The UNC Tar Heels led from wire-to-wire as the Heels defeated the Michigan State Spartans by the final score of 89-72 and claim the school's sixth national championship.Wayne Ellington was named Most Outstanding Player as the Tar Heels led 55-34 at intermission and never led by less than 13 points in the second half.
The win is the second title for head coach Roy Williams as the Heels won each game of the NCAA Tournament by over 12 points.
"The only thing I know is the youngsters standing behind me are great young men and I'm a lucky man," Coach Roy Williams said while clutching the national championship trophy in athe television interview immediately after the win. "I think of my family and of Coach Smith. Coach, I hope you're watching and I hope you're enjoying this moment."
"We fell short last year and wanted to redeem ourselves, and we worked so hard to get back," Most Outstanding Player Wayne Ellington remarked.
"This is the best way to go out. I couldn't picture it any other way," stated an overjoyed Tyler Hansbrough.
Michigan State (31-7) could never get untracked against the UNC defense. From the start, it was clear there was no way Carolina was losing control of the contest. In a pregame hype surrounding a team embracing a state and its slumping economy, it was the Tar Heels that embraced the pressure and was dominant in putting its indellible stamp on a magical season.
The Tar Heels (34-4) were up 55-34 at halftime, breaking a 42-year-old title-game record for biggest lead at the break and setting the mark for most points at the half.
"We fell short last year and wanted to redeem ourselves, and we worked so hard to get back," Most Outstanding Player Wayne Ellington remarked.
"This is the best way to go out. I couldn't picture it any other way," stated an overjoyed Tyler Hansbrough.
Michigan State (31-7) could never get untracked against the UNC defense. From the start, it was clear there was no way Carolina was losing control of the contest. In a pregame hype surrounding a team embracing a state and its slumping economy, it was the Tar Heels that embraced the pressure and was dominant in putting its indellible stamp on a magical season.
The Tar Heels (34-4) were up 55-34 at halftime, breaking a 42-year-old title-game record for biggest lead at the break and setting the mark for most points at the half.
The Heels will be returning to Chapel Hill for a celebration at the Smith Center at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
