National Pundits Foresee UNC Basketball Returning to Final Four

Jon Rothstein and a former NCAA star are high on Hubert Davis' third UNC basketball squad.

Author:
Matt Giles
Jan 19, 2024 9:21 PM EST

In this story:

UNC basketball is thriving. The fourth-ranked Tar Heels (14-3, 6-0 ACC) have won seven straight, the program's longest stretch without a loss since 2018-19. They're resilient, sometimes slipping for a spell but quickly bouncing back in dominant fashion, to the tune of double-digit victory margins across their entire winning streak.

And no one in the regular rotation is disappointing, as seven players are averaging at least six points per game in ACC action while the on-court chemistry has shifted from absolutely frustrating to watch last season to undoubtedly encouraging this go-round in Hubert Davis' third campaign as head coach.

So, it's no wonder Davis' 2023-24 UNC team, a projected No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed this week for the first time, is now among the Final Four picks of two CBS Sports college hoops analysts: Jon Rothstein and Wally Szczerbiak.

Rothstein, who has the Tar Heels playing in April for the second time under Davis' command and achieving that feat alongside Kentucky, Purdue, and defending national champion UConn, pointed to UNC's established starring cast:

"North Carolina has played exceptional basketball since losing to UConn and Kentucky in December," Rothstein observed. "Tar Heels, right now, [have the] best guard in the country in RJ Davis. They've got a stalwart inside in Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram, the transfer from Stanford, doing yeoman's work at the four."

Szczerbiak, who also sees UNC, Kentucky, Purdue, and UConn battling it out in Glendale, Ariz., credited Davis and his crew for the turnaround in Chapel Hill:

"Carolina is gonna be back after the meltdown last year," the former Miami (OH) All-American forward predicted. "Their coaching staff has done a tremendous job with them this year."

Everything that those national experts said seems spot-on.

NEXT UNC BASKETBALL GAME: at unranked Boston College (11-6, 2-4 ACC), 2:15 p.m. ET Saturday (The CW)