GREENSBORO, N.C. – Louisville has been selected as the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball preseason favorite in a vote of the league’s 14 head coaches.
The Cardinals were a unanimous selection as the team to beat in both the Atlantic Division and in the conference. 2015 ACC Champion Florida State was picked second in the division with 74 points, followed by NC State (72 points), Notre Dame (50), Clemson (46), Wake Forest (35), and Boston College (17).
Miami, which reached the College World Series last year, was named by 13 coaches as the likely Coastal Division winner. Defending national champion Virginia received one vote for first place in the division and was second with 80 points, followed by North Carolina (71), Georgia Tech (58), Duke (38), Virginia Tech (30), and Pitt (18).
Last year, seven ACC teams earned bids to the NCAA Championship, tied for the most from any conference, while four squads reached the Super Regionals. Miami and Virginia advanced to the College World Series, where Virginia went on to win its first national championship.
Eight different ACC teams have been ranked in the four national polls that have been announced so far (D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America, and Perfect Game), including four that have earned spots in the Top 10.
All 14 ACC teams open the 2016 season with nonconference games on Friday, Feb. 19. The 2016 ACC Baseball Championship is scheduled for May 24-29 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.
2016 ACC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
Overall Champion
1. Louisville (14)
Atlantic Division
1. Louisville (14) – 98
2. Florida State – 74
3. NC State – 72
4. Notre Dame – 50
5. Clemson – 46
6. Wake Forest – 35
7. Boston College – 17
Coastal Division
1. Miami (13) – 97
2. Virginia (1) – 80
3. North Carolina – 71
4. Georgia Tech – 58
5. Duke – 38
6. Virginia Tech – 30
7. Pitt – 18
