North Carolina Tar Heels (Overall: 27-7, Conf: 14-4)
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Team Strengths:
North Carolina’s big strength remains its ability to control the glass. The Tar Heels lead the country in rebounding, particularly on the offensive end. Kennedy Meeks and Tony Bradley are relentless on the offensive boards. Their terrific interior presence is a big reason why the team’s offense is one of the most efficient in the country (No. 4 per KenPom). UNC still isn’t the greatest 3-point shooting team, but they do have two legit go-to guys along the perimeter in juniors Justin Jackson and Joel Berry, who can get big buckets for the team when needed.
Team Weaknesses:
North Carolina (+700) has a capable defense (No. 23 per KenPom), but it has given up a distressingly large number of 3s over the course of the season. They’re allowing 23.6 attempts per game, which is among the most in the entire country. They’re not allowing a great percentage – just 34 percent – but they could find themselves in some trouble if an opponent gets hot on them from deep come tournament time.
Team Stats:
| Category | Stat | NCAA Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 85.2 | 10 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 43.8 | 1 |
| Blocks Per Game | 3.3 | 163 |
| 3-Point Percentage | 37% | 83 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 70.1% | 172 |
Starting Lineup:
| Position | Name | PPG |
|---|---|---|
| F | Kennedy Meeks | 12.5 |
| F | Isaiah Hicks | 11.9 |
| F | Justin Jackson | 18.3 |
| G | Theo Pinson | 6.3 |
| G | Joel Berry II | 15.1 |
Writer’s Prediction
North Carolina (+700) reaches the Final Four, but can’t quite make it back-to-back trips to the national championship game.
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