Approaching late March, well down the way on the road to the Final Four, North Carolina on Friday night against Butler played every bit like a team driven by its season-long quest for redemption, and one worthy enough to complete the mission.
The Tar Heels, so driven to avenge a last-second loss in the national title game a year ago, might have been fortunate simply to be here, after its escape act on Sunday against Arkansas. After that comeback, some UNC players said they’d never been more anxious, more nervous, than they were in the final minutes.
On Friday, though, they could relax in the final minutes of an 92-80 victory against Butler in an NCAA tournament East Regional semifinal.