College Sports

Scouting the women’s ACC teams

Duke Blue Devils

Preseason AP rank: 14th.

Predicted ACC finish: Fourth

2014-15: 23-11, 11-5 ACC, NCAA Sweet 16

Head coach: Joanne P. McCallie (541-201 in 23 seasons, 225-53 in eight seasons at Duke)

Returning starters: So., 6-6, F, Azura Stevens (14.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg); So., 6-1, G, Rebecca Greenwell (14.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg)

Key departures: C Elizabeth Williams, G Ka’lia Johnson

Top newcomers: Angela Salvadores, Fr., 5-10, G; Kyra Lambert, Fr., 5-9, G; Crystal Primm, 5-11, G

Game to watch: Notre Dame, Feb. 1

UNC Tar Heels

Preseason AP rank: 22nd

Predicted ACC finish: Seventh

2014-15 record: 26-9, 10-6 ACC

Head coach: Sylvia Hatchell (961-340 in 40 seasons, 689-260 in 29 seasons at UNC)

Returning starters: Sr. 6-2 F Xylina McDaniel (11.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg); Sr. 6-0 G N’Dea Bryant (5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

Key departures: G Allisha Gray, F Stephanie Mavunga

Top newcomers: Fr. 5-10 G Destinee Walker, Fr. 5-11 Stephanie Watts

Game to watch: Duke, Feb. 28

N.C. State Wolfpack

Preseason AP rank: NR

Predicted ACC finish: Ninth

2014-15 record: 18-15, 7-9 ACC, WNIT third round

Head coach: Wes Moore (601-192 in 26 seasons, 43-23 in two seasons at NCSU)

Starters returning: Jr. 5-8 G Miah Spencer (14.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg); Jr. 5-8 G Dominique Wilson (13.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg); Sr. 6-1 C Carlee Schuhmacher (7.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Jr. 6-1 F Jennifer Mathurin (7.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg)

Key departures: G Len’Nique Brown, G Krystal Barrett

Top newcomers: Fr. 6-1 F DD Rogers, Fr. 6-0 G Amber Richardson, Fr. 5-8 G Kaila Ealey

Game to watch: North Carolina, Jan. 31

Boston College Eagles

Preseason AP rank: NR

Predicted ACC finish: 12th

2014-15 record: 13-17, 5-11 ACC

Head coach: Erik Johnson

Player to watch: 5-11 Jr. G Kelly Hughes

Game to watch: Oklahoma, Nov. 28

Clemson Tigers

Preseason AP rank: NR

Predicted ACC finish: 15th

2014-15 record: 9-21, 1-15

Head coach: Audra Smith

Player to watch: 5-10 So. W Nelly Perry.

Game to watch: South Carolina, Nov. 18

Florida State Seminoles

Preseason AP rank: Seventh

Predicted ACC finish: Second

2014-15 record: 32-5, 14-2 ACC, lost in NCAA Sweet 16

Head coach: Sue Semrau

Player to watch: 5-8 Jr. G Leticia Romero

Game to watch: Connecticut, Dec. 11

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Preseason AP rank: NR

Predicted ACC finish: 11th

2014-15 record: 19-15, 7-9 ACC, lost in WNIT second round

Head coach: MaChelle Joseph

Player to watch: 6-0 Sr. W Aaliyah Whiteside

Game to watch: Louisville, Jan. 3

Louisville Cardinals

Preseason AP rank: Eighth

Predicted ACC finish: Third

2014-15 record: 27-7, 12-4 ACC, lost in NCAA Sweet 16

Head coach: Jeff Walz

Player to watch: 6-0 So. G Mariya Moore

Game to watch: Notre Dame, Feb. 7

Miami Hurricanes

Preseason AP rank: NR

Predicted ACC finish: Sixth

2014-15 record: 20-13, 8-8 ACC, lost in NCAA second round

Head coach: Katie Meier

Player to watch: 5-9 Jr. G Adrienne Motley

Game to watch: Florida State, Jan. 24.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Preseason AP rank: Third

Predicted ACC finish: First

2014-15 record: 36-3, 15-1 ACC, lost NCAA Final

Head coach: Muffet McGraw

Player to watch: 6-3 So. F Brianna Turner

Game to watch: at Connecticut, Dec. 5

Pittsburgh Panthers

Preseason AP rank: NR

Predicted ACC finish: 10th

2014-15 record: 20-12, 9-7 ACC, lost in NCAA second round

Head coach: Suzie McConnell-Serio

Player to watch: 5-10 So. F Yacine Diop

Game to watch: N.C. State, Jan. 10.

Syracuse Orange

Preseason AP rank: 23rd

Predicted ACC finish: Fifth

2014-15 record: 22-10, 11-5 ACC, lost in NCAA second round

Head coach: Quentin Hillsman

Player to watch: 5-7 Jr. G Alexis Peterson

Game to watch: Duke, Jan. 3

Virginia Cavaliers

Preseason AP rank: NR

Predicted ACC finish: Eighth

2014-15 record: 17-14, 7-9 ACC, lost in WNIT second round

Head coach: Joanne Boyle

Player to watch: 5-10 Sr. G Faith Randolph

Game to watch: Iowa, Dec. 2

Virginia Tech Hokies

Preseason AP rank: NR

Predicted ACC finish: 13th

2014-15 record: 12-20, 1-15 ACC

Head coach: Dennis Wolff

Player to watch: 5-7 Jr. G Vanessa Panousis

Game to watch: N.C. State, Jan. 21

Wake Forest Deacons

Preseason AP rank: NR

Predicted ACC finish: 14th

2014-15 record: 13-20, 2-14 ACC

Head coach: Jen Hoover

Player to watch: 6-1 So. G Jill Brunori

Game to watch: Wisconsin, Dec. 2

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 6:13 PM with the headline "Scouting the women’s ACC teams."

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