Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Picked Sixth in ACC Preseason Basketball Poll
10/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 25, 2009
Operation Basketball Photo Gallery
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest was picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season by a vote of the media members attending the 2009 ACC Operation Basketball on Sunday at the Grandover Resort & Conference Center in Greensboro, N.C.
Wake Forest, coming off a 24-7 campaign in 2008-09, received 315 points and one first-place vote in the preseason poll.
The last time the Demon Deacons were picked sixth in the preseason ACC poll was prior to the 2002-03 season. Wake went on to win the conference regular season title that year.
Last season, the Deacons were picked third in the preseason poll and finished in a tie for second in the final league standings.
Wake Forest returns nine letterwinners, including three starters from last year's squad that won its first 16 games and ascended to the No. 1 national ranking.
The Deacons received 315 points in the voting, finishing just one point ahead of Florida State for sixth.
This marks the 10th time in the past 12 preseason polls that Wake Forest has been picked to finish in the top half of the ACC.
The Deacons were shut out of the preseason All-ACC team for the fourth straight season.
Duke's Kyle Singler was named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, while Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors was voted the ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year.
Duke and North Carolina tied for the top spot in the preseason poll with 545 points apiece. The Blue Devils received 25 first-place votes, while the Tar Heels had 20.
Clemson was picked to finish third, followed by Georgia Tech in fourth and Maryland in fifth.
The poll was rounded out with Florida State in seventh, Virginia Tech eighth, Boston College ninth, Miami 10th, Virginia 11th and NC State 12th.
The ACC held its annual Operation Basketball media event on Sunday. Wake Forest was represented by head coach Dino Gaudio and seniors Ishmael Smith and David Weaver.
Wake Forest opens the 2009-10 season against Oral Roberts on Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m.
2009-10 ACC Preseason Poll:
1. Duke, 545 (25)
1. North Carolina 545 (20)
3. Clemson, 409
4. Georgia Tech, 387 (2)
5. Maryland, 378
6. Wake Forest, 315 (1)
7. Florida State, 314
8. Virginia Tech, 273
9. Boston College, 251
10. Miami, 135
11. Virginia, 116
12. NC State, 76
