I agree with the first part of your statement - this season is hard to feel very invested in, and each game just feels like bonus entertainment that we get. But for me the second part does not hold true - I think whoever wins the title deserves it. They will have overcome all of these challenges and come out on top, so no asterisk is warranted. Now, if UNC wins it because they sneak in as an 11 seed and then six consecutive opponents all forfeit due to COVID, then that's another story
But assuming the champion wins their games fair and square then they deserve it.
I don't think we'll see any zone this season, not without a rim protector. We did it out of necessity in 2018 when we had Bagley and Carter, and have sprinkled it in some as a change of pace.
But we don't have the personnel for it this year. Namely we don't have the big athletic wings.