North Carolina and Top Freshman Caleb Wilson Are Out To Prove Doubters Wrong.

As strange as this idea might seem, the Tar Heels are flying under the radar heading into this college basketball season.

This was evident when the AP preseason poll was released and UNC was slapped with the No. 25 ranking. For historical perspective, this is the program's lowest preseason position since the Heels opened the 2005-2006 season unranked.

That low mark was after the mass exodus from Roy Williams' first national title team in the spring of 2005. However, led by freshman Tyler Hansbrough, UNC closed the season ranked in the Top 10.

Twenty years later, Hubert Davis is hoping for a similar result  — and will also be leaning on a freshman big man.

Given all the talk about this season's incoming freshman class, it seems Caleb Wilson's name has been lost in the shuffle. Recruiting experts view the class as having a Big 3 of top prospects; consisting of BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Duke's Cam Boozer and Kansas' Darryn Peterson. 

But given UNC's national profile, Wilson will have every opportunity to infiltrate that exclusive club.

Last week, Wilson and Dybantsa went head to head in a preseason exhibition. While Dybantsa's team won a close on 78-76, Wilson had better individual numbers with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. 

Obviously, Wilson will get at least two cracks at Boozer's Blue Devils. Also, Peterson's Jayhawks will be pitted with UNC for a historic matchup on Nov. 7. It will be the first time ever that Kansas makes an on-campus visit to Chapel Hill.

If Wilson comes close to meeting his potential, he would likely become the Tar Heels' first lottery pick in seven years — Coby White and Cameron Johnson in 2019 — and UNC will be a dangerous team next March.

As for why the program is being overlooked this way, look no further than how much last season's team struggled. Without any Quad 1 wins, UNC was controversially the last team to make the NCAA Tournament's field of 68. 

But with a revamped front line and an enhanced budget, the Tar Heels are looking for more this season.