Since 1991, Duke has failed to produce at least one first-team All-ACC player only three times: 1995, 1996 and 2007.
With Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith in the midst of big seasons and the Blue Devils entering next week 5-2 in ACC games, Duke's first-team impact is in little danger of fading this season.
But North Carolina's consistent first-team presence could be in for another interruption. Since 1991, at least one Tar Heel has been on the first team in all but five seasons (1992, 1994, 2000, 2002 and 2003).
This preseason, UNC forward Ed Davis was considered a lock for the first team. But an ankle injury kept the 6-foot-10 sophomore out of a recent loss to Wake Forest and limited his on-court time to 28 minutes in Tuesday's win at N.C. State.
Davis was productive against the Pack, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds to offset three turnovers. But in earlier losses to Clemson and Georgia Tech, he was held to a combined 12 rebounds and 16 points on 6-for-19 shooting. Davis began league play with a big performance - 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots - in a Jan. 10 win over Virginia Tech.
In UNC's 83-64 loss at Clemson on Jan. 13, Davis and his frontcourt cohorts were overwhelmed by Trevor Booker (21 points, nine rebounds, four assists).
A 6-foot-8 senior, Booker was predicted to be another first-team lock in preseason. But he's also in at least some danger, primarily because the Tigers (3-4 in ACC games) have been soundly whipped by Duke twice and were unexpectedly disappointing in Tuesday's loss at Boston College.
Booker's stats are fine - 16.1 ppg and 8.2 rebounds per game - but he was held to 12 points in an important nonconference loss against Illinois and limited to 10 points and five rebounds in one of the losses to Duke.
Obviously, things could change. Most of the teams will not hit the halfway point in the league schedule until next week, and a strong finish usually trumps a slow start in the voting by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.
But at least a player or two will wind up getting jilted. In 1993-94, when UNC finished 28-7 overall and 11-5 in the league without landing a first-team spot, guard Derrick Phelps and center Eric Montross had solid numbers but had to settle for second-team berths.
