GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – When North Carolina takes the court for Saturday’s Final Four game against Oregon, the Tar Heels will lean on a lineup filled with upperclassmen who have played together for years and know exactly what to expect.
They’ll know how to manage the pressure awaiting on college basketball’s biggest stage. There will be no surprises about playing in a massive football stadium that can make for some tricky depth perception when launching a shot.
That makes the Tar Heels – who played to the final night before losing last year’s title on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer – a bit of a throwback in a time when blueblood programs frequently have young rosters and a revolving door of one-and-done talents or transfers.
“It’s big,” junior Justin Jackson said. “Nothing really can break us apart honestly. We’ve seen everything. We’ve been through everything.”
Take a look at UNC’s roster, and that experience stands out. The Tar Heels (31-7) have started at least four upperclassmen in all but one game this year, while the current starting quintet is three juniors and a pair of seniors.