UNC Basketball: A Season of Promise Ahead?
As I reflect on the upcoming season, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. The 2024-25 UNC basketball roster may still be one piece shy of being a consensus national championship frontrunner, but with the recent addition of former Vanderbilt forward Ven-Allen Lubin via the transfer portal, the Tar Heels are certainly on the right track.
“Experts have placed UNC basketball as high as No. 3 in recent weeks…”
But the latest “way-too-early” top 25 courtesy of On3’s James Fletcher III has the program at No 11 for Hubert Davis’ fourth year at the helm, below only No. 5 Duke among ACC schools. No. 18 Clemson is the only other team from the conference in Fletcher’s top 25.
ACC Basketball is set to be more competitive than ever
The departures from Chapel Hill are notable, including three 2023-24 Tar Heel starters in Harrison Ingram, Cormac Ryan, and Armando Bacot. Moreover, only 11 scholarship talents are currently on tap, and many folks are of the opinion that UNC is still missing a formidable center.
RJ Davis is set to lead the Tar Heels this season
That said, one could argue that On3 isn’t sufficiently rewarding the Tar Heels for welcoming back a starting backcourt that features the reigning ACC Player of the Year in RJ Davis and ACC All-Rookie Team performer Elliot Cadeau. And that’s not to mention several key UNC basketball reserves from last season in guard Seth Trimble, forward Jae’Lyn Withers, and big man Jalen Washington.
Ian Jackson is one of the top freshmen in the country
Plus, Lubin isn’t the only quality newcomer. He joins former Belmont sharpshooter Cade Tyson, who is the younger brother of recent Clemson star Hunter Tyson, and a trio of incoming freshmen highlighted by five-star McDonald’s All-American sensations Ian Jackson and Drake Powell.
The Tar Heels are looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament
Before ultimately falling to Alabama in the Sweet 16, Hubert Davis’ third Tar Heel bunch (29-8 overall record) finished atop the ACC regular season standings at 17-3 in conference play and received a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. UNC ranked No. 7 in the season’s final AP Poll.
The ACC Championship is within reach for the Tar Heels
As I look ahead to the upcoming season, I’m excited to see how the Tar Heels will fare. With a strong core of returning players and some exciting newcomers, I believe UNC has the potential to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. And who knows, maybe even bring home a national championship.
The ultimate goal: a national championship
