Mission Accomplished North Carolina Cruises to 5 National Championship By Riebeil Durley-Petty
With 1:05 left on the clock Tyler Hansbrough was subbed out the game and walked off the court for the last time in a North Carolina uniform. His final collegiate game totals read 18 points and 7 boards. As he stepped over the sidelines the reigning Wooden Award Player of the Year embraced head coach Roy Williams with an enormous bear hug, pumped his fist in the air and slapped fives with his teammates with a smile etched on his face reflective of his irrepressible jubilation.
After a year of waiting to get back to the Final Four with the soul, uncompromising objective of winning the National Championship the Tar Heels were able to bring that goal to fruition led by the scintillatingly dope proficiency of Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington extinguishing Michigan State’s inspirational run before 72,922 fans at Ford Field in a 89-72 cremation. The mission was officially accomplished.
Michigan State was bum rushed from the opening tip, engulfed by a merciless Tar Heel offensive avalanche leaving head coach Tom Izzo’s stout defensive crew frazzled and bamboozled. The Spartans Achilles heel reared its ugly head as they committed 13 first half turnovers, resulting in 17 UNC points and an insurmountable 36-13 lead with a little under 8 minutes left. The Tar Heels comprehensive domination thrashed MSU in every phase of the game making sure there’d be no nostalgic title duplication on the 30th anniversary of the Spartans 1979 championship in Magic Johnson’s and Larry Bird’s epic confrontation.
Final Four Most Outstanding Player Ellington descended torrential rain bringing the pain with three triples dropping 17 of his 19 points in the first half. Ty Lawson should have been arrested for larceny the way he burglarized Michigan State all night. Lawson tied an NCAA title game record jacking the Spartans for 8 steals, 7 of which came in the opening stanza to go along with his 21 points, 8 dimes and 7 rebounds. UNC proved their earlier 98-63 lambasting of MSU at Ford Field on December 3 was no fluke.
The Heels just had too much size, speed, athleticism and explosive weaponry for the Spartans to combat. UNC put on the most prolific, spellbinding offensive display in title game history, scoring 55 points in the first half and stampeded MSU with a 55-34 lead at the break, the largest disparity ever as well. If ever there was a need for a mercy rule this was it because the game was essentially a burrito wrap in the first half.
All year analysts said UNC’s biggest frailty was their defense. While it was definitely leaky at times, the Tar Heels actually were a very solid defensive team all year. UNC 18 point scoring margin was tops in the country and overall defense ranked among the 20 best in the land. The Heels turned up the voltage even more during the big dance, holding their six opponents to a dismal 26.6 percent on trey’s, while the Heels connected on 45 percent of their attempts from the candy stripe. UNC’s defensive improvement combined with their 90 point scoring average (2nd in the land) was too powerful of a combination for foes to handle.
The championship was emblematic of the Heels dominance the entire tourney. UNC won each game by double figures and an average of 20.2 points, second biggest differential since 1979. With the exception of LSU the Heels went relatively unchallenged, thus concluding their smashout title march in fitting fashion. The bulk of the big ups should be attributed to Lawson.
With uncertainty swirling whether or not Lawson would even be available with his injured toe, let alone his effectiveness, the ACC Player of the Year and 1st Team All-American maestro pioneered the Heels to their 2 title in 5 years. The “one man fast-break” imposed his will on teams relentlessly pushing the pill with full-court attacks, slicing teams like a Christmas ham. Lawson also harassed opposing point guards and seduced them into UNC’S organized run and gun havoc.
While this moment was great for all the Heels, it was particularly sweet to Hansbrough. “Psycho T” was instrumental in coercing Lawson, Ellington and Green to spur lucrative NBA cheddar to return to Chapel Hill and do something special. After losing to last year’s national champion Kansas Jayhawks in the Final Four and getting molly whopped by 28 points in the first half, Hansbrough made a personal pledge to come back to school and redeem that disgraceful performance.
Love him or hate him, Hansbrough is a polarizing, much maligned and celebrated figure. Some people lament the attention he gets and feel Hansbrough is exempt from all offensive rules bulldozing his way to the tin, while others love his maniacal hustle and tenacity. One thing is certain, the boy definitely got busy. Hansbrough is the leading scorer in the storied history of the ACC, a former National and ACC Player of the Year and the only four time consensus First-Team All-American ever in men’s college hoop history. While he probably never will materialize into a huge NBA star, this title serves as the validation and crescendo to indisputably one of the greatest college basketball careers ever. Like Nas, Hansbrough can officially say, “You can hate me now.”
Michigan State has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. They had a remarkable year. No one expected them to pull off two jaw-dropping stunners bouncing #1 seeds Louisville and UConn. Tom Izzo led his fifth team in 11 seasons as MSU head coach to the Final Four, and all but solidified a bust in the Naismith Hall of Fame with his ingeniously raw managerial skills and acumen. The Spartans were an emboldening force to a state, and in particular the city of Detroit ravaged by layoffs on account of the economic collapse. People felt inspired by their run and gained a sense of hope that things will eventually be alright.
Despite Hansbrough’s and Green’s graduation and Lawson and Ellington inevitably dipping to the league Williams still has some lethal weapons to defend the Heels title next year. Freshman phenom Ed Davis has already said he’s coming back, as well as talented point guard Larry Drew II and McDonald’s All-American center Tyler Zeller who was sidelined with a broken right wrist for most of the season. Merge them with junior power forward Deon Thompson in a more featured role and a good recruiting class and UNC will be in the mix like caramel in a twix once again.
Carolina blue is triumphantly shining through once again and a special class of players has added another championship banner to a legendary program.
After a year of waiting to get back to the Final Four with the soul, uncompromising objective of winning the National Championship the Tar Heels were able to bring that goal to fruition led by the scintillatingly dope proficiency of Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington extinguishing Michigan State’s inspirational run before 72,922 fans at Ford Field in a 89-72 cremation. The mission was officially accomplished.
Michigan State was bum rushed from the opening tip, engulfed by a merciless Tar Heel offensive avalanche leaving head coach Tom Izzo’s stout defensive crew frazzled and bamboozled. The Spartans Achilles heel reared its ugly head as they committed 13 first half turnovers, resulting in 17 UNC points and an insurmountable 36-13 lead with a little under 8 minutes left. The Tar Heels comprehensive domination thrashed MSU in every phase of the game making sure there’d be no nostalgic title duplication on the 30th anniversary of the Spartans 1979 championship in Magic Johnson’s and Larry Bird’s epic confrontation.
Final Four Most Outstanding Player Ellington descended torrential rain bringing the pain with three triples dropping 17 of his 19 points in the first half. Ty Lawson should have been arrested for larceny the way he burglarized Michigan State all night. Lawson tied an NCAA title game record jacking the Spartans for 8 steals, 7 of which came in the opening stanza to go along with his 21 points, 8 dimes and 7 rebounds. UNC proved their earlier 98-63 lambasting of MSU at Ford Field on December 3 was no fluke.
The Heels just had too much size, speed, athleticism and explosive weaponry for the Spartans to combat. UNC put on the most prolific, spellbinding offensive display in title game history, scoring 55 points in the first half and stampeded MSU with a 55-34 lead at the break, the largest disparity ever as well. If ever there was a need for a mercy rule this was it because the game was essentially a burrito wrap in the first half.
All year analysts said UNC’s biggest frailty was their defense. While it was definitely leaky at times, the Tar Heels actually were a very solid defensive team all year. UNC 18 point scoring margin was tops in the country and overall defense ranked among the 20 best in the land. The Heels turned up the voltage even more during the big dance, holding their six opponents to a dismal 26.6 percent on trey’s, while the Heels connected on 45 percent of their attempts from the candy stripe. UNC’s defensive improvement combined with their 90 point scoring average (2nd in the land) was too powerful of a combination for foes to handle.
The championship was emblematic of the Heels dominance the entire tourney. UNC won each game by double figures and an average of 20.2 points, second biggest differential since 1979. With the exception of LSU the Heels went relatively unchallenged, thus concluding their smashout title march in fitting fashion. The bulk of the big ups should be attributed to Lawson.
With uncertainty swirling whether or not Lawson would even be available with his injured toe, let alone his effectiveness, the ACC Player of the Year and 1st Team All-American maestro pioneered the Heels to their 2 title in 5 years. The “one man fast-break” imposed his will on teams relentlessly pushing the pill with full-court attacks, slicing teams like a Christmas ham. Lawson also harassed opposing point guards and seduced them into UNC’S organized run and gun havoc.
While this moment was great for all the Heels, it was particularly sweet to Hansbrough. “Psycho T” was instrumental in coercing Lawson, Ellington and Green to spur lucrative NBA cheddar to return to Chapel Hill and do something special. After losing to last year’s national champion Kansas Jayhawks in the Final Four and getting molly whopped by 28 points in the first half, Hansbrough made a personal pledge to come back to school and redeem that disgraceful performance.
Love him or hate him, Hansbrough is a polarizing, much maligned and celebrated figure. Some people lament the attention he gets and feel Hansbrough is exempt from all offensive rules bulldozing his way to the tin, while others love his maniacal hustle and tenacity. One thing is certain, the boy definitely got busy. Hansbrough is the leading scorer in the storied history of the ACC, a former National and ACC Player of the Year and the only four time consensus First-Team All-American ever in men’s college hoop history. While he probably never will materialize into a huge NBA star, this title serves as the validation and crescendo to indisputably one of the greatest college basketball careers ever. Like Nas, Hansbrough can officially say, “You can hate me now.”
Michigan State has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. They had a remarkable year. No one expected them to pull off two jaw-dropping stunners bouncing #1 seeds Louisville and UConn. Tom Izzo led his fifth team in 11 seasons as MSU head coach to the Final Four, and all but solidified a bust in the Naismith Hall of Fame with his ingeniously raw managerial skills and acumen. The Spartans were an emboldening force to a state, and in particular the city of Detroit ravaged by layoffs on account of the economic collapse. People felt inspired by their run and gained a sense of hope that things will eventually be alright.
Despite Hansbrough’s and Green’s graduation and Lawson and Ellington inevitably dipping to the league Williams still has some lethal weapons to defend the Heels title next year. Freshman phenom Ed Davis has already said he’s coming back, as well as talented point guard Larry Drew II and McDonald’s All-American center Tyler Zeller who was sidelined with a broken right wrist for most of the season. Merge them with junior power forward Deon Thompson in a more featured role and a good recruiting class and UNC will be in the mix like caramel in a twix once again.
Carolina blue is triumphantly shining through once again and a special class of players has added another championship banner to a legendary program.
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