Can they do it a second time? Like in 2017, when their elders won the college title at the expense of Gonzaga, after losing in the Finals to Villanova the previous season, can the 2022/23 Tar Heels erase the disappointment of losing the Finals to Kansas last March? , offering a happier outcome this season?
This is THE question that surrounds the program of Chapel Hill this season.
Because the similarities with Roy Williams’ troupe of the 2016 and 2017 seasons are certain. The legendary Tar Heels coach had been able to count on the return of most of his executives, over-motivated by the desire to redeem themselves. The situation is similar this year for Hubert Davis, who will train a workforce largely unchanged compared to the previous season, and above all driven by a strong desire to go all the way.
” This season when they open their lockers in the locker room there’s a picture of the Superdome in New Orleans [où s’est déroulé le Final Four, ndlr]. So that they remember the road traveled last year to play in this room » thus confided Hubert Davis. ” All the hard work, all the preparation and sweat in training to get here. And this year, we are keeping the same approach. The only difference is the external expectations. Last year, no one thought we had a chance. This year, everyone thinks so. »
Stability, the main ingredient to aim for the title
And to go to the end, in the university championship, it is often preferable to have an “old” workforce, made up of third or fourth year players, “juniors” and “seniors” who have accumulated experience.
Recent results prove it: Kansas won last year headed by two “seniors” (Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack) and a “junior (Christian Braun). Same observation in 2021 with Baylor and its two “juniors”, Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell, at the head of the attack. In 2018, Villanova flew over the championship and won the title with a trio of confirmed “juniors”: Jalen Brunson, Eric Paschall and Mikal Bridges.
We could go on and on, but it seems clear enough: with the return to business of “juniors” Caleb Love and RJ Davis, and “seniors” Leaky Black and Armando Bacot, four of the five starters last season, the Tar Heels are “old” this season, and that’s a big reason why they’re the No. 1 spot on The Associated Press’ preseason Top 25.
” This year, we have the experience [du parcours de l’an dernier]. ” We know exactly how complex it is to go to the end. And as a result, we are attacking this season with a level of seriousness and concentration that is at its highest. declared Caleb Love on this subject, on the occasion of the Media Day of the ACC conference. ” Whatever we do, whether it’s cardio, strength training or just when we’re training, we know what our goal is. »
Do not let yourself be destabilized by the obsession of the title
” Absolutely, 100%. This is the answer of Armando Bacot, when asked if the defeat in the final motivated his return, as well as those of Caleb Love, RJ Davis and Leaky Black / It says a lot about the state of mind of the Tar Heels this season.
The “veterans” of North Carolina, after having passed so close to the ultimate consecration last season, now only have the title in mind. But such a goal requires constant concentration, and the limit with the counter-productive obsession to achieve this goal is then thin.
” It’s more about focusing on this season, with the objective of winning the title, but without dwelling too much on what happened last year. thought Armando Bacot then. ” But it is obvious that it occupies our minds. […] Not a day goes by that we don’t say ‘I can’t wait to go back’. It’s hard not to think about it. […] So we have to make sure to take the matches one after the other, without thinking about last year. And we are ready, I think. »
