Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE
Is there be a new sheriff in town?
Duke and North Carolina have dominated the ACC in recent memory and it wasn’t until a Florida State tournament championship just last March when things appeared headed in a different direction.
Well, with the Blue Devils and Tar Heels aside, the new top dog in the conference could be the North Carolina State Wolfpack.
After a surprising run to the Sweet 16 this past spring, expectations instantly began rising under now second-year head coach, Mark Gottfried.
With nearly every major contributor returning to Raleigh, the Wolfpack have expectations of an ACC crown in 2013. As for conference officials, well, they seem to agree.
N.C. State was tabbed as the preseason favorite on Monday, leading the likes of Duke and UNC by a few votes.
Here were the listed standings from the Monday’s Coaches Poll (votes):
1. North Carolina State Wolfpack (139)
2. Duke Blue Devils (130)
3. North Carolina Tar Heels (124)
4. Miami (FL) Hurricanes (104)
5. Florida State Seminoles (103)
6. Maryland Terrapins (78)
7. Virginia Cavaliers (68)
8. Clemson Tigers (61)
9. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (40)
T-10. Virginia Tech Hokies (32)
T-10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (32)
12. Boston College Eagles (25)
While the preseason predictions are just that, there isn’t much doubt surrounding the Wolfpack heading into the 2012-13 season. With juniors C.J. Leslie and Lorenzo Brown returning, expectations are through the roof. In addition, Gottfried is welcoming in one of the nation’s top freshmen classes this season.
Leslie was tabbed as the ACC Preseason Player of the Year on Monday, while Rodney Purvis was named the league’s Preseason Rookie of the Year. Brown joined Leslie among the candidates for first team All-ACC, as well.
While the hype surrounding the Wolfpack is at its highest in years, the job on the court is what will ultimately decide their fate. Heading into the season however, N.C. State has all the intangibles of a team capable of making a run to the Final Four.
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