Ranking each ACC basketball team as conference play begins

6. Wake Forest

Wake Forest has made the NCAA Tournament just once since 2010 and was on the brink of doing so last season. Despite losing star guard Tyree Appleby, the Demon Deacons have the feel of a tournament team again this year and could be a darkhorse ACC contender. That likely wasn’t in the minds of many when Wake Forest started just 2-3, but they have rattled off eight straight wins since, beating Florida and Rutgers in non-conference play while earning victories over Virginia Tech and Boston College in the ACC. Junior guard Hunter Sallis is the team’s leader, but the Demon Deacons feature a deep core that also includes Kevin Miller, Cameron Hildreth and Andrew Carr who each play over 30 minutes per game and average at least 14.5 points. That group could make this a dangerous team come March.