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UNC Basketball: First practice marks start of title defense for Tar Heels

By Blake Cockrum

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The North Carolina Tar Heels mascot celebrates in the confetti after defeatin ghte Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The North Carolina Tar Heels mascot celebrates in the confetti after defeatin ghte Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Tar Heels begin ‘title defense’ on Monday afternoon

The North Carolina Tar Heels finished the 2016-17 college basketball season as national champions, winning 33 games and an ACC regular season crown along the way.

And despite winning its sixth NCAA Tournament championship, and third in the past 13 years, none of that matters now, with respect to the upcoming season.

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North Carolina begins a new season on Monday afternoon with its first practice since winning it all roughly six months ago. And sure, it’s the beginning of what will often be ceremoniously referred to as the team’s title defense; but it’s in name only.

Now, that’s not to say that this North Carolina team isn’t going to be a good one. It’s not even saying that the Tar Heels don’t have a chance to appear in their third consecutive championship game and possibly take home back-to-back titles.

What it is saying, which is vastly more important, is that they begin the season as an almost entirely different team than last year.

The Tar Heels return Joel Berry II and Theo Pinson, yes. There are also a handful of reserves, including Elite 8 hero Luke Maye, that will undoubtedly see more action this year than last.

But after saying goodbye to the nation’s most dominant front court – Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks, Tony Bradley – and first team All-American Justin Jackson, this squad is dramatically different from the one that cut the nets down in April.

The Tar Heels welcome Pittsburgh graduate transfer Cameron Johnson, who will most definitely see a lot of playing time and greatly impact the outcome of this season. Another new face in Chapel Hill this season is five-star combo guard Jalek Felton, nephew of former UNC great Raymond Felton.

This isn’t 2010, though. It’s not a rebuilding year. The bar should remain high for North Carolina, despite the changes from last year to this.

So at least from a nominal standpoint, the Tar Heels begin their title defense at practice No. 1 this afternoon in the Dean Smith Center.

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Basketball season has officially returned. Adjust your excitement level accordingly.

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