# 2015–16 Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball season

The 2015–16 Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2015, followed by the start of the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play started in late December 2015 and will conclude in March with the 2016 ACC men's basketball tournament at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

## Rankings

Legend :
* Increase in ranking
* Decrease in ranking
* Not ranked previous week
| | | Pre | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Wk 16 | Wk 17 | Wk 18 | Wk 19 | Final |
| Boston College | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Boston College | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Clemson | AP | | | | | | | | | | | RV | RV | | | | | | | | |
| Clemson | C | | | | | | | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | | | | | | |
| Duke | AP | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 20 | 24 | RV | RV | 20 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | |
| Duke | C | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 20 | RV | RV | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
| Florida State | AP | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Florida State | C | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Georgia Tech | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Georgia Tech | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Louisville | AP | RV | RV | RV | 24 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 13 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 16 | |
| Louisville | C | RV | RV | RV | 22 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 18 | RV | | | | | | |
| Miami | AP | RV | RV | 15 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 11 | |
| Miami | C | RV | RV | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 8 |
| North Carolina | AP | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 3 | |
| North Carolina | C | 2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| NC State | AP | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NC State | C | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Notre Dame | AP | 19 | 18 | 17 | RV | RV | RV | | | | | RV | 25 | RV | RV | 19 | 23 | RV | | | |
| Notre Dame | C | 18 | 18 | 18 | RV | | RV | RV | RV | | | | RV | RV | RV | 18 | 20 | RV | | | 17 |
| Pittsburgh | AP | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 24 | 20 | RV | RV | RV | | | | | | | |
| Pittsburgh | C | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 21 | 17 | 20 | 23 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | | | |
| Syracuse | AP | | | | 14 | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | RV | | | | | |
| Syracuse | C | | | | 19 | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | RV | | | | | 10 |
| Virginia | AP | 6 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Virginia | C | 6 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Virginia Tech | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Virginia Tech | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wake Forest | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wake Forest | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Regular season
### Conference matrix

This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play. Each team will play 18 conference games, and at least 1 against each opponent.
| | Boston College | Clemson | Duke | Florida State | Georgia Tech | Louisville | Miami | North Carolina | NC State | Notre Dame | Pittsburgh | Syracuse | Virginia | Virginia Tech | Wake Forest |
| vs. Boston College | – | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2-0 | 1-0 | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| vs. Clemson | 0–2 | – | 0-1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2-0 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| vs. Duke | 0–1 | 1-0 | – | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0-1 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| vs. Florida State | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | – | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0-2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0-1 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| vs. Georgia Tech | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1-1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0-1 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| vs. Louisville | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2-0 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| vs. Miami | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | – | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1-1 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| vs. North Carolina | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | – | 0-2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1-0 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| vs. NC State | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2-0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | – | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1-0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| vs. Notre Dame | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1-1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | – | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1-0 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| vs. Pittsburgh | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | – | 0–2 | 1-0 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| vs. Syracuse | 0-2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | – | 1-0 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| vs. Virginia | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| vs. Virginia Tech | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1-1 | – | 0-2 |
| vs. Wake Forest | 0-1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1-1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1-0 | 2-0 | – |
| Total | 0-18 | 10-8 | 11-7 | 8-10 | 8-10 | 12-6 | 13-5 | 14-4 | 5-13 | 11-7 | 9-9 | 9-9 | 13-5 | 10-8 | 2-16 |

## Postseason
### ACC tournament

* March 8–12, 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball Tournament, Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
| First round Tuesday, March 8 ESPN2/ACCN | First round Tuesday, March 8 ESPN2/ACCN | First round Tuesday, March 8 ESPN2/ACCN | Second round Wednesday, March 9 ESPN/ACCN | Second round Wednesday, March 9 ESPN/ACCN | Second round Wednesday, March 9 ESPN/ACCN | Quarterfinals Thursday, March 10 ESPN/ACCN | Quarterfinals Thursday, March 10 ESPN/ACCN | Quarterfinals Thursday, March 10 ESPN/ACCN | | | Semifinals Friday, March 11 ESPN/ACCN | Semifinals Friday, March 11 ESPN/ACCN | Semifinals Friday, March 11 ESPN/ACCN | Championship Saturday, March 12 ESPN/ACCN | Championship Saturday, March 12 ESPN/ACCN | Championship Saturday, March 12 ESPN/ACCN |
| | | | | | | 1 | North Carolina | 88 | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Pittsburgh | 72 | 8 | Pittsburgh | 71 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Syracuse | 71 | | | | | | 1 | North Carolina | 78 | |
| | | | | | | | | | 4 | Notre Dame | 47 | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Notre Dame | 84* | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Duke | 92 | 5 | Duke | 79 | | | | | | | |
| 12 | NC State | 75 | 12 | NC State | 89 | | | | | | | | 1 | North Carolina | 61 |
| 13 | Wake Forest | 72 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | Virginia | 57 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Virginia | 72 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | Clemson | 85 | 10 | Georgia Tech | 52 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Georgia Tech | 88* | | | | | | 2 | Virginia | 73 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 3 | Miami | 68 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Miami | 88 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Virginia Tech | 96 | 6 | Virginia Tech | 82 | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Florida State | 88 | 11 | Florida State | 85 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Boston College | 66 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* Denotes Overtime Game
AP Rankings at time of tournament

### NCAA tournament

| Seed | Region | School | 2nd round | 3rd round | Sweet 16 | Elite Eight | Final Four | Championship |
| 1 | East | North Carolina | W, 83-67 vs. #16 Florida Gulf Coast – (Raleigh) | W, 85-66 vs. #9 Providence – ([Raleigh) | W, 101-86 vs. #5 Indiana – (Philadelphia) | W, 88-74 vs. #6 Notre Dame – (Philadelphia) | W, 83-66 vs. #10 Syracuse – (Houston) | L, 74-77 vs. #10 Villanova – (Houston) |
| 1 | Midwest | Virginia | W, 81-45 vs. #16 Hampton – (Raleigh) | W, 77-69 vs. #9 Butler – (Raleigh) | W, 84-71 vs. #4 Iowa State – (Chicago) | L, 62-68 vs. #10 Syracuse – (Chicago) | | |
| 3 | South | Miami | W, 79-72 vs. #14 Buffalo – (Providence) | W, 65-57 vs. #11 Wichita State – (Providence) | L, 69-92 vs. #2 Villanova – (Louisville) | | | |
| 4 | West | Duke | W, 93-85 vs. #13 UNC Wilmington – (Providence) | W, 71-64 vs. #12 Yale – (Providence) | L, 68-82 vs. #1 Oregon – (Anaheim) | | | |
| 6 | East | Notre Dame | W, 70-63 vs. #11 Michigan – (Brooklyn) | W, 76-75 vs. #14 Stephen F. Austin – (Brooklyn) | W, 61-56 vs. #7 Wisconsin – (Philadelphia) | L, 74-88 vs. #1 North Carolina – (Philadelphia) | | |
| 10 | East | Pittsburgh | L, 43-47 vs. #7 Wisconsin – (St. Louis) | | | | | |
| 10 | Midwest | Syracuse | W, 70-51 vs. #7 Dayton – (St. Louis) | W, 75-50 vs. #15 Middle Tennessee – (St. Louis) | W, 63-60 vs. #11 Gonzaga – (Chicago) | W, 68-62 vs. #1 Virginia – (Chicago) | L, 66-83 vs. #1 North Carolina – (Houston) | |

### National Invitation tournament

| Seed | Bracket | School | 1st round | 2nd round | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | St. Bonaventure | Virginia Tech | W, 86-81 OT vs. #6 Princeton – (Blacksburg) | L, 77–80 vs. #2 BYU – (Provo) | |
| 4 | Valparaiso | Florida State | W, 84-74 vs. #5 Davidson – (Tallahassee) | L, 69-81 vs. #1 Valparaiso – (Valparaiso) | |
| 4 | South Carolina | Georgia Tech | W, 82-64 vs. #5 Houston – (Atlanta) | W, 83–66 vs. #1 South Carolina – (Columbia) | L, 72–56 vs. #2 San Diego State – (San Diego) |

## Honors and awards

2016 ACC Men's Basketball Individual Awards :
| Award | Recipient(s) |
| Player of the Year | Malcolm Brogdon, G., VIRGINIA |
| Coach of the Year | Jim Larranaga, MIAMI |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Malcolm Brogdon, G., VIRGINIA |
| Rookie of the Year | Brandon Ingram, F., DUKE |
| Most Improved Player of the Year | Jaron Blossomgame, F., CLEMSON |
| Sixth Man of the Year | Isaiah Hicks, F., NORTH CAROLINA |
2016 ACC Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams :
| First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
| †Brice Johnson, Sr., F., NORTH CAROLINA †Malcolm Brogdon, Sr., G., VIRGINIA Cat Barber, Jr., G., N.C. STATE Grayson Allen, So., G., DUKE Jaron Blossomgame, Jr., F., CLEMSON | Michael Gbinije, Sr., F., SYRACUSE Sheldon McClellan, Sr., F., MIAMI Demetrius Jackson, Jr., G., NOTRE DAME Damion Lee, Sr., G., LOUISVILLE Brandon Ingram, Fr., F., DUKE | Marcus Georges-Hunt, Sr., G., GEORGIA TECH Anthony Gill, Sr., F., VIRGINIA Zach Auguste, Sr., F., NOTRE DAME Michael Young, Jr., F., PITTSBURGH Angel Rodríguez, Sr., G., MIAMI |
| † - denotes unanimous selection |||||

## NBA draft

The ACC had 9 players drafted in the 2016 NBA draft. 4 players were drafted in the first round, and 5 players were drafted in the second round.
| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center |
| Player | Team | Round | Pick # | Position | School |
| Brandon Ingram | Los Angeles Lakers | 1st | 2 | SF | Duke |
| Malik Beasley | Denver Nuggets | 1st | 19 | SG | Florida State |
| Malachi Richardson | Charlotte Hornets | 1st | 22 | SG | Syracuse |
| Brice Johnson | Los Angeles Clippers | 1st | 25 | PF | North Carolina |
| Malcolm Brogdon | Milwaukee Bucks | 2nd | 36 | PG/SG | Virginia |
| Chinanu Onuaku | Houston Rockets | 2nd | 37 | PF/C | Louisville |
| Demetrius Jackson | Boston Celtics | 2nd | 45 | PG | Notre Dame |
| Michael Gbinije | Detroit Pistons | 2nd | 49 | SF | Syracuse |
| Marcus Paige | Brooklyn Nets | 2nd | 55 | PG | North Carolina |