Pitt picked to finish 13th in ACC preseason basketball poll

Pitt will enter the 2020-21 basketball season with something to prove after the Panthers were picked in the ACC preseason media poll to finish 13th in the 15-team league.

Since Jamie Dixon left after the 2015-16 season, the Panthers have a 13-61 ACC record. They have finished tied for 13th twice, including last season with a 6-14 record.

Virginia is the preseason favorite to win the ACC championship, receiving 97 of the 155 votes in the poll. It is the first time since the 1982-83 season the Cavaliers were named preseason favorites.

Duke was picked second with 34 first-place votes, followed by defending champion Florida State (15), North Carolina (seven) and Louisville (two). Florida State’s third-place projection matches its highest preseason mark in program history (1992-93, 2011-12).

Syracuse, Miami, N.C. State, Georgia Tech and Clemson were picked Nos. 6-10, with Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Pitt, Boston College and Wake Forest rounding out the poll.

North Carolina senior forward Garrison Brooks was selected as the Preseason ACC Player of the Year. He was the ACC’s Most Improved Player last season, averaging 16.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Florida State guard Scottie Barnes was picked as the Preseason ACC Freshman of the Year and joined Barnes on the Preseason All-ACC First Team. Also on the first team are Virginia senior guard Sam Hauser, Duke freshman forward Jalen Johnson, Clemson senior forward Aamir Simms and Miami senior guard Chris Lykes.

The 2020-21 regular season opens Nov. 25, with nonconference games. Pitt opens its ACC season Dec. 16 at Miami.

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