Fall is here, and school is back in session, which means the good times are almost here – the start of college basketball season! To get you ready for this upcoming season, The Hoops Manifesto presents to you its preseason top 25 team rankings, based on the input from our esteemed voting panel. Next up #9 North Carolina Tar Heels
Big thanks to our voting panel: Jeff Fox (@HoopsManifesto) from The Hoops Manifesto, Perry Missner (@PerryMissner) from RotoWire, Ray Bala (@CanBallReport) who writes The Can Ball Report on Raptors HQ, Adam Francis (@RaptorsHQ) from Raptors HQ, Ian (@SoxAndDawgs) from SOX & Dawgs, and Alex Gallant (@SeaTownSports) from SeaTown Sports.
#9 – North Carolina Tar Heels
2011/12: 32-6, lost NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Key Returning Players:
Reggie Bullock – Shooting Guard – Junior
8.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 71-186 3Pts
Dexter Strickland – Shooting Guard – Senior
7.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg
Top Newcomers:
Marcus Paige – Point Guard – Freshman – #34 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)
J.P. Tokoto – Small Forward – Freshman – #45 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)
Brice Johnson – Power Forward – Freshman – #49 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)
Joel James – Center – Freshman – #65 ranked recruit (Rivals.com)
Leslie McDonald – Shooting Guard – Junior (injured last season)
2010/11 – 7.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 51-134 3Pts
Top NBA Prospect:
James Michael McAdoo – projected top 5 pick in 2013
Outlook:
How deep was last year’s Carolina roster? Projected first round draft picks James Michael McAdoo and P.J. Hairston didn’t even have to play key roles on the Elite Eight team. But now that a boatload of Heels have departed for the NBA, it’s time for McAdoo and Hairston to shine. The two talented sophomores will be joined by a trio of talented upperclassmen backcourt players, and a highly rated freshman recruiting class to give Roy Williams another national powerhouse team.
Preseason Top 25
#10 – Duke Blue Devils
#11 – Missouri Tigers
#12 – Gonzaga Bulldogs
#13 – Syracuse Orange
#14 – UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
#15 – Arizona Wildcats
#16 – Wisconsin Badgers
#17 – Baylor Bears
#18 – Creighton Bluejays
#19 – Florida Gators
#20 – Kansas State Wildcats
#21 – San Diego State Aztecs
#22 – Saint Louis Billikens
#23 – Memphis Tigers
#24 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
#25 – Texas Wildcats
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