Oct. 31, 2004
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Wake Forest was the top pick in the media’s pre-season poll conducted today at the 43rd annual Atlantic Coast Conference Operation Basketball at the Grandover Resort and Conference Center. The Demon Deacons received 65 of a possible 91 votes for 965 points. North Carolina was second with 13 first place votes and 866 points, followed by Georgia Tech with 836 points and Duke with 746. The Yellow Jackets received 10 first place votes while the Blue Devils registered three first place votes.
Wake Forest sophomore guard Chris Paul edged out NC State’s Julius Hodge for pre-season ACC Player of the Year honors by a 38-to-35 count. North Carolina’s Marvin Williams was the media’s clear cut choice as the pre-season ACC Rookie of the Year, receiving 60 of 87 ballots cast.
Paul and Hodge joined North Carolina’s Rashad McCants and Sean May and Duke’s J.J. Redick on the pre-season All-ACC team.
| 1st-Place Votes | Pts | |
| 1. Wake Forest | (65) | 965 |
| 2. North Carolina | (13) | 866 |
| 3. Georgia Tech | (10) | 836 |
| 4. Duke | (3) | 746 |
| 5. NC State | 607 | |
| 6. Maryland | 605 | |
| 7. Florida State | 414 | |
| 8. Virginia | 394 | |
| 9. Clemson | 256 | |
| 10. Virginia Tech | 171 | |
| 11. Miami | 146 |
Preseason All-Conference Team
Chris Paul, Wake Forest
Julius Hodge, NC State
Rashad McCants, North Carolina
Sean May, North Carolina
J.J. Redick, Duke
Preseason Player of the Year
Chris Paul, Wake Forest
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Marvin Williams, North Carolina
