Louisville Selected to Finish Second in ACC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
Louisville has been picked to finish second in the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball race, according to the league’s preseason poll released today.
Duke topped the poll with 866 points and 34 first-place votes from a panel of 49 media members. Louisville secured the second spot with 842 points and 15 first-place votes, followed by North Carolina, NC State, and Virginia to round out the top five. NC State’s Darrion Williams was named Preseason ACC Player of the Year, while Duke’s Cameron Boozer earned Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year honors. Louisville guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell were both selected to the Preseason First-Team All-ACC.
The Cardinals are entering the 2025-26 season after a successful year under head coach Pat Kelsey, achieving a 27-8 record and earning an NCAA Tournament berth – their first since 2019. This strong performance and subsequent roster additions, including transfers Ryan Conwell, Isaac McKneely, and Adrian Wooley, along with highly-rated recruits Mikel Brown Jr. and Sananda Fru, have fueled expectations for the program. You can find more information about the NCAA Men’s Basketball program here.
Louisville will open its season on Monday, November 3, against South Carolina State at the KFC Yum! Center. The high ranking signals a significant shift in the ACC landscape and positions Louisville as a strong contender for the conference title. For a detailed look at the full poll and team selections, visit the official ACC website.
Coach Kelsey and his staff will now focus on preparing the team for the upcoming season, aiming to build on last year’s success and compete for a conference championship.
