Duke, Syracuse Picked 1-2 in ACC Preseason Poll; Fair, Parker Honored With Preseason Picks

Duke was picked to win the ACC regular-season title, while former Big East stalwart Syracuse was chosen second.

All told, three of the top six picks are former Big East teams — No. 2 Syracuse, No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 6 Pittsburgh. Had defending NCAA champion Louisville, which joins the ACC in 2014, been included this year, former Big East clubs would have comprised four of the top six.

The Blue Devils, who return starting guards Quinn Cook and Rasheed Sulaimon from last season’s 30-6 NCAA Regional finalist, and whose highly-touted group of newcomers includes sophomore transfer Rodney Hood and freshman Jabari Parker, received 50 of 54 first-place votes in a preseason poll of media in attendance at Wednesday’s event.

Syracuse senior forward C.J. Fair, who led the Orange in scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg) last season, received the nod as ACC Preseason Player of the Year. Fair received 17 votes in the Player of the Year balloting, edging Virginia senior Joe Harris (16 votes) by one.

Duke’s Parker, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward from Chicago, was the overwhelming choice as ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year on 52 of the 54 ballots cast.

“He’s a phenomenal talent,” Hood told the Chicago Tribune’s Brian Hamilton of Parker. “He’s very versatile. He can play on the wing and down low. A very good low-post player. Mid-range game, he’s an improving shooter, and improving defender. He can block shots, very athletic. I could go on down the line about him.”

Fair, Harris, Parker, Hood and Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant were selected as the Preseason All-ACC Team.

ACC Operation Basketball 2013-14 Preseason Poll

(First-place votes in parenthesis)

 

Team                                                     Points

1. Duke (50)                                        805

2. Syracuse (3)                                   753

3. North Carolina (1)                       668

4. Virginia                                            612

5. Notre Dame                                  608

6. Pitt                                                    477

7. Maryland                                        473

8. Boston College                             457

9. Florida State                                  334

10. NC State                                      332

11. Georgia Tech                              311

12. Miami                                            224

13. Wake Forest                               220

14. Clemson                                       141

15. Virginia Tech                               65

 

2013-14 Preseason All-ACC Team
C.J. Fair, Syracuse
Joe Harris, Virginia
Rodney Hood, Duke
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame
Jabari Parker, Duke

ACC Preseason Player of the Year
C.J. Fair, Syracuse

ACC Rookie of the Year
Jabari Parker, Duke

 

Photo: USA Today