Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels Top ESPN’s Final “Way Too Early Top 25”

By Mark DeMott

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 02: Leaky Black #1 and R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 81-77 in the second half of the game during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 02: Leaky Black #1 and R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 81-77 in the second half of the game during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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The final ESPN “Way Too Early Top 25” was released this morning, and the UNC basketball team still tops the list.

The wait is almost over.

After the UNC basketball team’s outstanding March run came up just three points short of a national championship, Tar Heel fans have been dreaming about what the 2022-2023 season could bring.

When the return of starters Caleb Love, Armando Bacot, Leaky Black, and RJ Davis was announced, Carolina became one of a small group of teams that will enter this season as national championship favorites.

Another preseason Top 25 publication was released on Thursday, and this one has the Heels ranked at the top of the list.  ESPN College Basketball Insider Jeff Borzello announced the final edition of his “Way Too Early Top 25” rankings, and Hubert Davis’ squad is slotted in the top spot.

Borzello’s top five behind North Carolina are the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Houston Cougars, Kentucky Wildcats, and Duke Blue Devils.  Some other notable teams found in this ranking (along with Duke) that the Heels will face this season include #14 Indiana and #18 Virginia.

Carolina’s side of the bracket at the Phil Knight Invitational also includes potential matchups with #12 Villanova, #19 Oregon, #20 Alabama, and #23 UConn.  The Tar Heels will also face Miami and Michigan, both listed in the “Next in Line” category.

As Hubert Davis is sure to remind his team, preseason rankings mean nothing once the ball is tipped.  Last year’s UNC basketball squad is a great example of that, as the Tar Heels spent the vast majority of the season unranked prior to their stellar NCAA Tournament run that ultimately earned them a spot at No. 2 at the end-of-year Coaches Poll.

The Tar Heels will open the season a month from today in the Smith Center against UNCW.  There is a legitimate shot that the UNC basketball program will open that game and the season as the preseason No. 1 team for the first time since 2016.

Next. UNC ACC Tipoff Representatives. dark

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