Way too early 2017-18 College Basketball Top 25

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Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) cuts down the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

11. North Carolina Tar Heels

The defending National Champions (or they will be next season) fall just short of the top 10 in these rankings and it’s not exactly a strain to see why that’s the case. After being one of the most dominant rebounding teams in the country, the North Carolina Tar Heels are going to look unrecognizable next season because of all of the key players that will be leaving the program for one reason or another.

Junior forward Justin Jackson is almost surely headed for the NBA Draft as a potential lottery pick. Meanwhile, the frontcourt duo of Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks both graduate and will be gone as seniors. They’ll also lose their backup point guard in Nate Britt with the potential to also lose starting point guard and Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Joel Berry II. However, I think Berry stays, which is a big reason behind their ranking.

That being said, the Tar Heels will still boast plenty of talent next season. Theo Pinson will look to stay healthy and take a step forward, as will Kenny Williams. Then, Tony Bradley will assume a bigger role in the frontcourt after showing flashes as a freshman. With the addition of Jalek Felton in the backcourt (nephew of UNC great Raymond Felton), the Tar Heels will drop off—but not too dramatically.