North Carolina basketball 2013-14 season preview

Overview: Despite the legal issues of junior All-American P.J. Hairston casting its shadow as a major concern, the Tar Heels will open the season ranked No. 12 in the country. Hairston had three separate run-ins with the law during the offseason. Head coach Roy Williams has announced that he will sit out the first few games of the season, and the NCAA may intervene with disciplinary action. Hairston led the team with 14.6 points per game last year and his ability to score both inside and outside is critical to the North Carolina offense.

The Tar Heels have plenty of talent, and they should be able to survive without Hairston for the early portion of the season. Forward James Michael McAdoo, a second team All-ACC selection, led the team in rebounding at 7.3 per game last year. The 6-foot-9 forward also finished just behind Hairston in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per contest. He will have to step up big-time in Hairston’s absence, and many believe that he is ready to take the next step and become one of the top players in the country.

Sophomore point guard Marcus Paige showed significant offensive improvement in the latter portion of the schedule last year, and appears ready to establish himself as a legitimate scoring option in the backcourt. In the frontcourt, highly-touted recruit Isaiah Hicks is a key newcomer for North Carolina. At 6-foot-8, his length, athleticism and strong defensive skills should allow him to contribute quality minutes down low right away.