Where do Tar Heels land in college basketball insider Jon Rothstein’s preseason rankings?

We’re just over two months away from the start of college basketball season – and the North Carolina Tar Heels are eager to show how much they’ve improved in the offseason.

College basketball insider Jon Rothstein is high on UNC’s chances entering the 2024-2025, as he ranks UNC seventh in his “Rothstein 45” rankings.

Reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis decided to stay his final season, which immediately made UNC ACC Championship contenders. Davis wasn’t the only Tar Heel to stay, as center Jalen Washington, guards Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble will also be back.

What North Carolina lost in Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan, it replaced with Ven-Allen Lubin, Cade Tyson, 5-star freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. Just when you thought the Tar Heels were done making moves, they added Georgia Tech transfer Tyzhaun Claude.

UNC will have a chance to truly prove itself in non-conference play, with a grueling schedule that includes Kansas, Dayton, Auburn/Iowa State, Alabama, Florida and UCLA.

I agree with these rankings, except for where Iowa State and Baylor are ranked. I’m not saying North Carolina should be ranked ahead of either team, but these three are on an equal level from a talent standpoint.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : Where do Tar Heels land in college basketball insider Jon Rothstein’s preseason rankings?