UNC Basketball: Five bold predictions for the 2018-19 season

The hype for the 2018-19 UNC Basketball season is building quickly, and with the first game just a few months away, analysts and fans alike are making predictions on how the Tar Heels will fare this year.

The North Carolina Tar Heels will be returning a plethora of experienced, quality players who will be joined by three very talented freshmen in what should be a successful and exciting season.

While this should be a fun year, it is also full of questions and unknowns.

After being spoiled the past several years with Kendall Marshall, Marcus Paige, and Joel Berry II, who will be UNC’s starting point guard this season? Will the young big men be able to take the next step? How much of a role will the freshmen play early on?

Three starters from last year are back, in Luke Maye, Kenny Williams, and Cameron Johnson. UNC will also be welcoming in freshmen Nassir Little, Rechon “Leaky” Black, and Coby White, in what is Roy Williams’ best recruiting class since 2014.

The Tar Heels will also be returning several quality role players including Garrison Brooks, Sterling Manley, Brandon Robinson, Seventh Woods, Andrew Platek, and Brandon Huffman.

After the disappointing early exit last March in the Round of 32 to Texas A&M, motivation will not be hard to find. Maye has made it very clear UNC is ready to redeem themselves from that loss: “Watching two weekends is not something I am going to go out with this year.”

Add in the hall of fame coaching ability of Roy Williams, and the Tar Heels should be one of the best teams in the country all year and be able to contend for a National Championship once again.

Here are my five bold predictions for the 2018-19 UNC Basketball season: