4. UNC Tar Heels
Last season: 20-13, 11-9 in the ACC
The Tar Heels will look to bounce back from a forgettable 2022-23 season with some new pieces to work with around the core of Armando Bacot and R.J. Davis. Bacot returns as their biggest presence in the paint after averaging a double-double with 15.9 ppg and 10.4 rpg. He’ll certainly be their lead option as they look to Davis to run things at the point guard spot.
Davis returns as their top playmaker after dishing 3.2 apg in 2022-23. He’ll look to do a whole lot more with the additions of Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame), Harrison Ingram (Stanford) and Jae’Lyn Withers (Louisville). Ryan should boost their leadership with his ability to space the floor on the perimeter while Ingram and Withers have a lot more to prove with their skill sets.
Withers produced 8.9 ppg and 5.3 rpg for the Cardinals while Ingram is an underrated NBA Draft pick in the making as he starts with a fresh slate with the Tar Heels. He’s a versatile playmaking forward presence who produced 10.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 3.7 apg on 31.9 percent shooting from deep and 40.8 percent shooting from the floor in 2022-23. Entering his junior season, look for him to emerge as a name to know in the UNC rotation.
Early enrollee Elliot Cadeau is the X-Factor, though. He’s another highly-rated player with NBA Draft implications in his debut season. His addition as a high-level playmaker and floor general should push the Tar Heels over the hump and into the top of the ACC standings.