Source: Michael Reaves / Getty
2023 Record: 20-13 (11-9) 7th in the ACC, missed NCAA Tournament
Key Losses: G Caleb Love (16.7 pts, 2.8 asts), F Leaky Black (7.3 pts, 6.5 reb), F Pete Nance (10.0 pts, 6.0 reb), F Puff Johnson (4.1 pts, 2.7 reb)
Key Returnees: F Armando Bacot (15.9 pts, 10.4 rebs), G R.J. Davis (16.1 pts, 3.2 ast)
Keys Transfer Additions: G Cormac Ryan (12.3 pts, 2.5 ast), F Harrison Ingram (10.5 pts, 5.8 reb), F Jae’lyn Withers (8.9 pts, 5.3 rebs), G Paxson Wojcik (14.9 pts, 7.2 reb)
Key High School Additions: G Elliot Cadeau
Outlook: This is a huge season for head coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels after the disappointment of last year. The team has had to undergo a complete overhaul and while the losses of Caleb Love and Leaky Black hurt, this roster already seems much more cohesive. Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame), Harrison Ingram (Stanford) and Jae’lyn Withers (Louisville) all have power conference experience that will be valuable when paired alongside the veteran leaders that the team brings back in Armando Bacot and R.J. Davis. The biggest wild card that could determine how this season goes is true freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau, who is already drawing comparisons to great passers like Kendall Marshall and Ed Cota. The Tar Heels have a great mix of youth and experience and there is a lot of positivity that it can mesh well enough to not only get back to the tournament but back into contention for the ACC regular season crown.
Quotes from Wes & Walker:
Hubert Davis- “The goal for us each year for me is for us as a team to reach our full potential. I think in the first year, we did. Last year, that was the disappointment. Whatever that was, I don’t know, but it wasn’t that. There’s a number of factors. You could talk about our lack of being able to shoot and distribute the basketball, but I think last year’s group handling the direction and the noise from the praise and prosperity, at times you take you foot off the gas pedal a little bit and forget moments of what it actually took just to get there and you lose sight of that. Those are lessons that I think especially Armando and RJ have learned from last year to this year.”
Armando Bacot- “I never considered not coming back for my super senior season. Especially not with how last year ended. I mean it was a no-brainer. I knew I wanted to come back cause I didn’t want to leave Carolina with that’s the last thought that the fans had of me. When you come to Carolina, that’s the first thing on our bulletin board is winning a national championship and that is something that we’re trying to get to. Obviously, two years ago you came so close and don’t get it done, so we just really want to get it done.”
