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ACC Basketball: 5 bold predictions for 2020-21 season

By Trevor Sinodhinos

SOUTH BEND, IN - FEBRUARY 17: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles the ball against John Mooney #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on February 17, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - FEBRUARY 17: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles the ball against John Mooney #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on February 17, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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ACC Basketball
ACC Basketball North Carolina Tar Heels (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

North Carolina finishes the season in first place

There is a very prominent quantifier to this bold take, they will indeed win the regular season, this by no means they will win the ACC tournament, go the furthest in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, or are they the best team in the ACC. Those particular achievements are reserved for the Virginia Cavaliers, but, prior to any of that coming to fruition, the North Carolina Tar Heels will win the ACC regular season.

The Tar Heels are no stranger when it comes to being atop the ACC, as they have claimed at least a piece of the Regular Season Championship in three of the last five seasons. The likelihood of the Tar Heels returning to the top of the ACC is much more likely than them repeating the 6-14 record in conference play and finishing the season in a three-way tie for last place. While last seasons problems will not occur again, it will not be the remedy that cures what ails the Tar Heels.

The 6-14 record can be explained by Cole Anthony missing seven ACC games, but he will not even be returning to Chapel Hill after declaring for the NBA after his freshman year. In addition, as a senior Brandon Robinson missed four games. While Anthony and Robinson will not be back, Anthony Harris is healthy and will form a formidable backcourt with Caleb Love.

Harris, Garrison Brooks, and Leaky Black will be the veteran support for the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation. A factor the young Duke squad does not have and the slow-starting Virginia Cavaliers will allow UNC to take the ACC regular season.