Preview #1: North Carolina Tarheels

Last Season:  23-8, 12-4 ACC

Key Losses: David Noel, Byron Sanders

Backcourt: No team in the ACC or perhaps the nation boasts the depth that North Carolina has this season, and the backcourt is no exception.  Roy Williams returns sophomore, Bobby Frasor, and junior, Quentin Thomas, to the point guard position.  Frasor is a combo guard who averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.4 apg last season, but will likely be replaced at some point this season by freshman, point guard, Tywon Lawson.  Lawson was ranked #5 nationally among incoming freshmen, and has all of the ability to be a game changer for the Heels.  Lawson is incredibly quick, a skill he uses to get into the paint and create for others, while his shot is still a work in progress, yet serviceable.  At the shooting guard position, the Heels have Marcus Ginyard and Danny Green returning.  Ginyard, a favorite of this site, is one of the best perimeter defenders in the ACC, while Danny Green boasts a nice mid-range game and a developing perimeter shot.  Another player that must find playing time is senior, walk-on, Wes Miller.  The 5’11” shooting guard was the most efficient Tarheel (and 2^nd in the nation) on offense last year, according to stats guru Ken Pomeroy.  Miller is close to automatic from behind the arc, but often struggles to find a good defensive matchup.  Another freshman that will force himself into playing time is the #7 ranked, Wayne Ellington.  Ellington is an explosive player with very good hops and a patented mid-range game.  The thing that sets him apart from his high school teammate, Gerald Henderson, is NBA range.

Frontcourt: The frontcourt starts with sophomore stud, Tyler Hansbrough.  Hansbrough came in last season as a freshman, labeled as a hard worker, but his offensive game was farther ahead than most people thought.  Hansbrough was near automatic when getting the ball in the post, and equally a weapon from the free throw line.  Joining Hansbrough in the front court will be senior Reyshawn Terry.  Terry was a player that this site boasted about last season, as he has NBA potential.  Terry averaged 14.3 ppg and 6.2 rpg in just 24 mpg last season, and shot 38% from behind the arc.  As with the backcourt, Roy Williams brought in another 5 star recruit to help out down low, #3 ranked Brandan Wright.  Wright is listed at 6’9” and is incredibly long and athletic for a person his size.  Wright is a block shot waiting to happen, and has the ability to score in the post and take his defender off the dribble and finish with a powerful dunk.  While most teams would be thrilled to get a 4 star recruit, the Heels have 3 that are an afterthought.  Deon Thompson (#36), Alex Stephenson (#55), and William Graves (#79) are all 4-star recruits and could help down low with frontcourt depth.

Intangibles: Wes Miller provides the Heels a player that defenses must find.  Miller helps stretch defenses to allow interior players, such as Tyler Hansbrough, more room.  Although undersized at shooting guard, Miller is a capable defender when matched up against the opponents’ point guard.
Potential Breakout Player: Tywon Lawson gives the Heels an ability to fastbreak on a scored basket, due to his quickness.  Lawson simply gives the Heels another gear and will only be held back by the minutes this season.

Summary: Roy Williams has a team that really goes 12 deep, and specifically 7 players that played at least 12 minutes per game last season.  Williams will have the task of blending those 7 players with 5 very skilled freshmen.  The only question for Roy Williams is, can the Heels maintain a team-first attitude with so many position battles?  Particularly in the backcourt, Williams will have to find a way to keep his upperclassmen players happy while finding playing time for impact players, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington. That being said, the Tarheels have a problem that most teams would love to have, and should be an ACC and NCAA title contender.

Top Returning Fantasy Player: Tyler Hansbrough averaged 20.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg in conference play last season.