The UNC basketball program is already getting their respect after, what some consider, one of the best runs in the modern era of college basketball, making it as a No. 8 seed to the national title game.
No, they didn’t finish the job, but achieving such a run as an 8th seed while sending home the overpowered Duke Blue Devils in the process caught the attention of many. Now, UNC is back at top of the power rankings like they belong, especially after the announcement of two returning players in Armando Bacot and Leaky Black.
With the return of those two key players plus a recruiting class that is headlined by Jalen Washington and Seth Trimble, the UNC basketball team ranks 2nd in the early preseason polls. Here is what they said about the Tar Heels in the rankings:
The Tar Heels’ ranking is based on North Carolina returning every rotation player except for Brady Manek – among them All-American Armando Bacot and NCAA Tournament star Caleb Love, neither of whom is a projected first-round pick. As long as things go that way, Hubert Davis will have a roster good enough to make back-to-back Final Fours.
North Carolina is on the heels of first-placed 27-8 UCLA, with 26-8 Kentucky coming in at third. The next Atlantic Coastal Conference team in the rankings is Duke at 9th followed by the Virginia Cavaliers at 25th.
Many are expecting the UNC basketball team to continue to grow after a remarkable first-year coaching job from the 2021-2022 National Coach of the year Hubert Davis. Along with getting key players Bacot and Black back, UNC will benefit from Puff Johnson and Dontrez Styles seeing more time on the hardwood.
Pressure bursts pipes, but also makes champions. This upcoming season could be the year UNC brings another banner home to the Dean Smith Center.
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