This team was preseason number one. It’s wild to look back now at the hype in the offseason and the preseason rankings that had the Tar Heels among the favorites to win the national title. After the push to the title game last March, and with four of the Iron Five returning, it certainly seemed warranted. There was optimism, sure, but there were also expectations, and those feel a little different.
For last year’s team, there were no expectations. It was Coach Davis’ first year in charge after the surprise step away from a Hall of Fame coach in Roy Williams.