Keep an eye on Florida State's Buster Posey, the ACC player of the year. The junior catcher leads the league in 10 categories, including batting average (.471), hits (96), runs (75), RBIs (68) and slugging percentage (.858).

Earlier this month, Posey played all nine positions in one game against Savannah State. He also hit a grand slam in the Seminoles' 10-0 victory.

Others to watch this year include:

* Miami first baseman Yonder Alonso, who led the ACC with 19 homers.

* FSU outfielder Jack Rye, who hit .404 and joined Posey as the only two .400 hitters in the league.

* Miami left-hander Chris Hernandez and Clemson designated hitter Kyle Parker, the only two freshmen chosen to the All-ACC first team. Parker, a highly recruited quarterback, graduated from high school early to enroll in the spring and is hitting .310 with 14 homers.

IT'S A RELIEF

A deep bullpen can be a godsend in tournament play. Carolina relief pitchers have a collective 1.73 ERA and a 17-3 record with eight saves this season.

Then again, NCSU's pen has been solid. Jimmy Gillheeney (2-0) has a 1.12 ERA and 10 saves.

WHERE'S DUKE?

The Blue Devils had one of their best seasons ever, winning 37 games, the third-best in school history. But Duke was 10-18-1 in the ACC. Only the top eight teams qualify for the ACC tournament, and the Devils missed out.

ON TO FENWAY IN '09

This marks the tournament's fourth year in Jacksonville, but when or whether it returns still is up in the air. Boston's Fenway Park will host the event next season, and the league is taking bids for 2010 and beyond.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville is expected to compete with bids from Greensboro; Tampa, Fla.; Charlotte; Aberdeen, Md.; and perhaps Boston, again.