Duke is ACC Favorite, Barrett Preseason Top Rookie

GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the third consecutive year, Duke tops the ACC's preseason media poll conducted as part of the league's annual “Operation Basketball” held Wednesday in Charlotte.

The Blue Devils, who finished 29-8 overall last season and reached the Elite Eight with the program's 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament berth, received 52 of 121 first-place votes in the preseason poll released Thursday.

Duke returns nine letterwinners and welcomes the No. 1-ranked recruiting class led by 6-7 forward RJ Barrett, who was picked the ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year. The top three vote-getters for ACC Rookie of the Year were Blue Devils -- Barrett (66 votes), Zion Williamson (43) and Cam Reddish (4).

Barrett (first team) and Williamson (second team), were each selected to the Preseason All-ACC squad.

Virginia (47 first-place votes) placed second in the predicted order of finish, followed by North Carolina (20 first-place votes), Syracuse (one first-place vote), Virginia Tech, Clemson (one first-place vote) and Florida State. Those teams joined Duke in the AP preseason Top 25 poll.

Barrett joined Luke Maye (North Carolina), Tyus Battle (Syracuse), Kyle Guy (Virginia) and Ky Bowman (Boston College) as first-team Preseason All-ACC picks. Williamson was on the second team with De'Andre Hunter (Virginia), Justin Robinson (Virginia Tech), Ty Jerome (Virginia) and Marcquise Reed (Clemson).

Maye (50 votes) edged Barrett (22) and Williamson (15) as the ACC's Preseason Player of the Year. Reddish also received a vote as the Preseason Player of the Year.

Duke was picked as the ACC preseason favorite for the 18th time in the 50-year history of the poll and the 17th time under current head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

The regular season begins for all 15 ACC teams the week of Tuesday, Noember 6. In addition to an 18-game regular-season conference schedule, the 66th annual ACC Tournament will be played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, tipping off with first round games on Tuesday, March 12, and concluding with the Saturday night championship game on March 16.

ACC Operation Basketball 2018-19 Preseason Poll
Team & Points (First-place votes in parenthesis)
1-Duke (52) - 1709
2-Virginia (47) - 1699
3-North Carolina (20) - 1641
4-Syracuse (1) - 1268
5-Virginia Tech - 1187
6-Clemson (1) -1148
7-Florida State - 1127
8-NC State - 885
9-Notre Dame - 859
10-Miami - 816
11-Louisville - 735
12-Boston College - 568
13-Georgia Tech - 324
14-Wake Forest - 313
15-Pittsburgh - 241

Pre-Season All-ACC
First Team
Luke Maye, North Carolina (111)
Tyus Battle, Syracuse (86)
RJ Barrett, Duke (76)
Kyle Guy, Virginia (62)
Ky Bowman, Boston College (58)

Second Team
Zion Williamson, Duke (55)
De'Andre Hunter, Virginia (32)
Justin Robinson, Virginia Tech (29)
Ty Jerome, Virginia (17)
Marcquise Reed, Clemson (16)

ACC Preseason Player of the Year
Luke Maye, North Carolina (50)
RJ Barrett, Duke (22)
Zion Williamson, Duke (15)
Tyus Battle, Syracuse (11)
Ky Bowman, Boston College (7)
Kyle Guy, Virginia (5)
De'Andre Hunter, Virginia (4)
Ty Jerome, Virginia (2)
Justin Robinson, Virginia Tech (2)
Cam Reddish, Duke (1)
T.J. Gibbs, Notre Dame (1)
Jaylen Hoard, Wake Forest (1)

ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year
RJ Barrett, Duke (66)
Zion Williamson, Duke (43)
Cam Reddish, Duke (4)
Jaylen Hoard, Wake Forest (3)
Coby White, North Carolina (2)
Jalen Carey, Syracuse (1)
Nate Laszewski, Notre Dame (1)
Jairus Hamilton, Boston College (1)

#GoDuke

Duke is ACC Favorite, Barrett Preseason Top Rookie

Players Mentioned

RJ Barrett

Cam Reddish

Justin Robinson

Justin Robinson

Zion Williamson

Duke information

Duke is ACC Favorite, Barrett Preseason Top Rookie

Players Mentioned

RJ Barrett

Cam Reddish

Justin Robinson

Justin Robinson

Zion Williamson

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