National Champions

Wow, it's been a while again since my last post.

North Carolina has capped off the NCAA men's basketball season as National Champions. A team that many wanted to give the championship to at the beginning of the year, those same people jumped off the bandwagon after the Tar Heels 0-2 start in ACC play. Even after Carolina came roaring back for an ACC regular season title, the debate began again as the Heels lost in the ACC tournament without Ty Lawson.

Lawson's toe was the object of much discussion over the last few weeks. He was held out of the Heels games in the ACC tourny, and the NCAA 1st round game against Radford. Carolina had no problems with the #16 seed, and Lawson returned for the 2nd round game against LSU. Arguably the Heels hardest game of the tournament, skeptics still questioned how Ty's toe would hold up. Lawson's toe held up fine, as Carolina pushed past Oklahoma and Blake Griffin, and then the Final Four.

I was lucky enough to see the new National Champions in person three times this season. First, the Heels opened the year against UNC-Pembroke, and then I fashed forward to the NCAA first and second round in Greensboro. Three games from the National Champs.

As a side note, through my position as assistant sports editor for UNC-P's campus newspaper, The Pine Needle, I have talked to Pembroke men's basketball coach Ben Miller several times. Talks are still in session to hopefully start off the season again next year in Chapel Hill against the defending champions.

I'm holding keen interest in this situation, as this year's editor who covered the game was on the floor near the basket, feet from Tyler Hansbourgh and the Carolina bench, only seperated by the tunnel.

The game would be considered an exhabition game, so doubtful would be complete with the National Championship celebration, but still. Wouldn't you want to go?

(photo - Nick Phillips)

North Carolina will be adding another banner to the rafters soon.