Michigan State 72, UNC 89
Boxscore |
RecapVindication! After starting the season with such lofty expectations, the boys in blue were vindicated with a dominating performance in the National Championship game against Michigan State. Where do I begin? The first half was by far our BEST half of the season, and there couldn't have been a better time for it. No other school in country could have stayed with us in the first half. It was a thing of beauty. We set NCAA tourney records for most points in the first half and largest halftime lead.
The usual suspects played really well. Heck, the whole team contributed at a high level. Wayne Ellington (Finals MVP), Ty Lawson (set the NCAA Championship record for steals in a game), and Tyler Hansbrough (in the top 4 all time scorers in NCAA Tourney history) all had really good games. They all complimented each other so nicely. Deon Thompson came out on fire in the first half. Danny Green was playing through a strained muscle in his stomach and had some nice plays.
MSU was just outmatched (for the second time this season against us). Everyone liked to say how MSU was on a mission. They were trying to save the state of Michigan (or something like that). UNC was the team on a mission. No one on the team forgot the stinging loss to Kansas last year. That's why were won by double digits in each game in the tournament!
I couldn't be happier. Especially to see one of the greatest players in UNC history, Mr. Hansbrough, go out with a national championship in his last game. What a fitting end to a historic career.
I don't like seasons where UNC is preseason #1. There is only one way to go. Well not quite. There are two ways to go. Down or sideways (ie, win the national championship). It is so difficult to make it through the whole season and pull off 6 straight wins in the tourney, but our Heels did it (again)!!
The next couple of weeks will be a bit of a shock to the system as I come down off the NCAA Tournament high. To go from the National Championship game to nothing for 7 months is tough. And of course we'll have to bear through all the NBA Draft talk.
But none of that matters right now. I'm happy :-)
