The Tar Heels have a lot that needs to go their way.
As North Carolina gets prepared for the first season under head coach Michael Malone, there are a lot more questions than answers at the moment, for whatever reason.
As I've continued to say, I'm of the belief that North Carolina has an above-average roster and deserves some credit for what it's been able to do throughout the offseason. I also understand that the questions are coming because of the players not exactly being as talented as some prior North Carolina teams in the past.
For how much North Carolina has spent on its roster, I can understand some of those questions, even if I don't necessarily agree with them.
Many don't believe that North Carolina is going to be one of the best teams in the country, and definitely not a team that has a chance to make the Final Four.
I wouldn't put Final Four expectations on this team, but I don't think it's crazy to say that North Carolina can be a squad that has a chance to make the Final Four if things go perfectly as planned.
Obviously, there would have to be a lot that goes its way, but I like this North Carolina roster, which is why I don't think it's unfair that one writer recently suggested that North Carolina is one of 25 teams that could be a legitimate Final Four threat.
“North Carolina may not enter October alongside Florida and Duke. That doesn't mean the Tar Heels can't eventually get there. The talent base remains substantial, and freshman Maximo Adams is among the newcomers worth monitoring. The 6-foot-7 wing finished No. 26 in the 247Sports Composite after making a major rise during his high school career.
“North Carolina's ultimate ceiling will depend on its backcourt and how quickly its new pieces settle into defined roles,” Rodney Knuppel wrote.
Having aspirations to make the Final Four and making the Final Four are two completely different things, something North Carolina is going to have to work through during the season.
However, talent-wise, I do think this team can be very good if things go as planned. There's obviously a big question about whether those things are going to go as planned, but in all sincerity, I like this roster and I'm looking forward to how it looks on the court over the next couple of months.
