College Basketball Preview: 1. UNC Tar Heels

With the return of Barnes the Tar Heels look like the favorite to win the NCAA championship.

1. North Carolina Tar Heels Key Returnees: F Harrison Barnes, F-C Tyler Zeller, F John Henson
Projected Lineup:
G Dexter Strickland- Junior
G Kendall Marshall- Sophomore
F Harrison Barnes- Sophomore
F John Henson- Junior
F-C Tyler Zeller- Senior
Sixth- G Leslie McDonald- Junior
Top Recruit- F James McAdoo
Its September and the college basketball season is just a little bit away. And my pick? Not Ohio State, Kentucky, UConn or Syracuse. I like the North Carolina Tar Heels. With the return of last years star recruit Harrison Barnes and the arrival of another stellar class the Heels look not just set for this season but for a while to come also. Along with Barnes, senior Tyler Zeller and junior John Henson are big-time returnees who will make big plays. Both have good size and always play hard. Kendall Marshall and Reggie Bullock last season's other recruits will make plays and will play bigger minutes. With a fantastic backcourt with junior Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald the Tar Heels will play speedy in 2011. Forward James McAdoo will come into this season and will occasionally play minutes in his freshman year and guard P.J. Hairston will also do damage. The Heels also have a trio of upperclassmen that hope to play more of a role in guards Justin Watts and Patrick Crouch and forwards Stewart Cooper and David Dupont.
Bottom Line: The Heels have a great team already and if the freshmen can play well the Tar Heels should breeze to the championship game.