UNC Basketball: Where Tar Heels rank in NBC Sports Early Top 25

We take a look at where the UNC Basketball program is ranked in NBC’s Way Too Early Top 25 that was released on Sunday morning

The 2019-20 college basketball season abruptly came to an end with the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With no tournament this year, college basketball fans will have to wait until November to see a live game.

While we wait for that moment, there is some college basketball news that has been circulating with potential transfers, players leaving for the NBA and even recruiting during this quiet period.

There’s a long way to go until the start of next season and a lot can still change, but it hasn’t stopped publications from releasing their way too early Top 25 rankings. The latest? NBC Sports.

The publication put out their way too early Top 25 on Sunday morning, giving fans a look at what to expect next season as it stands right now. Rob Dauster broke down the teams, listing Villanova as the favorites for next season. Despite a bad 2019-20 campaign, Dauster still thinks highly of the Tar Heels going into next year.

He has UNC ranked No. 15 overall with the potential to be in the Top 8, as he writes:

"The Tar Heels will lost Cole Anthony, but with Caleb Love entering the program, they will once again be led by a five-star lead guard perfectly suited to running Roy Williams’ system. The Tar Heels will also have arguably the best frontline in college basketball, as Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot will be joined by five-stars Day’Ron Sharpe and Walker Kessler. The key to this team is going to be on the wings, where Leaky Black, Anthony Harris, Puff Johnson, R.J. Davis and Andrew Platek will be asked to carry the load. If I had more confidence in that group the Tar Heels would be ranked in my top eight."

UNC will lose senior Brandon Robinson to graduation and likely freshman Cole Anthony to the NBA but will return Garrison Brooks, Armando Bacot, Leaky Black, Jeremiah Francis, and Andrew Platek next year. All saw some key minutes in the rotation. They should also get Anthony Harris back sometime in December or January as he recovers from a knee injury.

Add that to UNC’s stacked 2020 recruiting class that is No. 3 overall and includes five-star recruits Caleb Love, Walker Kessler and Day’Ron Sharpe as well as four-star recruits R.J. Davis and Donovan “Puff” Johnson. The Tar Heels will lack some experience on the wing but should have a shot to be a contender next season.

For more on the UNC Basketball program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.