With today’s announcement that forward Harrison Barnes will stay in school for another season, North Carolina’s basketball team seems to be reliving the spring of 2008.
Barnes, the ACC freshman of the season in 2010-11, is the third pro prospect to stay aboard. Sophomore John Henson and junior Tyler Zeller stated their intentions to return on April 6.
After a 36-3 season ended with a staggering loss to Kansas at the 2008 Final Four, Roy Williams had to await similar NBA Draft decisions by Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green.
Hansbrough announced early that he would return. Lawson, Ellington and Green eventually came to the same decision, and the Tar Heels went on to dominate ’08-’09 season. They capped the performance with an 89-72 win over Michigan State in the NCAA title game.
The ’10-’11 Heels (29-8) didn’t reach the Final Four but did come within one game, losing to Kentucky in the East Regional final on March 27 in Newark, N.J.
With Barnes back to join Zeller, Henson and five other veteran regulars, Carolina almost certainly will begin ’11-’12 as the No. 1 team in preseason polls.
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Comments
ol-roy, money,& clothes
Wed, 04/20/2011 - 10:44 — bluecat69bluecat69g-alligator called me when he heard that barnes was coming backand said he couldnt afford to leave carawhina because he could not afford to take a cut in pay, g-alligator said carawhina pays twice what the pros were offering, and ol roy was buying all of his clothes, like he did the kansas players. go DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Top 3
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 16:20 — TonyPlutoniumWhile UNC had done nothing to deserve the high preseason ranking this past year, I'd guess this coming year they legitimately should lay claim to one of the top 3 slots, along with Kentucky and Ohio State (Sullinger is staying, right?). Anybody I'm missing?
As it turned out . . .
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 10:17 — melvinfurdthe high preseason ranking was proven to be accurate in the final analysis!
This past season the
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 12:41 — growupThis past season the pressure was on Duke and UNC-ch was playing with house money. In the coming year the roles will be reversed. Lot of pressure on a still fairly young team.
Slow down
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 10:34 — HeelsforeverSlow down just a little. Let's wait and see what Kentucky has coming back before we say "certainly".
Agree
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 11:14 — SurferThis will be a great cast next year, both in talent and depth. The expectations will be sky high, but to achieve their goals, a lot of hard work, effort and execution will be necessary. There will certainly be more pressure, but if they continue to have fun and gel as a team like this past year, with the new guys coming in, then that will go a long way towards overcoming the many obstacles.