Where ESPN ranks UNC basketball ahead of 2024-25 season

The start of the 2024-25 college basketball season is under a month away as practices are ramping up for programs here in October. For North Carolina, they are coming off a season in which they won the ACC regular season title but were bounced from the NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16 by Alabama.

While Hubert Davis’ team lost key players like Armando Bacot, Cromac Ryan and Harrison Ingram, they return a good portion of their roster. They also welcome in good recruiting and transfer portal classes.

But how good will North Carolina be?

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello released his final update to his way-too-early top 25 rankings. And he has UNC just outside of the top 10, ranking at No. 11 in the update:

The Tar Heels’ roster starts with RJ Davis, a first-team All-American and the preseason favorite for the Wooden Award. Davis had a true breakout campaign last season, averaging 21.2 points and leading Carolina to a 1-seed. Hubert Davis has plenty of perimeter options: Elliot Cadeau has to make strides at the point guard position, while junior Seth Trimble, five-star freshman Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are all generating buzz. The frontcourt has some questions, however. How will Belmont transfer Cade Tyson adjust to life in the ACC? Is Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin the answer down low?

The Tar Heels have hovered around top 10 ranking in the last few updates by Borzello. They do have some big question marks including the front court, especially with the losses of Bacot and Ingram.

UNC was an excellent rebounding team last season but if they struggle this year it could be the difference in a successful season or not.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : Where ESPN ranks UNC basketball ahead of 2024-25 season

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/where-espn-ranks-unc-basketball-100019685.html

Author : Tar Heels Wire

Publish date : 2024-10-09 10:00:19

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