NCAA Basketball: 8 bold predictions for the 2018-19 season
By Brian Rauf
8) UNC will win the national championship
All of that said, the Tar Heels will be the team cutting down the nets for the second time in three years. Every team has holes but I think this group has the least.
They return eight of their top 10 scorers from last year’s team and, while those two they’re replacing where great players for the program (Joel Berry, Theo Pinson), they’re being replaced by five-star prospects in Coby White and Nassir Little.
Little’s presence on the roster gives the Tar Heels the legitimate top NBA talent they haven’t had since Harrison Barnes. He’s big, strong, quick, and is a tremendous two-way player – which has some comparing him to Kawhi Leonard.
Of course, preseason first-team All-American Luke Maye is among those returning and will be looking to build on his breakout season. He and Little will both be go-to guys for the Heels and having two threats of this caliber makes them an extremely potent offensive team.
UNC figures to sport a small lineup with their starters in a deadly three-point lineup, but we also know the Heels can bring in players off their bench and go big when they need to. Little’s ability to shut down the opposition’s best player will also make them a better defending team.
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Having this much talent and being able to win in a multitude of ways always plays well in the NCAA Tournament. Because of that, I’m picking the Heels to win the national title.