N.C. State (12-19, 5-15 ACC)

The Wolfpack's follow-up to an unexpected 2024 Final Four run turned into a crashout triggering the firing of coach Kevin Keatts . Enter Will Wade, who exited LSU amid a cloud of NCAA trouble but won quickly at McNeese in climbing back to a power-conference job . His Wolfpack program with 13 newcomers is picked to finish fourth in the ACC and was the top vote-getter among unranked teams in the preseason AP Top 25 poll . Wade is one of four new coaches in the league.

Players to watch

Darrion Williams (senior, F, 6-6, 225, 15.1 ppg). Landing Williams after he flirted with staying in the NBA draft was a huge acquisition. He helped Texas Tech reach last year's NCAA Elite Eight, and he's ACC preseason player of the year.

Tre Holloman (senior, G, 6-2,

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