What happened to the Big East? Wasn't this supposed to be their conference? The ACC, Big Ten, and Big East all had seven teams in the Big Show, but only the Big East had three number one seeds. Didn't the ACC fall flat on its face with four of its seven teams failing to get past the first round. Maryland would get dumped in the secound round leaving the mighty North Carolina and Duke alive, but Duke made it to the Sweet 16 but was promptly sent home. The Big Ten lost three teams in the first round and two more in the second round. While Purdue fell in the Sweet 16, only Michigan State surived.
The Big East looked mighty mighty. Only West Virginia fell in the first round and Marquette dropped out in the second round. How mighty could a conference be with five teams going to the Sweet Sixteen, with only Syracuse dying at slot 16. Four teams were in the round of eight, but Louisville and Pittsburgh would go home. Regardless, the Big East had half the final four with Connecticut and Villanova. Wouldn't a Big East shootout for the championship be in order?
North Carolina and Michigan State had something to say about that with the Tar Heels convincingly beating Villanova while Michigan State made a mess of Connecticut. And then only left standing was an ACC team and a Big Ten team. (By the way Terps fans will tell you Maryland beat them both.)
What an emotional triumph for the state of Michigan. The final four played in Ford's Field in Detroit, the city most victimized by the economic crisis and high unemployment. How sweet it was for the automotive state to have a team from Lansing, the city once known for Oldsmobile, 94 miles up I-96 north west of the Motor City. Wouldn't a Spartan victory help bring joy to the state with not only an economic crisis but the Detroit Lions too?
Roy Williams and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels had a different idea. Having been predicted by most to win it all last year only to bow out against Kansas one year ago, the Heels were not to be denied in 2009. Led by senior center, Tyler Hansbrough and junior guard, Ty Lawson with Danny Green and Wayne Ellington in tow, nothing short of a convincing win for the championship would do for North Carolina. Taking the lead immediately and leading by as many as 24 points, Roy Williams' fighting men secured one of the most dominant victories in tournament history outscoring the Spartans 89-72.
The 2009 championship was a hard fought and well deserved victory for the hoopsters of Chapel Hill. They'll be a very different team next year. The question for Roy Williams is will the 2009-2010 Tar Heels be reloading or rebuilding? The rest of the ACC field will be waiting.
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