North Carolina Tar Heels
2021-22 record: 29-10, 15-5 in the ACC
Head Coach: Hubert Davis
Tenure at North Carolina: Second season
Career coaching record: 29-10
Home court: Dean E. Smith Center
Projected starters: G Caleb Love, G RJ Davis, F Leaky Black, F/C Armando Bacot, F Pete Nance
Bench: G Seth Trimble, G D’Marco Dunn, F Jalen Washington, F Dontrez Styles, F Justin McKoy, F/C Puff Johnson
Overview: North Carolina had a surprising rebound last year. It finished with a 29-10 record, defeated Duke in the Final Four and had a 2.7 points per game increase—all with a new head coach. Hubert Davis brought the Tar Heels back from a lackluster 2020-21 season and first round tournament exit. Yet, this blue blood program proved itself yet again. While North Carolina may have started its season on the wrong foot, it righted the ship, defeating Duke in the Final Four.
North Carolina has an impressive incoming class highlighted by Seth Trimble and Jalen Washington. Yet the partial return of the “Iron Five,” consisting of Caleb Love, RJ Davis, Leaky Black and Armando Bacot, leaves one opening, and that spot will be filled by Northwestern transfer Pete Nance. Nance averaged 14.6 points per game and shot 45.2% from three. The Tar Heels have an impressive selection of players to choose from as they fight to return to the Final Four, and with Davis’ short yet impressive track record, the future looks bright for North Carolina.
Team ceiling: Davis is able to continue his success from last season and North Carolina returns to the Final Four this year, this time bringing home the hardware.
Team floor: The Tar Heels regress in Davis’ second season and can’t recreate their success from last season. North Carolina drops multiple ACC contests and suffers an early tournament loss.
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