Final Four analysis: How North Carolina can win the national championship
Chris Korman
USA TODAY Sports
North Carolina comes roaring into its first Final Four since 2009, the school's longest drought since 1957. The Tar Heels haven't lost since Feb. 27, and have won nine in a row by an average of almost 14 points per game. None of those games has been closer than four points.
North Carolina's offense appears unstoppable — it is KenPom's No. 1 team in adjusted efficiency — and is averaging 89.2 points per game in the tournament. The only weak point during the season was three-point shooting, but the Tar Heels hit 15 of 33 from deep to win the East Region.
Senior forward Brice Johnson has caused his coach, Roy Williams, some consternation with uneven play during his career but has been at his best during this run. He's had at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in three consecutive games. He's been a rim-front presence, too, blocking 15 shots in this tournament.
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His roommate, senior Marcus Paige, has been the veteran combo guard. His 3.1/1 assist-to-turnover ratio is the best in school history. He hasn't been as good this year from three — 34.5% compared with 39.5% as a junior — but he is 8-for-15 in his last two games.
Justin Jackson might be the team's most talented player, and Kennedy Meeks is its most rugged. No front court in Houston can compare to the Tar Heels.
The Tar Heels beat Syracuse, their Saturday opponent, twice already. They share the ball well — four players have at least 100 assists this season for only the second time in program history — and don't need to hit threes to win. Being able to work the ball inside and not defaulting to deep shots mitigates the effectiveness of the Orange's zone defense.
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A more-ornery-than usual Williams is in his eighth Final Four with a deep, veteran team well-crafted to battle through the sort of grueling and often-sloppy games this tournament — and football stadiums masquerading as basketball arenas — create. They dominate on the offensive glass and don't get into foul trouble. That's a combination that could get Williams his third national championship.
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