This year’s top teams should contend again

North Carolina and Gonzaga could return to Final Four.

GLENDALE, ARIZ. — The 201617 season is over, with North Carolina holding off Gonzaga to win the national championship for the program’s sixth NCAA title.

The win for the Tar Heels wrapped up the season’s biggest story line: How North Carolina would bounce back from a buzzer-beating loss in last year’s finale.

Let’s take an early look at some of the threads to watch leading into next season. March Madness set up preludes to next season for numerous programs, players and coaches:

Heels’ response, again

and didn’t rule out hiring an agent, saying he “might not” be back.

Bradley would have a key role inside if he returns, while Final Four most outstanding player Joel Berry II and junior Theo Pinson would lead the perimeter.

The Tar Heels will try to become the first team to reach three straight title games since Kentucky (1996-98) and the first to repeat since Florida in 2006 and 2007.

Zags’ breakthrough

as a midyear enrollee, while power forward P.J. Washington leads a recruiting class ranked No. 1 nationally by Rivals and Scout.com.

Villanova’s next act

Villanova won the 2016 national championship on Kris Jenkins’ last-second 3-pointer, then carried the No. 1 overall seed into this year’s tournament before being upset by Wisconsin in the second round.

It was a familiar stumble for Villanova, which failed to make it out of the opening weekend of the tournament in seven of eight years following the 2009 Final Four run. And with Jenkins joining AP All-American Josh Hart out the door, it’s time to see what coach Jay Wright can do next.

Way out west

LeBron James had his second straight triple-double (18 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) and Kevin Love scored 28 for Cleveland, which faces Boston tonight with first place in the East at stake. Paul George scored 18 of his 35 points in the third quarter as Indiana moved ahead of Miami for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points and rookie Maurice Ndour had 13 rebounds as New York won without the injured Kristaps Porzingis (back). Danilo Gallinari scored 28 points as Denver remained alive in the West playoff race. Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook (12 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists) tied Oscar Robertson’s single-season record with his 41st triple-double. Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points for San Antonio, which tied it with less than three seconds left in regulation on LaMarcus Aldridge’s layup. Late Late Late The team signed guard Archie Goodwin to a multiyear contract.

RONALD MARTINEZ / GETTY IMAGES Joel Berry II (front) is likely to return for another season, but North Carolina may have to replace as many as five key players from its title team.