UNC overwhelming choice to win ACC

CHARLOTTE – North Carolina received 57 of a possible 59 first-place votes to finish atop the ACC media poll released Wednesday at the conference’s Operation Basketball media event.

The Tar Heels return all five starters, including preseason ACC player of the year selection Harrison Barnes, from a team that finished 29-8, reached an NCAA regional final and won first place in the ACC with a 14-2 conference record last season.

Duke was picked second in the poll, followed by Florida State, Virginia, Miami, Virginia Tech and Clemson. N.C. State was selected to finish eighth, with Maryland, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Boston College closing out the poll.

Barnes and teammates John Henson and Tyler Zeller were voted to the preseason All-ACC team, with Barnes as the only unanimous selection. Miami’s Malcolm Grant also was selected, and Duke’s Seth Curry tied Virginia’s Mike Scott for the final spot on the team. Barnes received 57 of a possible 59 first-place votes, with Henson getting the other two.

Duke freshman Austin Rivers was voted ACC rookie of the year, also receiving 57 votes. North Carolina’s James McAdoo and Maryland’s Nick Faust each received one vote for rookie of the year.

Here are the poll results:

ACC standings, with first-place votes in parentheses and total points:

1. North Carolina (57) 706
2. Duke (2) 649
3. Florida State 560
4. Virginia 463
5. Miami 455
6. Virginia Tech 411
7. Clemson 403
8. N.C. State 316
9. Maryland 264
10. Georgia Tech 176
11. Wake Forest 109
12. Boston College 90

All-ACC

Harrison Barnes, UNC, 59 (unanimous); John Henson, UNC, 47; Tyler Zeller, UNC, 46; Malcolm Grant, Miami, 32; Seth Curry, Duke, 20; Mike Scott, Virginia, 20

Player of the Year

Harrison Barnes, UNC, 57; John Henson, UNC, 2 

Rookie of the Year

Austin Rivers, Duke, 57; James McAdoo, UNC, 1; Nick Faust, Maryland, 1