The AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll is here, and the rankings are already sparking debate! Are Duke, UNC, and NC State in the mix? The answer might surprise you, and it definitely sets the stage for an intense season in the ACC.
Two powerhouses from North Carolina's famed "Triangle" have secured spots in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll, which dropped on Monday. But here's where it gets controversial... the rankings are tighter than you might think!
Duke University claims the No. 6 position, signaling their intent to dominate. The University of North Carolina Tar Heels, however, barely squeaked in at No. 25. And this is the part most people miss... N.C. State University, energized by the arrival of head coach Will Wade and a completely revamped roster, is breathing down UNC's neck, landing just outside the Top 25, a mere three points shy of their in-state rivals. Meanwhile, Purdue University etched its name in history, grabbing its first-ever preseason No. 1 ranking. Could this be their year to finally break through in the NCAA Tournament?
Looking at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as a whole, only three teams are ranked, with Louisville claiming the No. 11 spot. The Big 12, Big Ten, and Southeastern Conference (SEC) are dominating the landscape, each boasting six ranked teams – collectively accounting for a whopping 72% of the Top 25. Talk about conference power!
After the ACC secured four NCAA Tournament bids last season, the conference desperately needs its teams to exceed expectations to engineer a significant rebound this year. It's not impossible, but ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips expressed his ongoing dissatisfaction ("restless") with the overall state of men's basketball in the league at this year's ACC Tipoff. He even linked an article about his concerns.
"This is, historically in men's college [basketball], the very best conference in the country... we don't have a problem winning when we get into the tournament," Phillips stated last week in Charlotte. "We've had a problem getting into the tournament." In other words, getting into the tournament is the first battle before winning it.
Blue Devils Lead ACC in Preseason Poll
Coming off a Final Four appearance, Jon Scheyer's Duke squad enters the preseason as the highest-ranked ACC team in the AP poll. Can they live up to the hype?
The Blue Devils, without the services of No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg this season, face an early gauntlet with a brutal non-conference schedule packed with ranked opponents: No. 3 Florida, No. 7 Michigan, No. 10 Texas Tech, No. 14 Arkansas, No. 19 Kansas, and No. 22 Michigan State. Their regular season kicks off against Texas, a team just outside the Top 25, holding the fourth-highest "others receiving votes" tally in the preseason poll. What do you think, are they underestimating Texas?
Duke will also square off against No. 18 Tennessee on Oct. 26 at Food City Center in Knoxville in their second exhibition game. This intense schedule is intentional, as Scheyer stated in September that he and his staff purposefully crafted this demanding slate, refusing to opt for an easy "cruise." He wants to push his team to the limit early.
Scheyer added in a September press conference, "We set it up to learn and be at our best at the end." He admitted to some late-night doubts, joking, "Certain nights, I'll stay up a little bit later thinking, 'What did I do?' But in the moment, it definitely made sense. I think it makes sense, but there's no question it's going to be challenging and exciting." Will this tough schedule pay off, or will it backfire?
Tar Heels Sneak In at No. 25
North Carolina narrowly secured a spot in the preseason poll, landing at No. 25. But can they prove they deserve it?
The Tar Heels are coming off a tumultuous season marked by a 23-14 record and a late selection for the NCAA Tournament. UNC's postseason journey was short-lived, suffering a first-round exit in the Big Dance after a First Four victory in Dayton. A new-look roster will take the court this year, with only two scholarship players returning from the 2024-2025 squad. Senior guard Seth Trimble is the sole returning starter for coach Hubert Davis. This squad boasts more positional size, a point Davis emphasized at last week's ACC Tipoff, and faces an early challenge. The Tar Heels travel to Salt Lake City for a preseason match against No. 8 BYU at the Delta Center on Oct. 24. BYU is led by AJ Dybantsa, the nation's No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class and a projected top NBA draft pick. Can UNC contain such a highly touted player?
Wolfpack Narrowly Miss Top 25
Will Wade, formerly at LSU and McNeese State, nearly propelled his squad into the preseason AP Top 25, finishing just behind North Carolina in the voting. The Wolfpack's reloaded roster boasts four top-150 transfers, a five-star freshman signee in Matt Able, and a top-15 overall recruiting class, according to 247Sports rankings. They've put together a squad that on paper, looks talented.
The Wolfpack have already embraced the underdog role in the preseason – particularly regarding the perception of N.C. State. The ACC Tipoff highlighted this, when the league mistakenly displayed Malik Thomas' headshot as Darrion Williams took the stage alongside Wade and Ven-Allen Lubin. This is a mistake that could easily be seen as disrespectful, especially to Darrion Williams.
"Shows where we're thought of right now," Wade quipped during the press conference. "It's alright. We gotta change that. We gotta get a little better." But here's the question: Is this perceived disrespect a motivating factor for the Wolfpack? Will it fuel their fire and drive them to exceed expectations? Or will it become a source of frustration and hinder their performance? What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
