Louisville MBB Picked to Finish Second in 2025-26 ACC Preseason Poll

The Cardinals also had a pair of preseason First-Team All-ACC selections.

Feb 1, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey on the sideline against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball preseason poll and All-ACC team was released Tuesday, and Louisville was selected to finish second in the conference race, according to a vote of 49 media members across the league.

Duke was chosen as the favorite to win the ACC title this season, with North Carolina, NC State and Virginia rounding out the top five behind Louisville.

NC State's Darrion Williams earned Preseason ACC Player of the Year honors, whereas Duke's Cameron Boozer was tabbed as the Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year. Additionally, Louisville guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell were both named preseason First-Team All-ACC selections.

Louisville is coming off of a successful year one under head coach Pat Kelsey. The Cardinals went 27-8 overall, winning more games than over the previous three seasons combined, resulting in Kelsey winning ACC Coach of the Year. UofL made their return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 - although it resulted in a first round exit to Creighton.

Not long after the end of the season, Kelsey and his staff immediately got to work constructing next year's roster. They added three top-25 transfers in Ryan Conwell, Isaac McKneely and Adrian Wooley, while top-25 Class of 2025 prospects Mikel Brown Jr. and Sananda Fru are joining the fold. Additionally, J'Vonne Hadley and Kasean Pryor are both taking advantage of extra years of eligibility.

Louisville's season-opener against South Carolina State is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3 at the KFC Yum! Center.

ACC Men’s Basketball Tipoff - 2025-26 Preseason Poll and All-ACC Team

First-place votes in parentheses; 49 total voters

1. Duke (34), 866
2. Louisville (15), 842
3. North Carolina, 741
4. NC State, 710
5. Virginia, 623
6. SMU, 616
7. Clemson, 510
8. Miami, 500
9. Syracuse, 489
10. Notre Dame, 477
11. Wake Forest, 412
12. Virginia Tech, 355
13. Georgia Tech, 315
14. Pitt, 301
15. Florida State, 221
16. California, 156
17. Stanford, 138
18. Boston College, 107

Preseason ACC Player of the Year

Darrion Williams, NC State, 23 votes
Cameron Boozer, Duke, 19
Markus Burton, Notre Dame, 2
J.J. Starling, Syracuse, 2
Donald Hand Jr., Boston College, 1
Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech, 1
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 1

Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year

Cameron Boozer, Duke, 43 votes
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, 3
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 2
Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech, 1

Preseason All-ACC Team

First Team

Cameron Boozer, Duke, 46
Markus Burton, Notre Dame, 46
Darrion Williams, NC State, 45
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, 36
Ryan Conwell, Louisville, 36

Second Team

Isaiah Evans, Duke, 24
Boopie Miller, SMU, 27
J.J. Starling, Syracuse, 27
Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech, 24
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 24

(Photo of Pat Kelsey: Brett Davis - Imagn Images)

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