Ranking each ACC basketball team as conference play begins

5. Virginia

Virginia has missed the NCAA Tournament just twice in the last 12 years and has become a perennial ACC title contender under Tony Bennett. However, this year’s Cavaliers team has been a tough one to figure out at times. The Cavaliers have just three losses, two of which came to ranked teams: Wisconsin and Memphis. Those were both 20-plus-point defeats, as was a much more puzzling loss at Notre Dame to end 2023. Virginia has also been lucky to escape with wins over inferior teams like Northeastern and West Virginia. Still, the Cavaliers figure to be in the conference title hunt come March led as usual by a defense that ranks No. 2 in the country. However, they’ll need more scoring from players other than talented guards Reece Beekman and Isaac McKneely.