“I’m not even thinking about that right now,” Hansbrough told The Associated Press in the locker room after Saturday’s loss. Ellington and Lawson, both sophomores, said they hadn’t given the NBA any thought but Ellington added he planned to discuss his options with his parents.

Another disappointing ending should serve as an inspiration for next season. Williams is so good at using that type of thing as motivation.

“I told them one of the most inadequate feelings as a coach is what to say at a moment like this that can help them, can remove any of the hurt, that can give them something to grab onto,” Williams said Saturday. “I apologized to them because some way, some how I didn’t have our team ready to play as well as Bill [Self] did.”

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So, pencil in the Tar Heels as next season’s national champion candidate and remember things can change in the days and weeks to come. Here’s the rest of my 2009 Final Four forecast:

Tennessee  — JaJuan Smith and Chris Lofton are departing seniors for the Volunteers. Coach Bruce Pearl is waiting to see what Tyler Smith decides. Tennessee has emerged as the best team in the SEC and a national title contender. Don’t expect them to go away any time soon.

Texas — Rick Barnes is one of the most underrated coaches in college basketball. The Longhorns regrouped after the loss of Kevin Durant. It will be another challenge to do the same thing after losing point guard D.J. Augustin,  a sophomore who will likely declare for the draft. But if A.J. Abrams, Damion James, Gary Johnson and Connor Atchley all return, it could be a great time to be in Austin.

Villanova — Jay Wright should have everyone back from a team that just barely squeezed into the NCAA Tournament and then advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Kansas. Right now, draft observers say there’s a 50-50 chance of guard Scottie Reynolds declaring for the draft. That would hurt, but the confidence the Wildcats got from their NCAA run should be a tremendous lift.

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