A season ago, Syracuse finished 9-9 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, good for only eighth-best in the conference. With 10 teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament, the ACC promises to be ultra-competitive once again in 2015-16. Before the college basketball season begins later this week, here are my preseason power rankings for the conference.
The Contenders
Not only are the Tar Heels the best team in the ACC, but they might be the best team in the country. North Carolina has four players that will likely be drafted in 2016: point guard Marcus Paige, small forward Justin Jackson and big men Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks.