UNC Picked 2nd in Preseason ACC Poll; Paige Named Preseason ACC Player of the Year

The preseason picks for the 2014-15 season are out and UNC has been picked to finish seconnd in the league behind Duke. The Tar Heels received 12 first place votes finishing just ahead of newcomer Louisville for the leagues second spot. Virginia in fourth and Syracuse in fifth also received first place votes.

UNC guard Marcus Paige was selected as the preseason player of the year and was also a pick for All-ACC along with Louisville's Montrezl Harrell, Duke's Jahlil Okafor, Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon and Notre Dame's Jerian Grant. Okafor was also tapped as the league's preseason rookie of the year.

Paige as a player of the year candidate will be interesting. A more balance Tar Heel team this season may take away from his impact and numbers. Then again, Roy Williams reminds the team frequently that Paige is UNC's best player so chances are he will still be the Tar Heel making the biggest impact on the court.

Here is the full list of the voting and player accolades.

ACC Operation Basketball 2014-15 Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)

Team & Points

1. Duke (41): 935

2. North Carolina (12): 870

3. Louisville (3): 847

4. Virginia: 824 (7)

5. Syracuse: 706 (2)

6. Pitt: 592

7. Notre Dame: 515

8. Florida State: 506

9. NC State: 478

10. Miami: 442

11. Clemson: 330

12. Wake Forest: 221

13. Georgia Tech: 195

14. Boston College: 184

15. Virginia Tech: 155

2014-15 Preseason All-ACC Team

(votes in parenthesis)
Marcus Paige, North Carolina (63)
Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (58)
Jahlil Okafor, Duke (57)
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia (55)
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame (24)


ACC Preseason Player of the Year

Marcus Paige, North Carolina

ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year

Jahlil Okafor, Duke