hearing their names called on Selection Sunday. The same could be said of Virginia’s inclusion in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The ACC needs to have at least six teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament if it wants to take steps back to respectability as a conference. 

2. Which player on Duke is going to take a major step forward?
Isaiah Evans. The 6-6 Evans showed his offensive prowess last February when Tyrese Proctor was out of the Blue Devils’ lineup due to an injury. Now a projected starter as a sophomore, Evans’ numbers are primed to spike. He averaged 12.0 points last season in games where he logged 20 minutes or more. Don’t be shocked if Evans is Duke’s second-leading scorer this season behind five-star freshman Cam Boozer. 

3. Is Louisville’s hype warranted?
TBD. The Cardinals have a significantly better roster than last year’s squad that won 27 games and lost to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but it remains to be seen if Pat Kelsey’s squad has the requisites to make a deep run in March Madness. Louisville has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2019 and is transitioning from a senior point guard in Chucky Hepburn to a potential one-and-done prospect at the most important position on the floor in 6-3 freshman Mikel Brown. While Brown’s long-term upside is undeniable, he’s still significantly less seasoned than Hepburn was. Nevertheless, Kelsey has surrounded Brown with a bevy of shooters — Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia), Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State), and Kobe Rodgers (Charleston) — who should provide ample spacing. The Cardinals look like a second weekend team in 2026. 

4. Can Darrion Williams carry NC State?
He’s going to be the featured guy from Day One in Raleigh and he should be even more potent than he was at Texas Tech last season since he’s not playing alongside JT Toppin. Will Wade needs another secondary option to emerge to take pressure off Williams offensively, but until that happens this guy is going to be fed until he burps. The 6-6 Williams averaged 21.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists last March in four NCAA Tournament games with the Red Raiders and those types of numbers are within his reach during the upcoming season at NC State. Whatever “it” is, Williams possesses. 

5. Who is the sleeper?
Virginia. The Cavaliers haven’t won a game in the NCAA Tournament since they won the 2019 national title under Tony Bennett, but Ryan Odom’s arrival ensures a new dawn in Charlottesville. The 50-year old head coach has already led three other programs — UMBC, Utah State, and VCU — to the NCAA Tournament and the Cavaliers’ eventual arrival in March Madness feels like an inevitability. Odom’s fast paced style should be a welcome change from Bennett’s methodical approach and don’t be shocked if it immediately pays dividends. A strong infllux of transfers — Dallin Hall (BYU), Sam Lewis (Toledo), Jacari White (North Dakota State), and Malik Thomas (San Francisco) — along with two international prospects — Johann Grunloh and Thijs De Ridder should put the Cavaliers in position to be in position in 2025-26. 

Leftovers