Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/408565
ND SPORTS BY LOU SOMOGYI T wo years ago, Notre Dame ran the Big East Conference table with a 16‑0 mark prior to also winning the league tournament. Last year, in its maiden voyage in the ACC, head coach Muffet McGraw's squad repeated the 16‑0 ledger before capturing the ACC Tournament. So it's little surprise that despite the graduation of three starters, the Fight‑ ing Irish are again the overwhelming favorite, according to the league's me‑ dia and coaches, to capture the 15‑ team ACC. Among the media, Notre Dame re‑ ceived 38 of 41 first‑place votes for 835 total points. Duke was a distant No. 2 with 733 total points and one first‑place vote, while conference new‑ comer Louisville (replacing Maryland, which is now in the Big Ten) amassed 724 points and two first‑place votes. North Carolina (707) and Florida State (545) rounded out the top five. Among the coaches, Notre Dame received 14 of the 15 first‑place votes for 223 points. Duke (196 points) had the other first‑place vote and was followed by Louisville (194), North Carolina (193) and Florida State (152). Meanwhile, three Notre Dame played received individual notice: • Junior guard Jewell Loyd, an As‑ sociated Press second‑team All‑Amer‑ ican last year after averaging 18.6 Women's Hoops Sits Atop ACC's Preseason Polls Head coach Muffet McGraw has led Notre Dame to consecutive 16-0 conference regular-season marks, first in the Big East and last year in the ACC. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND