While the SEC may lay claim to the home of college football, when it comes to college basketball, few conferences can hold a candle to the ACC.
The 2023-24 season will undoubtedly be no different. The ACC has three teams ranked among the Preseason AP Top 25, including the Duke Blue Devils who come in at No. 2.
There is an abundance of storylines heading into the 2023-24 college basketball season, and many more that will surely develop as the season unfolds. But let's look at five bold predictions for the 2023-24 ACC Men's Basketball season.
5. Louisville finishes at .500 in the ACC
Five years ago, this might not have seemed to be a very bold prediction at all. The Louisville Cardinals had consistently been one of the best college basketball programs, not just in the ACC, but in the entire country.
But a lot has changed. The Cardinals have undergone some major coaching changes over the last few years. Rick Pitino was relieved of his coaching duties in 2017, and his successor has since moved on. Chris Mack was ousted in 2022.
Last season, U of L turned to former Cardinals' great Kenny Payne to lead the team into a new era. Unfortunately, it turned into a disaster of epic proportions. The Cardinals won just four games all season including just two in conference.
If that happens again, Payne will be out of a job. However, with a full year under his belt, Payne was able to hit the recruiting trail and the transfer portal. The Cardinals have a much more balanced roster this season and the additions of Skyy Clark and Dennis Evans could do wonders for Louisville this season.
The fans in the Derby City always support their Cardinals, and despite last year's woes, expect the KFC Yum! Center to be rocking in 2023-24. Look for Louisville to get back to respectability this season and finish with a .500 record in ACC play.
4. Miami guard Nijel Pack wins ACC Player of the Year
The Miami Hurricanes lost some NBA talent this past year. Isaiah Wong, who won ACC Player of the Year in 2022-23, was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. So was Jordan Miller.
But, head coach Jim Larrañaga returns one of the most talented players in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. Nijel Pack, who began his career at Kansas State, will be back for the Hurricanes this year.
Pack averaged over 30 minutes per game last season, and the Canes will need a similar performance from their star guard in 2023-24. Pack was good for 13-plus points per contest a year ago, but look for the junior from Indianapolis to put up over 20 points a night this season.
Pack is sure to have competition from the likes of Kyle Filipowski (Duke) and Armando Bacot (North Carolina), and don't sleep on Pittsburgh's Blake Hinson either. There's a ton of talent in the ACC this season.
But the Miami Hurricanes are not a deep team, and they will be leaning hard on Nijel Pack all season. In the NCAA Tournament last season, Pack averaged over 16 points per game. Look for that to be the floor for the Canes' skilled point guard this season.
3. Clemson wins the ACC regular season title
Clemson is not on anyone's radar at the moment, but these are supposed to be bold predictions, right? It's easy to look at the ACC and pick a team like Duke, North Carolina, or Miami to win the regular season title.
Heck, even a young Virginia Cavaliers team could emerge as a potential threat to win the regular season conference title. But Clemson, while normally known for their play on the gridiron, might surprise some folks during the 2023-24 college basketball season.
Clemson went 23-11 last season, and a strong argument could have been made that the Tigers deserved a spot in the Big Dance. Instead, they're going to have to show everyone what they missed out on last March.
The Tigers return their best player in big man PJ Hall. The 6-foot-10 senior averaged over 15 points and nearly six rebounds a year ago. Head coach Brad Brownell will need more of the same from his starting center this season.
Clemson also added a guard with plenty of experience playing in the ACC. Joseph Girard III, who played for Syracuse last season, will suit up for the Tigers this year. The senior knocked down nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc while averaging over 16 points with the Orange a year ago.
Hunter Tyson left for the NBA Draft, but Clemson brought in some players who they hope will fit nicely in his place. Don't be shocked if the Tigers win their first ACC title in over 30 years.
2. The ACC gets eight teams into the NCAA Tournament
The ACC got just five teams into the NCAA Tournament a year ago. That's not the standard for what many pundits feel is the best conference in college basketball. Look for that number to go up when the brackets are revealed on Selection Sunday next March.
In 2023, the ACC sent Duke, Miami, Pittsburgh, Virginia, and NC State to the Big Dance. Some heavy-hitters are absent from that list. The North Carolina Tar Heels, who were ranked No. 1 prior to the season, were sitting home last March.
Louisville, a perennial tournament contender was also left out after only winning four games during the 2022-23 season. Not only that, but the Clemson Tigers saw their bubble burst and were on the outside looking in.
Don't look for history to repeat itself. Four of the five schools who made it to the tourney last year are sure to return this season. Duke, Miami, NC State, and Virginia are headed back to the Big Dance. Sorry, Pittsburgh.
Joining those four, however, will be UNC, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest. The Hokies started 11-1 last season, but stumbled in conference play. The Demon Deacons return three starters, and will be looking for big contributions from Hunter Sallis.
1. No ACC teams reaches the Final Four
But, just because the ACC gets 'em to the Big Dance, it doesn't mean they're going to get the fairytale ending they're hoping for. In the end, don't look for a single team from the Atlantic Coast Conference to be cutting down the nets in March.
There are contenders, to be sure. Duke is the most obvious, but after getting absolutely embarrassed by Tennessee in the Round of 32 last season, head coach Jon Scheyer has a lot to prove.
UNC is another team that has Final Four aspirations. Hubert Davis' squad was left home last March, and while the Tar Heels should make a run at the NCAA Tournament, don't look for them to make it to Phoenix this spring.
While Clemson will be good, the Tigers don't have the juice to make a run in March, and neither does the Wolf Pack from NC State.
Quite frankly, the ACC's best chance at securing a spot in the Final Four lies with the Virginia Cavaliers. Coach Tony Bennett knows how to get his group ready for the tourney, and defense travels. The question, however, is whether or not the Hoos have the ability to create their own shot.
The ACC always delivers at this time of year. Are you ready for college basketball?
