BY JOE JOHNSON

jjohnson@heraldsun.com; 419-6667

GREENSBORO -- There are battles. And then there are battles.

The battle UNC senior forward Jessica Breland has waged against Hodgkin's lymphoma during the last five months overshadows anything that will take place on the 94-foot hardwood floors in arenas across the ACC this season. Breland's status for the season is uncertain, according to UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell, but that didn't prevent Breland from being named to the preseason All-ACC team.

During the past two seasons, Breland was saddled with a number of run-of-the-mill maladies a typical college student might expect -- the flu, bronchitis and even a bout with asthma. Hatchell questioned Breland's commitment to fitness and conditioning at the time, but that all changed when the more threatening diagnosis shocked the veteran coach.

"The kid had not been well," Hatchell said. "I told her she had the potential to be an All-American, but she had to be in shape and in condition. And when she was diagnosed, I felt so bad. I didn't know she was so sick."

Hatchell said she was leaning to redshirting Breland this season in order for her to come back at full strength. Even if Breland sits out, the Tar Heels are the favored team in the conference again.

UNC was selected as the team to beat in the ACC for the second straight season. The Tar Heels picked up 30 first-place votes from a panel of 45 members of the national and local media. Duke was second in the poll and had 10 first-place votes.

Duke junior guard Jasmine Thomas joined Breland on the preseason All-ACC team. Virginia senior guard Monica Wright was picked as the preseason player of the year, while UNC freshman Tierra Ruffin-Pratt was selected for the preseason rookie honor. Other All-ACC selections were Jacinta Moore of Florida State and Carolyn Swords of Boston College.

Hatchell said the coming season could be as competitive as in 2008-09, which was over the top with parity.

"There used to be us and Duke and Maryland, and then there was a little bit of a gap," UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "Last year, Georgia Tech and Florida State jumped in there.

"I don't think there's any kind of a gap this year. You can throw all 12 of us in there and shake us up."

And after posting one of its best group efforts as a conference, the expectations might be even higher this season. But optimism among the coaches is supposed to be abundant now, even from the newest ACC coach, Kellie Harper at N.C. State.

"The team and the staff are very excited about the upcoming season," Harper said.

Harper became only the third head coach for the Wolfpack after the death of Kay Yow, who battled breast cancer multiple times since the late 1980s. Harper, 32, brought a chuckle from reporters when she joked about being closer in age to the players on her team than to the other coaches in the league.

"The other coaches have been very kind and open," said Harper, a former Tennessee star. "I have to use my youth as an advantage. I don't have the experience some of the other coaches have who've been in the trenches. I have to find other ways to get the job done."

The ACC had a banner year against outside competition, and that paid dividends getting teams into postseason play. The league, which had seven teams with at least 20 wins, had six teams make the NCAA Tournament and two others that went to the WNIT.

As a group, the coaches seemed to think the ACC should be as strong again this season.

Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie, who is in her third season, said the Blue Devils have a schedule that fits her team and should prepare it for another NCAA bid. The Blue Devils were undefeated at home for only the second time in team history, but with a visit from Connecticut, the task may be taller this season.

"I love our schedule, the quality of the schedule and the timing of the schedule," McCallie said.

That feeling permeates the other 11 teams because of the depth and experience most return.

The ACC has five teams that return at least four starters from a year ago. Offensively, five of the top-10 point producers will be back, including Wright, who averaged 20.5 points per game.

ACC notebook

TALL ORDER -- Teams might have a hard time matching North Carolina's lineup if Hatchell wants to go tall. Twelve of UNC's 15 players are at least 5-10, including 6-6 freshman Waltiea Rolle.

SHOOTING GALLERY -- Virginia Tech's Utahya Drye, who starred at Northern, teamed with Jenn Hildreth of Fox Sports Net, in the "She Can Play Shootout" and finished fourth in their group with 48 points accumulated by making shots from different sports on the court. Broadcasters Debbie Antonelli and Beth Mowins scored 68 points to win the event.

RULES CHANGES -- Officials now will be able to review video if there is a question about whether a foul should be considered flagrant. The men's game has allowed the review in previous seasons, but now it is coming to the women's game.