I already know what you're going to say: "How can a team like the University of North Carolina overachieve?".
Well, when I look back at the events that took place this season, it's easy—the Tar Heels accomplished more than I thought they would.
Now, will they take this tough loss to Iowa State and use it as fuel next season? Let's hope so.
P.J. Hairston
After the Tar Heels fell to the Kansas Jayhawks in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, many thought the Heels would be experienced and talented enough to advance further this season. That is, until junior P.J. Hairston got into some untimely trouble and was dismissed from the team.
During the first portion of the season, the Heels looked to hang on and survive without their best scorer, but Hairston never returned.
Instead, the Heels had to move on without Hairston—something that a lot of teams probably couldn't overcome. The Heels responded nicely though, and never let it get to them.
The Heels matured from the situation and got back to playing their game. Did not having Hairston's scoring ability hurt the Tar Heels at times? Yes, but it also made them believe in themselves. This team looked doomed when Hairston's dismissal was announced, but the Heels got it together and made a nice little run at the tail end of the season.
Bad Losses/Great Wins
In just their third game of the season, the Tar Heels were shocked by Belmont. The Bruins marched into Chapel Hill and earned a hard-fought 83-80 victory.
But that wasn't the only bad loss for the Tar Heels. Just two weeks later the Heels found themselves on the losing end at UAB, where missed free throws continued to haunt them.
Those two losses were uncharacteristic of a Roy Williams team, although they've happened sporadically in the past. The good news was that the team moved on and earned some big wins throughout the season.
Following the loss to Belmont, the Heels found themselves playing #3 Louisville. The Cardinals were favored and many wrote the Tar Heels off. However, UNC ended up flipping the script. In one of their best games of the year, the Heels dominated the pace of the game and ended up beating the Cardinals by nine.
The schedule didn't get much easier for North Carolina—next up was a date with the #1 team in the country, Michigan State. In Lansing for the Big 10/ACC Challenge, the Heels once again dominated the game from the start and the Spartans really had no chance. UNC earned the 14 point win, and fans were given a reason to believe.
Wins over #11 Kentucky and #5 Duke made the Tar Heels the first team ever to beat the top four teams in the AP Preseason Poll. The Heels didn't back down against heavily-favored opposition and earned quality wins over ranked opponents.
A Rough Start to ACC Play
Even with quality wins over those ranked teams, the Heels struggled early in ACC play. The team started off 1-4 and found themselves last in the ACC, becoming the first UNC team to ever earn that unfortunate distinction.
With a 1-4 record and their fan base in a panic, the Heels responded.
They went on a tear, winning 12 straight conference games, and earned a bye in the ACC Tournament. During a time when the team could have folded, they rose up and played well together to show their potential and give fans hope for the future.
A Team Growing Together
A lot of the teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament feature a good number of juniors and seniors that have played together for a few years.
One of the worries for the season was the youth on the team. Now, as we look forward to next season, that might not be a concern for the Heels.
Will James Michael McAdoo come back? UNC fans definitely hope so; he isn't NBA-ready, and would be a big asset to the Heels if he returns.
Marcus Paige has developed to the go-to guy for North Carolina, and
will be a better player next season. He's ready to take the next step and emerge as one of college basketball's stars.
His development was one of the bright spots for this year's team, and is something worth noting. Sophomores J.P. Tokoto and Brice Johnson also showed signs of promise for next season, as both took big steps forward with their game.
With a little bit of improvement, Tokoto could become one of the better players in the ACC. Johnson, on the other hand showed signs of establishing an offensive game but still needs to work on his defense.
The team also saw what freshman center Kennedy Meeks can bring to the table, as he had a promising game in the loss to Iowa State. Meeks will need to slim down and add muscle to become an ideal center in Roy Williams' offense.
With the team getting a year older and developing more chemistry, the Tar Heels should be ready to take the next step forward next season.
