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They have started practicing in advance of another season of ACC basketball.

Every team in the league returns at least three starters, but that doesn't guarantee competitive balance throughout. North Carolina again looks dominant. The rest of the field, or so we are told, is playing for second, and a massive middle will ultimately sort itself out.

The ESPN/USA Today preseason basketball poll is out with a predictable -- and undeniably obvious -- No. 1 team.

Here are some facts and figures to tide you over until the games start for real.

ACC By The Numbers

96: Total conference games

92: Televised conference games

41: Nationally televised conference games (ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, ABC, CBS)

72: Percentage of starters returning to the 12 teams

602: Points Tyler Hansbrough needs to become the ACC's career scoring champion.

11: All-ACC players returning to the league in 2008-09 (of 15)

5: All-ACC players returning to the league in 2007-08 (out of 15)

SCHEDULES

Traditionalists will embrace the general composition of the schedule, which includes only two ACC games in December: Clemson at Miami on Dec. 21 and Georgia Tech at Virginia on Dec. 28. Both are part of the Fox national cable package. In many recent years, the majority of the membership has opened league play before the turn of the calendar.
… Who says the student-athlete isn’t sufficiently compensated for his efforts? ACC teams visit Orlando, Fla.; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Lahaina, Hawaii; San Juan, P.R.; Las Vegas; Anaheim, Calif.; and New York. And that’s all in November and December.
Boston College will generally stick close to home. The Eagles play only one of their first 13 games out of their home state. That’s a Nov. 22 game at Saint Louis. … Maryland won’t play on its opponent’s home court until it goes to Miami on Jan. 14. … Former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins returns to ACC country when his College of Charleston team plays at North Carolina on Jan. 7. … The Tar Heels may wind up playing 39 games.