" It marks the first time since 1997-98 that Clemson has been ranked in one of the two national preseason polls for men’s basketball. That year, the Tigers were ranked in the top 10 in both the Associated Press and coaches’ polls.

Clemson is coming off a 2008-09 season in which the Tiger program returned to the NCAA Tournament and compiled a 23-9 overall record. Under the direction of Head Coach Oliver Purnell, the Tigers improved their overall team winning percentage for a fifth straight season. Purnell is one of only two coaches in ACC history (Bobby Cremins from Georgia Tech is the other) to accomplish such a feat. "

Rest ot the ACC: #4 UNC, #8 Duke, #20 GT, while MD, FSU, and Wake received votes.