ACC men’s basketball preseason power rankings for 2026-27

The top of the ACC figures to be as strong as it’s been in a while in 2026-27, but can the middle and bottom half of the conference take a step forward? Let’s take a look.

1. Duke Blue Devils

2025–26 Record: 35–3 (17–1 ACC)

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2025–26 Conference Finish: 1st

The last two pursuits of national championships have ended just about as painfully as possible for the Blue Devils, but Jon Scheyer and company figure to be right back in the mix in 2027.

Duke will return four of its top six scorers from last year’s No. 1 overall seed, while also adding top-rated Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell and preseason ACC Rookie of the Year Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje. If that weren’t enough, the Devils also add seasoned Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski and five-star freshmen Cameron Williams and Deron Rippey Jr.

This may be the deepest squad Scheyer has had to date in Durham, which is saying something.

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2. Louisville Cardinals

2025–26 Record: 24–11 (11–7 ACC)

2025–26 Conference Finish: 6th

Pat Kelsey has once again made a push for the title of “portal king” after landing a loaded class highlighted by Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Jackson Shelstad (Oregon), Karter Knox (Arkansas), Alvoro Folgueiras (Iowa), and De’Shayne Montgomery (Dayton). The return of guard Adrian Wooley, who came on late last season when star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. was sidelined with a back injury, hasn’t received as much national attention but could prove to be just as crucial when it comes to Louisville’s chances of making its first NCAA Tournament second weekend since 2015.

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Whether or not this team is a legitimate threat to Duke’s reign at the top of the league standings could hinge on the eligibility of North Carolina transfer Seth Trimble — the man who beat the Blue Devils at the horn last season — and Northern Kentucky import L.J. Wells. Both players are ineligible as of this moment, but that could change as early as Friday.

3. Miami Hurricanes

2025–26 Record: 26–9 (13–5…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/acc-men-basketball-preseason-power-154512169.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-15 15:45:00

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