Chip Bremer
While this season signified a return to relevance for the ACC, with more programs emerging on the national stage than previous years, the biggest takeaway is the revelation that the core of the conference’s power still resides along Tobacco Road.
Duke, UNC and NC State have all demonstrated that they belong in the national spotlight, and the attention they are generating now will ensure they will be the backbone of ACC success in years to come. Here’s a closer look at why Triangle hoops fans have reason to be proud of the 2025-26 results as well as prospects for the years ahead:
Duke remains the one to beat
In the post-Cooper Flagg era, few expected Jon Scheyer to keep his team playing at the same level and once again challenge for a national title. But once people realized how good Cameron Boozer is and how easily he can dominate the game, it became apparent that Scheyer once again found the right formula to build a winner around a generational talent. This speaks not only to Scheyer’s ability to attract top talent to Durham but also to build a roster that buys into the system and creates instant chemistry.
The future continues to look bright for Duke, as Scheyer is still relatively young, and his presence on the recruiting trail is constant. He may not have a Cooper Flagg or a Cam Boozer to build around in future years, but he’ll still be able to bring in the talent necessary to keep the Blue Devils in the battle at the top of the conference standings for the foreseeable future.
Carolina regains momentum
After a lackluster 2024-25 season in which the Tar Heels struggled to make the NCAA Tournament, the program made a significant comeback this season thanks mostly to the arrival of star freshman Caleb Wilson. While his season was cut short by a broken bone in his hand, it was clear from Day One that Wilson was a special talent.
His ability to control the game from rim to rim gave the Heels something they lacked over the Hubert Davis era—a bonafide superstar. Wilson’s dominance allowed other teammates to flourish, particularly center Henri Veesaar and guard Seth Trimble, and even when Wilson went down, the rest of the team stepped up to guide North Carolina to a top-four ACC finish.
Moving forward, the Heels should continue to have a strong presence atop the conference standings. With Wilson making his stamp on the program—and more talent on the way with Dylan Mingo and Maximo Adams set to arrive next season, Hubert Davis proved that he can recruit talent at an elite level, quieting criticisms to the contrary. As long as his roster-building continues to improve and team chemistry remains constant, Davis should enjoy a long and fruitful career coaching at his alma mater.
NC State back in the picture
Will Wade’s arrival in Raleigh appears to be just what the Wolfpack program needed to become relevant once again. His ability to bring in top-notch talent through the transfer portal brought a level of excitement back to the Lenovo Center that has been lacking in recent years in Kevin Keatts. While the results of this past season were mixed when considering preseason expectations, Wade did find a way to get the Wolfpack back to the NCAA Tournament, which was priority number one in the eyes of the fanbase. Also, having a playmaker like Quadir Copeland running the team made up for the mixed performance of preseason ACC POY Darrion Williams, who didn’t quite measure up to the lofty initial expectations.
Regardless, Wade has the Pack on track to rejoin the ACC elite in the years ahead. He’s starting to make his presence known on the high school recruiting trail, and he will certainly learn from this season’s roster construction issues to build teams that will continue to win on a national level and give the fans a team of which they can be proud.