So your team was knocked out of the NCAA tournament or maybe it wasn’t in the field of 68 at all. No worries. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the Final Four. We’re making the case for you to jump on the bandwagon for each of the four teams left standing.
Here’s my pitch for the favorites to win it all, North Carolina…
1. They have the most talent
North Carolina was the preseason No. 1 for a reason. Roy Williams can play an eight- or nine-man rotations comprised mostly of players who have a decent shot at playing in the NBA. This team actually had a brief controversy over who would start between Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks, two talented low post players. Most college teams are looking for just one player capable of scoring on the block — Carolina has three of them. The Heels also have two talented lead guards in the starting lineup with Joel Berry and Marcus Paige. That paradigm has worked well for the last two national champs. UConn had Kemba Walker and Ryan Boatwright in 2014, and Duke cut down the nets last year with Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones.
![Evan Pike-USA TODAY Sports](https://wp.usatodaysports.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2016/03/usatsi_9116113.jpg?w=100&h=66)
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2. They are the most consistent
These Tar Heels aren’t built like your typical modern college basketball team that relies heavily on the 3-point line. North Carolina gets only 19.9 percent of its scoring from deep. The other three teams left are well into the 30s. The Heels are almost immune to off nights since their offense isn’t built around the jumpshot. Cold shooting nights will not (and have not) stopped this team from putting up points. Only one time this season has North Carolina been held to under a point-per-possession. Oklahoma has been held under that mark five times. It’s happened six times for Villanova, and 10 times for Syracuse. Even when North Carolina is missing shots, it gets plenty of second-chances thanks to the third best offensive rebounding percentage in the country, per KenPom.com.
3. Because Theo Pinson needs the attention
Pinson was tired of being left out of North Carolina’s postgame press conference. When he finally made an appearance, he did not disappoint.
4. Brice Johnson might be the best player left in the field
![Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports](https://wp.usatodaysports.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2016/03/usatsi_9199081.jpg?w=100&h=59)
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Buddy Hield is getting all the hype, and deservedly so, but Johnson is quietly putting together a spectacular tournament. He’s averaging 21 points a game on a ridiculous 67% shooting. He’s also chipped in with 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per contest. Hield has put up more points, but has not been as efficient as Johnson, who is producing 1.8 points per shot. Hield is producing 1.7 points every time he makes an attempt. The Sooners guard is surely the most exciting player left, but Johnson has arguably had the more all-around impact.
5. They are fun to watch
I guess this sort of depends on what kind of basketball you enjoy. If you like the 3-point shot, North Carolina isn’t the team for you. But if you love fast-paced, efficient basketball (and who doesn’t?) you’re going to enjoy watching the Heels’ up-and-down style. The average North Carolina lasts only 15.4 seconds, per KenPom.com. That’s the 15th fastest mark in the country. No other final four team ranks in the top-50. And Williams’ team does not sacrifice efficiency for the sake of speed. The Heels lead the nation in offensive efficiency. This team can put the ball in the basket and do it in a hurry.