McCallie & Co. Picked 3rd In Preseason ACC Rankings

For the third straight year, Duke was tabbed third in the preseason ACC poll by the newly formed Blue Ribon Panel. The Blue Devils received the second-most first-place votes with 14, but ended up trailing North Carolina and Maryland, as they have the past two seasons. In 2006, Duke finished atop the standings with a perfect ACC record. Last year, under first-year head coach Joanne P. McCallie, the Blue Devils faded to third and lost to their two ACC rivals five times.

In addition, senior center Chante Black was Duke's lone representative on the preseason All-ACC team.

Maryland's Kristi Toliver, who sent the 2006 national championship into overtime with a fadeaway 3-pointer in the waning seconds, was named preseason player of the year, and Terrapins freshmen Lynetta Kizer the rookie of the year. Black and Toliver were joined by North Carolina's Rashanda McCants, Maryland's Marissa Coleman and Virginia's Monica Wright on the All-ACC squad.

Coincidentally, I'm part of the Blue Ribbon Panel, so check out my ballot after the jump, right after the official standings.

Official ACC Standings

1. North Carolina (15)

2. Maryland (11)

7. Boston College

8. NC State

9. Clemson

10. Virginia Tech

11. Miami

12. Wake Forest

Cohen's Ballot

1. Maryland

2. Duke

3. North Carolina

4. Virginia

5. Florida State

6. Georgia Tech

7. N.C. State

8. Boston College

9. Clemson

10. Wake Forest

11. Virginia Tech

12. Miami

Cohen's All-ACC Teams

Chante Black, Duke

Marissa Coleman, Maryland

Kristi Toliver, Maryland

Abby Waner, Duke

Monica Wright, Duke

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Toliver

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Lynetta Kizer, Maryland