ate real engagement with existing and potential rugby fans among the 10.3 percent of the US population with Irish roots.They are first and foremost proud Americans but we will embrace a

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Duke has been picked to win the Atlantic Coast Conference title ahead of North Carolina, Virginia and Louisville.Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen was selected the preseason player of the year by a wide margin over Clemson forward Jaron Blossomgame, while North Carolina State point guard Dennis Smith Jr. was voted rookie of the year.Mike Krzyzewskis Blue Devils picked up 85 first-place votes and 1,359 points in voting by league media at the leagues preseason media day Wednesday. Defending champion UNC had the other six first-place votes.Syracuse was fifth followed by N.C. State, Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Boston College.UNCs Joel Berry II and Virginias London Perrantes joined Allen, Blossomgame and Smith on the preseason all-ACC first team.The second team consisted of UNCs Justin Jackson, Dukes Jayson Tatum, Syracuses Tyler Lydon, FSUs Dwayne Bacon and Pitts Michael Young.Duke won the NCAA championship in 2015 and reached the Sweet 16 of last years NCAA Tournament, part of a record run of six ACC teams to reach that round. North Carolina and Syracuse both reached the Final Four, with the Tar Heels losing to Villanova on a last-second 3-pointer in the NCAA championship game.The Tar Heels swept the leagues regular-season and tournament titles last year.Nike Zoom Australia . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. Nike Zoom Wholesale .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.cheapnikezoomaustralia.com/ .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Nike Zoom Australia Sale . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Cheap Shoes Australia . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise.The Irish Rugby Football Union has formed a new partnership with the University of Notre Dame with a view to promoting rugby and sharing expertise.The partnership offers the IRFU an opportunity to push its brand stateside while also sharing knowledge surrounding player development, coaching and conditioning, sports medicine and psychology.The IRFU will aid the Universitys rugby aspirations while it will collaborate with Notre Dames coaching and sports science programmes.With the Irish-American community numbering 33 million stateside, the IRFU say it sees the U.S. as a home-away-from-home and will seek to develop new commercial relationships as its brand and fan-base grow.We look forward to playing a full part in helping develop the strength of Notre Dame rugby and the culture of the sport at the University, Stephen Hilditch, IRFU president, said. We are convinced that will, in turn, help drive the popularity of the sport throughout and beyond the collegiate system in a nation which continues to demonstrate its interest in rugby.Our association with The Fighting Irish is hugely appropriate and we will do all we can to help Notre Dames teams fulfil their potential and reach their ultimate ambition of becoming collegiate champpions.ddddddddddddThe United States also represents a huge potential market for Irish Rugby and the Partnership is a key element of a broader strategy to build awareness and create real engagement with existing and potential rugby fans among the 10.3 percent of the US population with Irish roots.They are first and foremost proud Americans but we will embrace and value their support.Justin Hickey, director of rugby at the University of Notre Dame, added: The partnership with the Irish Rugby Football Union marks the beginning of a new era for rugby at Notre Dame and throughout the United States.By working closely and sharing information and expertise, techniques and processes, both parties will grow together towards achieving their particular goals.Notre Dames renowned expertise in player development, sports medicine and other areas on and off the field will help strengthen the Irish teams while working closely with Irelands coaches and support staff, who are among the best in the world, will help elevate Notre Dame rugby to new levels and, in doing so, raise the standards across collegiate rugby. ' ' '