Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: Preseason rankings according to ESPN’s Dick Vitale

By Blake Cockrum

Feb 1, 2020; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale interacts with the crowd during the second half of the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2020; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale interacts with the crowd during the second half of the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Where UNC basketball’s 2020-21 squad ranks in the eyes of ESPN’s Dick Vitale

The 2020-21 NCAA basketball season is just around the corner, and ESPN’s Dick Vitale recently released his annual preseason top 40.

The North Carolina Tar Heels, who welcome in a myriad of freshman talent this year, are ranked 15th according to the longtime college hoops analyst and commentator. It’s fairly common for what we’ve seen to this point, and probably fairly favorable considering the 14-19 debacle that that Tar Heels endured a season ago.

dark. Next. UNC should be recruiting these three 2022 prospects

"“Last season was one of the roughest in Roy Williams’ Hall of Fame career,” Vitale writes. “Don’t expect the Tar Heels to be down for long. Cole Anthony is gone, though UNC has several talented veterans returning. Garrison Brooks is one of the ACC’s top returning players. Armando Bacot and Leaky Black should have a chip on their shoulders. The recruiting class is one of the best in America as fans will learn about Caleb Love and R.J. Davis right away. Day’Ron Sharpe and Walker Kessler will also have an impact up front.”"

With Brooks, Bacot, Sharpe and Kessler on board, the Tar Heels have arguably the deepest and most talented front court in the nation. They’ll, of course, have to prove that on the court, but there’s no denying that the eye test puts UNC’s front court ahead of the pack this season. They’ll also benefit from one of the top back court recruits in the country this season in Caleb Love. The speedy, athletic, offensive-minded point guard will come in and run the show for Roy Williams from day one, and should make for a terrific one-two punch with fellow freshman guard R.J. Davis.

North Carolina still has some question marks on the wing, where junior hybrid Leaky Black returns to the starting lineup over newcomers Puff Johnson and Kerwin Walton. If Black can make the jump that the Tar Heels need him to, and Johnson, Walton and company can provide adequate backup off the UNC bench, then the Tar Heels could be competing for a national championship in the spring.

As far as the rest of Vitale’s list goes, Gonzaga is in the No. 1 spot thanks to a ton of returning talent and a top-10 recruit in Jalen Suggs. Villanova also has a terrific returning cast, and ranks second on the list. Preseason Big 12 favorite Baylor is third, while the Virginia Cavaliers rank fourth. The Wisconsin Badgers round out the top-5.

The Kansas Jayhawks lose a lot from last season’s team, but Vitale has enough faith in their returning players and newcomers to put them at No. 6. Cassius Winston is gone, but a strong group of guys lead the seventh-ranked Michigan State Spartans. Texas Tech, Duke and Tennessee round out the top-10.

Next. Will UNC sign any 5-star prospects in 2021?. dark

For all the latest on the UNC basketball program, check back with Keeping It Heel.

Home/UNC Basketball