ACC Basketball Season Begins with Mixed Expectations

GREENSBORO, N.C. (Nov. 3, 2025) – The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will kick off the college basketball season Monday night, featuring a lineup of games that includes most of its teams. However, many of these matchups are viewed as simple season openers with little competitive significance.

The games include UNC hosting Central Arkansas, Virginia Tech facing Charleston Southern, and Syracuse playing Binghamton. Additionally, NC State will provide an opportunity for NCCU‘s LeVelle Moton to coach in his hometown, while Louisville will prepare against South Carolina State.

The outlook for the season is uncertain for several coaches, including UNC’s Hubert Davis, who is said to be on the hot seat. A successful run this year might save his job, but another season of poor performance could lead to his ousting. Players like Caleb Love and Ian Jackson may agree with the critique of Davis’s coaching style.

Other coaches under pressure include Jeff Capel of Pitt, Boston College‘s Earl Grant, Wake Forest’s Steve Forbes, Syracuse‘s Adrian Autry, Virginia Tech‘s Mike Young, and Stanford‘s Mark Madsen. Each of these coaches faces a crucial season ahead.

On a brighter note, teams like NC State and Virginia are showing promise. Louisville, under coach Pat Kelsey, is also making strides, while newcomer Jai Lucas at Miami has attracted attention by garnering significant commitments for next season.

Last year was notably difficult for the ACC, marking one of the worst seasons in recent history. However, with improvements in coaching and player talent across various schools, there is hope for a rebound this season.