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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels fall in latest ESPN Way Too Early Poll

By Zack Pearson

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 23: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during the first half of the CBS Sports Classic against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Smoothie King Center on December 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 23: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during the first half of the CBS Sports Classic against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Smoothie King Center on December 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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ESPN dropped the UNC Basketball program in their latest “Way too Early” Top 25 poll that was updated this week

We are still a few months away from the start of the 2019-20 college basketball season as recruiting picked up a bit over the past week with the open period. With coaches being able to go out and watch recruits, the news in the college basketball world was based on recruiting updates.

But even with that, there was some news of a recent transfer that could impact the landscape of the 2019-20 season.

Over the past month no team has made bigger moves than the Florida Gators. The program landed Virginia Tech transfer Kerry Blackshear Jr. as well as potent Cleveland State scorer Tyree Appleby to their program. With the two transfers plus the No. 7 recruiting class for 2019 per 247 Sports, the Gators have become an instant contender for the title in 2020.

With the latest moves, ESPN decided to update their “Way Too Early Top 25” poll for the 2019-20 season. To no one’s surprise, Florida made the biggest move jumping from No. 18 to No. 4 and in the process moved some Atlantic Coast Conference teams back.

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Louisville was able to stay put at No. 5 in the poll despite being jumped by Florida but both Duke and UNC fell two spots each.

The Tar Heels fell from No. 6 to No. 8 with Gonzaga staying put at No. 7 ahead of them. Duke dropped from No. 4 to No. 6 in the poll with Florida’s movement into the Top 5.

The good news is that ESPN still thinks UNC is a legit contender for the upcoming season still having them ranked inside the Top 10. Here is what ESPN wrote on the Tar Heels for the updated rankings:

"Given that Roy Williams lost his top five players from last season, Carolina being ranked inside the top 10 is an impressive feat for the Tar Heels. But it’s indicative of how efficient they were revamping their roster in the spring. The biggest piece was No. 1 guard Cole Anthony, but ESPN 100 guard Anthony Harris also came aboard. Graduate transfers Justin Pierce (William & Mary) and Christian Keeling (Charleston Southern) could also push for starting roles. Williams will need productivity from his bigs next season, but he does have five-star freshman Armando Bacot and returning starter Garrison Brooks to rely on."

UNC will begin its 2019-20 campaign by hosting ACC foe Notre Dame on November 6th in the Dean Dome. Following that, they will begin their non-conference schedule with matchups against Gonzaga, UCLA, Alabama, Ohio State and possibly Iowa State or Michigan.

Conference play will be tough again this season as the ACC moves to a new 20-game schedule with the launch of their new network.

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For more on the UNC Basketball program as we count down the days until the start of the season, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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