The North Carolina Tar Heels are a very different looking team compared to the roster they fielded last season. Roy Williams lost nearly 80 percent of his offense from last season, but the Tar Heels reloaded in style. A Roy Williams system is highly dependent on a point guard that can run a high paced offense. Coby White dipped for the NBA, but Carolina has an answer to replace the new Chicago Bull.
The roster last year made the Sweet 16 but were stopped short by a very hot-handed Auburn and a strain of the flu. North Carolina is always expected to contend for a National Championship, and this year isn’t any different. The ACC is as talented as it always is in basketball. Louisville and Duke will be the top threats along with North Carolina this season.
.@BRob_4 is settling into his leadership role on this year’s team ?? https://t.co/3TgpzFYpIP
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 26, 2019
Key Returners
- Garrison Brooks
- Leaky Black
- Brandon Robinson
The Tar Heels did not lose everybody from last year’s roster and they need production from their returning players. Garrison Brooks is the upperclassmen big man that will anchor the Tar Heels this season. The junior is ready to have a great season and could potentially have an All-ACC type season. The North Carolina Tar Heels are always dependent on good big men. Brooks brings talent and experience for the Tar Heels in his third year.
Rechon “Leaky” Black was overlooked by Coby White and Nasir Little in their freshmen campaigns. He also missed some time because of injury, but his sophomore year could flip the narrative. Black could be the starting small forward, but will for sure be a key rotation piece. North Carolina has a lot of scoring to replace. Brandon Robinson is in his final year and North Carolina and this year he is the leader of the team. He is the only senior on the team that played significant minutes last year. His leadership and shooting will be much needed for the Tar Heels.
Key Losses
- Cameron Johnson
- Nassir Little
- Coby White
- Luke Maye
- Kenny Williams
Coby White, Cameron Johnson, and Nassir Little were all first-round draft picks, while Luke Maye and Kenny Williams went undrafted. These five players were the majority of the offense last year and replacements will need to be found. Four of the five started every game last year, with Nassir Little being a key part of the rotation. Garrison Brooks is the lone starter returning to the roster. Luke Maye and Kenny Williams provided the veteran leadership as well as a good portion of the offense. Cameron Johnson was the Tar Heels leading scorer last year at 16.9 points per game.
Coby White is currently proving his case as the next Chicago Bulls point guard, while Nassir Little is in a bit of a log jam at Portland. The Tar Heels find themselves in the position of having to replace both guards, two forwards, and a starting big man. The team has some options, but questions remain about how the North Carolina Tar Heels will handle that loss of talent and production.
Freshman First-Teamer ? @The_ColeAnthony ?#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/mHYCJ1uYLQ
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 10, 2019
Key Newcomers
- Cole Anthony
- Armando Bacot
- Christain Keeling
- Justin Pierce
- Anthony Harris
Cole Anthony is being touted as potentially the best recruit in the Roy Williams era at North Carolina. The NBA legacy point guard has the making of the next great Roy Williams point guard and should be a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Fellow freshman and unofficial recruiter Armando Bacot is a force down low and will compliment Brooks well in the paint. Bacot is a stellar defender and looks ready to have a “one and done” season along with his friend Cole Anthony. Four-star guard Anthony Harris is coming off a major knee injury but is much-needed depth for the team.
The North Carolina Tar Heels lost a lot of talented and needed some experience to boot. Cameron Johnson was a very successful graduate transfer, so Roy Willimas turned back to the portal for an answer. Christain Keeling is a fantastic guard out of Charleston Southern that can score from almost any level. Justin Pierce is a playmaking forward from William and Mary. These two graduate transfers have one year in Chapel Hill to increase their pro basketball prospects, and to help the Tar Heels compete. Having some experience this year is vital for the Tar Heels in a rare year without a lot of experienced talent.
Projected Starting Five
- Cole Anthony
- Christian Keeling
- Justin Pierce
- Garrison Brooks
- Armando Bacot
North Carolina Tar Heels Season Outlook
The gelling of this team will largely determine how far they go in the NCAA Tournament. Cole Anthony needs to live up to the hype and Garrison Brooks needs that classic junior leap. Roy Williams is still hunting for his fourth National Championship and this squad could be good enough to do it. Winning a championship may or may not be in the cards, but a second-weekend appearance should be in the cards again this year.
The Tar Heels need to work as a unit this year, but also let players like Cole Anthony be themselves on the court. The freshmen point guard could end up making or breaking the Tar Heels. Greg Anthony’s son is more than talented enough, but it has to click during the season. Expect Roy Williams to run another fast-paced Carolina offense this year. Armando Bacot could be a secret weapon down low this year as well.
Record Prediction 30-6 (14-4)
The Tar Heels have two massive nonconference games against Ohio State at home and against Gonzaga in Spokane. These two matchups will be early tests for the new-look North Carolina basketball team. The nonconference also features good games against UCLA, Alabama, and Yale. Expect UNC to drop one of the two big games and one of the three smaller games at the beginning of the regular season.
The ACC is good again this year, but Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville are likely the real contenders this season. North Carolina finished 16-2 last year in ACC play including two wins over Duke. They will probably lose more this year, but a 14-4 record is still good for a top one to three finish this year in the ACC. The defending National Champion Virginia Cavaliers and N.C. State Wolfpack will also be tough competition this year in the ACC. Anything short of a National Championship is always a disappointment for the Tar Heels, but they may just be ready again.
