ACC Tipoff Day 3: "Built by Believers," New Coaches and a Packed Room for Duke

Photo: THE ACC

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The final day of ACC Tipoff wrapped up men's media day, and it came with plenty of fresh faces. With five new head coaches in the league and several rebuilt rosters, the questions were as big as the personalities.

Men's basketball kicked off with North Carolina.

North Carolina: "Respect for Tradition," but "To Be Myself"

New head coach Michael Malone is hungry and no stranger to basketball success. A former NBA champion coach with Denver, he replaced Hubert Davis in Chapel Hill. He said he has "respect for tradition" at UNC but also has "to be myself." With what he knows and the history around him, he's looking forward to building a winning team.

Asked about the exhibition games, he said it will be great to finally play someone else. It will be a "test to see where we are at" and give the Tar Heels a chance to fix anything that needs fixing before the regular season starts in November.

Malone said he is looking for connectors: unselfish, competitive, tough players who make everyone around them better.

He said the move from the pros is a bit harder. In the NBA, you're part of one team. At UNC, you're one of 28 sports, and everyone has a good coach and a good team, so it's important to be part of that community.

Asked what the team has worked on most, he said defending at a high level and rebounding, because that's what makes a great team.

NC State: A Journey Different From Most

NC State's new head coach, Justin Gainey, has a journey different from most. He spoke about it and said it helps him connect more easily with players, especially with his history at the university.

He seems very passionate and excited to have the job. Fans may be leery after the program's previous coaching turnover, but the hopes are high for a two-time national champion chasing a third.

Notre Dame: "Built by Believers"

Head coach Micah Shrewsberry said he's "excited about the ACC and where we are going as a league." He's in Year 4 with a new group of guys, and he's asking the question, "Can we take the next step?" The Irish have had three straight losing seasons, so it's a fair one.

This year's motto is "Built by Believers," for those who believe in the program and where it can go.

Notre Dame opens in Italy against Villanova on Nov. 1. Shrewsberry said it's a first for college basketball, a unique one that speaks to the power of the brand. It will be the first international season opener in men's college hoops, played in Rome, and the trip is tied to a planned audience with Pope Leo.

The roster has six transfers and four freshmen, and Shrewsberry said the bonding has been intentional, with time spent on strengths and weaknesses. Another bonus is that his son has joined the team, so now both his sons play for him. He called that "something fun" and said he's looking forward to coaching them and doing it as a family.

Ethan Roberts said he wants to "burn with the brightest flames" after transferring. He said the conference speaks for itself, and as for Notre Dame, it's "why not?" The Irish are his dream school, and he can't wait to play for them.

Braeden Smith, a transfer from Gonzaga, will bring his leadership and experience. He's looking forward to spending time in another country with his teammates in Italy.

Duke: The Room Swarmed

The long-awaited Duke Blue Devils arrived and the room swarmed with people. It was packed out, everyone waiting to hear from the ACC champions. Duke has won three ACC Tournament titles in Jon Scheyer's four seasons and went 35-3 last year.

"Proud of the group that we have," Scheyer said. On continued success, he said the Blue Devils must "continue to earn" and are "not entitled to anything."

He called his players great to coach, from last year's freshmen who are now veterans to the new arrivals, and said they are "really connected." He described himself as a relationship builder rather than a transactional coach, and he said that matters to him because his family is around the program. It's about trust.

He was honest about where things stand. "It's rough right now," he said, and there's a "long way to go." But he's confident, and he said Duke will be a "dynamic offense this year." It's "going to be reads rather than plays."

There is depth, but it's already being tested. Caleb Foster is out along with a few others. Scheyer said the team is "always in evolution." No rotation is the same, and last year's can't be assumed to work. The Blue Devils will find their core and find out who they are.

Size will help. Duke has a lot of it, and Patrick Ngongba II is currently one of several players on the roster who are tall, with three others taller than him.

Dame Sarr called the team "talented overall."

Quick Hits From Around the League

Florida State

Coach Luke Loucks made a statement: he will not lose to Duke again. It was said jokingly, but the sentiment is real, since every team wants to beat Duke. He also recognized that his team is still in the middle of the pack and wants to add more to be competitive and win.

Virginia

Coach Ryan Odom said his solution for the season was adding players at key positions, and he hopes that does the trick.

Miami

Coach Jai Lucas is in his second year with the program, coming off a 26-win season in which the Hurricanes finished third in the ACC. He's planning to move to a faster, more physical game this season.

Syracuse

Coach Gerry McNamara wants to keep the growth going from last season.

Pitt

Coach Jeff Capel, in his ninth season, looked for players who could fill key positions of need from last season. He wants to evaluate the team once the season begins, and he didn't sound fully sure of what he has.

Wake Forest

Coach Steve Forbes had a game Sunday, an exhibition against Georgetown, and came away with a 94-77 win. He had concerns about a few things in the game, felt some players didn't play to their potential and wasn't totally pleased with the results.

Virginia Tech

Coach Mike Young is in his eighth season. He said he must have a healthy team to have a successful season. He's happy that all the players are returning, which he sees as a vote of confidence. Keep an eye on the Hokies as a possible sleeping giant.

Clemson

Coach Brad Brownell said injuries have already hit the team since the summer. Clemson hasn't been able to have all its key players on the court together to see how it all runs, and injuries could keep the Tigers out of the running.

Wrapping Up Tipoff

That's a wrap on three days in Charlotte. New coaches, rebuilt rosters and big expectations are everywhere, and the first games are right around the corner, starting with Notre Dame in Rome on Nov. 1.