After losing by a buzzer-beater to Villanova last year, the University of North Carolina finally redeemed themselves by winning it all this year against Gonzaga.
Though the game was sloppy and at times slow, it was enjoyable seeing the Tar Heels redeem themselves and win what they deserve after a heartbreaking loss last year.
Mark Humphrey/Associated Press
UNC's Joel Berry II led all scorers of the game with 22 points and 6 assists. He was crowned MVP of the game and had help from Justin Jackson (16 points) and Isaiah Hicks (13), while Nigel Williams-Goss paced the Bulldogs with 15 points as one of only two players in double digits for Gonzaga.
Gonzaga hung around and even took a lead into halftime, yet the Tar Heels came out of the tunnel and stormed to an 8-0 run. Whatever adjustments head coach Roy Williams made came up big, as did the simple fact the Bulldogs weren't accustomed to banging down low with a team athletic and big enough to match.
"I wanted to see this confetti fall on us and we're the winners," Berry said (via an NCAA March Madness tweet). "We came out here and we competed. It came down to the last second, but we're national champs now."
This victory is title number three for the Tar Heel's head coach. He currently ranks fourth in Final Four appearances. This was his ninth, placing him behind North Carolina’s Dean Smith with 11 and Wooden and Krzyzewski, who both have 12. This season also included Williams becoming the 11th Division I coach to cross the 800 mark in career victories.
A notable difference between UNC and other tough competitors is that UNC's entire starting lineup consisted of juniors and seniors. There were no freshman starters or even sophomore. Yet, when you think of Kansas or Kentucky (other #1 ranked schools in DI basketball), their entire lineup consists of freshman and sometimes sophomores. Usually these kids end up declaring for the draft after their freshman year, hence the term "one and done".
Berry did exactly what the Tar Heels needed, stepping up at a rare second chance at the biggest game of his life to date. He earned more than just the MVP award - he put his name on display for years to come in college basketball history.
Though the game was sloppy and at times slow, it was enjoyable seeing the Tar Heels redeem themselves and win what they deserve after a heartbreaking loss last year.
Mark Humphrey/Associated Press
UNC's Joel Berry II led all scorers of the game with 22 points and 6 assists. He was crowned MVP of the game and had help from Justin Jackson (16 points) and Isaiah Hicks (13), while Nigel Williams-Goss paced the Bulldogs with 15 points as one of only two players in double digits for Gonzaga.
Gonzaga hung around and even took a lead into halftime, yet the Tar Heels came out of the tunnel and stormed to an 8-0 run. Whatever adjustments head coach Roy Williams made came up big, as did the simple fact the Bulldogs weren't accustomed to banging down low with a team athletic and big enough to match.
"I wanted to see this confetti fall on us and we're the winners," Berry said (via an NCAA March Madness tweet). "We came out here and we competed. It came down to the last second, but we're national champs now."
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 4, 2017
This victory is title number three for the Tar Heel's head coach. He currently ranks fourth in Final Four appearances. This was his ninth, placing him behind North Carolina’s Dean Smith with 11 and Wooden and Krzyzewski, who both have 12. This season also included Williams becoming the 11th Division I coach to cross the 800 mark in career victories.
A notable difference between UNC and other tough competitors is that UNC's entire starting lineup consisted of juniors and seniors. There were no freshman starters or even sophomore. Yet, when you think of Kansas or Kentucky (other #1 ranked schools in DI basketball), their entire lineup consists of freshman and sometimes sophomores. Usually these kids end up declaring for the draft after their freshman year, hence the term "one and done".
Berry did exactly what the Tar Heels needed, stepping up at a rare second chance at the biggest game of his life to date. He earned more than just the MVP award - he put his name on display for years to come in college basketball history.
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