Day 225

Fresh Start_225: Redemption... for the Tarheels
What a National Championship that was! It wasn’t as heart pounding as last years’ final but the hard fought battle between Gonzaga and North Carolina certainly was a classic. The classic story of redemption proved to prevail yet again, and the sweetness of victory for North Carolina must taste so good after climbing that mountain top again. I for one have lived through that heart break and unexplainable excitement after winning a championship. The experience of having a previous trip to the National Championship proved to be a big factor in deciding this game.

While it might not seem like North Carolina won the National Championship if you look at the box score, the Tarheels made plays in the waning seconds of the game. Senior Center Kennedy Meeks came up big again—this on defense. In the last 20 seconds of the game the senior block a shot that would have made the game a one point game, then on the very next possession stole the pass into the front court, clinching the game for North Carolina. On a night where Meeks had 7 points, going 3-5 from the field, and 1-4 from the free throw line—he came up big with 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocked shots. On a night where Carolina got out rebounded (49-46), shot 35% from the field as a team (14.8% from 3), and shot 57.7% from the line—they still find a way to win the game.

A big reason why is due to the amount of turnovers Gonzaga had (14 to Carolina’s 4), the inability to score offensively, and the foul trouble the team got in. Also, the lack of contribution from the players that got the Bulldogs to the Championship game wasn’t there. Karnowski had 9 points (1-8 from the field), 4 turnovers, and 4 fouls, Jordan Matthews had 6 points (2-7 from the field and 2-5 from 3), and only 3 rebounds, and Zach Collins who fouled out of the game with 9 points and 4 turnovers.

Say what you will about the officials in this game, the ball still needs to go in the hoop and the only player who seemed to be doing that was Nigel Williams-Goss. Williams-Goss carried his team on his back as the Junior had 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. He also played most of the game without any fouls although he ended up with 3. Yes, Josh Perkins had 13 points, but they all came in the first half—when Williams-Goss scored the Bulldogs last 6 points and assisted on their last 9. The ball sometimes doesn’t bounce your way but if you only have one of your role players scoring and you can’t stop the other team you will lose that game regardless if you out rebound or out shoot them. What was the end of Gonzaga was the inability to take care of the ball with those 14 turnovers and the inexperience to know what to do late in a big game. Hopefully this will serve as a teaching lesson for Mark Few and the Bulldogs but congrulations to North Carolina for winning their 6th National Championship and for having a National Championship in four consecutive decades (an NCAA record). It’s a party on Tobacco road, well at least one half…   
Sources:(espn.com)
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