It’s never too early to study your opponents. Read on for a quick look at each ACC men’s basketball team.
Note: Virginie is not included in this listing. Check out our full previews of the Virginia men’s basketball season here:
Virginia Men’s Basketball 2021-2022 roster preview
Preview of the 2021-2022 Virginia Men’s Basketball Schedule
Boston College
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason poll: 15th
Returning: Makai Ashton-Langford, DeMarr Langford Jr.
Key losses: Jay Heath, CJ Felder, Steffon Mitchell. Wynston tabbs
Notable additions: Brevin Galloway
Outlook: Boston College hasn’t played in the NCAA tournament since 2009. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Earl Grant, that is unlikely to change. The Eagles were 4-16 overall and 2-11 in the ACC last season and BC lost leading scorers Jay Heath, CJ Felder and Steffon Mitchell. It will likely be another year of rebuilding at Chestnut Hill.
Clemson
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason poll: 11th
Returning: Al-Amir Dawes, Hunter Tyson, Alex Hemenway, Nick Honor
Main losses: Aamir Simms, Clyde Trappe, Jonathan Baehre
Notable additions: David Collins
Prospects: Clemson will be deprived of his mainstay Aamir Simms, who is leaving after a very successful college career. David Collins, a transfer from USF, will help matters a bit, but the Tigers face a pretty tough battle this season after losing a number of key pieces from last year’s squad that competed in the NCAA tournament.
Duke
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason survey: 1st
Returning: Wendell Moore, Jeremy Roach, Mark Williams, Joey Baker
Key losses: Matthew Hurt, DJ Steward, Jalen Johnson, Jordan Goldwire
Notable additions: Paolo Banchero, Trevor Keels, AJ Griffin
Outlook: As Coach K enters his final season as a college basketball coach, his roster is very well established for Duke to have a successful season. Along with a strong returning core of Wendell Moore, Jeremy Roach, Mark Williams and Joey Baker, the Blue Devils add yet another formidable freshman class, including ACC preseason Player of the Year Paolo Banchero. as well as likely draft picks Trevor Keels and AJ Griffon.
Florida State
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason survey: 2nd
Returning: Anthony Polite, RayQuan Evans, Malik Osborne, Wyatt Wilkes
Main losses: MJ Walker, Raiquan Gray, Scottie Barnes, Balsa Koprivica
Notable additions: Caleb Mills, Cam’Ron Fletcher, Jalen Warley, Matthew Cleveland
Outlook: Florida State lost a lot to last season’s squad, but the Seminoles also won quite a bit thanks to the transfer portal and a talented freshman class. Once again, Leonard Hamilton will have a roster full of athletic and talented players to move around in various formations, a recipe that has worked extremely well for FSU in recent history.
Georgia Tech
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason poll: 10th
Returning: Michael Devoe, Jordan Usher, Bubba Parham, Khalid Moore
Main losses: Moses Wright, Jose Alvarado
Notable additions: Dallan Coleman, Miles Kelly, Deivon Smith
Outlook: Led by Moses Wright and Jose Alvarado, the Yellow Jackets won their first ACC tournament championship since 1993. It will be difficult for Georgia Tech to repeat, however, as Josh Pastner’s squad have lost Wright and Alvarado this season. Georgia Tech will always be a strong team with Michael Devoe and Jordan Usher in the lead.
Louisville
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason survey: 6th
Returning: Jae’Lyn Withers, Samuell Williamson, Dre Davis, Malik Williams
Main losses: Carlik Jones, David Johnson, Quinn Slazinski
Notable additions: Jarrod West, Matt Cross, Noah Locke, El Ellis
Outlook: Louisville has had a tough season in 2020-21, as the Cardinals faced multiple COVID-19 breaks. Carlik Jones and David Johnson are tough losses to swallow, but Chris Mack brings a lot of incoming talent into the transfer portal to help the Cards get back on their feet this season.
Miami
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason poll: 12th
Returning: Isaiah Wong, Kameron McGusty, Anthony Walker
Key losses: Chris Lykes, Elijah Olaniyi, Earl Timberlake, Nysier Brooks, Matt Cross
Notable additions: Charlie Moore, Jordan Miller
Outlook: Miami is losing five of its top eight scorers last season. Isaiah Wong and Kameron McGusty are a dangerous scoring duo for the Canes, but the roster beyond these two is not very strong.
NC state
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason poll: 9th
Returning: Jericole Hellems, Manny Bates, Cam Hayes, Thomas Allen
Key losses: Devon Daniels, DJ Funderburk, Braxton Beverly
Notable additions: Casey Morsell, Greg Gantt
Outlook: NC State has not been to the NCAA tournament since 2018, although it has come close on several occasions. Beyond the additions of Casey Morsell and Greg Gantt, NC State hasn’t improved much from last season, with the Wolf Pack losing Devon Daniels, DJ Funderburk and Braxton Beverly. Manny Bates and Jericole Hellems will need to take great strides to bring the Wolf Pack back to March Madness.
North Carolina
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason survey: 3rd
Back: Armando Bacot, Caleb Love, RJ Davis, Kerwin Walton, Leaky Black
Key losses: Garrison Brooks, Day’Ron Sharpe, Walker Kessler, Andrew Platek
Notable additions: Dawson Garcia, Brady Manek, Justin McKoy, Dontrez Styles, D’Marco Dunn
Outlook: In his first year as UNC head coach following the retirement of Roy Williams, Hubert Davis is poised for success as North Carolina sack a number of experienced players, directed by Armando Bacot and Caleb Love. The Tar Heels also add transfers Dawson Garcia, Brady Manek and Justin McKoy. That’s not to say UNC will transition smoothly from Williams to Davis, but Davis will be blessed with a very talented team in the first year.
our Lady
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA pre-season media survey: 8th
Returning: Prentiss Hubb, Nate Laszewski, Dane Goodwin, Cormac Ryan, Trey Wertz
Main losses: Juwan Durham, Nikola Djogo
Notable additions: Paul Atkinson, Blake Wesley
Outlook: Notre Dame is looking to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017 and the Fighting Irish have a roster built to get the job done. Five of last season’s top six scorers are back, led by Prentiss Hubb and Late Laszewski.
Pittsburgh
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason poll: 14th
Back: Ithiel Horton, Nike Sibande, Femi Odukale
Key losses: Justin Champagnie, Au’Diese Toney, Xavier Johnson, Karim Coulibaly
Notable additions: Jamarcus Burton, Mouhamadou Gueye, Chris Payton, Dan Oladapo,
Outlook: Pittsburgh got 10-12, 6-10 in the ACC last season and the Panthers will be without the top three scorers from a season ago with Justin Champagnie, Au’Diese Toney and Xavier Johnson. Jeff Capel has done an admirable job rebuilding the Pitt basketball program, but his fourth season at the helm appears to be a challenge.
Syracuse
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason poll: 7th
Back: Buddy Boeheim, Joe Girard,
Main losses: Quincy Guerrier, Alan Griffin, Marek Dolezaj, Kadary Richmond, Robert Braswell
Notable additions: Cole Swider, Benny Williams, Jimmy Boeheim, Symir Torrence
Outlook: Syracuse is losing a lot from last season as Quincy Guerrier, Alan Griffin, Marek Dolezaj and Kadary Richmond all left this year. Yet the tandem of Buddy Boeheim and Joe Girard is by far the best back shot in the ACC. The Orange will be formidable as always, looking to build on the team’s run to the Sweet 16 last year.
Virginie Tech
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA media preseason poll: 5th
Back: Keve Aluma, Nahiem Alleyne, Justyn Mutts, Hunter Cattoor, David N’Guessan
Main losses: Tyrece Radford, Jalen Cone, Wabissa Bede
Notable additions: Storm Murphy, Lynn Kidd
Outlook: Although the Hokies have lost Tyrece Radford, Jalen Cone and Wabissa Bede, they still return a solid squad, led by Keve Aluma, who was a preseason All-ACC first team selection. Additionally, Virginia Tech adds sniper Storm Murphy, who shot 40% on three last season at Wofford. Mike Young is looking to go one step further to make Virginia Tech a competitive basketball program.
Wake forest
Estimated order of arrival according to the CCA pre-season media poll: 13th
Back: Davien Williamson, Tariq Ingraham, Isaiah Mucius
Key losses: Ian Dubose, Ismael Massoud, Ody Oguama, Jonah Antonio
Notable additions: Jake Laravia, Alondes Williams, Damari Monsanto, Khadim Sy
Outlook: Davien Williamson and Isaiah Mucius return to lead the Deacs, who also bring an intriguing transfer group. Depending on how the transfers go, Wake Forest could take a step forward in Steve Forbes’ second season, but will likely still end up in the bottom third of the ACC.
More preview content for the 2021-2022 men’s basketball season in Virginia
Virginia Men’s Basketball 2021-2022 roster preview
Preview of the 2021-2022 Virginia Men’s Basketball Schedule
Tony Bennett talks about Kihei Clark’s offseason improvements as a shooter
ACC preseason poll: UVA chosen to finish fourth, Clark is part of ACC second team
UVA Basketball Ranked # 25 in AP Preseason Poll
UVA Basketball Blue-White Scrimmage: What We Learned
Highlights of the blue-white UVA basketball scrum
