Talking season is coming to an end as the 2025-26 college basketball season gets closer. Coaches are putting down the microphones and picking up the whistles, with exhibition games about to start and the regular season tipping off in early November. But first, the ACC gathers in Charlotte this week for ACC Tipoff ’25, running from October 6–8 at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown. The women go first on Monday, followed by the men on Tuesday.
Here’s what to watch for in Charlotte:
Jai Lucas introduces himself to the ACC
One of the main storylines will be Miami’s new head coach, Jai Lucas. Media Day is his first big chance to introduce himself to the rest of the conference. Lucas already has a reputation for bringing plenty of personality, so expect him to add some energy to the ACC media event.
Reporters will want to know why he chose Miami, what kind of style he plans to play, and how his team’s offense will look after being built around a defense-first identity. He’ll share the ACC spotlight with players Tre Donaldson, Malik Reneau, and Ernest Udeh.
Which freshmen get the spotlight this year?
Not every freshman is going to play big minutes, but the ones who make headlines at Media Day often end up being the players we talk about all season long — just ask Cooper Flagg.
The ACC recruited heavily in the 2025 class, and expectations for this year’s freshmen are sky-high. North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, ranked No. 5 nationally, is expected to play a major role right away. Cameron and Cayden Boozer are another duo drawing plenty of attention at Duke, while Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. is set for a big role in his first season. Down in Miami, Shelton Henderson has bulked up to 240 pounds and could be a key contributor for the Hurricanes.
There’s no shortage of freshman talent ready to step into the spotlight across the ACC this season.
Scheyer returns for his fourth season leading the program, and Duke is expected to open with Caleb Foster at point guard, Isaiah Evans at shooting guard, Nikolas Khamenia at small forward, Cameron Boozer at power forward, and Patrick Ngongba II anchoring the middle.
The ACC looks deep this year, especially with the continued presence of newcomers SMU, California, and Stanford, but the path to the top still runs through Duke.
The wave of new coaches across the ACC
It’s not just Miami making a change. NC State brings in Will Wade, while Florida State turns heads with the hire of Luke Loucks from the NBA. Add in Ryan Odom continuing to rebuild Virginia back to what it once was, and you’ve got an ACC coaching lineup that feels younger and bolder. Media Day should offer an early glimpse into how these coaches are shaping the future of their programs.
Here’s what to watch for in Charlotte:
Jai Lucas introduces himself to the ACC
One of the main storylines will be Miami’s new head coach, Jai Lucas. Media Day is his first big chance to introduce himself to the rest of the conference. Lucas already has a reputation for bringing plenty of personality, so expect him to add some energy to the ACC media event.
Reporters will want to know why he chose Miami, what kind of style he plans to play, and how his team’s offense will look after being built around a defense-first identity. He’ll share the ACC spotlight with players Tre Donaldson, Malik Reneau, and Ernest Udeh.
Which freshmen get the spotlight this year?
Not every freshman is going to play big minutes, but the ones who make headlines at Media Day often end up being the players we talk about all season long — just ask Cooper Flagg.
The ACC recruited heavily in the 2025 class, and expectations for this year’s freshmen are sky-high. North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, ranked No. 5 nationally, is expected to play a major role right away. Cameron and Cayden Boozer are another duo drawing plenty of attention at Duke, while Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. is set for a big role in his first season. Down in Miami, Shelton Henderson has bulked up to 240 pounds and could be a key contributor for the Hurricanes.
There’s no shortage of freshman talent ready to step into the spotlight across the ACC this season.
Duke enters as king of the conference
Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils are in cruise control heading into the new season. After making an Elite Eight run last year, the Blue Devils check in as the USA Today No. 1 overall preseason team in the ACC standings and are the projected favorite to win the conference.Scheyer returns for his fourth season leading the program, and Duke is expected to open with Caleb Foster at point guard, Isaiah Evans at shooting guard, Nikolas Khamenia at small forward, Cameron Boozer at power forward, and Patrick Ngongba II anchoring the middle.
The ACC looks deep this year, especially with the continued presence of newcomers SMU, California, and Stanford, but the path to the top still runs through Duke.
The wave of new coaches across the ACC
It’s not just Miami making a change. NC State brings in Will Wade, while Florida State turns heads with the hire of Luke Loucks from the NBA. Add in Ryan Odom continuing to rebuild Virginia back to what it once was, and you’ve got an ACC coaching lineup that feels younger and bolder. Media Day should offer an early glimpse into how these coaches are shaping the future of their programs.
