No. 16: Theo & Kennedy
No. 16: Theo & Kennedy
North Carolina won the national championship in 2017, but when people reflect on this team 20 and 30 years from now, what will they say?
Justin Jackson was the team’s best player and All-America, also the ACC Player of the Year. Joel Berry was the heart and soul of the Heels, and the MOP of the Final Four. Luke Maye’s shot, Kennedy Meeks’ national semifinals performance, two 12-0 runs, gritty defense and maybe Isaiah Hicks’ one-handed bank shot.
But also on that list will be Theo Pinson’s tap out followed by Meeks’ rebound, both off of missed Tar Heels’ free throw attempts in the final seconds in the national semifinals to advance to the championship game.
First, with UNC clinging to a 77-76 lead over an Oregon team it led by 6 points with 47 seconds to play, Meeks missed a free throw. But Pinson leapt above Oregon big man Jordan Bell and with his right hand tapped, really swatted, the ball out to Joel Berry near the top of the key.
Then, after Berry missed two free throws, Meeks got position on Bell and grabbed the miss before passing it out to Pinson, who took a few dribbles before tossing the ball into the air as the clock expired, sending the Tar Heels to Monday night’s national championship game versus Gonzaga.
Bell finished with 16 rebounds on the night, but it was Pinson’s 8th and Meeks’ 14th (he also scored 25 points) that secured the victory for the top offensive rebounding team in the nation. Two nights later, they won the national title.
The Series So Far
No. 30: Scott Makes History
No. 29: Roy Comes Home
No. 28: Posterizing Paulus
No. 27: Bloodied But Not Beaten
No. 26: Marvin's Putback
No. 25: Kuester Salts Away UK
No. 24: By George, What An Eruption
No. 23: Dean's 877th Win
No. 22: MJ Slams The Hoos
No. 21: A Fabulous Freshman
No. 20: Hansblood
No. 19: Dandy Dudley Does In State
No. 18: Strutting Stackhouse
No. 17: Terrific Ty Wins It In Tally