ESPN Men's Basketball

North Carolina forward Tyler Zeller talks about preparing for the NBA draft, his decision to return for his senior season, UNC's performance in the NCAA tournament and more.

North Carolina's Tyler Zeller, the 2012 ACC Player of the Year who is projected as an NBA lottery pick in June, will be featured on a live chat over at ESPN SportsNation at 4:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Click here to get to that page and to send in your questions for the senior.

North Carolina fans have been playing the what-if game since the Tar Heels lost to Kansas in the Midwest Regional Final on March 25 -- a natural reaction, even a couple weeks later, considering four-fifths of North Carolina's starting lineup is now headed to the NBA.

Monday, ESPN.com's Eamonn Brennan broadened the question to a national perspective, with what-ifs that included Fab Melo's eligibility, the NBA lockout and Northwestern.

But he also included two Tar Heels-related interrogatives:

• What if Kendall Marshall hadn't gotten hurt?
• What if Cody Zeller had chosen North Carolina over Indiana?

Click here to read Brennan's entire story.

It's been a few weeks since I've tried to answer some of your queries, comments, raves and rants about North Carolina hoops. So here goes.

Remember: Send your offseason interrogatives by visiting this page. You can also email me at bylinerp@gmail.com or contact me via Twitter at @bylinerp.

Krista from Coats, N.C.: With the mass exodus of players going to the draft, what are the chances that UNC will land Alex Oriakhi next season? Is there a time period that we should find out?

Tim from Cincinnati, Ohio: Hi Robbi, have you heard any word on Alex Oriakhi perhaps coming to UNC or any interest on UNC's part towards him?

Pickeral: Oriakhi -- the UConn forward who plans to transfer because of the Huskies’ 2013 NCAA tournament ban -- plans to visit UNC, Duke, Missouri and Kentucky, Kevin Duffy of the Connecticut Media Group reported earlier this week. And the 6-foot-9, 240-pound rising senior spoke to UNC coach Roy Williams on Wednesday night, the player confirmed to InsideCarolina.

His dad also named Xavier, Ohio State and UNC-Charlotte as possible destinations.

Chances are, Oriakhi won’t make a decision until after April 10, the NCAA deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NBA draft or opt to return to school; that will give him a definitive look at the rosters he has a chance to join. But the fact that UConn lost its appeal on its postseason ban Thursday lets schools know that he definitely will be able to play somewhere else next season (had the Huskies won the appeal, Oriakhi would have had to sit out a year).

No doubt, he would be a huge addition for the Tar Heels, who are losing four-fifths of their starting lineup to the NBA draft -- including starting forwards Tyler Zeller and John Henson. Rising sophomore James Michael McAdoo (who announced Thursday he is returning to school) should slide into one of those starting slots, and Oriakhi -- who averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Huskies in 2011-12, after producing 9.6 points and 8.7 rebounds as a sophomore on UConn’s NCAA title team -- would likely fit into the other.

But with so many suitors, and only one more year to play, he’ll almost certainly be pondering several things: Which team can give him the most playing time? Which team can he help go the farthest in the NCAA tournament -- and in turn, help him go as high as possible in the NBA draft? And which team has a system/point guard that can get him the ball?

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Craig from Santa Cruz, Calif.: Not sure why amongst all the what ifs in your piece about the Tar Heels' legacy you did not include: What if Larry Drew hadn't thrown a fit and quit? He was good as a backup with excellent perimeter defensive skills. Dexter Strickland was a shooting guard repurposed to point after LD2 bolted. Stilman [White] would not be on the team had LD2 not quit.

Pickeral: You make a good point, Craig. Theoretically, if Drew II had been on the roster, UNC would have had a more solid backup in the mix when Kendall Marshall fractured his wrist during the NCAA tournament.

But I’ll take that ‘What if?’ in another direction. If Drew II had not bolted in the middle of the 2010-11 ACC season (without telling his teammates, and letting his dad make the call to coach Roy Williams, remember), would that team have bonded together, and made it to the NCAA regional finals that season? Would Marshall have become a leader so quickly? Would Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller have all returned for the 2011-12 season? Would this team have had the same chemistry?

Many believe Drew II’s departure was addition by subtraction. He didn’t want to back up Marshall; he made that pretty clear. So adding him back into the theoretic mix would add a whole lot of other “what ifs” to the equation, too.

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Margaret from Durham, N.C.: I don't see Tyler Zeller's name on the NBA lists of probably declaring or declared. Does he intend to play in the pros?

Pickeral: Hey, Margaret. Because he’s a senior, Zeller is not going to be mentioned on those lists. He does plan to play professionally, and ESPN’s Chad Ford currently has him projected as No. 12 in his top 100.

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Alex from Virginia: Any chance Stilman White will change his mind about going on his mission and return to UNC next season?

Pickeral: No. White said going on his two-year Mormon mission -- which he actually delayed for a year, in order to play for the Tar Heels in 2011-12 -- has always been a dream, and he plans to leave after this semester.

As of the final week of the NCAA tournament, the point guard from Wilmington, N.C., was still filling out his paperwork, and didn't know if he would serve his mission inside or outside the U.S. He'll be back as a sophomore in the 2014-15 season.

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Ed from South Carolina: Robbi, which player to you look most forward to watching next season?

Pickeral: That's a hard one, Ed, because there are so many choices. I can't wait to see how quickly incoming freshman Marcus Paige adapts at point guard; how Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald look after their knee injuries; and all that Reggie Bullock can do, what with the way he's improved his defense to go along with his outside shooting.

But if I have to choose one guy, it's McAdoo. He decided to return for his sophomore season to improve his overall game, and if he continues to build on what he did over the last 4-to-6 weeks of the season -- the steals, the dunks, the rebounds -- he's going to be fun to watch. Especially because he'll be such a key player in the post.

Who is your pick?

North Carolina freshman James Michael McAdoo often talked this season about all he had learned from starting forwards Tyler Zeller and John Henson: work ethic, timing, playing hard and focused, even in practice.

Now, he’ll have a chance to pass that on.

By opting to return for his sophomore season, McAdoo -- who likely would have been an NBA lottery pick -- will be the most experienced returning player in the post. (Zeller is graduating; Henson joined small forward Harrison Barnes and point guard Kendall Marshall in declaring early for the NBA draft.)

McAdoo's parents said the chance to grow by being in a leadership role -- as well as improving his overall game by starting and playing more minutes next season -- had an impact on his decision.

“He’s going to be looked at as a leader on this team -- and that’s another way he can mature as a player,’’ his mom, Janet McAdoo, said. “And I think that’s something he looks forward to.”

Which is a good thing. There is a chance that the Tar Heels could add some experience in the lane in forward Alex Oriakhi, who plans to transfer from UConn and reportedly has UNC on his list of possible destinations.

But either way, UNC is going to have to count on a lot of big-man youth.

Rising sophomore Desmond Hubert, who averaged 4.9 minutes, showed some athletic moves on defense, but will need to balance that out with scoring to make more of an impact. Two incoming freshmen -- Brice Johnson, a 6-foot-9 athlete from South Carolina; and Joel James, a 6-10 forward from Florida who has slimmed down more than 50 pounds since the Tar Heels started recruiting him -- should get immediate shots to contribute, too, depending how they fare, and adapt, in fall practice.

Which is where McAdoo’s new leadership role could come in handy (as well as his ability to steal balls out of the backcourt, finish on fast breaks, and sky for putback dunks).

The McDonald’s All-American was somewhat of a late bloomer last season, struggling to find his confidence (and exactly where he fit) in UNC’s scheme early on. But McAdoo averaged 10.6 points in his last seven contests, including a season-high 15 points during UNC’s loss to Kansas in the Midwest Regional final. He looked comfortable, finally, in his three starts for the injured Henson.

He said everything started clicking during the ACC season when he realized he needed to play harder and focus more in practice, like the veteran players ahead of him in the rotation. Finally, he realized, that would translate to games.

That experience is something he can (and will need to) pass on, now that he's decided to come back.

“He did have a tough transition early on,’’ Janet McAdoo said. “But we saw him start to come on with that extra playing time late in the season. … He’s exciting about continuing to improve [his game], that was part of his decision. But I think he also looks forward to his new role on the team … and the guys he’ll be playing with.”

Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.

North Carolina reserve forward James Michael McAdoo will return to UNC for his sophomore season, the school announced on Thursday.

"I love being at Carolina and really enjoy competing with and being around my teammates and am excited about what we can do together next season," McAdoo said in a statement. "Every young basketball player wants to have as much information about his future and understand what others in the game think about him.

"It's been interesting to learn the information that Coach (Roy) Williams has gathered, but I am ready to continue as a Tar Heel. I'm enjoying my time in Chapel Hill and am excited about the future for my team and me."

McAdoo's decision is good news for the Tar Heels, who already have lost four-fifths of their 2011-12 starting lineup to the upcoming NBA draft.

Click here for the rest of the story.

Looking ahead at North Carolina’s two power forward positions in 2012-13:

Key losses: Starter Tyler Zeller (graduation); starter John Henson (early-entry draft candidate).

Returnees: Sophomore James Michael McAdoo (still pondering whether to leave for the NBA early); sophomore Desmond Hubert; sophomore Jackson Simmons.

Key additions: Freshman Joel James; freshman Brice Johnson.

Question mark: Will McAdoo stay or go?

With both Zeller and Henson gone, the rising sophomore would be the only returning post player with significant experience. McAdoo started three games in place of Henson, and picked up his confidence and pace toward the end of the season -- racing for steals and finishing with dunks. He was even UNC’s leading scorer (15 points) in its Elite Eight loss to Kansas.

His dad, Ronnie, said Monday that James Michael was still pondering his options, and would make a decision about whether to stay in school or leave early for the NBA by the end of the week. Several mock drafts project the 6-foot-9 athlete as a lottery pick.

Player(s) to watch: Whatever McAdoo's decision, the Tar Heels will need significant contributions from newcomers. Junior forward Alex Oriakhi, who plans to transfer from UConn, reportedly has UNC on his list of possible destinations.

And then there are the two incoming freshmen.

Johnson, a 6-foot-9 forward from South Carolina, is “very thin, probably not quite as thin as John [Henson], but he has a quick bounce, can block some shots, can rebound the basketball in a crowd and will be able to score,'' UNC coach Roy Williams said in January. "… He’s another guy that has a big-time upside.”

Meanwhile, Williams has seen the 6-foot-10 James slim down from 330 pounds to 270. “He’s one of the most unique youngsters, one of the funniest youngsters I’ve ever been around. He’s going to be a joy to coach. The sky is the limit for him because he didn’t even play basketball until his sophomore year in high school. I think he’s a youngster that’s going to get better and better as each season goes along, and people are going to love him to death.”

Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.

Incoming North Carolina point guard Marcus Paige has a stress fracture in his left foot, according to both scout.com and The News & Observer -- but it should be healed in four or five weeks.

“By the time he leaves in June to head down [to North Carolina], he’ll be fine,” his high school coach, Chris Robertson, told The News & Observer. He also told the paper that Paige would have surgery Tuesday.

The injury means the McDonald's All-American will not compete Saturday in the Nike Hoops Summit in Portland, Ore., or the Jordan Brand Classic in Charlotte, N.C., on April 14.

Paige's health is key, considering he arrives in Chapel Hill, N.C., as the favorite to start at point guard, after sophomore Kendall Marshall's decision last week to leave early for the NBA.

His injury is also just the latest in a long list of breaks, tears and sprains for UNC this season. To review:

• Shooting guard Leslie McDonald needed reconstructive left knee surgery before 2011-12 started, and ended up redshirting.
• Then starting shooting guard/back-up point guard Dexter Strickland tore the ACL in his right knee in January, and missed the rest of the season.
• Forward John Henson missed three postseason games with a sprained left wrist.
• And then Marshall fractured his right wrist during UNC's second game of the NCAA tournament, and had to watch from the bench as the Tar Heels beat Ohio, then fell to Kansas in the Midwest Region final.

Looking ahead at North Carolina’s small forward position in 2012-13:

Key Losses: Starter Harrison Barnes (early entry, NBA draft); reserve Justin Watts (graduation).

Returnees: Junior Reggie Bullock; junior Leslie McDonald; sophomore P.J. Hairston.

Key Additions: Freshman J.P. Tokoto.

Player to Watch: The Tar Heels boast a bunch of veterans at this position, so it’s going to be interesting to see how Tokoto, the rookie, fits in.

Coach Roy Williams, during his January radio show, described him as an “incredible athlete.” But he’ll have to earn his minutes, since Bullock, McDonald and Hairston can play both shooting guard and small forward.

Said Williams: “He’s a Vince Carter-type athlete. He gets way, way up there. He did some kind of 360 and still brought it back and whammed it on the back of his head and dunked it, too. He was almost eyeball-to-eyeball with the rim. Great family. His defensive potential is big. … Needs to shoot the ball a little bit better and understand how important it is to make sure he doesn’t turn it over.”

Question Mark: Does McDonald play sixth man?

The junior ended up redshirting in 2011-12 after offseason reconstructive knee surgery. But before he injured his knee in a 2011 summer league game, reports were that he was shooting well, playing aggressively -- and might even contend for a starting position.

Look for him to push for an opening slot again, especially since he was able to practice with his team over the closing months of the season. But he could also make a big impact as the team’s “energy guy” -- the first player off the bench to spark his team at both shooting guard and small forward.

Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.

Looking ahead at North Carolina’s shooting guard position in 2012-13:

Key Losses: None.

Returnees: Senior Dexter Strickland; junior Leslie McDonald; junior Reggie Bullock; sophomore P.J. Hairston.

Key Additions: None.

Player to Watch: Strickland. UNC’s starting shooting guard/back-up point guard/best perimeter defender tore a ligament in his knee in January at Virginia Tech, and was sidelined for the remainder of the season. He said last month that his surgery went well, his knee was healing fine and he expects to be ready to play by the start of practice next fall.

But it will be interesting to see exactly where he fits, considering UNC has so many wings. With starting point guard Kendall Marshall gone and freshman McDonald’s All-America Marcus Paige on the way, will the Tar Heels want to give Strickland even more ballhandling duties? Does he earn his starting shooting guard slot back because of his defense? And how much will his shooting improve?

Question Mark: Could outside shooting finally become a strength again?

UNC’s last two NCAA tournament exits were marred by clanks and clunks. The Tar Heels were a measly 2-for-17 (11.8 percent) from 3-point range in the NCAA regional finals against Kansas last month, and an ugly 3-for-16 (18.8 percent) in the Elite Eight against Kentucky in 2011.

But with McDonald back after sitting out 2011-12 because of offseason knee surgery, Bullock more confident after starting 18 games in place of Strickland, and Hairston boasting a full year of experience under his belt, the Tar Heels boast a trio capable of putting up big numbers (and percentages) from beyond the arc. Plus, each can play small forward, as well.

Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.

Looking ahead at North Carolina’s point guard position in 2012-13:

Key losses: Starter Kendall Marshall (early entry, NBA draft); reserve Stilman White (two-year Mormon mission).

Returnees: Senior Dexter Strickland; sophomore Luke Davis.

Key addition: Freshman Marcus Paige.

Player to watch: If you had to pick a top “player to watch,” regardless of position for UNC, it would be Paige, the 6-foot-1 McDonald’s All-American from Iowa. With Marshall gone, he could become the first freshman Tar Heels ballhandler to start his first game since Bobby Frasor in 2005-06, and there will be a great big spotlight on how quickly he adapts.

In January, Williams called Paige “the best point guard in high school basketball this year.”

“He’s a lefty -- I like lefty point guards, I guess,’’ Williams said during his radio show. “He’s a good defender, good passer, good shooter. He understands the game. [A] 4.0 GPA student. His mother was a high school basketball coach, won a state championship. And his older sister plays on the basketball team at Wisconsin. He’s just really a team player and just a true, true point guard out there that’s going to be a big-time player.”

Question mark: How does Davis fit into the mix?

As we learned from White, who started two NCAA tournament games this season with Marshall and Strickland both sidelined by injuries, it’s key to have a third point guard on the roster as an insurance policy. But Davis, who averaged 7.2 points and 4.2 assists in 30 starts as a freshman at Gardner-Webb before opting to transfer, may be capable of adding more than that.

As per NCAA rules, he sat out last season, but gained familiarity with the offense by practicing with the team.

Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.

North Carolina forward James Michael McAdoo is still thinking about whether to return for his sophomore season or jump to the NBA early -- but he will make his decision this week, his father said in a text message Monday morning.

"James Michael came home for the weekend, we are still processing information before James Michael makes a decision,'' Ronnie McAdoo said in the text message. "[James Michael's] decision to stay at UNC or enter the 2012 draft will be made this week."

McAdoo, a reserve forward, averaged 6.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 15.6 minutes this season. But he came on strong late, particularly when he started three postseason games (two in the ACC tournament, one in the NCAA tournament) in place of junior John Henson, who was sidelined by a sprained left wrist.

As he gained more and more confidence, McAdoo showed the athleticism that made him a McDonald's All-American -- the ability to steal balls out of the backcourt and finish on the other end, to spike putback jams.

He was also the Tar Heels’ leading scorer (15 points) when UNC lost to Kansas in the Midwest Regional final, and his late-season performances pushed him into the lottery of many mock drafts. ESPN’s Chad Ford currently lists him at as seventh in his top 100.

UNC starters Henson, Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall all announced last week that they were leaving early for the NBA. ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller is graduating. That means McAdoo's return would be particularly key, as he would be the Tar Heels' most experienced player (and go-to guy) in the post.

Last week, McAdoo's father said he expected his son to return to UNC next season -- but that it would ultimately be James Michael's decision. As per NCAA rules, players have until April 10 to decide whether to leave early for the NBA.

Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.

After Tyler Zeller walked off the Edward Jones Dome court last Sunday, still stunned by his team’s 80-67 loss to Kansas in the NCAA Midwest Region final, it was hard to put into perspective what this North Carolina team’s legacy might be.

“We did win 30-plus games,” the senior 7-footer said. “I mean, hopefully it’s a good [legacy]. We had a lot of great players, we just came up a little short.”

UNC didn’t meet its goals of reaching the Final Four, of winning the NCAA championship. And with the loss of Zeller (who is graduating), plus fellow starters John Henson, Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall (who announced Thursday they are entering the NBA draft early), this team leaves on a bittersweet note.

For some, it will always be the season of ‘What if?’ -- as in: What if Leslie McDonald, Dexter Strickland and Marshall had not been injured and in street clothes for that final game? What if Barnes had been able to make a few more shots? What if the Tar Heels hadn’t panicked in those final four minutes against the Jayhawks?

For others, it will be a season of unfulfilled promise -- a team chock full of NBA first-rounders that just couldn’t get it done.

And for still others, it will be remembered as a season of perseverance -- a group of players that came back from big losses and tough injuries, until they just couldn’t anymore.

For all, there will be memories -- some the players, coaching staff and fans will want to hold on to, some they might want to forget.

In that vein, here are 10 standout moments/happenings that shaped the season (in chronological order):

THE CARRIER CLASSIC: The final score (67-55 over Michigan State by the way) wasn’t what really mattered in the opening game.

Staged on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson, under the San Diego sunset, the game was about honoring the nation’s servicemen on Veteran’s Day, saying thank-you in the form of shots and dunks and camo-colored jerseys. All in front of President Barack Obama on 11-11-11.

After the final buzzer, the players stripped off those jerseys -- which also featured “USA” instead of their individual names -- and gave them to the Wounded Warriors sitting courtside.

"Hopefully I'll be coaching another 10 or 15 years,” coach Roy Williams said afterward, “but I think it's going to be hard to top this."

PANIC AND FREEZE: In 2010-11, UNC had been a team that thrived in late-game-situations. So when they panicked against UNLV in the second half on Nov. 26 -- allowing the Rebels a 14-0 run from which the Tar Heels never recovered -- then froze in the final five seconds at Kentucky about a week later -- inexplicably failing to call timeout after Henson’s shot was blocked with five seconds left -- it was a perplexing reminder that this team had some growing to do.

The UNLV loss pushed the Tar Heels out of No. 1 in the rankings, a spot to which they never re-climbed. The loss to Kentucky gave the Wildcats the bragging rights … and a bunch of folks hoped there would be a re-match in the Final Four. That will become another one of those ‘what-ifs,’ especially if UK wins the national title.

NINE-GAME HOME WINNING STREAK: Yawn.

Williams wanted to play Texas on the road instead of at the Smith Center, wanted some sort of test between Dec. 6 and Jan. 10. Instead, the Tar Heels got a nine-game home winning streak against the likes of Evansville, Nicholls and even ACC freshman-laden foe Boston College. It padded their record, but also their egos -- and set up the embarrassment that came next.

33 POINTS: UNC’s 90-57 loss at Florida State was so lopsided, so humiliating, that Williams ended up taking his team off the court early -- leaving three walk-ons and two freshmen to play it out and deal with the rushing crowd (the coach later said he didn’t mean to abandon the quintet).

Many analysts, and some fans, wrote the Tar Heels off during that Jan. 14 game, questioning their heart, their desire, their toughness. Until the end of the season (maybe even now), UNC kept the number '33' written on a board in the locker room, a reminder (and motivator) of what happens when you think it’s going to be easy, when you don’t play with focus and drive.

“That was the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done in my life, because it was to the point where I never thought I’d leave a game early because we’d lost by that much, and they were going to storm the floor,’’ Zeller said in the days after loss. “And it was just something I hope to never experience again.”

LOSING DEX: What’s worse than playing in the most lopsided loss of the Roy Williams era? Losing a starter just three days later. It happened in the second half at Virginia Tech, when Strickland was driving toward the bucket and ended up on the baseline, screaming in pain.

UNC’s starting shooting guard/backup point guard/best perimeter defender was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his knee, and he became the second perimeter player sidelined, joining McDonald (out since the beginning of the season) on the bench in street clothes.

Sophomore Reggie Bullock filled in admirably at shooting guard, increasing his defensive focus while also burying shots. But from the beginning, Williams predicted that backup ball handler would be where Strickland was missed the most. And in the end, he was.

ZELLER BOUNCES BACK: Scribbled on the sidewalk outside the Smith Center prior to the Feb. 11 win against Virginia was a simple message: “Believe in Zeller.” Perhaps more importantly that game, the big guy believed in himself.

Just three days after a nightmarish loss to Duke -- during which Zeller missed two free throws, accidentally tipped in a Blue Devils shot, and was the defender on freshman Austin Rivers’ game-winning 3-pointer in the closing minutes -- the senior came back to record 25 points and nine rebounds against the Cavaliers. When he left the game for good, it was to a standing ovation.

“Z’s fine,’’ Henson said after the game. And Zeller was more than fine. That performance was the beginning of Zeller’s push to ACC Player of the Year honors.

REVENGE AT DUKE: This was the UNC team everyone had expected to see from the beginning of the season. Angered by the video board replay of Rivers’ game-winning shot at the Smith Center, the Tar Heels rushed to a 22-5 lead in the opening eight minutes of the March 3 re-match at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and ended up winning, easily, by 18.

This time, there was no hope for any comeback -- except for the Tar Heels, in the minds of those who had written them off.

“One thing that we talked about is people are going to put you on a pedestal to knock you down,’’ Marshall said after the game. “That’s what happens. We weren’t going to be perfect unless we went out and won every game by 30. That’s not what happened … we learned from our mistakes, we continued to get better. And now it’s all starting to come together.”

MARSHALL VS. NCSU: One dimensional? Bah.

The point guard proved he could do more than pass when he posted a career-high 22 points with 13 assists at NC State in late February. In the ACC tournament semifinals he took it another step: scoring when it mattered the most.

With 10.2 seconds left, on March 10, Marshall buried a bank shot -- making contact with Wolfpack guard Alex Johnson, who wanted a charge called. Senior Justin Watts sealed the win for his team (which was playing without the injured Henson) with a steal.

But the NBA scouts had to be impressed with Marshall's points, especially since had already set the ACC record for assists in a season during his first conference tournament game. Later, when pondering his NBA choice, Marshall had to know it, too.

STILMAN WHO? He should have been more scared. Later, he even admitted it. Instead, starting his first-ever college game -- and in the NCAA Sweet 16, to boot -- freshman point guard Stilman White was calm. Even a little confident.

With Marshall sitting on the bench in street clothes, his fractured right wrist in a brace, White recorded six assists and zero turnovers in the Tar Heels’ overtime win against Ohio. It was the stuff those of cheesy made-for-TV movies. Only it was true. And it resonated.

“It was one of the great stories in North Carolina basketball,’’ Williams said of White, who finished with 13 assists and zero turnovers in two NCAA starts.

THE PAINFUL DECISION: Williams admits he got his hopes up the day after the Ohio win, when Marshall was able to practice a bit to see if he could possibly play in the Midwest Regional final against Kansas. “We got him to run up the court, pass and catch and dribble. Being a one-armed player, he was still pretty good,’’ Williams said.

The coach thought his starting ball handler might just be able to contribute in his specially-fitted brace … until Marshall walked into a meeting room Sunday morning, and it was too painful to pass, dribble and shoot.

Without him -- and with Bullock playing in a knee sleeve, Henson competing on a newly sprained ankle, and Barnes struggling to hit shots -- the Tar Heels panicked, then collapsed in the closing minutes to the Jayhawks, falling short of their Final Four goals.

In the locker room, there were tears and ice bags and laments for the moments that were. And the ones that might have been.

“You can talk about talent, talent, talent … but it was off the charts, what this team had to face,” Williams said. “And I’m really proud of our team.”

Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.

Some UNC hoops-related links from around the Web:

• With John Henson, Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall gone, lower expectations will greet the 2012-13 Tar Heels, writes Harold Gutmann of The Herald-Sun.
• The North Carolina trio trades a rough ending for a new beginning, writes Stephen Schramm of The Fayetteville Observer.
• The Tar Heels' demise is exaggerated, writes Caulton Tudor of The News & Observer. Here's a photo gallery from The N&O of the trio.
• David Morrison at The News & Record breaks down UNC's early-entry candidates in the Roy Williams era.
• Here's the full statement from UNC about the trio turning pro.
• The Tar Heels have contacted UConn's Alex Oriakhi, writes Inside Carolina.
• Barry Jacobs at Duke Basketball Report breaks down the Final Four seeds since 1979.

Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.

After winning the 2005 national title, North Carolina lost its top seven scorers -- but saw the youth-laden 2006 squad exceed expectations and advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

After winning the 2009 title, the Tar Heels lost their top four players -- and saw the 2010 team fail to even make the NCAA tournament.

Which way will next season's UNC team (which lost in the NCAA regional finals last Sunday) go, after absorbing the early departures of power forward John Henson, wing Harrison Barnes and point guard Kendall Marshall -- plus the graduation of ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller and reserve Justin Watts? Much will depend on cohesion, leadership and injuries, three things that didn’t go the Tar Heels’ way in ’10.

A few other very early questions to ponder:

1. Will James Michael McAdoo return?

The freshman’s father, Ronnie, said Wednesday that his son plans to travel home this weekend to discuss the situation (some mock drafts list him as a top-10 pick), but that right now, he expects the forward to be back in a Tar Heels uniform next season. McAdoo’s (6.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg) return would be key, because with starters Henson and Zeller gone, he’ll have the most experience (and be to the go-to guy) in the post.

Defensive-minded forward Desmond Hubert should also get plenty of minutes, and should be helped by an offseason to put on weight and work on his offensive moves. UNC also adds two big guys in freshmen Joel James and Brice Johnson. And UConn transfer Alex Oriakhi is still looking for a new home; might he end up in Chapel Hill?

2. Will the ballhandlers adjust quickly?

Point guard, UNC coach Roy Williams has often said, is the most difficult position for a freshman to grasp, especially in the Tar Heels’ fast-paced system. But the onus will fall on McDonald’s All-American Marcus Paige -- a 6-foot-1 Iowa product who Williams called “a great floor general” -- to do so.

With limited options, he’s the favorite to start next season. But just as important will be his back-ups. UNC doesn’t just lose Marshall, but Stilman White, the former third-string freshman who had to start two NCAA tournament games after Marshall broke his wrist, and because Dexter Strickland suffered a season-ending knee injury in January. White will leave for a two-year Mormon mission after this semester. Strickland, meanwhile, is still rehabilitating after surgery, but said last week he hopes to be able to play again in about two months.

UNC will also have another ballhandler available in sophomore Luke Davis. After transferring from Gardner-Webb, he sat out last season as per NCAA rules, but has had a year to learn the system.

3. How are the knees?

While Strickland is still recovering, the good news is that shooting guard Leslie McDonald, who redshirted in 2011-12 because of reconstructive knee surgery last summer, was able to practice with the team in the final months of the season, and should be eager to get back to his sharpshooting ways come the fall.

With so many wings on the team -- McDonald, Strickland, Reggie Bullock (who took over as starting shooting guard once Strickland was injured), P.J. Hairston and incoming freshman J.P. Tokoto -- it will be interesting to see how the minutes are divvied out. But the shooting guard and small forward positions should be a strength, because of the experience and depth that returns there.