With every wayward jumper, every errant pass and every defensive breakdown, North Carolina is edging closer to some ignominious history.
The Tar Heels are on pace to become the most disappointing preseason No. 1 team in men's college basketball’s modern era.
With all but one starter returning from last year’s national runners-up, a prized transfer filling that vacancy and three top-100 freshmen set to provide depth, North Carolina entered the season as AP voters’ runaway pick as national title favorite. Not even four months later, the Tar Heels have long since plummeted out of the Top 25 and need a strong regular-season finish just to make the NCAA tournament.