The Duke women's basketball team has been selected to win its third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship, garnering 49 of 76 first-place votes from an 18-member panel of head coaches and media members. Notre Dame senior guard Hannah Hidalgo was also recognized as the preseason player of the year by the ACC on Tuesday.
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In the Big South Conference, High Point University's men's and women's basketball teams topped the preseason polls. The Panthers, who have captured the last three regular-season titles and two tournament championships for both teams, were favored outright for the men's title and tied with Radford for the women's.
ESPN's preseason rankings also highlighted the women's basketball teams at Illinois and West Virginia, projecting them for standout seasons. The women's squad at Illinois is expected to emerge in a national spotlight this year.
Additionally, the ACC has released its preseason poll and All-Conference team, with the media and coaches weighing in on team standings and individual players. Virginia forward Thijs De Ridder was announced as the preseason ACC Player of the Year, while teams like Oklahoma and Syracuse are looking to assert themselves within the conference, with Oklahoma picked to finish sixth and Syracuse seventh in their preseason predictions.
As college basketball season approaches, excitement builds among fans and players alike, with many programs unveiling their media day and season plans.