The ACC’s 20-game conference basketball schedule doesn’t get into full swing until after the start of the new year. But Wake Forest and Clemson have both learned over the past 2 years, early-season nonconference games can no longer be taken for granted.

In fact, they can be even more important because of the NCAA’s Quad system. One or two bad losses in November have to potential to adversely impact a team’s postseason resume to an even greater degree than a similar number of “good” wins in February.

That only adds to the focus on the start of the new season, which begins Monday, Nov. 6.

No conference in the country has had more Final Four teams since 2015 than the 7 the ACC has sent. And there are several legitimate contenders to extend that record this season.

Here’s a look at how the teams stack up heading into the 2023-24 season:

15. Notre Dame

Coach: Micah Shrewsberry

2022-23 record: 11-21 (3-17 ACC)

Postseason: Did not qualify

Best returning players: Sr. PF Matt Zona (1.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg), Jr. SF JR Konieczny (Redshirted in 2022-23).

Top newcomers: Fr. PG Markus Burton, Fr. SG Braeden Shrewsberry, Fr. SG Logan Imes.

Outlook for 2023-24: On the plus side, Shrewsberry is starting his tenure in South Bend with virtually a completely clean slate. On the downside, his 1st team with the Irish is going to be among the youngest and least experienced in the country. His 3 returning scholarship players have been in only 82 games between them, with 43 of those coming from Zona. His freshman class has already shown promise. The 3 top scorers in last week’s exhibition win against Division III Hanover were all rookies – Burton, last year’s Indiana Mr. Basketball, with 18 points, the coach’s son Braeden with 14 and Imes with 11.

14. Louisville

Coach: Kenny Payne

2022-23 record: 4-28 (2-18 ACC)

Postseason: Did not qualify

Best returning players: Soph., SF Mike James (10.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Jr., PF Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (6.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg).

Top newcomers: Soph. PG Skyy Clark (7.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg at Illinois), Soph. SG Tre White (9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg at Southern Cal), Fr., C Dennis Evans.

Outlook for 2023-24: It won’t take much to improve on the worst season in school history, although the Cardinals aren’t off to a great start after an exhibition loss to Division II Kentucky Wesleyan. In an effort to get his program headed back in the right direction in his 2nd season at his alma mater, Payne has almost completely retooled his roster with the addition of 5 4-star freshmen – a recruiting class ranked No. 5 in the nation by 247 Sports – and 3 transfers. He’s also added better positional diversity to his roster after getting caught short in the backcourt a year ago.

13. Georgia Tech

Coach: Damon Stoudamire

2022-23 record: 15-18 (6-14 ACC)

Postseason: Did not qualify

Best returning players: Jr. SF Miles Kelly (14.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Sr. SG Lance Terry (10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Soph., SG Deebo Coleman (9.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Sr. PG Kyle Sturdivant (8.0 ppg, 3.3 apg).

Top newcomers: Gr. PG Tyzhaun Claude (15.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg at Western Carolina), Soph. SG Amaree Abram (8.0 ppg at Ole Miss), Jr. SF Kowacie Reeves (8.5 ppg at Florida).

Outlook for 2023-24: Sturdivant, who left the NBA’s Boston Celtics to take over the Yellow Jackets, inherits only 4 players from Josh Pastner’s bunch. But unlike Shrewsberry at Notre Dame, his returning core has a proven track record. In addition to Kelly, Terry, Sturdivant and Coleman – 4 of the top 5 scorers from 2022-23 – the new coach has added an impressive collection of transfers, along with 4 freshmen.

12. Boston College

Coach: Earl Grant

2022-23 record: 16-17 (9-11 ACC)

Postseason: Did not qualify

Best returning players: Sr. C Quinten Post (15.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Jr. PG Jaeden Zackery (10.7 ppg, 2.7 apg), Soph. SF Prince Aligbe (6.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg).

Top newcomers: Jr. SG Claudell Harris (17.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg at Charleston Southern), Fr. PG Fred Payne.

Outlook for 2023-24: Grant is recovering from a torn Achilles’ suffered a few days before taking the Eagles on an exhibition tour of Italy this summer. His program is also well on the road to recovery with the return of 4 starters, led by 7-foot center Post, a 2nd-team preseason All-ACC selection. BC also has a veteran point guard in Zackery and an explosive, though still raw wing talent in Aligbe. In addition to returners, Grant has added to the offensive potential of his backcourt by adding proven scorer Harris from the transfer portal.

11. Virginia Tech

Coach: Mike Young

2022-23 record: 19-15 (8-12 ACC)

Postseason: Did not qualify

Best returning players: Jr, PG Sean Pedulla (15.0 ppg, 3.8 apg), Gr., SG Hunter Cattoor (10.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg).

Top newcomers: Gr., SF Mekhi Long (10.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg at Old Dominion), Gr. C Robbie Beran (7.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg at Northwestern), Soph. SF Tyler Nickel (2.1 ppg at UNC).

Outlook for 2023-24: Pedulla blossomed into one of the top guards in the conference last season because of his scoring and playmaking ability. He teams with Cattoor to form a dynamic backcourt duo. But Young will have to completely rework his frontcourt with Justyn Mutts and Grant Basile having run out of eligibility and the recent departure of wing Rodney Rice. The addition of transfer Long will help soften the blow of Rice’s unexpected entry into the transfer portal while Beran will be asked to make a similar impact Basile did in his only season in Blacksburg. Nickel, the all-time prep scoring leader in the state of Virginia, could be a wild card after seeing minimal court time at UNC last season.

10. Florida State

Coach: Leonard Hamilton

2022-23 record: 9-23 (7-13 ACC)

Postseason: Did not quality

Best returning players: Jr., SG Darin Green (13.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Jr., PG Jalen Warley (6.8 ppg, 3.3 apg), Jr., SF Cam’Ron Fletcher (10.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Soph., C Cam Corhen (8.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

Top newcomers: Jr., SG Primo Spears (14.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg at Georgetown), Gr., SG Josh Nickleberry (8.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg at Louisville), Fr., PF Taylor Bol Bowen.

Outlook for 2023-24: No team in the ACC is more eager to get a fresh start this season than the Seminoles. Even though they lost their best player Matthew Cleveland to rival Miami, they have reasonable expectations of a quick bounce back thanks to the return from injury of both Fletcher and rim-protecting big Jaylan Gainey. Last year’s top recruit Baba Miller is also better prepared to blossom after missing the 1st half of his freshman season because of an NCAA eligibility ruling. With the addition of 3 transfers and 4-star stretch 4 recruit Bol Bowen to a group of 7 returning lettermen, FSU should have the depth to return to the aggressive, up-tempo style that has become its trademark during Hamilton’s 2-decade run of success in Tallahassee.

9. Syracuse

Coach: Adrian Autry

2022-23record: 17-15 (10-10 ACC)

Postseason: Did not quality

Best returning players: Soph., PG Judah Mintz (16.3 ppg, 4.6 apg), Jr. PF Bennie Williams (7.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Soph. SF Chris Bell (6.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg).

Top newcomers: Soph. SG JJ Starling (11.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg at Notre Dame), Jr. C Naheem McLeod (3.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg at Florida State).

Outlook for 2023-24: It’s the start of a new era for the Orange. Gone is Jim Boeheim and his antiquated 2-3 matchup zone. They’ve been replaced by former Syracuse point guard Adrian Autry and a fresh new approach. At least one thing remains the same. After flirting with the NBA draft process, star guard Mintz decided to return for his sophomore season. A 2nd-team preseason All-ACC selection, Mintz is an explosive offensive presence both as a scorer and playmaker. He’s joined by an equally talented backcourt mate in Notre Dame transfer (and Syracuse native) Starling. The big question surrounding the Orange is how they’ll be able to replace the rebounding and low post defense lost with Jesse Edwards’ transfer to West Virginia. There is also a question surrounding the availability of starting small forward Williams, who was suspended for last week’s exhibition win against St. Rose.

8. NC State

Coach: Kevin Keatts

2022-23 record: 23-11 (12-8 ACC)

Postseason: NCAA Tournament, 1st round

Best returning players: Gr., C DJ Burns (12.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Gr., SG Casey Morsell (11.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg).

Top newcomers: Jr., SG Jayden Taylor (12.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg at Butler), Gr., PG DJ Horne (12.5 ppg, 2.4 apg at Arizona State), Jr., PF Mohamed Diarra (3.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg at Missouri), Fr., SF Dennis Parker Jr.

Outlook for 2023-24: Keatts faces the unenviable task of replacing high-scoring guards Terquavion Smith and Jarkel Joiner, who combined to account for 35 points – virtually half the team’s offensive output – 8 assists and 8 rebounds per game in leading the Wolfpack back to the NCAA Tournament last year. He’s done it by loading up on guards from the transfer portal and bringing in highly-touted freshman Parker. The backcourt depth promises to get even better as Kansas transfer and former 5-star prospect MJ Rice works his way back into shape after stepping away from the court for personal reasons during the preseason. For all that’s new, one of the biggest pieces of last season’s puzzle is back. That’s big, as in 6-9, 275-pound Burns, a dominant inside presence with an equally large personality who has become something of a cult hero among the Wolfpack faithful.

7. Wake Forest

Coach: Steve Forbes

2022-23 record: 19-14 (10-10 ACC)

Postseason: NIT, 1st round

Best returning players: Jr., SG Cam Hildreth (12.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Sr., PF Andrew Carr (10.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg), R-Sr., SF Damari Monsanto (13.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg).

Top newcomers: Jr., SG Hunter Sallis (4.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg at Gonzaga), Soph. PG Boopie Miller (18.5 ppg, 5.3 apg at Central Michigan), Fr., PF Marqus Miller.

Outlook for 2023-24: “Portal Whisper” Forbes may have done it again with the addition of Sallis. Don’t let the pedestrian stats at Gonzaga fool you. The junior guard had a hard time finding minutes on a veteran roster with the Zags. He showed his scoring potential by going off for 27 points in an exhibition win against Alabama. He’s 1 of 2 Gonzaga transfers on the Deacons’ roster. But it’s still uncertain whether 7-foot Efton Reid will be granted eligibility by the NCAA as a 2-time transfer. Even without him, there’s plenty of talent to go around in Winston-Salem. And unlike the past 2 seasons, a lot of the top players are returners, including 3-point shooting ace Monsanto, who is expected to return to the lineup by midseason after rehabbing from knee surgery.

6. Pittsburgh

Coach: Jeff Capel

2022-23 record: 24-12 (14-3 ACC)

Postseason: NCAA, Round of 32

Best returning players: Sr., SF Blake Hinson (15.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Jr., C Federiko Federiko (6.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Soph., PF Guillermo Diaz Graham (3.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg).

Top newcomers: Jr., SG Ishmael Leggett (16.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg at Rhode Island), R-Jr., SF Zack Austin (14.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Fr., PG Jaland Lowe, Fr., SG Carlton Carrington.

Outlook for 2023-24: The Panthers lost the bulk of their key contributors from a team that came a game away from tying for the regular season ACC championship and won 2 games in the NCAA Tournament. But they do have a solid foundation on which to build in Hinson, a legitimate ACC Player of the Year candidate. Adding to a strong frontcourt are returning starter Federiko and potential breakout sophomore twins Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham. By contrast, the backcourt will be a complete rebuild situation with Rhode Island transfer Leggett and high-scoring freshmen Lowe and Carrington projecting to get the bulk of the minutes.

5. Virginia

Coach: Tony Bennett

2022-23 record: 25-8 (15-5 ACC)

Postseason: NCAA, Round of 64

Best returning players: Sr., PG Reece Beekman (9.5 ppg, 5.3 apg), Soph., SG Isaac McKneely (6.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Soph. SG Ryan Dunn (2.6 ppg, 2.9 ppg).

Top newcomers: Gr., PF Jordan Minor (17.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg), Soph. SG Andrew Rohde (17.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg), R-Jr. PG Dante Harris (11.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Fr., C Blake Buchanan.

Outlook for 2023-24: Tony Bennett has a veteran team to try to erase the sting of another opening round NCAA Tournament exit. But because a majority of his experienced players are in their 1st season with the program, it could take some time for him to school them in the intricacies of the pack line defense. At least he still has Beekman, the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year to help with the teaching while continuing to lock down the opponent’s top player. Beekman and fellow holdover McKneely will be asked to make more of an offensive contribution. The bulk of the scoring, however, will likely come from transfers Minor (Merrimack) and Rohde (St. Thomas), both of whom will be making a transition to a higher level of competition.

4. Clemson

Coach: Brad Brownell

2022-23 record: 23-11 (14-6 ACC)

Postseason: NIT, 1st round

Best returning players: Sr., C PJ Hall (15.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg), R-Sr., PG Chase Hunter (13.8 ppg, 4.5 apg), Gr., SG Alex Hemenway (6.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg), Jr., PF Ian Schieffelin (5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg).

Top newcomers: Gr., SG Joseph Girard (16.4 ppg, 3.0 apg at Syracuse), Gr., SF Jack Clark (9.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg at NC State), Jr.. SG Jake Heidbreder (15.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg at Air Force).

Outlook for 2023-24: The Tigers have one of the best inside-outside combinations in preseason All-ACC big Hall and 5th-year point guard Hunter, and they’re motivated to leave nothing to chance this season after getting snubbed by the NCAA Tournament committee last spring. In order to strengthen their chances, Brownell scored one of the most significant portal pickups in gritty guard Girard from Syracuse. He also picked up Clark from NC State to help fill the void left by the departure of NBA draft pick small forward Hunter Tyson. The biggest question is health, with several players – including Clark – battling injuries through the preseason.

3. North Carolina

Coach: Hubert Davis

2022-23 record: 20-13 (11-9 ACC)

Postseason: Did not participate

Best returning players: Gr., C Armando Bacot (15.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg), Sr., SG RJ Davis (16.1 ppg, 3.2 apg).

Top newcomers: Jr., SF Harrison Ingram (10.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg at Stanford), Gr. SG Cormac Ryan (12.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg at Notre Dame), Gr., PF Jae’Lyn Withers (8.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg at Louisville), Fr., PG Elliott Cadeau.

Outlook for 2023-24: The roller coaster ride of Davis’ first 2 seasons as a head coach has taken him from the high of a national championship game appearance as a rookie to the low of being left out of the NCAA Tournament in Year 2. The former Tar Heel All-American hopes to use the experience he’s gained to get UNC back into the postseason. He’s already taken a step in that direction by using the transfer portal to put a better, deeper, more balanced team around holdovers Bacot and RJ Davis. Ryan and Paxson Wojcik address a perimeter game that ranked last in the ACC in 3-point shooting. Five-star freshman point guard Cadeau reclassified to arrive a year early and help improve ball movement. While Ingram, Withers and a fully healthy sophomore Jalen Washington add size and versatility in the frontcourt.

2. Miami

Coach: Jim Larrañaga

2022-23 record: 29-8 (15-5 ACC)

Postseason: Final Four

Best returning players: Jr., PG Nijel Pack (13.6 ppg, 2.2 apg), Jr. PF Norchad Omier (13.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg), Jr., SG Wooga Poplar (8.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg).

Top newcomers: Jr., SF Matthew Cleveland (13.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg), Fr., SG Kyshawn George, Fr., C Michael Nwoko.

Outlook for 2023: The Hurricanes return 3 starters from the first Final Four team in school history. But as Larrañaga is quick to point out, the 2 who aren’t back were Miami’s top 2 scorers. And 1, Isaiah Wong, was the ACC’s Player of the Year. The addition to transfer Cleveland from Florida State will help offset the loss of Wong. He’ll join rebounding machine Norchad Omier, point guard Nijel Pack and multi-talented wing Wooga Poplar to form a nucleus capable of making another deep Tournament run. But in order for Miami to reach its full potential, it’s going to have to rely heavily on a group of 5 talented freshmen, highlighted by George – who stood out during the Hurricanes’ exhibition tour of France – and Nwoko – whose physical style opened eyes at the Nike Hoop Summit last spring.

1. Duke

Coach: Jon Scheyer

2022-23 record: 27-9 (14-6 ACC)

Postseason: NCAA Tournament, Round of 32

Best returning players: Soph., C Kyle Filipowski (15.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg), Soph., PG Tyrese Proctor (9.4 ppg, 3.3 apg), Sr., SG Jeremy Roach (13.6 ppg, 3.1 apg), Soph., PG Mark Mitchell (9.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg).

Top newcomers: Fr., SG Jared McCain, Fr., PG Caleb Foster, Fr., PF Sean Stewart, Fr., PF TJ Power.

Outlook for 2023-24: It’s not enough that the Blue Devils return the most talented lineup of returners in the ACC and possibly in the country, highlighted by last year’s league Rookie of the Year and Tournament MVP Filipowski and fellow future 1st-round NBA pick Proctor at point guard. But Scheyer added to his nucleus of 4 veteran starters with the nation’s No. 2-ranked recruiting class, stocked with 4 5-star talents. Duke has the depth and talent to hang more championship banners from the rafters of Cameron Indoor Stadium. It also has the motivation after last year’s 2nd-round NCAA Tournament ouster at the hands of Tennessee. The only question is whether Scheyer, in just his 2nd year as a head coach, has what it takes to keep everyone happy and mold all those individuals into a consistent, cohesive unit.

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