NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga, Houston lead in updated way-too-early top 25 ranking
By Joey Loose
3. North Carolina
At one point late last season the Tar Heels looked pretty lost, but everything really came together and North Carolina marched to the national championship game. Defeating Duke in the Final Four was certainly a sweet byproduct of that season, but coach Hubert Davis is looking for even more in his second at the helm.
Brady Manek is gone, but the other starters are all back for the Tar Heels, including talented forward Armando Bacot, an early favorite for ACC Player of the Year. Caleb Love and his 15.9 points per game will be back, as will talented guards RJ Davis and Leaky Black. The Tar Heels added a few pieces for depth in the offseason, including freshman point guard Seth Trimble, but will leaning heavily on that veteran experience next season.
North Carolina might still be in the market to make an addition or two in the Transfer Portal, but even right now this is one of the most talented teams in the nation. Virtually everyone from a championship game team returns, with some of those young players expected to take on bigger roles and take steps forward behind those established starters. This rotation of talent is impressive and makes the Tar Heels the early leaders in the ACC.