Every time I even think about the National Championship, I shed a tear. That dreary April day still haunts me. We had a National Championship in our hands, yet it sifted through our fingers. I thought we were in for a rough year after Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson left. Yet here we are -- a new year and we are yet again ranked in the top 10 in the country. Despite losing the two aforementioned players, the Tar Heels have found a way to win, setting them up nicely for the NCAA tournament.
First, and probably most importantly, UNC is leading all of the NCAA in rebounds per game and rebound differential. This has been crucial as it leads to more second chance points for their offense and less second chance points for the opposing offense. The Tar Heels are averaging 44.1 rebounds per game. Of those 44 rebounds, 16 of them are offensive. This number also leads the NCAA. This is huge because those rebounds potentially could lead to 32 extra points if they can capitalize off of them.
On top of the stellar rebounding play, UNC has averaged 86.5 points per game. This ranks seventh in the NCAA. Combine that with the dominant team rebounding, and you have a recipe for success that has proven to be tough to beat. For reference, the team last year averaged 82.8 points per game.
So, the fact that this year's team has been able to surpass the scoring of last year's team is very promising. The secret behind this scoring outbreak is junior guard Justin Jackson. Last year, Jackson couldn't quite find his shot as he averaged 12.2 points per game. This number could've been higher if not for an underwhelming 29 percent 3-point percentage. However, Jackson's performance this year has been nothing short of incredible. Jackson is averaging almost 19 points per game while shooting an outstanding 40 percent from 3-point range.
This shooting has given the Tar Heels the 3-point threat that they have desperately been yearning over the past couple years. In close games this year, when the team really needs a bucket, they are able to turn to J-Jax with confidence.
Another huge compliment to UNC's play-style is the experience that they are able to bring. After making it to the very end of the tournament last year, they have brought back 10 returning players from that team. This is huge as these players will be expected to perform well under pressure. Very few teams in the NCAA can say this.
After last year, I can't be confident going into the NCAA tournament. However, UNC's rebounding power combined with their scoring and experience gives me a little peace of mind for this year's postseason. Hopefully, UNC will spare all of us the emotional duress that we experienced last year and be able to bring home the trophy.
