UNC Basketball: Andy Katz ranks Tar Heels No. 2 shooting team in 2018

Andy Katz says North Carolina will be one of 2018’s best shooting teams

With just three weeks left until the start of the 2018-19 college basketball season, ESPN college hoops analyst and NCAA.com correspondent Andy Katz has compiled a list of the best shooting teams in the nation.

Among the teams listed is the North Carolina Tar Heels, who Katz ranks second only to the Virginia Cavaliers. The Cavaliers return their three-headed monster in Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter, all of whom shot 38 percent or better from beyond the three-point line last season.

The Tar Heels, though, have their own three-pronged attack from downtown in returning seniors Luke Maye, Kenny Williams and Cameron Johnson. The trio combined for better than 90 minutes and 40 points per game last season, and made up three of the team’s top four three-point threats.

Katz had the following to say of the Tar Heels, who will be led by their senior nucleus and sensational freshman newcomers:

"“The Tar Heels have their own big three with Kenny Williams (40.2 percent with 72 3s last season), Luke Maye (50 3s last season) and Cameron Johnson (116 3s in his career),” Katz said. “Toss in Coby White and Nassir Little and the depth is there for the Tar Heels to be quite a pain to defend along the perimeter.”"

The Tar Heels have been among the teams labeled national title contenders this year, and a nearly consensus pick for preseason top-10. Maye has also been a popular pick for first team All-American, as well as National Player of the Year.

There’s still no certainty what Roy Williams’ starting lineup with look like for the Tar Heels’ November 6th game at Wofford, but the five players that Katz mentioned have been a popular pick among UNC fans over the past few months. It goes without being said that a starting-five of Maye, Williams, Johnson, White and Little would offer the experience, leadership and star-power that a championship-caliber team needs to have.

Gonzaga, Marquette and Purdue round out the top-5 of Katz’ list, while TCU, Villanova, Kansas State, Loyola-Chicago and Auburn make up the bottom-half of his top-10.

A young, but talented Kentucky team came in at No. 13 on the list, and likely preseason No. 1 Kansas landed at No. 16. ACC foes Duke and Syracuse came in at 17th and 19th, respectively.

For a complete list of the top-25, click here.

For more on the Tar Heels, stick with Keeping It Heel in the days leading up to the start of the college basketball season.