Every team in the Coastal Division but Duke got at least one first place vote in the preseason media poll. Those votes weren't distributed particularly evenly - Virginia Tech got 58 of the 65 - but UNC got the same number of first place votes as they had wins all last season. It's the advantage of mediocrity parity in the league; everybody really does have a shot in August.
(I'm torn. On the one hand, I can believe UNC will win the division. I always have unreasonable expectations. But if this was instead say, N.C. State basketball being picked to rocket to the top of the standings in only their second season under a new coach, I'd be mocking it mercilessly. We'll see what happens when I pick the games in a few weeks.)