No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels

To browse through the rest of our Top 50 Countdown, click here.

Last Season: 20-17, 5-11 (t-9th ACC), lost to Dayton in the finals of the NIT

Head Coach: Roy Williams

Key Losses: Ed Davis, Deon Thompson, Marcus Ginyard, Travis Wear, David Wear, Will Graves

Newcomers: Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall, Reggie Bullock, Justin Knox

Projected Lineup:

• G: Larry Drew, Jr.
  
• G: Reggie Bullock, Fr.
  
• F: Harrison Barnes, Fr.
  
• F: John Henson, So.
  
• C: Tyler Zeller, Jr.
  
• Bench: Justin Knox, Sr.; Kendall Marshall, Fr.; Dexter Strickland, So.; Leslie McDonald, So.; Justin Watts, Jr.
  

Outlook: North Carolina was arguably the most disappointing team in the country in 2009-2010. Despite losing three first round picks and four starters from their 2009 national title team, the Tar Heels were expected to compete for the ACC title, and possibly a Final Four, on the strength of a talented front line and a loaded recruiting class. Instead, UNC never found a rhythm, struggled mightily to replace Ty Lawson's leadership at the point, and found themselves buried at the bottom of the ACC.

As they were forced to do last season, the Heels will be have to replace quite a bit of talent this year, especially in the front court. Starters Ed Davis and Deon Thompson are gone, as are the Wear twins. The two guys that do return up front, Tyler Zeller and John Henson, both seem to be in line for big seasons. Zeller has the potential to be the Heel's rock inside. A legitimate seven-footer, Zeller has battled injuries his first two seasons. But when he is healthy, he has a solid post game. He can score with either hand, has a nice touch around the rim, and has a good feel for taking advantage of what the defense gives him. With increased touches next season, Zeller is going to need an improved repertoire in the paint but he should be able to handle being a focal point offensively.

Henson is a guy that could develop into a star. He really struggled early last season when Roy Williams tried using him as a three. He's not a three, he's a post player that needs to add mass and strength. When Ed Davis broke his wrist and Henson got more consistent playing time in the paint, he performed much better. He physical profile is very similar to that of Brandon Wright, the former UNC star and lottery pick. If Henson can put it all together, he has to potential to be that kind of player as well. The key to this season may end up being under-the-radar transfer Justin Knox. The former Alabama forward graduated and thus was allowed to transfer without sitting out a season, meaning he immediately becomes the third -- and only back up -- big man on the roster.

On the perimeter, this is a team with seemingly limitless talent. The question is whether or not that talent can come together as a team. It starts with freshman Harrison Barnes. Many people in the know believe Barnes to be the best player in the country this season. At 6'8", Barnes is a slasher built in a Paul Pierce-like mold. He thrives in the mid-range, where he length and athleticism allow him to get his shot off against most anyone. He's a fluid, fundamental player with a developed offensive arsenal, especially when it comes to putting the ball on the floor. He could stand to improve the range on his jumper and his consistency from three, but that will come with time. Barnes is a big-time scorer with big-time potential, a kid who, despite all the talent in the ACC, could end up being the conference's -- if not the nation's -- player of the year.


But its going to take a lot more than just a big-time perimeter scorer to fix UNC's problems. The biggest issue they had last season was at the point. Its tough to argue with a guy who averaged 6.0 apg as Larry Drew did last season, but it always seemed as if something was missing. He was erratic as a ball-handler and it seemed like he didn't quite grasp what Williams was looking to do when the team ran the floor. Freshman Kendall Marshall, and even potentially sophomore Dexter Strickland (who, admittedly, is more of a combo-guard), should push Drew for minutes at the point.

With Ginayrd and now Graves, who was kicked off the team, gone, the wing spot is going to be played by kids without a ton of experience. Freshman Reggie Bullock is a sharpshooting two-guard that should start immediately. Behind Bullock will be Leslie McDonald, a sophomore who never quite found his confidence or his shooting stroke as a sparsely-used freshman, and Justin Watts, a 6'4" junior that has seen limited minutes throughout his career.

North Carolina will be young and inexperienced, which is what generally occurs when you lose four starters for two seasons in a row. That said, this is a supremely talented team. If Harrison Barnes is as good as advertised, Zeller and Henson develop, and the point guard situation gets an answer, UNC has the potential to be a Final Four contender. If those things don't happen, UNC could once again find themselves slipping down the ACC standings.