Buckle up, basketball fans – Notre Dame's Markus Burton is making a bold statement as the first Fighting Irish player since John Mooney in 2019 to earn a spot on the preseason first-team All-ACC squad! This is the kind of headline that could redefine expectations for the program, but here's where it gets controversial: Is Burton poised to carry the team on his shoulders, or is this just hype ahead of a rebuilding season? Let's dive into the details and see what the preseason polls reveal about the ACC landscape.
Burton, a graduate of Penn, showcased his skills last season as a sophomore, leading the league with an impressive average of 21.3 points per game. He wasn't just a scoring machine; he also earned recognition as a second-team all-conference honoree, proving his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. For beginners in college basketball, think of it like this: scoring that kind of average means Burton was consistently contributing, often being the go-to player in crucial moments, much like a star quarterback directing plays in football.
What many people miss is the subtle yet significant improvement in Burton's shooting from beyond the arc. He boosted his three-point percentage from 30.0 percent as a freshman to a solid 37.5 percent as a sophomore. And when we zoom in on ACC games specifically, that figure jumped to 40.2 percent – a testament to his growing confidence and precision under pressure. For context, imagine a golfer improving their putting accuracy over time; it's not just about practice, but adapting to competitive environments.
Burton didn't stop there. He shared the third spot in preseason ACC Player of the Year voting with former Notre Dame guard JJ Starling, who now plays for Syracuse. This tie highlights how closely matched some of the league's rising stars are, and it's a point that might spark debate: Does being tied for third truly reflect Burton's potential, or could he have edged out for a higher ranking in a different year?
Now, shifting gears to the bigger picture, Notre Dame as a team is projected to finish 10th out of 18 squads in the ACC preseason poll. That's a middle-of-the-pack prediction, but is it realistic for a program with rich tradition? Let's break down the full 2025 ACC Preseason Poll results to give you the complete picture:
- Duke (34 first-place votes), 866 points
- Louisville (15), 842
- North Carolina, 741
- NC State, 710
- Virginia, 623
- SMU, 616
- Clemson, 510
- Miami, 500
- Syracuse, 489
- Notre Dame, 477
- Wake Forest, 412
- Virginia Tech, 355
- Georgia Tech, 315
- Pitt, 301
- Florida State, 221
- California, 156
- Stanford, 138
- Boston College, 107
(These rankings come from 49 total voters, with first-place votes noted in parentheses. It's fascinating how Duke claims the top spot with nearly unanimous support, potentially setting the stage for another dominant season – but will the competition catch up?)
The preseason All-ACC teams also feature some standout names. On the first team:
- Cameron Boozer, Duke, 46 votes
- Darrion Williams, NC State, 45 votes
- Markus Burton, Notre Dame, 46 votes
- Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, 36 votes
- Ryan Conwell, Louisville, 36 votes
And the second team includes:
- Boopie Miller, SMU, 27 votes
- J.J. Starling, Syracuse, 27 votes
- Isaiah Evans, Duke, 24 votes
- Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech, 24 votes
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 24 votes
Finally, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year race went to Darrion Williams of NC State with 23 votes, followed by Cameron Boozer of Duke with 19. Others in the mix were J.J. Starling (2 votes), Markus Burton (2 votes), Donald Hand Jr. (1), Baye Ndongo (1), and Caleb Wilson (1). This voting split could fuel discussions about whether individual honors translate to team success – after all, is a preseason award just a predictor, or does it carry weight into the season?
So, what do you think? With Burton shining bright, can Notre Dame defy the odds and climb higher than 10th in the ACC standings? Do these preseason picks accurately reflect talent, or are they overhyped? Share your agreements, disagreements, or wild predictions in the comments below – let's get the conversation going!
