“Gives it to Jenkins for the Championship, ohhhhhh. The Villanova Wildcats are the National Champions!”
Just like that, the Tar Heels title hopes came to end, seconds after Marcus Paige hit the second best shot of the tournament, tying the game with 4.7 seconds left.
Just like that, the Tar Heels title hopes came to end, seconds after Marcus Paige hit the second best shot of the tournament, tying the game with 4.7 seconds left.
What a National Championship game that was. Two very prestigious schools battling it out for the right to call themselves the nations best, only seconds deciding the entire game. People will be talking about that game for decades to come, telling their grandkids, who will one day tell their grandkids, and so on. Historic.
What a National Championship game that was. Two very prestigious schools battling it out for the right to call themselves the nations best, only seconds deciding the entire game. People will be talking about that game for decades to come, telling their grandkids, who will one day tell their grandkids, and so on. Historic.
Believe it or not, this year’s title game between #1 Gon
Believe it or not, this year’s title game between #1 Gonzaga and #1 North Carolina has the potential to be an even better game. Don’t believe me? Keep reading for 3 reasons why this year’s title game might be better than last year’s.
1.) The newbie vs. the veteran.
This is Gonzaga’s first ever National Championship game, while North Carolina’s is playing in their 11th championship game. Coming of a one-loss season, Mark Few seems to have a Gonzaga team that has the pieces to take down the Tar Heels, but the championship experience of Roy Williams and the Tar Heels cannot be overlooked.
2.) Battle of the big dogs.
North Carolina comes into this one as the top rebounding team in the country, which everyone saw in the Final Four, when the Tar Heels got not one, but two offensive rebounds on free-throws to seal the win over Oregon. Kennedy Meeks is having a historic year, here’s proof: When Meeks is on the court, he grabs 16% of the UNC misses. Also, he has pulled in 168 offensive rebounds this season, and has a plus-minus of 8 when he is on the court (highest among the two teams left). His performances has given the Tar Heels the best offensive rebounding rate in the nation, at 42 percent. Kennedy Meeks spoke with Sports Illustrated on the matchup with Gonzaga in the finals.
“These are the games I live for,” Meeks said, later adding: “It’s definitely gonna be a dogfight.”
How can the ‘Zags manage to out-rebound the Tar Heels? Well having a 7-footer will certainly help. Standing at 7’-1″ and 300 pounds, Karnowski of Gonzaga will certainly have his hands full with Kennedy Meeks, who isn’t small himself, standing at 6’10”, weighing 260 pounds.
“I’m just very excited for the matchup,” said Karnowski. “I think it’s gonna be a great show.”
With these two bruisers facing off, it’s evident that it will be the best matchup to watch all night.
3.) Bench play
While both teams have a star-studded, fun to watch starting five, they also both feature quality bench players. Both benches have players that are not only capable of producing quality minutes, but also players who can become the star of the game in the blink of an eye.
While both teams have a star-studded, fun to watch starting five, they also both feature quality bench players. Both benches have players that are not only capable of producing quality minutes, but also players who can become the star of the game in the blink of an eye.
Here are a few key bench players to look out for:
Zach Collins: The 7-foot freshman produces quality minutes in Gonzaga’s victory over South Carolina, scoring 14 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks. Look for him to be a tough matchup for the Tar Heels.
Silas Melson: Melson didn’t have quite the stat-filling performance that Collins had last game, but he still produced 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. He can also hit some three-balls, shooting 38.9 percent from deep on the season.
Luke Maye: The silent assassin has averaged 10.4 points per game, seeming to score every time he touches the ball. Maye has come up with big shots the entire tournament, including his game-winner in Memphis to beat Kentucky*.
*Maye got home from Memphis later that night and still went to his 8:00 AM class the next day.
Nate Britt: While he may not put the ball in the basket very often, the senior has the experience needed to be successful in a big game. He still averages 5.2 points per game and a phenomenal 10 assists per game. Clearly Britt makes an impact off the bench, look for him to provide some quality minutes tonight.
Tony Bradley: The lengthy freshman can grab boards (4.2 rpg) and is scoring 5.8 points per game in the tournament. Look for him to bump around Karnowski a little bit tonight.
My Prediction: I think the Tar Heels are the deepest and most poised team in this tournament. Don’t get me wrong, Gonzaga knows how to control the pace and wear you down on defense, but having been here last year, it’s hard to bet against the Tar Heels. The Tar Heels have had the toughest road to the Finals, beating a tough Arkansas team, a star-studded Kentucky team with two projected top-10 draft picks, and an Oregon team that was one of the most talented in the tournament. These reasons, combined with the coaching of Roy Williams will be tough for the ‘Zags to overcome. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the Tar Heels still haven’t gotten over last year’s loss to Villanova. They seem like a team that is hungry for a National Championship. Tar Heels win 84-79, giving them their redemption and their 6th National Championship.
The National Championship game will tip-off at approximately 9:20 PM/EST on CBS.
Grab your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the game. It’s gonna be a good one.
-Connor Hall (@ByConnorHall)
