Does Dick Vitale have the UNC basketball program among his 2024-2025 Sweet 16 teams?

Before we get into talking about the upcoming college basketball season, it would be wrong for us to not send our best thoughts and prayers to Dick Vitale and his family as he is once again battling cancer.

On July 2, Vitale underwent surgery to remove the cancerous lymph nodes that were found in his neck. The surgery was deemed successful, as Vitale made his way to Tropicana Field to watch his beloved Tampa Bay Rays just a few days later!

It's safe to say this man defines what it means to battle through adversity.

As he's done his entire career, Vitale is focused on the upcoming 2024-2025 college basketball season, as he ranked his Sweet 16 teams in a post on ESPN.

Did the UNC basketball program make the cut, and if so, where exactly do they fall?

As Vitale would say, "Here's my Sweet 16 baby!"

The Tar Heels come in at No. 6 on the list, as Vitale ranks them as the top ACC school among the field. North Carolina and Duke (No. 9) stand as the lone representatives from the Atlantic Coast Conference in this particular ranking.

Here's what Vitale had to say about the Tar Heels:

"With fifth-year senior and national player of the year hopeful RJ Davis returning, Hubert Davis likes the foundation for this Tar Heels team. And once highly touted freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell jell in the preseason, North Carolina will be the front-runner in the ACC."

Vitale tabs the Tar Heels as the front-runner in the ACC, citing the return of RJ Davis along with the arrival of five-star freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. Based on this short statement, Vitale seems to have a lot of faith in the roster that Hubert Davis put together.

We love to hear it baby!