The countdown to the 2026-27 college basketball season rolls on as we are set to flip the calendar over to the month of August. As North Carolina continues to prep for the first season under new head coach Michael Malone, there are questions surrounding him.
And rightfully so.
With a new head coach coming into the college level and taking over a prestigious program like North Carolina, the Tar Heels have to get the hire right. Some of these questions will be answered early, but others will take time. But as we get set for the new season, there's been a mixed bag in terms of what to expect.
Earlier this week, college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein revealed his updated power rankings for the upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference season. While he doesn't
have the Tar Heels as a favorite, he does give them a respectable ranking.
Rothstein has UNC ranked fifth behind Duke, Virginia, Louisville, and Miami:
ACC Preseason Power Rankings. pic.twitter.com/h2Tgfseo7K
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 28, 2026
That's a pretty respectable ranking for North Carolina, especially with a new head coach. The good news for UNC is that they have the chance to prove the doubters wrong this season.
If they do, it will certainly help get the Malone era off to a good start.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Where college basketball analyst ranks UNC basketball in ACC
