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

By Mike Phillips

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)
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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North Carolina basketball roster
Leaky Black #1 of the University of North Carolina (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

Worst-case scenario

  • Point guard: Caleb Love
  • Shooting guard: R.J. Davis
  • Small forward: Leaky Black
  • Power forward: Garrison Brooks
  • Center: Armando Bacot

There are no roster defections besides Anthony in this scenario, but we are going to make a couple of assumptions here about the Tar Heels’ roster. One problem North Carolina basketball could run into is Harris, who we projected to start in our last lineup, takes a longer time to get back into playing form after his ACL injury.

This opens up a spot in the starting five for R.J. Davis, another freshman point guard Roy Williams recruited. Davis would have to play off the ball here with Love at the point, meaning North Carolina would have a very young backcourt.

The other lineup change we have here is inserting Bacot back to the five. Bacot was fine as a freshman, but he didn’t overwhelm, leaving the possibility one of the two five-star centers Williams recruited could play right away.

In our worst-case lineup, both Sharpe and Walker Kessler need time to get acclimated to the college game, necessitating Bacot starts at the beginning of the year. Either guy could force his way into the lineup in time, but having Bacot start as a sophomore is definitely not a bad thing.

North Carolina should be a far better team this year than they were this past season, even if our worst-case scenario comes to pass. This roster, assuming it stays healthy, should reach the NCAA Tournament and could make a deep run if players like Love and Bacot step up into starring roles.

Next. 15 best home-court advantages. dark

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