UNC Basketball: 5 reasons why the Tar Heels are preseason contenders

UNC Basketball: 5 reasons why the Tar Heels are preseason title contenders

CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 10: Luke Maye #32 and Kenny Williams #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react during their game against the Northern Iowa Panthers at the Dean Smith Center on November 10, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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CHAPEL HILL, NC – JANUARY 16: Maye #32 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

UNC has plenty of experience – and a star senior

Experience is what sets UNC basketball apart from a lot of other extremely talented teams heading into this season. Even though the Tar Heels are bringing in a highly-rated recruiting class similar to other programs, they have much more returning experience on the roster. For the most part, this comes in the form of three rising seniors: Luke Maye, Kenny Williams, and Cameron Johnson. All three of these players were integral parts of the rotation last season, with each one starting at least 20 games and averaging more than 29 minutes per contest.

At the forefront of this group, though, is obviously Luke Maye. The 6-foot-7 forward made his presence known on the national stage two years ago with his go-ahead bucket against Kentucky in the 2017 Elite Eight. It was this past year, though, that Maye really exploded as one of the best players in the country. For the season, he averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a double-double machine inside. In addition, his 3-point shooting (43.1% from deep) helped spread the floor for the whole team. The expectation heading into this season is that Maye can compete for the National Player of the Year award.

The two other seniors on the roster, Cameron Johnson and Kenny Williams, will likely reprise similar roles to last season. Johnson, who transferred to UNC from Pittsburgh, averaged 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. At 6-foot-8, Johnson brings excellent size to the wing and can be a lethal threat from distance (34.1 3P%). Williams, a 6-foot-3 guard, is another excellent marksman from beyond the arc (40.2 3P%) who is a highly efficient scorer. He posted averages of 11.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season.

In addition to these seniors, though, the Tar Heels are also returning three rising sophomores. These players might not have a ton of experience but they all have a year of collegiate experience under their belts. This is more than some programs can say about their top players.

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