The North Carolina Tar Heels are in the 2017 Final Four just one year removed from the devastating loss in the 2016 National Championship game to the Villanova Wildcats. Kris Jenkins broke the hearts of Carolina fans everywhere, but now one year later the Tar Heels have a chance at redemption. Roy Williams has another chance to capture that elusive third title.
The Tar Heels drew what some thought were a questionable one seed in the south region. The team did share this bracket with powerhouse schools Kentucky and UCLA. The team tipped off first round against 16 seed Texas Southern where the team dominated 103 to 64. The round of 32 saw a thrilling game against the Arkansas Razorbacks where the Tar Heels were down five with three minutes to go. The team responded with a stellar run to win 72-65.
The Sweet 16 featured the Tar Heels taking down the four seeded Butler Bulldogs with relative ease by a score of 92-80. While this was going on the Kentucky Wildcats were busy taking down a tournament favorite UCLA Bruins team led by Lonzo Ball. This game set up a dream Elite 8 matchup between two elite college programs, and it didn’t disappoint.
Kentucky defeated North Carolina 103-100 after a Malik Monk game winner in the regular season, and North Carolina wanted revenge. Tarheel fans were sitting there stunned after Monk hit an insane three-pointer to tie the game at 73. Horrible flashbacks of Monk and Jenkins were flashing through the minds of every fan watching, and then the unlikely hero emerged. Luke Maye catches the ball from a driving Theo Pinson and sinks an 18-foot jumper with three-tenths of a second left on the clock. The North Carolina Tar Heels are final four bound once again.
Roy Williams is a two-time championship-winning head coach for the Tar Heels, and yet not so long ago some fans were calling for a regime change in Chapel Hill. Last year Williams had a chance to capture a third title which is a rare feat in college basketball. The Tar Heels ended coming up just short in heartbreaking fashion, but now they stare down a chance at redemption. Roy Williams stares down vindication.
North Carolina has the most NCAA Tournament experience of all the 2017 Final Four teams in this spot by far, but there are no guarantees in March. ACC player of the year Justin Jackson will need to continue his incredible play for the Tar Heels to advance to the final game on Monday. Health concerns surrounding Joel Berry will also likely give fans and Coach Williams anxiety all the way until game-time. Dillion Brooks and the Oregon Ducks want this badly, so North Carolina needs to be ready. The Tar Heels are final four bound once again, and this time they want to finish the job right.
