Tradition still matters in North Carolina, where tobacco remains the No. 1 cash crop and folks are quick to be judged by their college basketball affiliations. Conference realignment and the expanded ACC that resulted from it forever altered how Tobacco Road rivalries play out. (And truthfully, some down here still can’t wrap their minds around the ACC tournament being held in Brooklyn this season.) But what hasn’t changed is how keeping pace with what the next program is doing still motivates the Big Four.

North Carolina’s appearance in the national title game after Duke won it in 2015 solidified those programs are back after an uncharacteristic Final Four drought. N.C. State is aiming to make a splash nationally by adding a pair of five-star recruits. Wake Forest still may be a ways off from competing at the highest level.

Duke's leading scorer, Grayson Allen, postponed turning pro after last season. Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire

Here’s an offseason guide to Tobacco Road and what to expect this season:

Duke

Two years ago, as Duke welcomed its highly-touted recruiting class to campus, Mike Krzyzewski and Jeff Capel were on their way to Spain to coach the U.S. National Team in the World Championships. The freshmen still had one of the best summers of preparation and the Blue Devils went on to capture the 2015 national title. Duke could experience deja vu with Krzyzewski and Capel gone for a portion of the summer, but by all accounts the team hasn’t suffered in its development.

Reason for optimism: The fact that leading scorer Grayson Allen postponed turning pro is secondary. The Blue Devils freshman class could ultimately prove more talented than 2014’s class of Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and Allen. Powered by forward Harry Giles and wing Jayson Tatum, Duke is deep at every position except one.

Cause for concern: Giles hasn’t played in a competitive game since he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the season opener his senior year at Oak Hill Academy. Giles had previously been through the same rehabilitation process after tearing the ACL in his left knee before his sophomore year. He’s being brought along slowly and during the summer hasn’t been able to fully participate in team drills.

North Carolina

The Tar Heels’ biggest offseason win came when men’s basketball wasn’t referenced in the amended Notice of Allegations the school received from the NCAA. The program appears unlikely to face any significant sanctions as a result of the long-running investigation into improper classes. In theory, that should lift the recruiting cloud that has kept many of the top 10 players Carolina offered from committing in the last few classes. But until the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions weighs in on the subject with its ruling, the cloud still exists.

Reason for optimism: Every key contributor who wasn’t a senior is back, including Justin Jackson and Kennedy Meeks, who were the only two players to take advantage of the new rules and declare for the NBA draft. Williams will likely roll out a starting lineup of all upperclassmen who have Final Four experience. Replacing the leadership of Marcus Paige and production of Brice Johnson is an issue, but junior Joel Berry and senior Isaiah Hicks are poised to fill those roles.

Cause for concern: The last three seasons, the Tar Heels collectively haven’t been much of an outside shooting threat. Berry led the team by shooting 38 percent from 3-point range, but we won’t know until the games begin if Jackson, Nate Britt, Theo Pinson and Kenny Williams spent their summers improving their shots from deep.

N.C. State

The offseason started off rather bleak as Caleb and Cody Martin transferred. Guard Anthony ‘Cat’ Barber declared for the NBA draft a year early and post players BeeJay Anya and Abdul-Malik Abu teetered on continuing the exodus. Both Anya and Abu returned to school and the Pack signed five-star center Omer Yurtseven, a 7-footer from Turkey; and picked up a late signee in forward Darius Hicks, who originally committed to Mississippi State. Coach Mark Gottfried planned on seeing his team compete this summer, but the school decided to postpone its foreign trip to Italy after the U.S. State Department issued European travel warnings.

Reason for optimism: Remember the name, Dennis Smith Jr. The freshman point guard will make Pack fans forget they lost Barber. Smith enrolled in school in January and, based on his performance at adidas Nations, seems to have fully recovered from the torn ACL that kept him sidelined for his senior season in high school. He’s being touted by some as a potential top three pick in the 2017 NBA draft.

Cause for concern: Yurtseven could face obstacles in order to be cleared by the NCAA. His time playing for the Turkish club team Fenerbahce Ulke will be heavily scrutinized to determine his amateur status. If it’s a long process -- or if he is ruled ineligible -- it could keep N.C. State a middle-of-the-pack team.

Wake Forest

The Deacons have had a problem with attrition over the last eight seasons, but appear to be the beneficiaries of transfers for this season. Transfers Keyshawn Woods, a guard who sat out last season after playing at Charlotte; and Austin Arians, a graduate transfer who played at Milwaukee; will be key additions to the lineup and bring much needed experience to the floor. Wake got an early start on the season by playing an international tour in the Bahamas, where the 10 practices that come with the trip were vital.

Reason for optimism: Supremely confident guard Bryant Crawford was a bit of an unknown last year, but thrived as a freshman. It’s officially his team this season. The Deacons could stand to adapt more of Crawford’s fearless style of playing.

Cause for concern: Danny Manning enters his third season as the head coach still with a rotation that will heavily rely on young players. Although their depth of talent is improving, among the Tobacco Road teams, the Deacons are still the farthest away from being contenders.