Duke didn't lose a game in ACC play last season, boasts the only unanimous preseason Associated Press All-American and opens 2002-03 as the top-ranked team in both the coaches and media top-25 polls.

Is there any wonder the Blue Devils are the preseason favorite?

Duke, in fact, hasn't lost an ACC game since falling 69-55 to N.C. State on Feb. 18, 2001. The Blue Devils went 16-0 in ACC play last season.

A look at how the ACC race might shape up during the 2002-03 season:

FAVORITE
Duke
Before Monique Currie went down with a season-ending ACL injury on Tuesday, Duke had the best starting give in the nation. Despite losing the sophomore All-America candidate, the quality of the Blue Devils' starters is still way up there.

This is a team loaded with talent, from Kodak All-American Alana Beard to Duke's top-ranked freshman class. Beard scored 694 points last season, which is the highest single-season total in school history, breaking a 17-year-old record. She became the third-fastest player in ACC history to reach the 1,000 point mark. In last season's ACC rankings, Beard ranked first in scoring (19.8), field-goal percentage (.572), steals (3.26), second in assists (4.40), sixth in free throw percentage (.753), third in assist/turnover ratio (1.66) and tied for 10th in rebounding (6.1).

Beard has a great basketball mentality and work ethic. She can score, rebound, pass, post you or take you off the bounce. There's nothing she can't do, and every year she has improved some facet of her game. After shooting just 18 percent from 3-point range as a freshman, for example, she improved that number to 37.9 percent last season.

Beard can do it all and one can only imagine her getting better at shooting, coming up bigger in crunch time and fulfilling every expectation coach Gail Goestenkors might have of her. Speaking of coach G, she's done everything right with this program. She doesn't make it complicated, and makes sure her team gets after it at both ends.

And more than anything, Duke's bench will be able to help out a lot more this season than last year when the roster was down to eight players.

CONTENDER
North Carolina
It'll be tough to replace Nikki Teasley, but the Tar Heels do return a handful of top-notch players.

Among them, senior guard Coretta Brown is back after averaging 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season en route to earning All-ACC and All-ACC tournament honors.

Candace Sutton, a 6-6 junior post, is another noteworthy returner who scored 12 points, grabbed 6.2 boards and blocked 2.0 shots per game last season. Fellow returning guards Leah Metcalf (8.8 points) and Jennifer Thomas (5.7 points) help complement the Tar Heels' good inside-outside game.

UNC has only two freshmen on its roster this season, but versatile 6-1 La'Tangela Atkinson already has been voted the league's preseason Rookie of the Year. And expect sophomore Kenya McBee to continue to make an impact after her 5.2 scoring and 3.8 rebounding averages from last year.

ALSO WORTH MENTIONING
Virginia: Sure, the Cavs graduated Telisha Quarles, but Brandi Teamer, last season's ACC Rookie of the Year is back. She was Virginia's second-leading scorer last season with 14.3 points per game, but led the Cavs with an 8.9 rebounding average while starting all 30 games and playing 30.9 minutes a contest.

North Carolina State: Coach Kay Yow had a big summer, getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, and redshirt junior Kaayla Chones should have a big season in 2002-03. The 6-3 center, who missed the 2000-01 season with a torn quadriceps, started last season a little slow, but went on to average a team-high 12.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. Those numbers were even better in ACC play, and are bound to increase this season.

Nancy Lieberman, an ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's women's basketball coverage.