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2018 ACC preview: Notre Dame, Louisville battle for top

By Arielle Chambers

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Muffet McGraw and her team pose for photos after winning the National Championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 1, 2018 at Nationwide Arena. Notre Dame won 61-58. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Muffet McGraw and her team pose for photos after winning the National Championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 1, 2018 at Nationwide Arena. Notre Dame won 61-58. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The ACC remains the center of the college basketball universe.

The Atlantic Coast Conference is the most competitive collegiate women’s basketball conference.  Just ask the ACC’s opponents.

Overall, the ACC notched 175 wins with only 54 losses against their non-conference competition; the .764 winning percentage was good for the best in NCAA Division I for the 2017-18 season. 50 percent of the 2018 Final Four was composed of teams from the ACC (Louisville and Notre Dame).  Notre Dame ultimately came out on top and secured the national title.

More from ACC

Preseason polls reflect the ACC’s excellence. As many as six teams were recorded in the top 25. Lindy’s Preseason Top 25 in particular listed Notre Dame (1), Louisville (4), NC State (15), Syracuse (20), Duke (21) and Miami (25). Included in all  poles were Notre Dame, Louisville,  NC State and Duke.

(Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

The conference may be excelling now, but future of the ACC is bright, too.  The 2018 newcomers include five out of the top 20 freshman classes based on ESPN Hoopgurlz rankings.  Within first-years are seven McDonalds All-Americans: Valencia Myers (Florida State), Izabela Nicoletti (Florida State), Elizabeth Balogun (Georgia Tech), Jordan Nixon (Notre Dame), Katlyn Gilbert (Notre Dame) and Emily Engstler (Syracuse).

ACC’s elite talent is top to bottom. With stacked skill, there’s no room for wavering, which is why four teams welcome new coaches this year.  Boston College, Clemson, Pitt and Virginia all have new staffs under the guidance of new head coaches Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, Amanda Butler, Lance White and Tina Thompson, respectively.

The superstar seniors of the conference have one last year to show their strengths.  All-American and ACC Player of the Year Asia Durr returns to Louisville with the goal of winning a National Championship. In her way, though, could be fellow All-American and clutch player of the year, Arike Ogunbowale and her teammates from Notre Dame.

Because there is no shortage of talent, this year will be a battle of depth and discipline.  Notre Dame’s top spot is looking rather secure, but it is really anyone’s game, as shown in years past.

High Post Hoops has evaluated all 15 teams in the conference. Here’s how we think they will finish:

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