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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels a top-15 team according to Sports Illustrated

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 08: "Ramses", mascot of the North Carolina Tar Heels, makes an entrance before a game against the Duke Blue Devils on February 08, 2018 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 82-78. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 08: "Ramses", mascot of the North Carolina Tar Heels, makes an entrance before a game against the Duke Blue Devils on February 08, 2018 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 82-78. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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The new-look UNC basketball program comes in at No. 14 in Sports Illustrated’s 2021-22 rankings.

The start of the 2021-22 college basketball season is just days away, and Sports Illustrated has released its rankings for all 358 Division I programs.

The newly revamped North Carolina Tar Heels came in at No. 14 on the list, a bit higher than we’ve seen them in the majority of preseason rankings over the last few weeks. Not only that, but they’re also picked to finish second (Duke first, 11th overall) in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, a spot higher than ESPN’s panel of college basketball analysts believe.

According to the latter, the Tar Heels will land behind the Florida State Seminoles in the ACC’s final regular season standings. Sports Illustrated, on the other hand, likes North Carolina to finish above the Seminoles by season’s end, and ranks the Tar Heels several spots north (21) of Leonard Hamilton’s squad to begin the season.

Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney and Molly Geary feel strongly about the Tar Heels’ chances this season, thanks in large part to the return of junior center Armando Bacot, and his new front court running mates, Dawson Garcia and Brady Manek.

"“The Tar Heels certainly seem well-positioned to win big in Hubert Davis’s first year at the helm. Transfers Dawson Garcia (Marquette) and Brady Manek (Oklahoma) form a versatile big-man trio with 6’ 10” junior Armando Bacot.”"

Also a difference-maker for the Tar Heels this season is their sensational group of returning sophomores. Caleb Love and R.J. Davis could be starting alongside each other when the season begins next week, but both will get starter’s minutes regardless of their spot in the rotation. Sharpshooting second-year guard Kerwin Walton will almost undoubtedly make the Tar Heels’ starting five, and Anthony Harris will provide important minutes off the UNC bench.

The Tar Heels have their lone exhibition game this Friday, followed by their first regular season game next Tuesday against Loyola at the Dean Smith Center.

Next. Ty Lawson is on the move yet again. dark

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the UNC basketball program.

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