The North Carolina Tar Heels haven’t advanced past the Sweet 16 in the past three years, but after winning both the ACC regular season and tournament championships, this team expects to make the Final Four for the first time since 2009. Here's everything you need to know about UNC:
Resume:
Record – 27-6 (14-4 in ACC)
RPI – 6
Strength of Schedule – 32
Starting Lineup:
G Marcus Paige (Sr.) – 12.0 ppg, 3.8 apg
G Joel Berry II (So.) – 12.5 ppg, 3.6 apg
F Justin Jackson (So.) – 12.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg
F Brice Johnson (Sr.) – 16.7 ppg, 10.6 rpg
F Kennedy Meeks (Jr.) – 9.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg
Key Player:
Marcus Paige
Paige hasn’t been UNC’s best player this season - that distinction belongs to Brice Johnson - but he is their most important piece moving forward. A preseason All-American, Paige has had an extremely disappointing season, averaging his lowest scoring total and shooting his worst percentage since his freshman year.
For someone who was expected to be a difference maker and one of the top players in the country, Paige has turned into just another guy for the Heels. UNC needs him to step up and be the game-changer he can be if Carolina is going to do anything of substance in the tournament.
Biggest Strength:
Inside scoring
UNC is one of the biggest teams in the country and that shows on the offensive end, as they lead all major conference schools in points in the paint. Not only are Johnson, Meeks, and backup Isaiah Hicks dominant around the basket, but the Heels are also an excellent rebounding team and have several very capable slashers. Simply put, Carolina makes their living around the rim.
Biggest Weakness:
Outside shooting
For as good as Carolina is inside, they are equally bad on the perimeter. Berry and backup guard Nate Britt are the only players that shoot over 35 percent from three-point range, and only seven players have made a three all season. UNC has struggled against good teams who can pack the paint and force them to shoot jumpers from the outside, which has been the reason they’ve been sent home early in each of the last three years. They’ll have to start hitting shots if they want to make a deep tournament run.
Outlook:
UNC's size will cause problems for teams in the first few rounds but their lack of shooting will ultimately keep the Tar Heels from making a championship run. I personally think they'll lose sometime before the Final Four, but it certainly wouldn't be a surprise to see them there.