5 reasons North Carolina will return to Final Four

By Brad Weiss | Apr 6, 2017

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The North Carolina Tar Heels mascot celebrates in the confetti after defeatin ghte Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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Mar 17, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Tony Bradley (5) dunks the ball against Texas Southern Tigers guard Zach Lofton (2) during the first half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

3. A talented cast returning

We have already discussed this team being battle-tested, but the fact of the matter is, they are also very talented up and down the roster. If Berry comes back for his senior season, the Tar Heels will have the best point guard in the ACC, which puts them one leg up on the rest of the competition. Alongside Berry, players like Theo Pinson and Tony Bradley will also be back, giving them a nice core of players from this year’s title team.

No Carolina team has been to three straight Final Fours since 1967-69, so it is definitely a tall order. There is no doubt that the losses to the roster are going to hurt, as Kennedy Meeks’ rebounding almost single-handedly got them into the title game. Carolina is not only losing the senior Meeks, but also fellow senior Isaiah Hicks, who played a huge role in the team’s win over Gonzaga.

ACC Player of the Year Justin Jackson is only a junior, but the odds are that he will be gone next season as well. He is projected to go in the NBA Lottery, so nobody can blame him if he decides to leave school early. Expect players like Seventh Woods and Brandon Robinson to step up in his place, as both were highly touted recruits who got to learn a ton last year while playing sparingly for Coach Williams.

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