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With recruits Al-Farouq Aminu (6-8), Ty Walker (7-0) and Tony Woods (6-10) joining the mix, Dino Gaudio will have several more frontcourt options by mid-to-late season, meaning the fast-improving McFarland won't have such a heavy workload -- plus Johnson gets more freedom to roam. Smith and Teague are too quick for some ACC teams to contain.

OVERVIEW: The three-season NCAA Tournament drought should end as the Deacons make a jump from the league's second division into regular-season contention. There is no reason Wake shouldn't be a top-25 team by season's end.

4. MIAMI (23-11, 8-8)

PROJECTED STARTERS: Dwayne Collins, Jr., F; Cyrus McGowan, Jr. F; Jack McClinton, Sr., W; James Dews, Jr., G; Lance Hurdle, Sr., G

McGowan, a physical 6-9 transfer, will help offset the loss of Anthony King and should provide Collins with sufficient rebounding help. Seniors Brian Asbury and Jimmy Graham will play regularly, even if they don't start. It's possible that Winston-Salem recruit Reginald Johnson (6-9, 280) can get up to speed fast enough to increase the inside depth. The perimeter is impressive and deep.

OVERVIEW: The Hurricanes will get preseason top-25 votes, and Frank Haith clearly has upgraded the program. Even so, there is still no consistent homecourt advantage.

5. VIRGINIA TECH (21-14, 9-7)

PROJECTED STARTERS: Jeff Allen, So., F; Lewis Witcher, Jr., F; A.D. Vassallo, Sr., W; J.T. Thompson, So., W; Malcolm Delaney, So., G

If this turns out to be the lineup Seth Greenberg settles on, he'll likely have the league's quickest and most productive sixth man in sophomore guard Hank Thorns. If the 5-9 Thorns keeps Thompson (6-6) on the bench, the Hokies could have matchup problems on the perimeter against bigger ACC foes. But overall, depth is beginning to work in Greenberg's favor, and signee Vic Davila (6-9, 240) has the look of another Allen.

OVERVIEW: Vassallo is a threat to lead the league in scoring, and the Hokies are the best dark-horse candidate among the 12 teams.

6. CLEMSON (24-10, 10-6)

PROJECTED STARTERS: Trevor Booker, Jr., F; Raymond Sykes, Sr., F; K.C. Rivers, Sr., W; Demontez Stitt, So., G; Terrence Oglesby, So., G

Will the Tigers have enough leadership without Cliff Hammonds and James Mays around to provide a settling presence on the court and in the locker room? If so, there might not be a big drop in the win total. If not, Clemson could be the N.C. State of 2008-09. Rivers and Oglesby will combine to launch a barrage of 3-point attempts.

OVERVIEW: With less size and quickness, Oliver Purnell will place heavy emphasis on halfcourt defense and, of course, improved free-throw shooting. It's probably back to the NCAA bubble for the Tigers.

7. GEORGIA TECH (15-17, 7-9)

PROJECTED STARTERS: Gani Lawal, So., F; Zack Peacock, Jr., F; D'Andre Bell, Sr., W; Maurice Miller, So, G.; Lewis Clinch, Sr., G

It'll help that oft-injured Ra'Sean Dickey (6-10, 250) will be back for a medical redshirt season and there's hope that 6-4 recruit Iman Shumpert could emerge as a poor man's Javaris Crittenton. Clinch and Lawal, who combined to average less than 17 points per game, will be expected to jump-start the offense.

OVERVIEW: There are still a lot of questions about the Yellow Jackets, and it's not clear that Paul Hewitt can sign and keep enough talent to get the program back to where it was in 2004.

8. MARYLAND (19-15, 8-8)

PROJECTED STARTERS: Jerome Burney, Jr., F; Braxton Dupree, So, F; Landon Milbourne, Jr., W; Eric Hayes, Jr., G.; Greivis Vasquez, Jr., G

With James Gist and Bambale Osby in the 2008 lineup, the Terps were barely able to outrebound opponents, and that was with the versatile Vasquez chipping in 5.7 per game. Burney and Dupree have decent size and some mobility, but the frontcourt looms as a long, trying adventure for Gary Williams in his 20th season at his alma mater.

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