GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Before the Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball preseason votes were released last year, Maryland's Greivis Vasquez already had a good idea how it was going to turn out. With everything North Carolina had returning, there wasn't much suspense in the process.
This year, Vasquez wasn't sure how the predicted order-of-finish voting was going to shake out. He wasn't alone.
Duke and North Carolina were the top vote recipients at Sunday's preseason media gathering in Greensboro, N.C., as the teams finished tied for first place. The Blue Devils had 25 first-place votes compared with 20 for the Tar Heels, but the rivals were tied in total points with 545. It was the first time in the 41-year history of the ACC preseason vote there was a tie atop the predicted order of finish.
Maryland came in fifth in the voting, and Vasquez earned a spot on the Preseason All-ACC team. Last season, he finished second-team All-Conference after leading the Terrapins to a 21-14 record and the second round of the NCAA tournament with game averages of 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
"That's the funny thing about the ACC," said Vasquez, a 6-foot-6 senior guard. "Last year, you came in here, and you knew UNC had a good squad. They were probably going to get [first place in preseason voting]. Now, it's even."
Duke and North Carolina were followed in the preseason vote by Clemson, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Wake Forest, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Miami, Virginia and North Carolina State, respectively.
In addition to Vasquez, Clemson forward Trevor Booker, Duke forward Kyle Singler, Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney (Towson Catholic) and North Carolina forward Ed Davis made the Preseason All-ACC team. Georgia Tech forward Derrick Favors was voted the Preseason Rookie of the Year, while North Carolina forward John Henson was the second-leading vote recipient in the category.
Maryland has one of the ACC's most seasoned backcourts, with veterans Eric Hayes and Adrian Bowie joining Vasquez. But Maryland coach Gary Williams knows that the experience won't guarantee any wins in the ACC, where the Terps finished tied for seventh last season with a 7-9 record.
