North Carolina basketball: 3 starting lineup options for 2020-2021

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 25: Leaky Black #1, Christian Keeling #55, and Justin Pierce #32 of the University of North Carolina react after a UNC basket and a foul called on NC State during a game between NC State and North Carolina at Dean E. Smith Center on February 25, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

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Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

After a disastrous season that saw North Carolina basketball finish last in the ACC, the Tar Heels have a lot of options to field a better starting lineup next year.

Expectations are usually sky-high in Chapel Hill, but this year was a downright disaster for North Carolina. Despite landing a strong recruiting class led by freshman sensation Cole Anthony, the Tar Heels suffered through a horrific season that saw them go just 14-19.

That record was good enough for a last-place finish in the ACC. An early-season injury to Anthony didn’t help, but the Tar Heels didn’t improve much when he returned, going just 4-9 with Anthony in the lineup in the second half.

Head coach Roy Williams was quick to own his responsibility for the team’s poor performance, admitting this was his worst coaching job and saying he deserved to be fired on several occasions. There was no chance North Carolina would ever fire Williams after he has helped the school win three national championships, but there is no doubt this was the worst year of his tenure.

A drop-off should have been expected since a lot of talent was lost from the North Carolina roster from the previous year, but this level of performance is really bad. There are a lot of balls in the air for the Tar Heels, the most significant of which is Anthony’s choice to go pro.

Anthony is projected to be a lottery pick but has deferred his NBA decision in an effort to be more of a help in the coronavirus relief efforts in his native New York, leading to speculation he is open to a return for his sophomore year. If that does come to pass it would lead to an incredible lineup for North Carolina next season.