UNC Basketball: Tar Heels make CBS Sports’ preseason top-15

UNC basketball comes in at No. 15 in CBS Sports’ preseason ‘Top 25 and 1’

Despite turning in their worst performance in nearly 20 years — a 19-loss season that included three separate streaks of at least four losses — the North Carolina Tar Heels are getting some early preseason recognition.

CBS Sports released its updated “Top 25 and 1” this week, and the Tar Heels came in at No. 15 on the list. CBS Sports Insider Gary Parrish discussed what went into the Tar Heels’ ranking, noting their rough 2019-20 campaign, and how he expects them to turn it around in the coming season.

"“Roy Williams just endured what he called the toughest season of his coaching career – one that resulted in five more losses (19) than wins (14),” Parrish writes. “It was rough. But the 2020-21 season will be much better – even if Cole Anthony leaves as expected – thanks to the arrival of a top-three recruiting class featuring 5-star prospects Day’Ron Sharpe, Walker Kessler and Caleb Love. Assuming Garrison Brooks, Armando Bacot, Anthony Harris and Leaky Black all return, UNC will be talented enough to push Virginia and Duke at the top of the ACC.”"

And Parrish is right. The Tar Heels should be able to challenge Duke and Virginia, among others, at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings Their incoming freshman class offers both depth and star-power that the roster lacked last season. They’ll have multiple capable ball handlers and scorers in the back court, and an embarrassment of size and skill in the post.

Caleb Love and R.J. Davis will come in and make an immediate impact, and both will likely be in the Tar Heels’ starting lineup when the season begins in November. Day’Ron Sharpe and Walker Kessler will allow the Tar Heels’ front court to stay competitive when starters Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot need a breather. And 4-star wing Puff Johnson, the younger brother of former Tar Heel Cameron Johnson, will be called on to knock down shots from the perimeter, and help North Carolina spread out the floor on offense.

Overall, the Tar Heels should have the kind of balance and offensive firepower that they lacked throughout the 2019-20 season. Additionally, if they can manage to stay healthy — something they couldn’t do last season that hindered their efforts from beginning to end — then it should be back to business as usual in Chapel Hill.

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