I'm excited about the coming XC season. Here's my take on the ACC Men's teams.
Last year, the finish was:
PL Team Total Time Avg. Time Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 Syracuse 1:57:21 23:28 27 1 3 6 8 9 20 22
2 Virginia Tech 1:59:24 23:52 73 7 11 12 18 25 27 32
3 North Carolina St. 2:00:12 24:02 98 14 15 16 23 30 35 39
4 Virginia 1:59:17 23:51 100 2 5 19 36 38 57 79
5 Florida State 2:01:03 24:12 152 21 26 29 31 45 69 80
6 Wake Forest 2:01:46 24:21 182 13 34 43 44 48 70 77
7 Notre Dame 2:02:07 24:25 206 24 37 40 49 56 62 66
8 Georgia Tech 2:02:34 24:30 238 4 53 54 63 64 68 78
9 Duke 2:03:21 24:40 261 41 47 55 58 60 61 74
10 Pittsburgh 2:03:55 24:47 285 42 50 52 65 76 86 89
11 North Carolina 2:04:47 24:57 315 46 59 67 71 72 73 83
12 Clemson 2:05:48 25:09 345 10 75 82 87 91 93 98
13 Miami 2:07:49 25:33 370 28 51 94 96 101 103 104
14 Boston College 2:07:24 25:28 378 17 84 88 92 97 99
15 Louisville 2:07:03 25:24 384 33 81 85 90 95 100 102
but there were a lot of losses due to graduation. There were also coaching changes and, of course, new recruits.
Here's my take for 2018:
1. NC State. Have a good core group and continuity of coaching.
2. UVA. Looks like Demarest (AA) is returning and most of their squad. Watson's gone, but that could be a good thing. He trained these guys into the ground. I'll bet some of the guys run better this year deeper into the season. Could see them winning, but the coach is a wildcard.
3. Notre Dame. Potentially the most improved team given health and recruiting. Lost their Head Coach, but Carlson's still coaching the guys. Could be one of the most improved teams in the country. Wouldn't be shocked if they won ACCs if the freshman can contribute.
4. 'Cuse. Lost a ton of talent and their coach. Good recruiting class, though. I could see them 2nd - 5th.
5. VA Tech. Lost a ton of talent and their coach. Didn't have the recruiting success of their peers.
6. Wake. Young team that returns a bunch of decent runners. They could be top 3.
7. Florida State. I think they ran above their talent level last year. 4 of top 5 were SRs. They'll probably drop.
8 - 15. Don't know. Don't care.