GREENSBORO, N.C. - With just 19 of 45 starters back in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Duke point guard Chris Duhon will be wearing out some notepads in November and December.
"You don't know what's going to happen, you don't know who is going to step up and contribute," Duhon said Sunday at ACC Operation Basketball. "I will definitely be watching. I'll be taking notes. I'll be scouting these guys early to see what we can do to beat them.
"A lot of players have to prove themselves in the league," Duhon added. "A lot of the key guys have gone and a lot of guys have been shadowed by those players. It's their time to be in the light."
Duhon, Duke's junior point guard, was picked as the ACC preseason player of the year - edging out Travis Watson of Virginia and Josh Howard of Wake Forest.
Meanwhile, four-time defending league champion Duke was the overwhelming pick to win the title again.
The Blue Devils, 57-7 in ACC games over a four-year span, received 79 of a possible 93 first-place votes by media members for 852 points.
Defending national champion Maryland got nine top votes and 686 points to come in second, while North Carolina State was third with four first-place votes and 595 points.
Georgia Tech received the other No. 1 vote and was fourth in the preseason poll, followed by Virginia, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Clemson and Florida State.
The Tar Heels, 8-20 last season, had been picked no lower than fourth since the poll's inception - in 1985 and last season - before coming in seventh Sunday.
"To me, teams like Duke and Maryland are still good and we're still trying to get better," UNC coach Matt Doherty said of a squad that will field six freshmen.
Doherty isn't alone as the ACC will be as young as it has ever been.
"The youth in this league is going to determine who the good teams are this year because everybody lost some good, veteran players," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "We'll see who can step up and blend in and really help their team."
The number of returning starters is the lowest since Florida State joined the ACC in 1992-93.
Maryland, N.C. State and Georgia Tech have the experience advantage. The Terrapins return four seniors who played vital roles in last year's national title run.
"In college basketball today there are about 10 to 15 teams that have the real makeup and chemistry that could possibly put together an NCAA championship. I feel we're one of those teams again," Maryland senior guard Drew Nichols said. "A lot of it has to do with experience and chemistry. Our experience is there and we'll be starting four seniors. Not many teams in the country will be starting four seniors."
Duke lost Jason Williams, Mike Dunleavy and Carlos Boozer early to the pros, while the Terrapins saw Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter and Chris Wilcox exit.
"When you have great players that kind of hides that fact that you have other good players in your program," Gary Williams said. "Our seniors deserve the right to see how good we can be this year. And we have some good young players to go with them.
"Part of the responsibility of the seniors is allowing these young guys to be a part of the team early and be comfortable. I've never been a rebuilding-type of coach. I'm going to play the best combination for this year and win the most games and next year will take care of itself."
Duke has been picked to win the regular season nine times, including four of the last five seasons.
Nichols is one who doesn't think the Blue Devils should be ranked ahead of the Terrapins.
"Look at the top teams in the conference. Duke lost their big three ... and they are still going to come out with those rankings," Nichols said. "I can't comment on it as much as I would like to."
Duhon believes Duke will once again have to beat Maryland, last year's regular-season champion, to contend for a fifth-straight crown.
"They are definitely going to have an advantage because they've been through a lot," Duhon said of Maryland Nichols, Steve Blake, Tahj Holden and Ryan Randle. "They'll have experience in the leadership role and game experience, and they are going to use that to the best of their ability. We've got to get prepared for that and something we're eager to do."
Blake and Julius Hodge of N.C. State were also named to the preseason all-conference tea.
Sunday
March 30th, 2025
3:54PM
