12. North Carolina (11-1)
Longtime fans remember elite contending North Carolina teams that would hammer their opposition and win ACC titles. We’re not saying these Tar Heels can’t come away with an ACC championship, but we are saying that things are looking up in Chapel Hill with this start to the season. Wins over Kansas and Kentucky show the potential and that lone loss came against a very good Michigan State team back on Thanksgiving.
The tenth win of the season came earlier this week, as North Carolina won 77-58 over East Tennessee State. The two big stars for the Tar Heels showed out again as Henri Veesaar had 26 points and 8 rebounds while Caleb Wilson added 20 points and 8 rebounds. The CBS Sports Classic in Georgia was a much closer call, but the Tar Heels held on late for a 71-70 win against a talented Ohio State team. Wilson had 20 points and 15 rebounds while Veesaar added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Look at things however you want but North Carolina has answered most of the early questions this season. You have to wonder where this team would be had they not landed Veesaar and Wilson in the offseason as they may become two of the ACC’s most productive players. A quick turnaround means we’ll see this team back in Chapel Hill on Monday against East Carolina but they get more than a week off after that.