NCAA Championship Game 2016: Star Players Who Will Decide UNC vs. Villanova

Tar Heel Brice Johnson has made it to the national championship game along with his teammates from North Carolina, and it's difficult to see him coming up sort on college basketball's biggest stage.

Josh Hart was the best player on the court for Villanova in its record-setting national semifinal win over Oklahoma, and the Wildcats have the ability to win the championship if North Carolina is not at its best.

These two championship-worthy teams have no shortage of stars who are capable of making decisive plays on college basketball's biggest stage. North Carolina is a 2.5-point favorite over Villanova, according to Odds Shark. While the point spread is close, 61 percent of the bettors are backing the Tar Heels.

The Tar Heels used their size and talent down low to dominate in their 83-66 win over Syracuse. Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Joel James have the power down low to put their imprint on the title game.

Johnson is the brightest star, while Meeks is capable of rising to a high level in the title game. Johnson may be the most impactful player on the court Monday night, and he has proven his ability on both ends of the court. He is averaging 17.0 points per game while bringing down 10.5 rebounds per night.

He is also dominant on defense, and he has registered 58 blocks and 43 steals this season. Johnson has excellent instincts, and his ability to anticipate what opponents are going to do on offense allows him to make huge plays on a consistent basis.

Villanova played a sensational game in beating Oklahoman, 95-51, in the national semifinal. The triumvirate of Hart, Kris Jenkins and Ryan Arcidiacono led it. Hart scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds against the Sooners, while Jenkins had 18 points and eight boards. Arcidiacono, a superb ball-handler, scored 15 points and handed out three assists.

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Josh Hart's 23 points are the most by a Villanova player in the Final Four since 1971 (3rd-most all-time). pic.twitter.com/FUqt9gzlsS

— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) April 3, 2016"

Hart could not have been more efficient against the Sooners, as he connected on 10 of 12 shots from the floor. He has been the Wildcats' leading scorer all season, and he averages 15.5 points per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the floor. 

Jenkins is averaging 13.6 points per night, and while he is not a "star" by normal standards, he is capable of playing a starring role in any game. He came up big against Oklahoma, and he punctuated his importance by connecting on four of seven three-point attempts. 

Arcidiacono is going to have to be a star if the Wildcats are going to beat the Tar Heels. He is a superb ball-handler and North Carolina is going to put his skills to the test. Arcidiacono is averaging 12.4 points per game, and he leads the Wildcats with an average of 4.3 assists per night.

Johnson will not be the lone star for the Tar Heels Monday night. Meeks may not meet the true definition of a star, as he averages 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, but he is capable of playing a starring role in the big game.

Meeks was sensational against the Orange as he scored 15 points with eight rebounds, and he connected on seven of nine shots from the floor.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Joel Berry II and Marcus Paige are certainly capable of starring from the backcourt. Berry is the team's second-leading scorer behind Johnson with an average of 12.6 points per game, and Paige is right behind with 12.3 points per night. 

Both are more than capable of lighting it up from beyond the arc, and once they start to hit a couple of long shots, that opens things up for Johnson and Meeks.

The Wildcats don't have the star power up front to compare with the Tar Heels, but they do have an impact player in 6'11" Daniel Ochefu. He is averaging 10.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, and he is coming off a 10-point, six-rebound game against Oklahoma.

The most impressive part of Ochefu's game against the Sooners was his defensive effort. Not only did he impact the Sooners when they attempted to score in the paint, he committed just one foul in 28 minutes of action.

If Ochefu can stay out of foul trouble against North Carolina, the Wildcats will have an opportunity to bring home a championship for head coach Jay Wright. However, if the Tar Heels dominate down low, Roy Williams and Co. will be cutting down the nets.