Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels predicted to finish behind two others in ACC

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 24: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels moves the ball against the Marquette Golden Eagles during their game at the Dean Smith Center on February 24, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Marquette won 83-70. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 24: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels moves the ball against the Marquette Golden Eagles during their game at the Dean Smith Center on February 24, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Marquette won 83-70. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The 2021-22 UNC Basketball season doesn’t begin until November 9th but the excitement to usher in a new era under Hubert Davis continues to build.

Davis takes over for the legendary Roy Williams and so far, he’s done everything right. He’s been able to land some transfers while keeping his two man recruiting class and has even landed five additional recruits for future classes. But now the work on the court begins and he will have the keys to a talented roster that may surprise some this season.

Ahead of the start of the season, the media believes UNC should be a contender in the Atlantic Coast Conference but there are two teams predicted to finish ahead of them.

The 81-member media panel has officially submitted their picks for the upcoming season, predicting Duke to win the league and the Florida State Seminoles to finish second. The Tar Heels are predicted to finish third in the conference, a year after they finished sixth with a 10-6 conference record.

Below is the full prediction for the order of finish in the conference with first place votes:

  • Duke (47)
  • Florida State (14)
  • North Carolina (5)
  • Virginia (9)
  • Virginia Tech (5)
  • Louisville (1)
  • Syracuse
  • Notre Dame
  • NC State
  • Georgia Tech
  • Clemson
  • Miami
  • Wake Forest
  • Pitt
  • Boston College

It’s no secret why the media picked Duke as they welcome back key pieces in Wendell Moore, Mark Williams, Joey Baker and Jeremy Roach while welcoming in a top recruiting class including Paolo Banchero, Trevor Keels, and AJ Griffin.

Florida State is a bit of a surprise but it points to the ACC being a little more open this year than normally. UNC, FSU, Virginia and Virginia Tech should all be in the hunt for most of the season and things could be a cluster early on.

But for the Tar Heels, getting that double bye and playing well in conference play this year will be key to their postseason success.

Next. KenPom releases season projections with no love for UNC. dark

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

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