North Carolina Tar Heels
Record: 28-6 (14-4 ACC)
Head Coach: Roy Williams (13th season)
Season Recap: North Carolina enjoyed one of its most dominant seasons in recent history after returning all but one major contributor from last season. Four Tar Heels averaged more than 10 points per game through the regular season, with senior Brice Johnson headlining the pack with 16.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game—making him one of three players in the ACC to average a double-double on the season. Forward Justin Jackson, center Kennedy Meeks and point guard Marcus Paige all contribute to a skilled and seasoned roster, which clinched the program’s first ACC regular-season title since 2012. North Carolina dominated its first stretch of the postseason by knocking off Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and Virginia in succession—all of whom will make appearances in the NCAA tournament—to win the ACC tournament.
After losing early in the season to Northern Iowa, North Carolina asserted itself as a top contender with a decisive 89-81 win against then-No. 2 Maryland. The Tar Heels rattled off 12 straight wins, but lost to then-No. 19 Louisville and unranked Notre Dame back-to-back on the road in early February. The Tar Heels split their series against Duke and added a lopsided 96-71 win against then-No. 11 Miami to bolster their resume. North Carolina also lost a tight contest to then-No. 3 Virginia on the road late in the season. With the emergence of ACC Sixth Man of the Year Isaiah Hicks as a force off the bench, Williams’ squad boasts one of the most intimidating frontcourts in the country, capable of wreaking havoc on the glass to compensate for outside shooting that has failed the Tar Heel guards at times.
How they make a run: North Carolina has been placed into arguably the strongest bracket—albeit as the top seed—with the possibility of facing a talented Providence backcourt followed by either Indiana or Kentucky before making it to the Elite Eight. The Tar Heels continue working the ball through their dominant frontcourt, and very few opponents can compete as they make a serious run at cutting down the nets in Houston.
How they falter: Perimeter shooting has been the one glaring weakness for North Carolina all year. Guards Marcus Paige and Joel Berry II shot lights-out during the ACC tournament, but the hot shooting does not continue as the Tar Heels succumb to one of the many talented challengers lurking in the East region.
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