NC State women’s basketball picked to finish 2nd in ACC

It feels like the Wolfpack Women are close to a true breakthrough season; heck, that might have happened last year without the rash of knee injuries that killed the team’s depth. That group still reached the Sweet Sixteen, which they’ve done now two years in a row.

Perhaps this is the year NC State accomplishes something bigger. Wes Moore’s crew returns standout center Elissa Cunane and veteran guard Ace Konig, both of whom made the preseason all-conference team. The Pack is adding a trio of top-50 recruits, including Jakia Brown-Turner, who made the preseason Newcomer Watch List.

NC State has been picked to finish second by the league’s coaches and a separate Blue Ribbon Panel (whatever that is). State received multiple first-place votes in both of those polls.

Head Coaches Predicted Order of Finish

Louisville (13 first-place votes) - 223
NC State (2) - 201
Florida State - 190
Miami - 185
Notre Dame - 159
Syracuse - 150
Duke - 143
Clemson - 105
North Carolina - 92
Virginia Tech - 91
Georgia Tech - 70
Virginia - 67
Boston College - 58
Pitt - 41
Wake Forest - 25

Blue Ribbon Panel Predicted Order of Finish (49 voters)

Louisville (34 first-place votes) - 713
NC State (8) - 637
Florida State (3) - 623
Notre Dame (4) - 580
Miami - 578
Syracuse - 497
Duke - 432
Clemson - 353
North Carolina - 343
Virginia Tech - 291
Virginia - 229
Georgia Tech - 225
Boston College - 168
Pitt - 122
Wake Forest - 89