:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69008108/usa_today_15758560.0.jpg)
North Carolina was just one of the many college basketball teams that struggled this year, aa they joined fellow blue-bloods Kentucky and Duke as teams who didn’t live up to expectations.
Now, we may be seeing the fallout from a season of disappointment from the Tar Heels.
Earlier today, Tar Heels big man Walker Kessler announced his intentions to transfer from the program.
Soon after that, Armando Bacot and Caleb Love’s fathers supposedly hinted that neither Bacot or Love will be at North Carolina next year, and Garrison Brooks has been rumored to be entering the transfer portal as well.
Here is a recap from Brian Keyes, a senior writer for The Daily Tar Heel.
So just to recap: we've got Armando Bacot and Caleb Love's fathers heavily implying their sons will be transferring or otherwise leaving UNC, Kessler announcing he's transferring, Sharpe likely leaving for the NBA, and Brooks unclear but probably going pro or transferring
— Brian Keyes (@bg_keyes) March 22, 2021
There seems to be some sort of turmoil brewing in Chapel Hill. Over the past two seasons, the Tar Heels have a combined 32-30 record, and over the past four seasons since their National Championship in 2017, they have a first-round exit, a second-round exit, and a Sweet 16 exit as a 1 seed. They would have also been left out of the tournament last season altogether if COVID-19 didn’t cancel it.
Ironically, this has all happened since North Carolina escaped its academic fraud with no punishment. It’s almost like these last few years have been a small level of the punishment they deserved.
As far as recruiting goes, North Carolina has just two pledges in the 2021 class, and neither are top-50 prospects.
Unless ol’ Roy Williams can clean up on the transfer market, next season may be a painful one for the Tar Heels.
Boy, that would just be so unfortunate.