Having won two of the last three ACC championships, while not finishing first in the regular-season standings since 2010, Duke is the favorite to win this year's ACC basketball title, according to a media poll released by the league on Thursday.
In voting by media members attending the ACC's Operation Basketball season tipoff event in Charlotte on Tuesday, Duke received 51 first-place votes off the 111 ballots submitted. The Blue Devils scored 1,564 points in the balloting, finishing ahead of North Carolina, which had 19 first-place votes and 1,493 points.
Louisville received the second-most first-place votes (29) but finished No. 3 overall with 1,448 points. Reigning NCAA champion Virginia was fourth with 1,405 points and 11 first-place votes.
UNC and Virginia tied for first place in last year's ACC regular-season standings before Duke won the ACC tournament in Charlotte to claim the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The Blue Devils return two starters, sophomore guard Tre Jones and senior forward Javin DeLaurier.
Jones was named to the preseason first-team all-ACC team on Thursday, with UNC freshman guard Cole Anthony also on that five-man team.
Preseason player of the year pick Jordan Nwora of Louisville joined them on the first team along with Notre Dame's John Mooney and Virginia's Mamadi Diakite.
N.C. State was picked to finish sixth while Wolfpack senior guard Markell Johnson made the all-ACC second team.
Here is the full rundown of the preseason predicted order of finish, along with the player of the year, freshman of the year and all-ACC team selections:
