Defending ACC regular-season and tournament champ UVA was ranked eighth in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll released on Thursday.
Virginia is coming off the program’s first 30-win season since 1982 and first ACC Tournament championship since 1976. The Cavs, under sixth-year coach Tony Bennett, return seven of their top nine contributors from 2013-2014, and add a deep freshman class along with redshirt Donte Hall.
The ACC placed four teams in the preseason Top 10. Duke was tabbed at third, with North Carolina at seventh and ACC newcomer Louisville at ninth.
Syracuse was the fifth ACC team in the preseason poll, at #24.