No. 9 North Carolina aims to ride returning 1st-team AP All-American RJ Davis to ACC contention
North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) brings the ball down court during the first half of a second-round college basketball game against Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. Credit: AP/Chris Carlson
No. 9 North Carolina (29-8, 17-3 ACC)
The Tar Heels won last year's ACC regular-season title and claimed a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling in the Sweet 16. They have two starters back and 10 newcomers with big shoes to fill, in the frontcourt. The Tar Heels are picked to finish second in the ACC.
Players to watch
RJ Davis (graduate, G, 6-0, 180, 21.2 ppg). Davis is the lone returning Associated Press first-team All-American from last year. He was the ACC's leading scorer, league player of the year and winner of the Jerry West Award as the nation's top shooting guard.
Elliot Cadeau (sophomore, PG, 6-1, 180, 4.1 apg). Cadeau is a gifted passer but had issues with his outside shot (10 of 53 from 3-point range). Cadeau said an offseason spent getting shots up has helped.
Jalen Washington (junior, F, 6-10, 235, 3.9 ppg). Washington is set to be the foundation of the frontcourt after spending his first two seasons behind five-year big man Armando Bacot.
Departures and arrivals
The 6-11 Bacot's departure looms large considering he finished as the program's No. 2 scorer (2,347 points) as well as its leader in rebounding (1,715) and double-doubles (87). The Tar Heels also lost two other starters: Harrison Ingram (12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds) and veteran guard Cormac Ryan (11.5 ppg).
The Tar Heels are adding a pair of McDonald's All-Americans in guard Ian Jackson (6-4, 190) and wing Drake Powell (6-6, 195). There's also transfer help with Belmont junior wing Cade Tyson (15 ppg, 44.6% from 3 in two seasons), junior forward Ven-Allen Lubin (12.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg at Vanderbilt) and 6-7 graduate forward Ty Claude (4.8 ppg at Georgia Tech).
Top games
The Tar Heels open Nov. 4 at home against Elon before a trip to No. 1 Kansas (Nov. 8), followed by the Maui Invitational — featuring third-ranked and two-time national champion UConn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 11 Auburn. In December, UNC hosts No. 2 Alabama (Dec. 4), No. 21 Florida (Dec. 17) and No. 22 UCLA (Dec. 21). Games vs. No. 7 Duke are Feb. 1 and March 8.
North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis calls to players during the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic NCAA college basketball exhibition game against Memphis Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. Credit: AP/Brandon Dill
Facts and figures
UNC returns 50.6% of its scoring and 36.7% of its rebounding from last year. ... Fourth-year coach Hubert Davis is 78-31 since taking over for retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams, including a trip to the NCAA title game in his first year. ... The Tar Heels have opened the year ranked in the top 10 in 14 of the past 19 years. ... UNC has a record 21 trips to the Final Four and 2,372 victories in program history, trailing only Kansas and Kentucky.
