UNC, Duke battle atop wide-open ACC

CLEMSON -- Surprise, surprise: North Carolina and Duke are projected to battle each other for the another Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball title.

Most analysts expect Roy Williams to simply reload North Carolina, and Duke to be playing deep into its 15th consecutive NCAA appearance. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils tied for first in the preseason poll.

North Carolina is coming off its second national title of the Williams era, though it loses four starters from last year's team that topped Michigan State in the finals.

"We have a couple of major question marks that have to be answered and they're not going to be answered in practice," Williams said. "We have to wait and see how that happens during games."

Duke won the ACC Tournament last season, advancing to the Sweet 16. Mike Krzyzewski returns experience in top scorers Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer. Krzyzewski has the tallest team he's had, and improved balance with the additions of 6-10 freshmen Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly.

"We haven't been a team that has gotten the ball inside," Krzyzewski said during preseason interviews. "Now we can do both."

After the conference's traditional hegemonic powers it becomes interesting -- especially with the league's exodus of point guards: Jeff Teague (Wake), Tyrese Rice (Boston College), Ty Lawson (North Carolina) and Jack McClinton (Miami).

Clemson hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 1997, losing in the first round in back-to-back seasons. But even with the departures of wings K.C. Rivers and Terrence Oglesby, the Tigers were picked third in the preseason poll and are ranked in the both preseason polls for the first time since 1997.

Georgia Tech was awful last season, but the return of Gani Lawal, and the addition of one of the nation's top prospects in Derrick Favors has many believing Paul Hewitt's bunch can make a big leap.

Maryland barely got in the NCAAs last year before making a second-round push. Critics of Gary Williams could further be quieted this season as eight starters return, including Greivis Vasquez, perhaps the best returning player in the ACC.

At Virginia Tech, Seth Greenberg has a potent inside-outside tandem in Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen. And at Wake Forest, Dino Gaudio welcomes back uber talent -- Al-Farouq Aminu.

"I tell everybody," Gaudio said, "the ACC is wide open."

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.