CHAPEL HILL — When North Carolina was announced as part of the NIT field, despite it's 16-16 overall record, the Tar Heels said they looked at the postseason tournament as a fresh start.

Who knew that fresh start would carry them to another Final Four?

Even though it might not be the NCAA Tournament Final Four, getting to play in Madison Square Garden in New York City to end the year will at least help the Tar Heels ease the disappointment of their worst season since 2002-03.

Make no mistake, UNC would have much rather been in the NCAA Tournament, no matter the seed, but stringing together three consecutive wins since December has given the Tar Heels back some confidence that they lacked while going 5-11 in the ACC.

The competition might not be as strong in the NIT -- William Mary, Mississippi State and UAB are not exactly marquee basketball programs -- but there is no denying the Tar Heels have played better the past three games.

And part of that reason is UNC is finally making some shots.

Coach Roy Williams has frequently said things look better when the ball is going in the basket, and he could not be more right.

UNC struggled to score at times during the regular season but has been making its shots so far in the NIT. The Tar Heels have averaged 72 points the past three games -- after averaging 66.8 during ACC games -- and have shot 49.1 percent, 48.5 percent and 41.5 percent from the field.

And it has not just been the easy shots falling, but players are finally making some plays.

Senior Deon Thompson scored 20 points in the first-round win over William Mary, while Tyler Zeller added 13, including a key steal and dunk at the end of the game. Against Mississippi State junior Will Graves made a 3 with 31 seconds remaining to give UNC the lead and then sophomore Larry Drew II made a layup with two seconds remaining to give the Tar Heels the victory.

Saturday, Thompson had his first double-double since the end of December and Drew, Dexter Strickland and Marcus Ginyard combined to make six consecutive free throws in the final 21 seconds.

The players insist they never gave up on the season, even though it looked like it at times, and now they are playing like they never want the season to end.

The Tar Heels seemed to have finally found the sense of urgency that has lacked most of the year.

"You have to have it now or our season is over," Drew said before the UAB game. "If we lose we are done and nobody wants to be done. Everybody wants to still play."