Harrison Barnes' decision to return to UNC today certainly makes the Tar Heels the consensus No.1 choice in the early polls for the 2011-12 season. Barnes joined Tyler Zeller and John Henson in skipping out on the NBA for at least one more year, meaning the Tar Heels' entire starting 5 will return from a Final Eight team. And UNC will add James McAdoo, who had 26 points in the Jordan Brand Classic all-star game in Charlotte Saturday night and would start for 95 percent of all college teams right now.
Does all that assure a national title? Of course not. But it certainly makes it more likely -- this does feel a lot like early 2008, when Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson and Danny Green all came back for another run at a title and got one a year later.
But remember, UNC also had a team in 1984 that included Michael Jordan (in his final year), as well as Sam Perkins, Brad Daugherty and Kenny Smith, and that team didn't win it all. In the NCAA's one-and-done postseason format, anything can happen. And other teams aren't standing still, either -- Kentucky had four players in that all-star game in Charlotte Saturday night, and several will contribute immediately.
Still, this was great news for all Tar Heel fans. The UNC second string for 2011-12 would be quite a team in itself, and Roy Williams is going to have a nice problem trying to distribute minutes fairly for this bunch. A friend of mine suggests that the next Tar Heel team may have as much talent as any team in the state since the 1992 Duke Blue Devils -- and he might be right.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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35 comments:
This incoming team at UNC wouldominate the '94 dookies. Not even close. Get real Scott.
This team will be more hyped than the '91 UNLV squad. This team may have more top notch NBA talent than any team in college basketball history. Say it with me Dook fans, ROY RULES YOUR RAT!!!
If you're the smartest I'd hate to read the 'stupidest.'
BTW He said Duke 92, not Duke 94. Hope that helps, smartie.
No one has ever done less with more than Roy Williams, other than Dean Smith. When in the last 40 years has "next year" not been forecast to be "the year" for the holes, according to the lemming press.
1:53, to be fair, the one year UNC was said to be a cinch for the title (2009) they cut a mile wide swath through the college landscape on the way to a championship.
I'm not sure what you're referencing with Roy underachieving at UNC -- he has won twice already since arriving, and he is known for winning with overwhelming talent, which he should have next year.
I would agree with you if there was any reason to.
My guess is that you will known the '11-'12 Heels by the trail of dead.
People are really underestimating the Wolfpack. Gottfried may make a run in Year One. With Leslie back, you have to take us seriously.
Fowler is an idiot. No one cares about your bushleague friend. The most talented team in N.C. in recent history was the 1993-1994 UNC team, the team charged with defending UNC's 1993 title. Though the Tar Heels lost to BC in the Round of 32 (way to go, Dean), they had everyone back from the 1993 Championship Team (except for George Lynch) AND had Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, and Jeff McInnis.
They had Montross, Donald Williams, Reese, Phelps, Salvadori, Sullivan, Rodl, Stackhouse, McInnis and Wallace and couldn't even make the Sweet 16.
More talent than the 92 Devils. Fowler really is dumb. He wrotes poorly and doesn't know what he's talking about.
lol... someone said, "your underestimating the wolfpack.. you have to take us seriously" haha
@2:20 He's a State fan. What do you expect?
He also said "He wrotes poorly and doesn't know what he's talking about."
WROTES POORLY? Seriously? When you are going to slam someone for grammar... well... enough said.
Did some troll really just post something in regards to the NCSU basketball team? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA
"They had Montross, Donald Williams, Reese, Phelps, Salvadori, Sullivan, Rodl, Stackhouse, McInnis and Wallace and couldn't even make the Sweet 16." All great players, but seriously, you throw out these names like that team was entitled to a championship...the 1993 team exceeded expectations and the big names in '94 were freshmen. As a NCSU fan, you don't even have a dog in this fight...
CJ Leslie would be third string on this Heels team. NCSU will win 5 ACC games next year, IF they are lucky.
UNC-CHeat. Sanctions are coming...
Duke will win 2 out of 3 from the Cheater Hill next season. Mark it down powder blue cheaters.
we will be loaded, that's for sure, but the 1993-1994 team had stackhouse, wallace, mcginess, montross, and many other players that went on to play in the NBA. too many stars and not enough basketballs that year, (from sources on the team). that won't happen this time. go heels
Best of luck to the Pack under Gottfried -- I think that was a solid hire and they have some talent on board already. But if NCSU makes it to the Final Four next year, Gottfried deserves National Coach of the Decade. There's a rehab job to be done first.
And I'm sorry, but did I hear a Duke fan talking about underachieving teams? (cough 1999 cough) And please, Duke has a very nice backcourt and some good role players in the front court, but next year's team is still going to be in rebuilding mode. Be serious.
Next year's team hasn't won anything, but it's the most talented team in the country. Going undefeated is almost impossible in modern college basketball, but this team is going to have about as good a chance as you'll see in years.
Finally -- "UNC-CHeat?" Really? Are you 12? Shall I respond in kind by talking about NCSUcks? Good grief.
Oh, and I'm still waiting for a State or Duke fan to explain a) how the UNC football program's grievous ethicial violations helped UNC on the field in any way, thus constituting "cheating," or b) what this has to do with next year's basketball team.
C'mon, what really happened with the 93-94 Tar Heel team was that Stackhouse, Wallace & McInnis thought they were better than the upper classmen. And you know what? The rookies were right. And you know what else? Those feelings ruined team chemistry. So, regardless of the level of talent, you have to have bball IQ, you have to be able to play like a team, and you have to like/respect each other.
Yes, I did mean to write in my earlier post that Fowler "writes poorly" as opposed to "wrotes poorly." Having said that, I know that I am infinitely more intelligent than the jack ams who are posting on this board.
Hey genuis, I didn't "slam" Fowler for grammer. Grammatically, Fowler is sound. "Writes poorly" - for those who read more than the USA Today - can relate to more than grammar and can - gasp - include content, syntax, and degree of wit, if any.
1993 UNC team overachieved? What are you talking about?
Before 1991, Duke was staring in NCSU's rearview. Indeed, before 1993, we had just as many titles as UNC.
It's only been recently where we have fallen.
WOLFPACK WILL AGAIN REIGN SUPREME.
Read your history books - we were THE basketball power in the South.
We will be back.
Agreed that 1999 Dookies underachieved.
Anonymous 4:49 -- true, you WERE the basketball power of the south.
Step aside. We run things now.
Roy, tell these new boys the same thing you said last summer: "Shut up and run." Then run 'em -- run every opponent out of the gym from November to April.
What's with the Roy Rules Your Rat garbage? I know you Heels fans have limited brain power, but see if you get your hands around the math here:
Coach K: 4 national titles
Dean and Roy: 4 national titles
To summarize, K has as many as Dean and Roy combined. So go back to your shacks and drink a PBR, you hayseeds.
Kentucky is returning a young Final Four team plus they have the #1 Recruiting Class.
Its a bit crazy to assume UNC as pre-season #1
Anonymous said...
Kentucky is returning a young Final Four team plus they have the #1 Recruiting Class.
Its a bit crazy to assume UNC as pre-season #1
Don't worry. The UNC-CHeat hype machine is already in full swing. Cheers!
The best UNC team (of course it didn't win a championship) in terms of individual talent was the 1997-98 team. Jamison, Carter, Haywood, Cota, Williams, Ndiaye, Okulaja. It's amazing that team didn't win it all. One of the best never to win one.
'92 Dook wouldn't stand a chance. Barnes and the freshmen are great, obviously, but what everyone misses is that they have a senior.
And I hope this quashes talk about players abandoning Roy. All these guys coming back is almost as epic as '09. Some players have left recently, that's true ... but it's obvious those were ill-informed decisions and that the winners who matter stick to Chapel Hill like glue.
5:48 anonymous. I believe that k has been a head coach since 1975 while Roy has only been one since 1989. I doubt it will take Roy another 14 years to win 2 more titles since he has already won 2 in just 7 years at unc so far. There might be a history book lying around the university of new jersey south (aka duke university) somewhere that will show you that unc also won a NCAA title in 1957 as well as a pre-NCAA era national tile in 1924. I think that makes 6 total but please check my math behind me since I did not receive a degree in math from duke. Oh yeah, and maybe that history book will also tell you that duke university (trinity college) was also saved by the philanthropic kindness of a hayseed north carolina tobacco farmer's family. Of course that was before the state of new jersey annexed the campus in Durham.
Coach K vs (Dean & Roy): 23-32
Kentucky and UNC will definitely be favorites. If kentucky returns all of its guys (I dont know the draft status) then these two teams will be no doubt the best in the NCAA
Yes, I know we're writing off Kentucky too early. I just have a hard time believing that "One-and-Done U" is actually going to get anybody back.
Good Lord, 7:21. Please go take your mood stabilizer. The ranting and raving does nothing for your cause if you even have one.
God you people just wasted 10 minutes of my time with this crap. I don't have a dog in the fight but as a previous poster said.... What does Roy PLUS Dean equal? Thats right? Coach K. 2 plus 2 equals 4 you guys can count right? And to the moronic poster saying you have 6. Noone recognizes 1924's mythical championship except you fools. Butler won the championship that year and even they don't claim it. Do some research before posting garbage.
STOP. It's time for the UNC-CHeat FOOTBALL hype to start before the basketball hype can proceed.
Anonymous NC State fan...what the heck are you talking about when you say NC State was looking in its rearview mirror at Duke before 1991?...you make no sense...from 1980 to 1990 when college basketball really took off...Duke appeared in 4 Final Fours...NC State...one..yes they won it all as cinderellas and I'm sure Coach K would probably take the national title over those 4 final four appearances...regardless of that though it's pretty clear who had the better, more consistent program even before 1991...before you make ridiculous comments I think you need to review college bball history yourself.....by the way just to further the point of how ridiculous your statements are...when college bball wasn't as popular in the 60's 70's ...Duke had 4 final four appearances to NC State's 2...do your homework buddy before you sound off....
Who is leaving Kentucky?
wow all you carolina haters dont even have the balls to put your name, this team will be way better than its durham rival. and to the moron that says no ones ever done less coach k has had plenty of super talented teams and didnt do jack squat
Kenny Smith was robbed by a punk Tulane nobody who broke his wrist with a hatchet-job foul. Dook and Carolina will remain the league elite for years to come. Gottfried will be the latest bad hire...the curse of greaseball Valvano (everyone forgot about the academic and ethical transgressions after he got cancer and was elevated to saint status) continues!
Keep laughing UNC fans, State basketball will be back a lot sooner than later. By the way...when you finally get a football team, let us know, especially one that can avoid an NCAA investigation. Your deceptive practices have still not resulted in a football win vs State in the last 4 years, nor will it happen this year. Your basketball team will soon have a similar microscope on it as was with football. Granted, I agree you will have a strong team next year in basketball; however some of you are thinking just because everyone is back you are a lock for the national championship. FYI this team is not as good as what you had with Hansbrough and company, not even as good as Felton, Mays, etc., regardless of how many pro prospects you have on your team. We will see this time next year how it all worked out, but remember this statement: UNC will not win the national championship next year in basketball and whether you believe it or not, State has enough talent to take a game from you next year.
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