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5 questions entering the ACC

College basketball season is inching closer!

Between now and Nov. 4th, 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 get more teams in the NCAA Tournament?
Here are the facts: The ACC — who had three teams in the Elite Eight last March — has performed exceptionally well during March Madness. However, the ACC has only had five of its 15 teams reach each of the past three NCAA Tournaments. Why is this? The league has not gotten great mileage out of its marquee brands. Since 2021, Syracuse, Louisville, and Florida State have not been a part of March Madness. Notre Dame meanwhile, has only played in the NCAA Tournament once since 2017. The ACC needs these programs to return to their vintage form if it’s going to have more volume on the sport’s greatest stage. Remember: Both Syracuse and Florida State advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2021. Louisville has not played in the NCAA Tournament since 2019.

2. How big of an impact will Cooper Flagg have at Duke?
Big enough to say that he has a chance to be the most dominant freshman to play in the Blue Devils’ program since Zion Williamson. And yes, that means more dominant than Vernon Carey and Paolo Banchero, who were both All-Americans. The 6-9 Flagg is a generational talent and the overwhelming favorite to be the top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Like Williamson, he’ll instantly be appointment television for Duke, who’s currently ranked 10th in the ROTHSTEIN 45.

3. Are North Carolina’s big men good enough?
It’s the million dollar question in Chapel Hill. After five years, Armando Bacot and his automatic double-double are gone. Stepping in will be a plethora of options as the Tar Heels aim to complement one of the sport’s top perimeters — Elliot Cadeau, R.J. Davis, and five-star freshman Ian Jackson — with a capable baseline. North Carolina needs the troika of Jae’Lyn Withers (4.2 points, 3.6 rebounds), Jalen Washington (3.9 points, 2.6 rebounds), and Vanderbilt transfer Ven Lubin (12.3 points, 6.3 rebounds) to combine for averages of 12-15 points and 12-15 rebounds. If that happens, another deep run in the NCAA Tournament will be well within reach.

4. Which off-the-radar ACC player could become a national name?
Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud. Many college basketball fans may not be fully aware of the 7-1 Raynaud because he’s played in obscurity for the majority of his career on the West Coast, but that should change quickly due to the Cardinal’s new association with the ACC. Raynaud averaged 15.5 points and 9.6 rebounds last season while shooting 56.7 percent from the field. He’s got first-team All-ACC ability in 2024-25 and should give Kyle Smith a chance to make Stanford a factor in its first year in the conference.

5. Who is the sleeper?
Georgia Tech. Damon Stoudamire earned wins over Duke, North Carolina, and Clemson a year ago in his first season with the Yellow Jackets and his second campaign has more than cautious optimism. Sophomores Baye Ndongo (12.4 points, 8.2 rebounds) and Naithan George (9.8 points, 4.7 assists) both possess All-ACC caliber ability and should make significant leaps in their second seasons of college basketball. Transfers Javian McCollum (Oklahoma) and Luke O’Brien (Colorado) arrive as potential starters and Kowacie Reeves (9.8 points) is a sturdy veteran. Lance Terry — a 6-3 guard who averaged double-figures in three out of his four seasons at Georgia Tech —- also returns after redshirting last year due to injury. Don’t be shocked if Stoudamire has this team on the bubble in mid-February.

Leftovers