How the two teams match-up
Front-Court
Edge: UNC
If you have watched Villanova play, you'd know that they are a team that is built on guard play and outside shooting. If you have watched North Carolina play, you'd know that they are a team that is built on pounding the ball inside and working some magic in the paint. Based on that, Carolina has he edge in the front-court. Kris Jenkins and Daniel Ochefu are quality big men for Nova, but I'll take UNC's trio of Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Justin Jackson over just about any in College Basketball. If Nova's shooting betrays them, it could be a long night.
Backcourt
Edge: Villanova
I've been hearing all week from a bunch of so-called ''experts'' that Villanova is ''a team without any stars''. I disagree. If Josh Hart is not a star, then what is the meeting of the phrase? Hart can score (15.5) PPG. He can shoot the three ball. He plays lock down defense, and he can shoot the three-ball. Add in the floor vision of Ryan Arcidiacono and the outside shooting of Jalen Brunson, and you've got a strong back-court in Philly. Chapel Hill's back-court isn't too shabby either, as anybody who follows college basketball knows how good Marcus Paige is. However, the depth that Nova has in the back-court slightly edges out what the Tar Heels have.
Bench
Edge: UNC
Just like that, the Tarheels regain the lead. Roy Williams does a lot of things well as a head coach, and one of them is the way he uses his bench. Theo Pinson, Nate Britt, and Isiah Hicks have all played major parts in getting UNC to where they are. Nova has an elegant bench too, as, just like UNC, they have eight players who are averaging over 10 minutes per game. What gives the Tar Heels the edge here in my honest opinion is that I feel that their starting 5 is stronger than Nova's starting 5. While the two teams both have solid bench depth, the strength of UNC's starters makes their bench a little less of a necessity than it could become for Villanova.
Final Prediction
We all know how dominant UNC has been for the last two months. We are all aware of how good Villanova has been since the tournament started. I think most will agree that the talent level of the Tar Heels is superior to that of the Wildcats. However, it would be wrong to take Nova's destruction of Oklahoma in the national semifinal into consideration and not think that this will be a close game. Villanova was getting little respect as a #2 seed coming into this tournament and has been playing with a chip on their shoulder. However, Carolina has been playing that way ever since their brutal home loss to Duke on February 18th. I think that UNC will win this game because it is their time. Something about this season feels like a Tar Heel's destiny, and that destiny will be fulfilled tonight for Roy Williams.
Bench
Edge: UNC
Just like that, the Tarheels regain the lead. Roy Williams does a lot of things well as a head coach, and one of them is the way he uses his bench. Theo Pinson, Nate Britt, and Isiah Hicks have all played major parts in getting UNC to where they are. Nova has an elegant bench too, as, just like UNC, they have eight players who are averaging over 10 minutes per game. What gives the Tar Heels the edge here in my honest opinion is that I feel that their starting 5 is stronger than Nova's starting 5. While the two teams both have solid bench depth, the strength of UNC's starters makes their bench a little less of a necessity than it could become for Villanova.
Final Prediction
We all know how dominant UNC has been for the last two months. We are all aware of how good Villanova has been since the tournament started. I think most will agree that the talent level of the Tar Heels is superior to that of the Wildcats. However, it would be wrong to take Nova's destruction of Oklahoma in the national semifinal into consideration and not think that this will be a close game. Villanova was getting little respect as a #2 seed coming into this tournament and has been playing with a chip on their shoulder. However, Carolina has been playing that way ever since their brutal home loss to Duke on February 18th. I think that UNC will win this game because it is their time. Something about this season feels like a Tar Heel's destiny, and that destiny will be fulfilled tonight for Roy Williams.
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