UNC Basketball: 5 Things That Should Worry Tar Heels Fans in 2016-17

Even a great season like last year's featured some setbacks for the North Carolina Tar Heels. While the 2016-17 squad still has plenty of talent, not everything will be perfect.

There is certainly a lot to be hopeful for as UNC tries to improve upon its national title game defeat at the hands of Villanova this past year. Although a couple of respected seniors are gone, six of the top eight scorers return to bring an experienced group into the upcoming season.

With three impact freshmen coming in to shore up the rotation, North Carolina should once again be a top contender in the ACC, and possibly more.

The problem is this team isn't without some faults. Although a lot can change before November, question marks remain about how good this squad can become. Here is a look at some worries that should be on the minds of fans before play begins.

New Leadership

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Last season, North Carolina featured one of the most experienced teams in college basketball. Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson were not only seniors, they were major contributors for the previous few years. With them gone, the Tar Heels will need someone else to step up and take charge.

There is no shortage of upperclassmen on the roster. Kennedy Meeks, Nate Britt and Isaiah Hicks will be senior members of the rotation while juniors Joel Berry, Justin Jackson and possibly Theo Pinson will be in the starting lineup.

Even without Paige and Johnson, this could be one of the most experienced starting lineups in the nation.

However, there will be different voices in the locker room for the first time in a few years. We don't know how the remaining players will respond to their new, more active roles. Will they be vocal? Will some try to lead by example?

Head coach Roy Williams will have plenty of support to lean on, but taking away elite players like Paige and Johnson will always create question marks.

Unproven Frontcourt Depth

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The Tar Heels quickly went from having too many bodies in the low post to a major lack of depth in one offseason.

With the losses of Johnson and Joel James, Hicks will likely move into the starting lineup. As good as he is, though, he has never averaged even 20 minutes per game. He will be next to Meeks in the frontcourt, who peaked as a sophomore with 11.4 points per game.

These are two talented players who will contribute a lot on both ends of the court. But with UNC's fast-paced attack, there will be a lot of extra minutes to go around. The only remaining options to fill that playing time will be Luke Maye and Tony Bradley.

Maye played sparingly during his freshman season as the fifth big man on the roster, scoring just 40 total points on the year. Bradley is a highly touted recruit but is raw and obviously hasn't played a second at the college level.

Each man is capable of contributing on the glass with some scoring when given a chance, but their effectiveness remains an uncertainty. If there is an injury, there could be serious problems.

Outside Shooting Won't Improve

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North Carolina got by last season despite being below average from three-point range. The team shot 32.7 percent from beyond the arc as a team in 2015-16, with Paige making a team-high 74 outside shots.

After losing one of the better shooters in school history in Paige, it's hard to predict the numbers will get any better in the upcoming season.

Berry (38.2 percent) is a reliable option from deep, but no other returning players made more than 33 percent last season. Freshmen Maye and Kenny Williams were known as quality shooters coming into the program but so far haven't shown they can help the team in this regard.

Even incoming prospects Seventh Woods and Brandon Robinson are better at attacking the basket than shooting the ball. 

There are quality players capable of knocking down shots, but it's hard to expect much consistency after what we have seen to this point. Although the outside shooting didn't hold UNC back much a year ago, it could be a bigger problem this time around if things don't improve.

Questionable Defense

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UNC usually succeeds with its offense, with last season being the prime example. According to KenPom.com, the squad ranked No. 1 in the country in offensive efficiency, thanks to its effective inside scoring, limited turnovers and ability to crash the boards.

With the personnel returning to the lineup next year, there is no reason to believe the Tar Heels won't be able to once again have one of the top scoring teams in college basketball.

The biggest doubts come on the defensive end, which was wildly inconsistent throughout last year. There were some games where the Tar Heels would shut down a high-powered attack like Notre Dame, but others where Virginia would light up the scoreboard.

Adding an athlete like Pinson to the starting lineup could improve the perimeter defense, while Hicks' lateral quickness should help against pick-and-rolls. However, the entire unit will have to improve its focus and discipline if it wants to reach its potential on that end of the court.

Duke Is Really Good

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This might be the last thing Tar Heels fans want to hear, but Duke is going to be a top contender next season. The Blue Devils not only return elite scorer Grayson Allen and other veteran contributors, they added the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports.

There is a reason Duke is projected to start next season No. 1 in the country by ESPN.com, CBSSports.com, USA Today and just about anyone else who made a list of this nature.

Obviously nothing is guaranteed in sports, but this is a team with tons of talent, depth and the tools needed to win another national title. This is bad news for North Carolina fans who not only want to see the local rivals lose whenever possible, but also for those hoping to see continued success in the ACC.

Beyond Duke, teams like Virginia, Syracuse and Louisville will still be tough while Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina State should improve with either returning talent or freshman additions.

Even if the Tar Heels are as good as last year, the competition within the conference might make defending their title much more difficult.

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