19. North Carolina (21-6)
When at their best, North Carolina has shown that they can win important games, getting a double-digit win over Kansas, a great effort at Kentucky, and most recently their shocker against Duke. Unfortunately, the Tar Heels have had some significant struggles away from Chapel Hill and it’s a big reason why they aren’t in the running for the ACC title this season. Losing Caleb Wilson for the foreseeable future didn’t help their cause either.
Playing without both Wilson and star big Henri Veesaar, the Tar Heels really struggled at NC State, losing 82-58 on Tuesday night. Offense was fleeting, as the team shot 15% from beyond the arc while getting a 13-point, 10-rebound effort from Zayden High. North Carolina was thankful to have Veesaar back this weekend in what became a 77-64 road win at Syracuse. The Tar Heels looked better away from home, getting 19 points from Veesaar in that necessary win.
How much do we punish the Tar Heels for that stinker in Raleigh without their two best players? That’s the big question for bracketologists and pollsters, and we’re keeping North Carolina in our mentions because of what this team has shown. Looking ahead, they’ll be comfortable at home with three straight games, beginning with an important game against Louisville on Monday. Can this team keep finding ways to win without Wilson in the lineup?