UVA Basketball fans, are you ready for the 2025-2026 season? The ACC media has spoken, and their prediction for the Virginia Cavaliers might surprise you – or maybe not. They're projected to finish fifth in the conference. Is that a reason to celebrate, or are we setting our sights too low? Let's dive into the details.
First off, let's acknowledge the elephant in the room: this prediction comes from a significantly smaller pool of voters than in years past. The press release indicates that only 49 media members participated in the voting process. Back in 2018, a whopping 121 media members weighed in. By 2022, that number had dwindled to 101, and then it plummeted into the 50s in 2023 and 2024. The sports media landscape is undeniably shrinking, and this smaller sample size could skew the results. Could a smaller, more localized group of voters be influencing the perception of UVA's chances? That's definitely a question worth considering.
But here's where it gets controversial... While a fifth-place prediction might seem reasonable on the surface, it's crucial to understand the context. Duke is predictably pegged at number one, because, well, they're Duke. But this year's Duke team lacks the star power of a Cooper Flagg. Instead, they'll be relying heavily on a rotation of 18-year-olds going up against teams loaded with seasoned veterans, many of whom are 22 or 23 years old. Teams like Louisville (predicted to finish second) and NC State (fourth) are prime examples of these older, more experienced squads.
North Carolina, projected at third, is the familiar face, a consistent presence near the top. Think of it like voting Clemson to win the ACC in football – a name brand that consistently gets the benefit of the doubt.
And this is the part most people miss... The timing of this media vote is key. It took place mid-week in Charlotte, right in the thick of football season. Translation? A significant portion of those 49 voters are likely Carolina-based media. Could regional biases be at play? It's certainly a possibility.
So, what does a fifth-place finish actually mean for UVA? It would likely put Ryan Odom's team in contention for a coveted double-bye in the ACC Tournament and firmly in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament berth. In that regard, it's certainly a respectable position.
Here's the breakdown of the preseason ACC voting:
- Duke (34 first-place votes), 866 total points
- Louisville (15), 842
- North Carolina, 741
- NC State, 710
- Virginia, 623
- SMU, 616
- Clemson, 510
- Miami, 500
- Syracuse, 489
- Notre Dame, 477
- Wake Forest, 412
- Virginia Tech, 355
- Georgia Tech, 315
- Pitt, 301
- Florida State, 221
- California, 156
- Stanford, 138
- Boston College, 107
And here's a look at the preseason All-ACC team and Player/Rookie of the Year picks:
2025-26 preseason All-ACC team
First Team
- Cameron Boozer, Duke, 46 votes
- Markus Burton, Notre Dame, 46
- Darrion Williams, NC State, 45
- Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, 36
- Ryan Conwell, Louisville, 36
Second Team
- Isaiah Evans, Duke, 24
- Boopie Miller, SMU, 27
- J.J. Starling, Syracuse, 27
- Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech, 24
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 24
ACC Preseason Player of the Year
- Darrion Williams, NC State, 23
- Cameron Boozer, Duke, 19
- Markus Burton, Notre Dame, 2
- J.J. Starling, Syracuse, 2
- Donald Hand Jr., Boston College, 1
- Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech, 1
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 1
ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year
- Cameron Boozer, Duke, 43
- Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, 3
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 2
- Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech, 1
So, the big question remains: Is fifth place a fair assessment of UVA's potential? Are you satisfied with this prediction, or do you think the Cavaliers are being underestimated? Considering the smaller voting pool and potential biases, could UVA exceed expectations? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Let's get the conversation started!
