The Game Haus releases its projected 2026‑27 preseason All‑ACC basketball teams, listing three guards and two forwards per squad. Duke leads with John Blackwell (G) on First Team and two forwards, Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Patrick Ngongba, on Second Team. Louisville also features heavily, with Jackson Shelstead and Flory Bidunga on First Team and Seth Trimble on Second. Other notable picks include North Carolina’s Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia’s Shelton Henderson and Chance Mallory, and Miami’s Malik Reneau. The rollout previews the top talent expected to shape the ACC this season.
Duke Caps Regular Season with Top-10 Tilt Versus North Carolina
Indiana wraps its three-game preseason with wins over Butler (96-68), North Carolina (76-58) and Western Kentucky (79-74), but the real test begins Monday against Eastern Illinois. Coach Darian DeVries’s focus on size paid off: the Hoosiers posted a 40% offensive rebounding rate (third nationally last season) and a 79% defensive rate that would have led the nation. However, transition defense could lag against faster teams, and the offense struggled with a 17% turnover rate, above the 12% target. Guard Marcus Burton and Bryce Lindsay are expected to lead scoring while the frontcourt provides extra possessions.
Dick Vitale, the iconic ESPN college basketball voice, says he’s “full speed ahead” for the upcoming season despite battling melanoma in his fifth cancer treatment. After a limited return last year—calling a First Four game with Charles Barkley—Vitale will kick off the season at the Dick Vitale Invitational on November 27, when North Carolina faces West Virginia in Charlotte. He vows to only take assignments he can complete with his trademark energy, and his ESPN contract runs through 2027‑28, marking 48 years with the network.
Second‑year Indiana Hoosiers head coach Darian DeVries addressed the media via Zoom on Oct. 28 ahead of the team’s 2026‑27 season opener versus Eastern Illinois. He reflected on the Hoosiers’ strong exhibition run—routing Butler 96‑68, beating North Carolina 76‑58, and edging Western Kentucky 79‑74—and outlined expectations for the upcoming campaign. The full transcript of DeVries’s comments is provided for fans wanting insight into the program’s outlook.
Will Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, or Louisville be able to pull ahead of the competition this season?
Kentucky’s recruiting blitz may fall short as three top‑10 2027 prospects announce their commitments this week. Defensive standout 6‑11 Lewis Uvwo, a premier shot‑blocker, is predicted to choose Baylor over Kentucky, Cal and Providence on Oct. 28 at 3:30 PM ET. Point guard 6‑2 Reese Alston, lauded for his playmaking, is tipped for LSU on Oct. 29 at 4:00 PM ET, beating offers from Kentucky, Wichita State, Tennessee and Louisville. Charlotte native 6‑7 forward Demarcus Henry is expected to head home to North Carolina on Oct. 30, rejecting Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisville. The article dissects each recruit’s fit and Kentucky’s looming gaps.
Indiana men’s basketball wraps up its preseason exhibition slate on Sunday, Oct. 25, with a 4 p.m. ET showdown against Western Kentucky at the Ford Center in Evansville. The Hoosiers enter the game 2‑0 (wins over Butler 96‑68 and North Carolina 76‑58) and maintain a 4‑0 record in Evansville, having previously defeated WKU 65‑55 in 1994. WKU returns conference‑top scorer Teagan Moore (18.7 pts, 5.6 reb) and guard Armelo Boone (10.9 pts, 6.1 reb). The game airs on B1G+ with live radio on the IU Radio Network.
After the costly failure that was the 2025-26 season, Kentucky is once again hopeful a massive NIL outlay will bring on-court success.
The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team lands at No. 11 in the preseason AP Top 25, matching last season's ranking. The poll places Florida at No. 1 (47 first‑place votes) followed by Duke and Illinois. Louisville trails peers like Houston (10) and Kentucky (23) as the Cards aim for a stronger finish. The release, dated October 19, 2026, notes additional votes for programs such as Missouri and Purdue, highlighting the competitive field ahead of the 2026‑27 campaign.
UNC edges Duke 24-20 in a roller‑coaster rivalry showdown on Oct. 17, 2026. After jumping to a 17‑0 lead, the Tar Heels fumbled and allowed Duke back, but a late surge—highlighted by Jaylen McGill’s fourth‑and‑4 rush and a 24‑yard go‑ahead TD—sealed the win and returned the Victory Bell to Chapel Hill. Jordan Shipp recorded his first touchdown of the season, finishing with 75 yards despite an early fumble, while the UNC defense limited Duke to two field goals and forced the decisive turnover on the final play. Turnovers proved the game‑changer, with Duke’s costly fumbles and UNC’s late defensive stand shaping the outcome.
Indiana dominates North Carolina 76-58 in its second exhibition, relying on rebounding and defense rather than shooting. The Hoosiers outboard the Tar Heels 53-31, forced 15 turnovers and turned them into 19 points, while Bryce Lindsay leads scoring with 26 points. Frontcourt trio Samet Yigitoglu (11 rebounds), Aiden Sherrell (10 rebounds) and Sam Alexis anchor the glass, signaling a bigger, deeper Indiana than last season. Coach Darian DeVries highlights the rebounding focus and solid defensive effort as key to the win. The team heads to its final exhibition against Western Kentucky next Sunday.
College basketball exhibition games today, Sunday, October 18, 2026. Full schedule, tipoff times, TV channels and streaming information for North Carolina, Indiana, Florida, Baylor, Purdue and more.
Alabama, Georgia, Memphis, Ole Miss and North Carolina face important defensive questions entering the 2026-27 college basketball season.
The ACC enters the season with a clear group of championship favorites: Duke, Louisville and North Carolina
The post 2026-27 ACC preview appeared first on The IX Sports .
Second-year IU basketball coach Darian DeVries met with the media via Zoom on Wednesday morning as the program prepares for its second exhibition game against North Carolina on Sunday. The Hoosiers beat Butler 96-68 in their first exhibition game last weekend. Here’s everything DeVries said in his Wednesday media availability: On Markus Burton balancing scoring […]
The post Quotes: Everything Darian DeVries said in his Wednesday media availability appeared first on Inside the Hall | Indiana ...
Examining 10 questionable college basketball narratives entering 2026-27, including Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, UConn, Arizona and North Carolina.
Watch as IU basketball coach Darian DeVries met with the media on Wednesday morning. The second-year coach of the Hoosiers discusses several aspects of his team along with thoughts on the exhibition win at Butler on Sunday, and the upcoming game against North Carolina. Indiana faces North Carolina in an exhibition contest Sunday afternoon at [...]
I thought we’d be second, but this is fine. Fine, just fine. 2026 ACC Preseason PollSchool, Points1. Duke (45), 8612. Virginia (1), 7783. Louisville (1), 7584. Miami (1), 7535. North Carolina, 6586. Clemson, 6237. Florida State, 5198. NC State, 5029. Virginia Tech, 48910. SMU, 44311. Syracuse, 35312. Pitt, 32313. Stanford, 26714. Wake Forest, 23415. California, […]
Yes, folks — it’s time to think of basketball. The regular season may not begin for another month, but it is time for exhibitions to begin. That starts with tonight’s matchup in Greensboro to mark the beginning of a new era. It’s amazing how quickly Carolina has gone from “a super secret scrimmage and play […]
College basketball exhibition schedule for Friday, October 9, 2026. See today's North Carolina-USC, Saint Louis-Nebraska and Richmond-Virginia games, tipoff times and TV information.
From Duke and Florida to Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina, these 10 college basketball teams face fascinating questions entering the 2026-27 season.
All Times Eastern College Basketball Women’s ACC Women’s Basketball Tip Off Day 1, Hilton Charlotte Uptown, Charlotte, NC Announcers: Kelsey Riggs Cuff/Debbie Antonelli/Kai Crutchfield/Kelly Gramlich/Liz Kitley//Andrea Adelson Schools: Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami (FL), Notre Dame, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest — ACC Network/ESPN Unlimited, 9 a.m.…
Does it seem like basically every Notre Dame trip to the state of North Carolina goes this way? The weather throws a wrench in things and the Irish win in a way where the result never feels in doubt, but the defense allows some weirdness to go on that makes the game look closer than […]
Duke leads the ACC entering 2026-27, but Louisville, Virginia, Miami and North Carolina create five major questions that could decide the championship race.