The Tar Heels are anticipating a very successful season. Last year was a downfall from injuries to chemistry problems on the floor. With a great summer of recruiting and developing, Coach Roy Williams seems optimistic of what this season will have in store.

The team finished with a horrific 14-19 record after getting out to a terrific 5-0 start. After star point guard Cole Anthony went down with a mid-season knee injury, that’s where everything went downhill. The Tar Heels couldn’t find a way to fill Anthony’s role from a point guards perspective. They were getting beat on both ends of the floor, on many occasions losing the fight and effort that was preached in the locker room. It was a forgetful season to say the least. But the best part is they have November 25th to look forward to for a new start.

Returning Players…

The Tar Heels are returning with 9 players from a season ago. But the one who will be leading the way from a leadership perspective will be Garrison Brooks. Brooks averaged 16.8 points and 8.5 rebounds last season for North Carolina. Brooks was amongst one of the toughest players in the ACC under the rim last season. His hustle and tenacity will continue to set the tone for the Tar Heels this coming season. Expect Coach Williams to rely upon Brooks to lead this team night in and night out. Heading into his senior year, he understands what it is like to win on the collegiate level.

Other key players returning for the Tar Heels include Armando Bacot, Anthony Harris, Leaky Black, and more. The best thing about this coming season for North Carolina is that they are bringing backplayers who played with one another a season ago. With the workouts that the team has done during the summer, the players have had a golden opportunity to understand what to do better come this season.

New Recruits…

The newcomers are what are going to make this team go. The Tar Heels had a productive recruit season and grabbed some key prospects that can impact this team. Caleb Love is the freshman that stands out the most to me. His ability to come into the game and light up the floor will be special to watch this season. It’s without question that Coach Williams will create plays for Love off the inbound allow him to have the ball in his hands. Do not be surprised if Love is the leading scorer for North Carolina this season. There’s a possibility that he can become what Cole Anthony wasn’t in North Carolina. His scoring can possibly determine how the team will play throughout the season.

Other young recruits for the star Heels include Day’Ron Sharpe, Walker Kessler, RJ Davis, and many more. The Tar Heels may have had one of the best recruiting class in the NCAA. All of these players impact the game by doing their job correctly. Being coachable is a major aspect playing for North Carolina. As long as the young players do their job, they will see their playing time increase as their value becomes higher.

Expectations…

The ACC will be pretty tough this season for North Carolina. But, if you ask them, they will remain at the top of the conference throughout the year. They will have tough matchups against their rival Duke, Florida State, Virginia, etc. Coach Williams will need to bring his team on the right page quickly to start out the year. Other teams have kept an eye on the Tar Heels this offseason and expect for them to bring everything they have. It will be all about playing together, creating ball movement, and having communication on defense that will put the team above their opponents.

Expect for Roy Williams and North Carolina to have a productive season. If the team can stay healthy, that means good things going forward. Garrison Brooks will have the keys as leader of the team. It will be his job to challenge his teammates night in and night out to compete. Staring November 25, we’ll watch what North Carolina has in store for this season.

This article is dedicated to the friends and family of Chad Dorrill. Chad had many expectations to make an impact on his team this season. But unfortunately, COVID-19 took him away too soon. Our thoughts continue to be with Chad’s family and loved ones.