Even by the program’s standards of excellence, the 2010-11 men’s basketball campaign that ended with an Elite Eight loss to Kentucky was a surprising success — but it didn’t come without its share of turmoil.
UNC (29-8) started the season ranked ninth in the preseason poll, but after a disappointing 1-2 performance in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, the Tar Heels were on the outside of the top 25 looking in.
North Carolina did not reappear in the polls until Feb. 7 — three days after Larry Drew II announced he was leaving the team.
Once freshman Kendall Marshall and sophomore Dexter Strickland took most of the responsibility in the backcourt, the team sprinted to a 13-3 finish, losing in the NCAA regional final to Kentucky.
In addition to Marshall and Strickland, the rest of the starting five will remain intact next season, including ACC Rookie of the Year Harrison Barnes, who averaged 15.7 points per game this season. Barnes announced April 18 he would return to UNC to pursue the 2012 national championship.
“As a team, we’re preparing for a special season.” Barnes said. “My off-season plans are to diligently work on honing my basketball skills in all areas with one team-goal in mind — to bring the 2012 national championship home to UNC.”
Coach Roy Williams acknowledged that Barnes had a tough call to make, but Williams knows his team wants to make its mark on North Carolina basketball history.
“I am of course excited to have Harrison back on our team next year,” Williams said in a statement.
“He had a difficult decision to make. He really had no wrong decision to choose, but I believe he is coming back to school because he enjoys college basketball, he enjoys the University of North Carolina and he enjoys his teammates.”
