HALLOWEEN = BASKETBALL

According to reports on the Internet (we would have no other way of knowing) the NHL season of ice hockey (whatever that is) is underway. In addition, the World Series is about to start so that means it's almost Halloween. So...you know what that means? Yup, it's almost college basketball season...

ACC BASKETBALL PICKS: North Carolina was a unanimous selection as the preseason No. 1 in the ACC by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. The poll, as released Sunday at the ACC's media day:
TEAMPOINTS
1. North Carolina (64) 768
2. Duke653
3. N.C. State641
4. Clemson514
5. Virginia492
6. Maryland447
7. Georgia Tech389
8. Boston College332
9. Florida State284
10. Virginia Tech162
11. Wake Forest157
12. Miami153

PRESEASON FIRST TEAM ALL-ACC
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina, Sean Singletary, Virginia , Tyrese Rice, Boston College , Brandon Costner, N.C. State and Ty Lawson, North Carolina

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR (VOTES)
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina (60)
Sean Singletary, Virginia (4)

PRESEASON ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (VOTES)
Kyle Singler, Duke (36), J.J. Hickson, N.C. State (15) and Nolan Smith, Duke (5)

Seems the writers are putting a lot faith in Duke's under-achieving upper classmen and their newcomers.

We like NCSU in the #2 spot...but, strangely enough, they forgot to ask us...