The women's basketball team was picked to finish first this season by a panel of media and school representatives.
North Carolina received 30 of 45 first-place votes, ahead of Duke and last year's ACC regular season champion, Florida State. UNC went 28-7 in 2008-09 and placed fourth in the ACC.
Senior forward Jessica Breland was named to the 2009-10 preseason All-ACC team. Breland is expected to sit much of the season out after finishing chemotherapy for from Hodgkins lymphoma.
Freshman Tierra Ruffin-Pratt was named the preseason rookie of the year. Ruffin-Pratt averaged 27.2 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists per game her senior year.
The Tar Heels are returning three starters — Breland, Cetera DeGraffenreid and Italee Lucas.
The women play their first exhibition game Nov. 5 against Francis Marion at home.
The nod to the women's team came just after the men's basketball team tied for first place in preseason honors against Duke.
