ESPN has dropped its first preseason Bracketology update, and the spotlight is once again on the powerhouse Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) — a league hungry for redemption after a turbulent few seasons. With renewed optimism and some strategic changes, the ACC is aiming to return to its dominant March Madness form.
Leading the charge is none other than Duke, the perennial blue-blood of college basketball. Under head coach Jon Scheyer, now entering his fourth season, the Blue Devils are eyeing another deep NCAA Tournament run. After a crushing end to last year’s campaign that stopped them short of the title game, Duke has reloaded and is determined to finish what it started. Ranked No. 6 in the AP Preseason Poll, the Blue Devils also topped the ACC Preseason Poll by a convincing margin — a clear sign that media and analysts alike expect Duke to be the conference’s frontrunner.
Still, the ACC’s strength may not stop at Durham. Programs like North Carolina, Miami, and Virginia are lurking as potential contenders capable of shaking up the bracket. Even dark-horse squads such as Wake Forest and Clemson have enough returning talent to challenge the traditional powerhouses.
In a move that could benefit the league’s overall NCAA Tournament chances, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips announced a reduction in the conference schedule — from 20 games down to 18 — allowing more non-conference matchups to boost teams’ résumés ahead of Selection Sunday.
The ACC’s reputation took a hit in recent years, with questions surrounding its national competitiveness. But if early projections are right, this could be the bounce-back season the conference needs. Expect at least five or six ACC squads to make the Big Dance — and don’t be surprised if one of them is cutting down the nets come April.
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