NCAA Basketball: Ranking the top 25 team backcourts for 2022-23 season

After an up and down freshman season, point guard Caleb Love broke out last year in a big way, both statistically and all-around in March. He was second on the team with 15.9 ppg and 3.6 apg, shooting 37% from the field and 36% from three-point range, and was inefficient at times but when Love is feeling it, almost no one can stop him.

The 6’3 playmaker saved his best performances for the NCAA Tournament, including a career-high 30 points in the Sweet 16 victory over UCLA, as well as 28 and a game-winning three-pointer over rival Duke in the Final Four. If Love’s efficiency improves just a bit, he could be an All-American next season.

His backcourt mate is RJ Davis, who averaged 13.5 ppg and 3.6 apg last season. The 6’0 guard was the 4th option on offense, which at times affected his offensive production. But Davis did manage to have a few big games of his own, including a career-high 30 points in the overtime Round of 32 win over Baylor. He also had 12 assists in the opening round win over Marquette in the Big Dance as well.

The third guard in the lineup is Leaky Black, who has 97 career starts in four years at UNC but just a career average of 5.0 ppg. But what he lacks in scoring he more than makes up for it on the defensive end. The 6’8 guard is an All-ACC Defender and has a case of being one of the 10 best perimeter defenders in NCAA Basketball. For a team that already has offense, Black’s ability to shut down most opposing wings helps the Tar Heels’ odds of winning.

Add backup guards, D’Marco Dunn, and incoming freshmen Tyler Nickel and Seth Trimble and you have an elite overall group that has proven to be championship-caliber. If the star duo can be more efficient from the field, the Tar Heels’ floor can rise nearly as high as its ceiling.