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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Best-case scenario

Point Guard: Cole Anthony
Shooting Guard: Caleb Love
Small Forward: Leaky Black
Power Forward: Garrison Brooks
Center: Day’Ron Sharpe

Let’s start with a pie-in-the-sky optimistic scenario for the Tar Heels, which is the decision from Anthony to stay in school. Anthony would be foregoing millions right now to go pro, but perhaps his desire to put a disappointing season behind him leads to a return to Chapel Hill.

Williams would undoubtedly be thrilled to get Anthony back since he can be a game-changer in the backcourt. Anthony would stay at the point guard in this lineup, with incoming freshman Caleb Love playing off the ball at the start.

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Love, a five-star recruit who was brought in to serve as Anthony’s replacement, can now learn from him by starting at the two while running the point on the second unit. This situation also allows Williams to easily fill the hole in the starting lineup created by the graduation of Brandon Robinson.

The other change in the starting five comes with the addition of Day’Ron Sharpe at center. Armando Bacot was serviceable as a starter last year, but he would come off the bench here as Sharpe forces his way into the lineup as a freshman.

Sharpe would be able to play off of the experienced Garrison Brooks down low, giving this lineup a good blend of youth and experience. The odds of all of that happening are unlikely, so let’s take a peek at a more realistic scenario.