N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe may have to slip back into an NBA mode this season. Lowe coached many years in the NBA, where playing time is precious and some players have to sacrifice minutes. Unlike last year, Lowe now has a full bench at NCSU, and the returning starters may have to make do with fewer minutes. Can Lowe keep everybody happy and productive?

Such is the X factor for the Wolfpack, and State isn't alone. Nearly every ACC team has at least one.

North Carolina may be No. 1 in the preseason polls, but can the Tar Heels play the swarming defense that coach Roy Williams wants? Will point guard Ty Lawson take the next step as a sophomore and be as good a floor leader as, say, former UNC star Raymond Felton?

At Duke, Mike Krzyzewski has such staples as DeMarcus Nelson, Greg Paulus and Jon Scheyer returning. But can the Blue Devils get their running game going?

Go around the league. Questions abound.

Will the death of coach Skip Prosser be an inspiration for Wake Forest, or will the Demon Deacons continue to grieve?

Did Clemson's fast start and stumbling finish last season provide extra motivation for the Tigers to finally get the job done and reach the NCAA Tournament?

Georgia Tech seemed poised to make a big move in the conference, perhaps a nice run in the NCAA Tournament. But Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young decided to apply for the NBA Draft after last season. What happens to the Yellow Jackets?

If the ACC were a fantasy league, it would be easy. The coaches could just draft a player before the season to fill the biggest need -- imagine Lawson at State or Clemson forward James Mays at UNC.

But enough fantasizing. It's not that easy. A new season beckons, and the answers will come soon enough.