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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com)– Virginia Tech was selected to finish 14^th in the ACC this season, according to a vote of media in attendance at the league’s annual “Operation Basketball”.

North Carolina will enter the 2015-16 season as the Atlantic Coast Conference favorite. The Tar Heels, who return four starters from last year’s team that reached the finals of the ACC Tournament and the “Sweet 16” of the NCAAs, received 60 of 89 first-place votes in Wednesday’s preseason poll. In addition to point guard Marcus Paige, the Tar Heels will welcome back forwards Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks and sophomore guard Justin Jackson. Five additional players that saw significant playing time from last season’s 26-12 team are also set to return.

Virginia, which has won a total of 60 games over the past two seasons while claiming the 2014 ACC championship and placing atop the ACC regular-season standings in both 2014 and ’15, received 18 first-place votes and placed second in the overall preseason voting. Defending national champion Duke (eight first-place votes) placed third.

Defending ACC champion Notre Dame received one first-place and placed fourth, followed by Miami, Florida State (one first-place vote) and Louisville.

NC State placed eighth, while Syracuse received the remaining first-place vote and finished ninth. Pitt placed 10^th, while Wake Forest, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Boston College rounded out the voting.

North Carolina senior guard Marcus Paige and Virginia senior guard Malcolm Brogdon were named Preseason ACC Co-Players of the Year after each received 36 votes among those casting ballots. Duke freshman Brandon Ingram, was the overwhelming choice as ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year on 82 of the ballots cast.

Paige, Brogdon, Ingram, Florida State’s Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Notre Dame’s Demtrius Jackson were voted to the Preseason All-ACC first team. Virginia’s Anthony Gill, Duke’s Grayson Allen, Notre Dame’s Zach Auguste, NC State’s Anthony “Cat” Barber and North Carolina’s Johnson were second-team selections.

UNC was picked as the ACC preseason favorite for a league-high 21^st time (20 times outright, one tie) in the 47-year history of the poll, and the sixth time under current head coach Roy Williams. Media voters tabbed Duke as the preseason favorite each of the previous two seasons.

The Hokies open the 2015-16 season on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m., as the host Alabama State in Cassell Coliseum. The game is part of the Emerald Coast Classic. To purchase tickets, please call or visit the Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-VATECH4 or go online to Hokietickets.com.

ACC Operation Basketball 2015-16 Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)

Team & Points
1. North Carolina (60): 1292

2. Virginia (18): 1226

3. Duke (8): 1187

4. Notre Dame (1): 949

5. Miami: 841

6. Florida State (1): 827

7. Louisville: 821

8. NC State: 808

9. Syracuse (1): 666

10. Pitt: 623

11. Wake Forest: 391

12. Clemson: 359

13. Georgia Tech: 296

14. Virginia Tech: 260

15. Boston College: 134

2015-16 Preseason All-ACC Team

(votes in parenthesis)

First team
Marcus Paige, Sr., North Carolina (86)
Malcolm Brogdon, Sr., Virginia (77)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, So., Florida State (43)

Brandon Ingram, Fr., Duke (29)

Demetrius Jackson, Jr., Notre Dame (28)

Second team

Anthony Gill, Sr., Virginia (27)

Grayson Allen, So., Duke (27)

Zach Auguste, Sr., Notre Dame (24)

Anthony “Cat” Barber, Jr., NC State (22)

Brice Johnson, Sr., North Carolina (22)

ACC Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Marcus Paige, Sr., North Carolina

Malcolm Brodgon, Sr., Virginia

ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year
Brandon Ingram, Duke

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