UNC Basketball: 5 Bold Predictions for Tar Heels in 2015-16

A college basketball season is unpredictable, even with a team expected to be among the best in the nation.

The North Carolina Tar Heels enter the 2015-16 season No. 1 in the nation in the Associated Press preseason poll and the favorite by many to bring home a national championship. Of course, that doesn't mean anyone knows exactly what will happen either on a team or individual level during the next few months.

Throughout the year, there will be plenty of major and minor surprises, both good and bad, for the team. If it were any other way, there would be no reason to watch.

With that in mind, here is a look at some bold predictions to look out for over the course of the upcoming season in Chapel Hill.

10 Different Players Reach Double Figures at Least Once

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There might not be a deeper team in college basketball than the Tar Heels. They return nine of 10 rotational players from last season and could have up to 11 players make useful contributions in each game.

Marcus Paige, Justin Jackson, Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks are almost certain to average double figures throughout the course of the season. Role players Theo Pinson, Joel Berry, Nate Britt and Isaiah Hicks all have the ability to post big numbers on a given night, potentially reaching 20 points if they get the opportunity.

Having eight different players capable of leading a team with a 20-point night is scary enough for defenses, but the depth does not end there.

Although minutes will be hard to come by, freshmen Kenny Williams and Luke Maye both have great outside shooting ability. With enough chances, either or both of them can get to 10 points in a single game.

Even the defensive-minded Joel James scored 11 points in a contest last season against UNC Greensboro, proving this type of contribution is possible.

There will only be so many shots to go around, but there are enough quality players to keep things exciting no matter who is on the floor.

UNC Loses Twice in Nonconference Season

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As the No. 1 team in both the Amway Coaches and AP polls, North Carolina will go in expecting to win every game of the season. That will not be the case, even in the early part of the year.

Although the Tar Heels only face a single team currently ranked in the Top 25 (No. 3 Maryland), there are a number of unique challenges over the first two months of the season. Road games against Texas and Northern Iowa, neutral matchups against Temple and UCLA as well as a home game against Davidson could all provide traps for the veteran team.

This doesn't even include the CBE Classic, an early-season tournament that always includes the possibility of an upset.

North Carolina will likely be favored in every one of these games, but that doesn't always guarantee a victory. The Tar Heels don't have the swarming defense that helped Kentucky stay undefeated for most of last season, which means a poor offensive performance could lead to a loss.

It won't be enough to sound any alarm bells, but some missteps will happen along the way this season.

Team Finishes Year with No. 1 Offense in Nation

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This isn't all too bold considering the talent on North Carolina's roster. However, there is a big difference between having a good offense and having the most efficient in the country.

According to KenPom.com, last year's No. 10 rating was the first time UNC even finished in the top 10 in offensive efficiency in the past six seasons. The last time a Roy Williams team finished No. 1 in adjusted offense was 2009, when the Tar Heels last won a national championship behind Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson.

The current offense has the potential to not only score a lot of points, but also be efficient. The frontcourt stars know how to finish with regularity inside, and the perimeter players do a great job of creating the best shot possible. With excellent ball-handlers like Marcus Paige, Joel Berry and Nate Britt, turnovers should also be kept to a minimum.

Look for this squad to get the most out of every possession and be a nightmare for opposing teams on that end of the floor.

No Player Averages More Than Seven Rebounds Per Game

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This might be a bit of a surprise considering two players (Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks) averaged over seven rebounds per game last season and return to the lineup this year. With J.P. Tokoto no longer around as the third-leading rebounder, the chances are there for big numbers from these two.

The difference is we might see both starting big men in slightly reduced roles this year as junior Isaiah Hicks forces his way onto the court. Joel James and Luke Maye could also get plenty of playing time in a deep rotation this season.

Obviously, Johnson and Meeks are All-ACC-caliber players and should be able to make huge contributions throughout the year. That said, limiting their minutes early on and keeping them fresh for the stretch run might not be a bad thing, especially with capable players behind them on the depth chart.

The starting frontcourt will see their averages go down a bit with the reserves, as well as Justin Jackson, Theo Pinson and even Marcus Paige, taking away some boards throughout the year.

Justin Jackson Leads Team in Scoring

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Marcus Paige is the preseason All-American and candidate for National Player of the Year, but this could be a breakout year for Justin Jackson.

Despite being the fourth-leading scorer on a team that returned all of the players ahead of him, Jackson ended last season as well as anyone. He scored in double figures in 11 of his final 12 games while being assertive with the ball. Not only was he able to get to the basket at will, but he also improved from three-point range in this stretch to provide hope this can be a consistent part of his game going forward.

Most importantly, his mindset has changed going into the 2015-16 season. GoHeels.com quoted his biggest difference heading into his sophomore year:

"

Confidence. Confidence is definitely the biggest thing. I know what to expect. Freshman year you just kind of come in just blind, so you’re kind of learning on the fly, and you’ve got to do everything so fast that you’re trying to learn it and go full speed, it’s just tough. Now, to know what I need to be doing, it definitely helps.

"

This is obviously a loaded roster, but Jackson is a unique matchup for opponents at 6'8" and could emerge as a star for this team. With defenses focused on Paige, the point guard could become more of a distributor than ever before, allowing Jackson to take over as a go-to option.

Although this would be an unexpected development, don't count out the sophomore wing.

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