At some point during the next 11 days, whether it happens on Friday or a week from Monday, Kennedy Meeks, the North Carolina senior forward, will play in his final college game. So will Isaiah Hicks, UNC’s senior forward.
So will Nate Britt, a senior guard who has been an important reserve throughout most of four seasons with the Tar Heels. And so might Joel Berry and Justin Jackson, two juniors who lead UNC in scoring. Both will have the option of leaving school to pursue a professional career.
And so for this particular group, a nucleus of players who helped lead the Tar Heels to the brink of a national championship a season ago, this is it: the final week and a half of their time together – their final run while their window to win a national championship remains open, for now.