:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35898248/20140101_kkt_aa1_754.0.jpg)
As usual, the ACC media days (which wrapped up on Monday) included a preseason poll by media members. FWIW, the media isn't expecting much out of Pitt in 2014 as the Panthers were picked to finish sixth in the Division, ahead of only Virginia.
The full parity of the Coastal was on full display as every team received at least one first-place vote except for Virginia. Despite being picked to finish near the bottom of the division, Pitt still convinced at least two voters, who picked them to win the Coastal. Here were the final results with first-place votes in parentheses:
1. Miami (26)
2. Duke (33)
3. Virginia Tech (23)
4. North Carolina (27)
5. Georgia Tech (1)
6. Pitt (2)
7. Virginia
The thing that stands out, obviously, is that Duke by far and away had the most first-place votes, but still finished behind Miami overall as the Blue Devils finished significantly lower on some ballots.
Another thing worth pointing out is that Pitt and Georgia Tech were in a virtual tie for fifth since the Panthers finished only three total points behind the Yellow Jackets.
Finally, going back to what I said earlier, this all just speaks to the parity of the Division. Miami, Duke, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina are all favorites to win the Coastal, but the fact that six of the seven teams received first-place votes really proves that it could be anybody's Division. Compare that to the Atlantic where only Florida State and Clemson picked up first-place votes, and you can see that the Coastal appears much more wide open.
Here are the full poll results.
Be sure to join Cardiac Hill's Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @PittPantherBlog for our regular updates on Pitt athletics. Follow the author and founder/editor @AnsonWhaley.
