2011 North Carolina Basketball Predictions

2010-11 Results:

Overall: 29-8 (15-0 H, 7-3 A, 7-5 N)
ACC: 14-2 (8-0 H, 6-2 A)
Conference Tournament: 2-1, lost in finals
Postseason: 3-1, lost in NCAA regional final

The Tar Heels finished as one of the top teams in the nation, advancing to the ACC Championship game and to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. The team won 12 of its final 14 games, losing only to Duke and Kentucky in that span. The Heels were 15-0 at home and with all but one of the regulars returning, expect the Tar Heels to be one of the national-title contenders from the opening tip.

Roster
Returning Starters
Harrison Barnes
John Henson
Kendall Marshall
Dexter Strickland
Tyler Zeller

Returning Lettermen
Reggie Bullock
Leslie McDonald
Justin Watts

Other Returning Players
Stewart Cooper
Patrick Crouch
David Dupont

Newcomers
Luke Davis
P.J. Hairston
Desmond Hubert
James Michael McAdoo
Stilman White
Jackson Simmons

Head Coach
Roy Williams, ninth year

Key Losses
Of the losses, the only two members of the regular rotation were Justin Knox and Larry Drew II. Knox finished fourth on the team in rebounding (3.2 pg) and blocked shots (12) and averaged 14 minutes and 4.5 points per game while shooting 53 percent from the floor. Drew started 17 of 21 games, averaging 4.5 points, 4 assists and 2.5 rebounds per contest.

Schedule

Date	Opponent / Event
10/14/2011	vs. Late Night With Roy Williams
10/28/2011	vs. UNC Pembroke (exhibition)
Quicken Loans Carrier Classic
11/11/2011	vs. Michigan State
11/13/2011	@ UNC Asheville
Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational
11/20/2011	vs. Mississippi Valley State
11/22/2011	vs. Tennessee State
11/25/2011	vs. South Carolina
11/26/2011	USC or UNLV
ACC/Big Ten Challenge
11/30/2011	vs. Wisconsin
Regular Season
12/3/2011	@ Kentucky
12/6/2011	vs. Evansville
12/10/2011	vs. Long Beach State
12/17/2011	vs. Appalachian State
12/19/2011	vs. Nicholls
12/21/2011	vs. Texas
12/29/2011	vs. Elon
1/1/2012	vs. Monmouth
1/7/2012	vs. Boston College
1/10/2012	vs. Miami
1/14/2012	@ Florida State
1/19/2012	@ Virginia Tech
1/26/2012	vs. North Carolina State
1/29/2012	vs. Georgia Tech
1/31/2012	@ Wake Forest
2/4/2012	@ Maryland
2/8/2012	vs. Duke
2/11/2012	vs. Virginia
2/15/2012	@ Miami
2/18/2012	vs. Clemson
2/21/2012	@ North Carolina State
2/25/2012	@ Virginia
2/29/2012	vs. Maryland
3/3/2012	@ Duke
ACC Tournament
3/8/2012	ACC First Round
3/9/2012	ACC Quarterfinal
3/10/2012	ACC Semifinal
3/11/2012	ACC Final

2011-12 Preview

After such a successful season and having 11 letterwinners and all five starters return from an Elite Eight appearance will put a target on the Tar Heels’ back all year long. This group will be loaded with talent everywhere, and is the consensus preseason No. 1 nationally. A Final Four appearance – at minimum – might be the expectation for this group.

Backcourt

The guard positions are well-stocked with the starting tandem coming back and three other major contributors looking for larger roles in the rotation this year..

Sophomore Kendall Marshall was the top playmaker last year as the starting point guard. He was the only player to record more than 82 assists (with 230, 6.2 pg) and finished sixth on the team in scoring (6.2 ppg) and second in steals (40).

Junior Dexter Strickland is the top returning backcourt scorer (7.5 ppg, fourth overall on the team), leading the team in steals (46) and tied for second in assists (82, 2.1 pg) while shooting a solid 46% from the floor.

Junior Leslie McDonald was the No. 2 backcourt scorer last year (7 ppg) while playing just 16 minutes per contest off the bench. He was the top 3-point shooter in terms of accuracy (38 percent) and was second in makes (51) and attempts (134) from the arc.

Sophomore Reggie Bullock saw almost 15 minutes per game in his 27 games, tallying 6 points and 3 rebounds per contest.

Senior Justin Watts saw action in 34 games, carding 2 points and 2 boards in about 9 minutes per contest.

Frontcourt

The frontline will be anchored by the three returning starters, who were the top three scorers and rebounders on last year’s Elite Eight squad.
Senior Tyler Zeller was the top scorer (16 ppg), shooter (55 percent from the floor) and most prolific foul shooter (team-best 161 makes, 211 attempts and 75 percent) while being No. 2 in rebounds (7.2 pg) and blocked shots (45).

Sophomore Harrison Barnes is already garnering headlines as a preseason All-America in some circles. He was the No. 2 scorer (16 ppg) and No. 3 rebounder (5.8 pg) last year while leading the team in treys made (57) and attempted (195).

Junior John Henson was the team leader in rebounding (10 pg) and blocked shots (118) while listing third in scoring (12 ppg). He shot better from the floor (50 percent) than from the foul line (48 percent).

Other Resources on Tar Heel Basketball:

More ACC Basketball Predictions

North Carolina Tar Heels	Duke Blue Devils	Florida State Seminoles
Virginia Cavaliers	NC State Wolfpack	Miami Hurricanes
Clemson Tigers	Maryland Terrapins	Virginia Tech Hokies
Wake Forest Demon Deacons	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	Boston College Eagles

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