It’s an exciting time to be an ACC basketball fan (yes that includes you Syracuse Orange supporters). The once proud league has had a massive fall from grace — getting only four bids last year, the lowest since expansion — but a wave of new coaches and increased investment in basketball has fans believing across the landscape.
So let’s break down how each of the 18 teams in ACC look for this upcoming season, what their chances are at making the tournament, and whether they are on an upward or downward trajectory as a program.
This is part four of a six-part series giving a brief preview of each of the 18 teams in the ACC for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season.
North Carolina
The Tar Heels are one of — if not the only — team in the country where there has been a reported total NIL value of the roster. Inside Carolina reported earlier this offseason that UNC has $14 million tied up in spending on players for this upcoming men’s basketball season. We don’t know exactly where that ranks, but it probably ranks a good deal higher than North Carolina will in the preseason AP Poll.
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It’s a good roster, no doubt, but the value has put heavy scrutiny on each of the potential flaws.
UNC is banking on Kyan Evans and Seth Trimble to be able to shoulder the ball handling and playmaking load from the backcourt. Neither are natural point guards, but both have shown flashes of being that type of player. Trimble in particular has the chance to break out with the keys to the team firmly in his hands after years of RJ Davis running the show.
Those two can throw lobs to Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar, one of my favorite players in the country. UNC struggled immensely in the post last year, and Veesaar gives an immediate jolt of a presence around the rim on both ends. Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson comes in from Alabama and can also provide some help on the inside and out.
A lot of how you feel about UNC comes down to how you feel about highly-ranked freshman Caleb Wilson and international recruit Luka Bogavac. If you believe that Wilson can be that two-way monster that he has the tools to become one day, or that Bogavac is more than just a sniper, you probably believe in UNC to be one of the best 15 or so teams in the sport. If not, you’re probably closer to having them outside the top 25.
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Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish weren’t expected to be good last year, but they were, at the very least, expected to show some serious progress in year two under Micah Shrewsberry. However, none of the freshmen ended up playing big roles, and all three main guards dealt with injuries at some point during the year. That’s not an excuse for a second straight poor season, but it’s an explanation for failing to reach expectations.
Entering year three, the Irish return key guards Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry, now juniors, as the team’s leaders. They are two deadeye shooters who will be one of the top scoring backcourts in the ACC. Burton quietly led the ACC in scoring and finished fifth in the nation at 21.3 points per game. Those two didn’t disappoint last year, but they have to continue to grow their all around games in order for ND to take the next step.
Five-star freshman Jalen Haralson can help them be more efficient, as he can take some of the ball handling and playmaking load off of them as a versatile wing. He needs to be one of the best freshmen in the ACC right away, as the Irish are going to rely on him for big minutes. Notre Dame also needs Sir Mohammed to be an impact two-way player as well after a disappointing freshman campaign. Haralson
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Kebba Njie and Northern Arizona transfer Carson Towt make up a passable but mediocre power conference center duo. Freshman Tommy Ahneman also has the upside to crack the five-man rotation.
Between sophomores Garrett Sundra and Cole Certa, along with freshman Ryder Frost, Notre Dame needs more bench production this year.
I still believe in Micah to turn this program around. He’s a terrific X’s and O’s coach who has begun to elevate Notre Dame’s recruiting prowess. But there needs to be progress this season, and I’m not quite sure how I’d define that, but by the end of the season, I think I’ll know.
Pittsburgh
We are entering year eight of Jeff Capel’s tenure at Pittsburgh and he has one NCAA Tournament appearance to show for it. In a similar way to Syracuse, the Panthers have just not found the same success in the ACC as they did in the Big East. They are one of the programs that feels like they’re just stuck running in place, like NC State was before hiring Wade this offseason.
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The Panthers return Cam Corhen, a post-up big man who averaged 11 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season. He and Iowa State transfer Dishon Jackson form a frontcourt with great size and physicality. Jackson helped anchor ISU’s interior defense last season, starting 33 games and playing 18 minutes, but neither Jackson nor Corhen are extreme black holes, as their usage rates don’t have to be very high to be solid.
On the wing, South Alabama transfer Barry Dunning Jr. loves to use his length and speed to get out in transition. He can start the break off the glass, and also finish it with a thunderous dunk. He shot 66% at the rim last year and led the Jaguars with 15.1 points per game. USA played a funky zone, but Dunning has the measurables to be an effective wing defender.
Brandin Cummings showed some flashes as a freshman, especially as an outside shooter, but he must take the next step becoming Pitt’s starting two guard. Oregon State transfer Polo Minor is a well-rounded point guard with strong playmaking and rebounding instincts.
Pitt has been a heavy ball-screen offense under Capel, but there isn’t an obvious pick-and-pop threat, and Minor isn’t the same caliber of scorer as Carrington and Lowe were, so I’m curious to see how the offense changes.
