There are two things I hate in this world: country music and Duke basketball.

Nothing makes me cringe more than enviously observing Coach K bring in top-tier recruiting classes year after year, except maybe watching his team hoist two National Championships in the past eight seasons.

But I digress.

North Carolina basketball has served as a major component of my young life. From when my older brother, who is also a Tar Heels fanatic, introduced me to the team during the early portion of my adolescence until the present day, I have always remained loyal to the Heels.

Being a Carolina diehard, I’ve seen it all: when Gerald Henderson blatantly punched Tyler Hansbrough in the nose, the PJ Hairston dilemma, and that time Stilman White started an Elite Eight game against Kansas.

There have been both ups and downs, but that’s the life of a sports fan, so I really can’t complain.

During my tenure as a Tar Heel supporter, I have grown attached to a significant number of players.

The competitors who I admire most are not necessarily the individuals with the most skill, but instead are the ones who play hard on a consistent basis, develop a solid reputation for themselves off the court, and, perhaps most importantly, stay at the school instead of forgoing the remainder of their college eligibility to pursue professional aspirations.

Some names that come to mind when discussing the aforementioned criteria are Danny Green, Tyler Zeller, Brice Johnson, Marcus Paige, Isaiah Hicks, and Kennedy Meeks, to name a few. These individuals epitomize Carolina basketball in every way and will always be some of my favorites to don Carolina Blue.

There are two players on Carolina’s current roster that are approaching the conclusion of their college basketball careers and, as a fan, I could not be more thankful for their contributions.

Coach Roy Williams offered these young men scholarships not only because of their exceptional talent but also because they are team players focused on playing for what’s on the front of their jerseys rather than what’s on the back.

Joel Berry and Theo Pinson know what it takes to play for North Carolina. As highly touted freshmen entering the 2014-2015 season, neither player received much game time under Coach Williams, but they never let that negatively affect them.

From that point forward, Berry and Pinson have gone above and beyond to earn their respective positions in the Carolina starting five.

As sophomores, Berry and Pinson played key roles in helping the Tar Heels advance to the National Championship game, eventually losing to Villanova on a last-second buzzer beater.

Once again, Berry and Pinson refused to be discouraged, garnering motivation from the defeat to capture a National Championship during the proceeding campaign.

Both Berry and Pinson underwent monumental transitions during their junior seasons. Not only did Berry grow out his hair, but his performance on the court reached new heights.

With a deadly three-point shot and the ability to penetrate against larger defenders, Berry found a niche in Carolina’s squad for being a playmaker.

Although the early part of his 2016-2017 season was plagued by injuries, Pinson continued to progress, becoming the lockdown defender that Coach Williams always hoped he would be.

Together, Berry and Pinson pushed UNC to its full potential as the team inevitably overcame the previous season’s shortcoming by winning the school’s sixth National Title.

This season has been difficult for Carolina players and fans alike. The team has struggled at times after losing multiple key players due to graduation, but that has not affected Berry and Pinson, who continue to serve as crucial players for Coach Williams.

Whenever adversity strikes, Berry and Pinson step up to the plate, prepared to handle any situation that comes their way.

I will definitely miss Joel Berry and Theo Pinson. Together, the two seniors have developed a legacy at UNC and will be remembered by fans for their inherent skill and determination to win.

These types of players are hard to come by, but their presence should not be taken for granted.

As the NCAA Tournament nears, so does the end of Berry and Pinson’s stays. I would just like to take a moment to thank these young men for all they have done.

In a world flooded with responsibilities and expectations, sports is a way for individuals, such as myself, to get lost and relieve some of the stress that accompanies everyday life.

Thank you, Joel and Theo, for representing North Carolina in the most professional way possible.

Now let’s go win another National Championship.