This time last year, North Carolina was gearing up for the 2024-25 season with lofty expectations. The Tar Heels were the reigning ACC champions, coming off a Sweet 16 appearance — as a No. 1 seed — and bringing back leading scorer RJ Davis. UNC registered at No. 9 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll.
But, as it turned out, the Tar Heels were one of college basketball’s biggest fallers. They barely made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed and were relegated to the First Four. Then, they were run off the floor by Ole Miss in the first round to cap a disappointing season that fell well short of the expectations set during the prior season.
Sustaining success in college basketball has arguably never been more difficult. Relax for even a second and you risk being overtaken by an upstart program that just nailed its transfer class (see Louisville in the ACC last season). You must constantly be re-recruiting your own roster while simultaneously scouting high school prospects, transfers and international talent.
College basketball transfer portal winners and losers: Will Wade starts strong at NC State; Kentucky reloads
David Cobb
Inevitably, some teams in the 2025-26 season will fall off the pace they set last season, just like North Carolina did. Who will those teams be? Our CBS Sports college basketball experts are making their picks in this week’s Dribble Handoff.
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