[2024] NSNN's CMBB 2024 Conference Preview - ACC

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The wait is almost over, and it's time for another college basketball season. With all the hype incoming for the new season, it's time to see what fans can expect from their teams. With a deep analysis of each player on the team, fans can see what to expect from their teams for the year. From the best of the best to the lowest of lows, this is a comprehensive look at what to expect for each team for the upcoming season, with some getting the benefit of everything more than all of the others. With all of this being said, here is a comprehensive list of all of the teams for the upcoming season and how they fare against the rest. Note this is based on player ratings from our ranking systems, so take this with a grain of salt. Just because a team is low does not mean they will be among the worst, as anything can happen here in college sports.

The next conference on the docket is the ACC, the first of the Power 5 conferences. It was also the first conference to have some major realignment shakeups, obtaining two Pac-12 schools and adding an extra school to even the conference out. Also, according to our rankings, it should be a hotly contested race for the ACC title. Let's take a look at how high of a level each team is at the beginning of this 2024-25 season. 

18. California
NSNN Team Grade: 464.5
NSNN Average Grade: 38.71
Team Overall Rank: 171
NSNN Offensive Rank: 131
NSNN Defensive Rank: 164
Key Player: PF Jason Torres

In an 18-team behemoth of a conference, there has to be one team that eventually finishes last, and how fitting that team is the only sub-500 team in the conference and a newcomer. The California Golden Bears will struggle to adapt to ACC play. This team was perhaps not as good as they were last year, and that will be the factor that will come back and haunt them. They are okay at offense and okay at defense, but that won't get you far in a power-5 conference. Their best player, Jason Torres, excels at getting to the paint. Unfortunately, no one else can match up to the level of play that Torres gives you. This year will be a tough test for the Golden Bears, and I would expect them to struggle come conference play, enough for last in the ACC. 

17. Virginia Tech
NSNN Team Grade: 530.5
NSNN Average Grade: 40.81
Team Overall Rank: 142
NSNN Offensive Rank: 95
NSNN Defensive Rank: 97
Key Player: SG Bradley Smith

How the Virginia Tech Hokies are composed of this year is kind of weird. They are top-100 in both offense and defense, yet they are not in the top 100 in terms of team. So, what happened? Perhaps it is the fact that this team is worse on paper than their rank suggests. But there are some bright spots that have helped elevate themselves to this position. Bradley Smith, the lone senior on the team, is a sharpshooter with excellent ballskills, but his best trait can be explained as a 3-point deadeye. There are other players that also highlighted other than the best player on the team. Larry Check is an excellent lockdown defender, Carlos Hernandez is the best player in the paint, and Fredrick Cottier is the go-to guy for rebounds. The Hokies have the skills, but lake the talent to back that up. 

16. NC State
NSNN Team Grade: 538.5
NSNN Average Grade: 44.88
Team Overall Rank: 134
NSNN Offensive Rank: 103
NSNN Defensive Rank: 127
Key Player: PG Robert Jackson

Lower on the rankings than Virginia Tech in both offense and defense, NC State somehow finds itself on top in these ACC Rankings. They should not be on here, yet the Wolfpack are showing signs that they might play at a better quality of basketball than their rankings might suggest. The problem is they don't have many quality players to make that happen. Their best player is Robert Jackson, who can attack you in the paint, but being the best player by far can only take you so far. But that's not all for NC State. They do have Lucio Cardoza, who has excellent ball-handling skills, as we saw last year. And new recruit Archana Fujimoto, out of Carnegie Vanguard High School in Houston, Texas, will give them more firepower, especially in the 2-point stand. Only time will tell how the Wolf Pack will play this year. 

15. Syrcause
NSNN Team Grade: 543
NSNN Average Grade: 45.25
Team Overall Rank: 127
NSNN Offensive Rank: 109
NSNN Defensive Rank: 128
Key Player: C Lawrence Sawyer

Things are looking a bit grim for the Syracuse Orange. They are lucky to be at this spot this year. Considering their roster, the outlook coming could perhaps not be so good after all. They have a sub-100 ranking on offense and even worse on defense. Their best player is Lawrence Sawyer, who is by far the best player on the team. He can get it done as an excellent defender, where his style of play is on shutdown levels, as well as doing it well on the offensive ledger for the Orange. There is also Michael Gulley, another high-level player, who is the type of guy you like to see crashing the boards, both on offense and defense. The problem is, they are both seniors this year. Syracuse should savor them this year because there is no knowing what will happen next year.

14. Pitt
NSNN Team Grade: 543.5
NSNN Average Grade: 45.29
Team Overall Rank: 125
NSNN Offensive Rank: 142
NSNN Defensive Rank: 154
Key Player: PF Fernando Aguirre

Just a half a point above them, surprisingly, is our next team. Pitt also seems to be in trouble this year. The low score for the Panthers this year is accompanied by what turns out to be thin depth. What's even worse, this team has no 5-stars or 4-stars on their roster, which is very surprising for a Power-5 school. They do have some stars on the court that are good but not great. Fernando Aguirre is by far a menace in the paint, while Tan Bergum is a 3-point sharpshooter. John Barrett is also excellent at ball handling, and Greg Campbell is by far the best defender on the team. Either way, Pittsburgh's near future is not looking so hot from the start. This team might be a huge contender for last place in the entire ACC if they are not careful. 

13. Stanford
NSNN Team Grade: 566
NSNN Average Grade: 43.54
Team Overall Rank: 101
NSNN Offensive Rank: 89
NSNN Defensive Rank: 43
Key Player: PF Jeffery Lawson

They probably might be better than where they currently are in these standings, but with a conference as competitive as this, the unfortunate truth is that some teams will find themselves near the bottom of the rankings. This year, the Stanford Cardinals are victim to this predicament. Their team won't really knock you away, but they still think they are much better than people would give them credit for. Their offense is okay, but their defense is what takes the cake -- in the top 50. Jeffrey Lawson, their best player, is a pretty good shooter inside of the three-point line, so expect him to make an immediate impact in that regard. And don't forget about Albert Dhawan, an underrated player who is the best defender by far for Stanford. 

12. Wake Forest
NSNN Team Grade: 571.5
NSNN Average Grade: 43.96
Team Overall Rank: 92
NSNN Offensive Rank: 129
NSNN Defensive Rank: 45
Key Player: PF Jeffery Lawson

Our first top-100 team on this list, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, seems to be much better than the record suggests by a whole lot. They might not have the best offensive firepower, ranking 129th in all of Division I, despite having an offensive powerhouse in the form of senior guard Louis Awad. However, that's okay for the Demon Deacons because they make up for this low offensive score with a good defense. In fact, while they post a sub-100 offensive ranking, The defense for Wake Forest is in the top 50 of all teams despite them not having a sure set defender, and the combo of Phu Zhang and incoming freshman William Tindle out of Olathe Northwest is helping them get to that point for the Deamon Deacons. Expect this defense to help them get close all throughout the season for Wake Forest. 

11. Clemson
NSNN Team Grade: 593.5
NSNN Average Grade: 45.65
Team Overall Rank: 74
NSNN Offensive Rank: 98
NSNN Defensive Rank: 72
Key Player: SF Michael Sims

You can tell how competitive this upcoming season is going to be for the ACC. This team is all the way in the top 75 of all teams, yet they only place 11th in the conference. And there seems to be a reason as to why Clemson is closer to 100 in terms of offense, and their defense is closer to their rank. But all signs point to them playing better than before, and that is all thanks to Michael Sims, who is on their way to making it to All-ACC honors- a respectable two-way player who can do it all for Clemson. We can't forget about Alejandro Reyes, who can crash the boards on offense and keep you from scoring from the perimeter at the other end. Also on the team is Thomas Day, who is a huge lockdown defender for the Clemson Tigers. They are an okay team that could play good basketball if coached well. 

10. Georgia Tech
NSNN Team Grade: 609
NSNN Average Grade: 46.85
Team Overall Rank: 58
NSNN Offensive Rank: 91
NSNN Defensive Rank: 44
Key Player: C John Larock

Starting off the top 10 is a team that is currently on the rise. We wouldn't have talked about Georgia Tech being even near the top 10 a few years ago, but now that has all changed. A top-100 offense and a top-50 defense are worth discussing for the Yellow Jackets. While this is all a welcome addition to the Georgia Tech athletics program, there is one person who is to talk about a huge rise such as this. Who else would it be but their best player in the form of John Larock? He is an all-out defender who helped Georgia Tech hit the top 50 in the defensive category. This team would also benefit from the defensive efforts of Matthew Copley and Jacob Wright. Aaron Felix also looks to bring his offensive prowess to the court again this season, and he is a player to look out for at Georgia Tech. 

9. Miami (FL)
NSNN Team Grade: 611.75
NSNN Average Grade: 50.98
Team Overall Rank: 55
NSNN Offensive Rank: 111
NSNN Defensive Rank: 53
Key Player: SF Dante Obo

This year feels like a tough test for the Miami Hurricanes, as head coach kwheele has left for the Arizona Razorbacks job. And it already looks bleak for the Miami Hurricanes. They do have a top-100 defense, but the same cannot be said for the offense. This is all despite having great shooters such as Randy Oneill and Steven Oliver. But then again, maybe it's the defense that can be the factor for Miami, led by senior Wade Zheng, with Mark Davis to lead the helm next season. However, the stars for this year are freshmen Melvin Christian from Glendale High School in Glendale, Arizona, and Dante Obo from Newark Collegiate Academy in Newark, New Jersey. Obo, especially, is the one to look out for, as not only is he a good finisher, but he is also a volume 3-point shooter as well as a lockdown perimeter defender for the Canes.

8. Boston College
NSNN Team Grade: 626
NSNN Average Grade: 48.15
Team Overall Rank: 46
NSNN Offensive Rank: 45
NSNN Defensive Rank: 26
Key Player: PG Robert Mader

This is probably not what you expected, but we see the Boston College Eagles in the top 10. And it's easy to see why they are in the top 50 somehow in Division I. They also find themselves in the top 50 in terms of offense, which is a nice surprise for the Eagles. But it gets even better, as their defense is also a bit better -- one spot away from cracking into the top 25 for Boston College. How did this team find its way into the Top 50 in Division I and the top 10 in the conference? You have Robert Mader to thank for that, as he is an all-around shooter, and we can expect to make a huge chunk of the Eagles' points this year, with Joseph Dottle supporting him in 3-point tries. Also, it is worth noting that Jose Rocha is the only 4-star on the team, who will surely replace Mader as the leader of this Boston College team next year. 

7. Notre Dame
NSNN Team Grade: 648.5
NSNN Average Grade: 49.88
Team Overall Rank: 38
NSNN Offensive Rank: 14
NSNN Defensive Rank: 84
Key Player: PG Larry Erickson

A huge jump in the rankings in spots means we are getting to the good teams here. Enter Notre Dame, which is a rather interesting bunch. Despite being only top 100 in the defensive category, the Fighting Irish find themselves in the top 25 in Division I in terms of offense. 14th, to be exact. Even if that is the case, Notre Dame's defense isn't even that bad, with Andrew Shreve serving as the catalyst on the defensive side in only his second year. As for offense, there are key factors, and two of them are very well-known in college basketball. Alex Covarrubias, the best player on the team, is a master in the 2-point slot, but no one can forget about Larry Erickson -- who is a bucket-getter all around. With one of the best senior classes in all of NCAA, Notre Dame can keep it interesting in college basketball.

6. UNC
NSNN Team Grade: 655
NSNN Average Grade: 50.38
Team Overall Rank: 33
NSNN Offensive Rank: 57
NSNN Defensive Rank: 58
Key Player: SF Timothy Zulkowski

To the surprise of no one, UNC gets to the top-5, or at least close to it. This year, the Tar Heels got into a resounding top-50 spot and are just a hair away from making it to the top-25. That is considering the fact that this team is not even close to the top 50 in both offense and defense. It's a great spot nonetheless, but it feels like this is a trap spot for the Tar Heels. Luckily for them, they do have some playmakers over at the other spots to carry them in the long run. For the offense, it would be senior Dennis Elliott and freshman Jim Jardine from Windham High School in Windham, Maine. On the defense, it is the trio of Timothy Zulkowski, Norman Thao, and Raleigh Matthews, who are all excellent in this regard. If these players push through, we can see greatness from North Carolina this season. 

5. Duke
NSNN Team Grade: 676
NSNN Average Grade: 52.00
Team Overall Rank: 31
NSNN Offensive Rank: 29
NSNN Defensive Rank: 13
Key Player: SF Antonio Scott

Again, we see Duke in the top 5 this time. But we also might see the magic start to slip away from the fingers of the Duke faithful. They do rank 31st overall out of all the teams, but for these Blue Devils, this feels like an off-season to them. Luckily for them, they do have stats inside the top 30 despite their rank: 29th in offense and 13th in defense, so they could make a huge push toward making it to the tournament. And they have a huge piece to the puzzle that could get them there, that being Antonio Scott. The best player on the roster and not even close, and he is a candidate for the ACC Player of the Year. He can do it all but is lacking in the 3-point department, but he can rely on Edward Mack to do the job in that regard. Duke might have the best duo in the ACC, which can help propel them to a high spot by the season's end. 

4. Florida State
NSNN Team Grade: 695
NSNN Average Grade: 49.64
Team Overall Rank: 25
NSNN Offensive Rank: 15
NSNN Defensive Rank: 11
Key Player: PF Lincoln Neals

With a conference in which teams start from 7th place over in the 30s in the case of the entire Division I spectrum, you would expect there to be more top-25 teams at the top. This is where this starts. Florida State starts the top 25 this year, but it gets even better for the Seminoles. This year, not only do both offense and defense fall in the top 25, but they fall in the top 20 at 15th and 11th, respectively. This is something that head coach @.jackwan would be proud of. That also means they have some heavy hitters on the team. David Wang will take control in the defensive aspect of the game, while we will see Lincoln Neals, the team's best player, excel on the offensive end, especially in 2-point shooting. The sky is the limit for the Seminoles if they play their cards right, and they could be in for an extraordinary season this year. 

3. Virginia
NSNN Team Grade: 717.75
NSNN Average Grade: 55.21
Team Overall Rank: 17
NSNN Offensive Rank: 25
NSNN Defensive Rank: 9
Key Player: PF Watson Webb

It has been nothing but high-quality basketball for Virginia ever since @Wahoo made his way into the Cavaliers' squad. And this year, we could very well expect no different. This team is in the top 3 in the conference as it stands out, and right now, they are 17th in Division I. What's more, this team is in the top 25 in both offense and defense and while the team just barely made the top 25 in offense, this team eclipsed the top 10 in Division I, so look out for Virginia to make its strides there. There are some big players on the team, such as the defensive tandem of lone Senior Aaron Mccrae and Michael Cruz and sharpshooter Derrick Morehead. But none of them has gathered more hype than 2025 Draft prospect Watson Webb from Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, who decided to go local and help his home state Virginia Cavaliers. 

2. Louisville
NSNN Team Grade: 740.5
NSNN Average Grade: 52.89
Team Overall Rank: 9
NSNN Offensive Rank: 40
NSNN Defensive Rank: 3
Key Player: PF Derek Sandhu 

It's a top 2 placement for Louisville this year, and there is no surprise, as they have been on the rise from the very start. A monumental rise, in fact, as they find themselves ranked #9 in all of Division I. This is despite them being ranked 40th in offense. Despite all of this, coach @kmattfps is determined to turn that aspect around. So, what is the reason why they are ranked this high? Their defense is ranked at an incredible #3 in all of Division I. There are a lot of reasons why, such as the fact that they currently have a lot of great defenders on the team. The team has a slew of strong defenders, including Russell Thompson, Derek Sandhu, and John Kinyon, with Antonio Rios and Paul Dunaway not that far away. If @kmattfps can tune their offense, Louisville will be a scary team this season.

1. SMU
NSNN Team Grade: 774
NSNN Average Grade: 59.54
Team Overall Rank: 4
NSNN Offensive Rank: 46
NSNN Defensive Rank: 2
Key Player: PG Dustin Cook 

To the shock of everyone, in a rather strong conference full of hard-hitters, the best team in the ACC is a newcomer this year. @JW1952TX and the SMU Mustangs are, as of current, on top of these rankings. Not only in the top 10, however. This team is the only team in the top 5 in Division I. That is even with an offense that ranks 46th in Division I. It is worth noting that this team is an immaculate 2nd in terms of defense, which is all enough to put them at the top of the conference. Three players, Jose Valle, Nathaniel Perryman, and William Ferraro, all have perfect defensive ratings. On the offensive side, Dustin Cook can get the job done, having high marks on both two-point and three-point shooting alongside a strong perimeter defense. And the best part? Cook has one year of eligibility left. Don't be surprised if SMu gets into talks of winning the National Championship. 

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Edited August 23 by nemolee.exe