Tag: NC State men’s basketball

It’s shaping up to be another high-stakes basketball season in the Triangle for men’s and women’s hoops.

The Blue Devils were tabbed as the preseason favorite in both the men’s and women’s basketball polls, announced Tuesday by the conference. The programs at N.C. State and North Carolina aren’t far behind.

Here’s what you need to know about the Triangle teams:

Men: Duke leads the Pack, N.C. State’s Williams earns top honor

Jon Scheyer’s Duke squad was voted the preseason favorite to win the 2025-26 ACC title, earning 34 of 49 first-place votes and totaling 866 points. The Blue Devils, ranked No. 6 nationally in the preseason AP poll, were picked as the league’s top team for the 10th time in the past 13 years.

North Carolina followed in third, while NC State was picked fourth — its highest preseason ranking since 2013-14. Louisville came in at No. 2.

N.C. State senior forward Darrion Williams was named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year. He transferred from Texas Tech after averaging 15.1 points and led the Red Raiders to the Elite Eight last season.

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer, the son of former Blue Devil star Carlos Boozer and one of the nation’s top recruits, was voted Preseason Rookie of the Year and came second in POY voting. Boozer and Williams both landed on the Preseason All-ACC First Team, while UNC freshman and former five-star Caleb Wilson earned second-team honors.

Women: Duke, N.C. State and UNC take the top 3 slots

The women’s preseason poll mirrored the men’s results, with Duke leading the way again. Coming off an ACC title and Elite Eight run, Kara Lawson’s Blue Devils earned 40 votes and 1,525 total points.

N.C. State, fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance, was picked second with 25 first-place votes and North Carolina earned one first-place vote while grabbing the No. 3 spot.

Duke’s Toby Fournier and Ashlon Jackson — both returning starters — were named to the Preseason All-ACC Team. The Blue Devils also placed freshman guard Emilee Skinner on the inaugural Preseason All-Freshman Team.

For N.C. State, Zoe Brooks and Khamil Pierre earned preseason all-conference recognition. UNC junior guard Reniya Kelly also made the team after averaging 9.6 points last season, while fellow Tar Heel Nyla Brooks was named to the All-Freshman Team.

Notre Dame junior guard Hannah Hidalgo, last season’s ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, was the unanimous pick for Preseason Player of the Year. She averaged 23.8 points per game last year as a first-team All-American.

This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM.