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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina wont have a difficult time finding motivation this season.The memories of losing in the NCAA championship game on a last-second 3-pointer to Villanova still sting more than six months later. It was the crushing final play in a 33-win season that saw the Tar Heels go from a preseason No. 1-ranked team questioned about its toughness to a group that matured enough to sweep the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season and tournament titles before reaching the Final Four.There are enough veteran returnees for UNC to have the potential to do it again, driven by the memory of coming so oh-so-close to cutting down the nets in April.Every time I turn around and look up at the banners, where the national championship banners are, junior Joel Berry II said, sometimes it hurts me that we dont have the 2016 national championship up there. So its just motivation to me.Some Tar Heels, including Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams, still havent watched film from the loss.I thought we had a great, great year but its just like somebody pulls your heart out and taunts you by shaking it in front of you, Williams said. But youve got to get over it.The Tar Heels (33-7, 14-4 ACC) have some big holes with the losses of four-year starter Marcus Paige -- the guy UNC looked for when it needed a big shot -- and Associated Press all-American Brice Johnson inside. But they return six of their top eight scorers while adding a top-10 recruiting class.Berry is the top returning scorer (12.8 points), while fellow junior Justin Jackson (12.2) and senior big man Kennedy Meeks are returning starters. The Tar Heels also return ACC sixth man of the Isaiah Hicks, now likely to earn a promotion into the starting lineup.On the bench, senior Nate Britt provides backcourt depth along with junior Theo Pinson -- out indefinitely with a broken bone in his right foot -- and sophomore wing Kenny Williams III.The Tar Heels also will get help up front from McDonalds All-American Tony Bradley Jr., who headlines a wing-heavy recruiting class.---Some other things to know about the Tar Heels this season:PINSONS INJURY: Pinsons injury during a recent practice, announced Friday, has the potential to be a big blow. The versatile swingman is the teams top defender, a good passer and a leader with a knack for keeping up team morale .BERRY IN CHARGE?: Berry looks like the top candidate to take Paiges role as the guy to entrust with taking the big shot. He was the teams best outside shooter (38 percent from 3-point range) and led the team in assists, steals and free-throw percentage. And in a sign that Berry could be ready for a leap, he upped his game by averaging 13.7 points and shooting 50 percent in six NCAA Tournament games -- ending with 20 points against Villanova.HICKS FOUL TROUBLE: Keeping Hicks on the floor last season was a challenge, including twice in the final 10 games when he picked up four or five fouls in fewer than 10 minutes. The 6-foot-9 forward brings scoring and rebounding, and he was the teams defensive player of the game eight times -- third most on the team behind Paige and Berry. The Tar Heels need him out there this year with fewer frontcourt options.JACKSONS GROWTH: Jackson has good size on the perimeter and has been a complimentary scorer through his first two seasons. The Tar Heels need him to become a consistent scorer now in a leading role, especially when it comes to improving his 29-percent shooting from behind the arc last year. Hes an unselfish player and has occasionally seemed content to blend into the background, but the Tar Heels are tougher to stop when hes playing assertively .THE ROOKIES: The 6-foot-10 Bradley, a native of Bartow, Florida, will have a shot at immediate minutes for a team with only Meeks and Hicks returning to the frontcourt. The rest of that recruiting class brings depth on the wing with Brandon Robinson, Seventh Woods and Shea Rush.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap and the APs college basketball site at http://collegebasketball.ap.orgJ.A. Happ Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Raul Mondesi Jersey . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.cheapyankees.com/3571g-billy-martin-jersey-yankees.html . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Ryan Dull Jersey . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. Yankees Jerseys 2020 . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The scoreboard operator at FAU Stadium during Tuesday nights Boca Raton Bowl can expect to be kept busy by the high-powered offenses of Western Kentucky and Memphis.The Hilltoppers (10-3) put together their second consecutive 10-win season and averaged 45 points per game in capturing back-to-back Conference USA titles. Even though they will be taking the field without the head coach who built their offensive juggernaut in Jeff Brohm, who left for the same position at Purdue earlier this month, this group doesnt plan to take its foot off the gas pedal.I think theyre going to be one of the more athletic defenses weve faced so were going to have to be able to use our athletes against their athletes and thats really what its going to come down to, said Western Kentuckys senior quarterback Mike White, who transferred from the University South Florida and sat out all of the 2015 season. It starts up front of our big boys. I know theyre going to go out there and take care of business like theyve done all year.Senior wide receiver Taywan Taylor (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) has been the biggest playmaker for White and the Hilltoppers, piling up 1,586 receiving yards and 16 touchdown receptions to rank No. 2 in the nation.The Tigers (8-4) are led by junior quarterback Riley Ferguson, who guided an offense that averaged 39.5 points per game. Ferguson (6-4, 210) racked up 3,326 yards, 28 touchdowns and just nine interceptions but he will be facing a ball-hawking defense that has Memphis coach Mike Norvell focusing on ball security.We know these are two explosive football teams and both defenses love to attack, Norvell said. We want to create takeaways. Thats something that weve been able to do a great job of this year, I think were top five in the nation in forcing turnovers, and thats something thats going to be key in this game. When you do play an explosive offense we cant give them any extra possessions.If we can get them off the field we have to capitalize on every opportunity.---Some things to know about the Boca Raton Bowl:TROPICAL AUDITION? Hilltoppers interim head coach Nick Holt will only be wearing the interim tag for this game, as Western Kentucky hired Notre Dame offeensive coordinator Mike Sanford last week to replace Brohm.dddddddddddd Sanford actually will be in attendance at the game but the players are prepared to play hard for Holt, while he hopes to make a strong case to another college football program that he is ready to be a head coach.READY-MADE TOUR GUIDES: White and cornerback DeAndre Simmons are among nine Hilltoppers and three Tigers from South Florida, so their surroundings this week from the team hotel to the practice facilities and the drive to other events were very familiar. White has enjoyed playing tour guide to his teammates and reminding them why they chose to play this bowl -- the weather. Being from Florida I know what its like, but some of these kids from Kentucky walked off the plane and were kind of amazed, White said. Its going to be perfect conditions, best on best, and were excited.DONT FORGET ABOUT DEFENSE: Memphis junior cornerback Arthur Maulet shared the same sentiment as Western Kentucky junior defensive lineman Derik Overstreet when it came to the attention -- or lack thereof -- being paid to the defensive side of the ball. The Tigers ended the season with a +10 turnover ratio and Maulet came up with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks to go along with 61 tackles (48 solo).WATCH THESE GUYS: Hilltoppers senior running back Anthony Wales (5-10, 195) and Tigers junior wide receiver Anthony Miller (5-11, 190) are two offensive threats that opposing defensive staffs cannot allow to slip free. Wales racked up 1,376 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on 202 carries. Miller led Memphis with 84 receptions for 1,283 yards and 11 touchdowns.SECOND HOME FOR WKU: Western Kentucky has come to enjoy coming to South Florida, whether its to play conference rival FAU on the same field as the Boca Raton Bowl or leaving Miami last year victorious in the Miami Beach Bowl over USF, 45-35. The Hilltoppers routed the Owls at the stadium Howard Schnellenberger built, 52-3, on Oct. 29. Meanwhile, this will be Memphis first visit to FAU Stadium.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '