As good as Michigan St.'s been playing, every one - including Michigan St. - knew that North Carolina's roster consisted of superior talent. So for the Spartans, there was little to no room for error, and even then, they'd need the Tar Heels to make some bad decisions of their own. Well that didn't happen. The Spartans, already at a huge disadvantage, shot themselves in the foot time and time again, committing 21 turnovers to North Carolina's 7, many of which were unforced.
On the other end, the Tar Heels were just too good. Stacked with NBA-caliber players, North Carolina was clearly in another league (pun intended). Leading by as many as 23, the Tar Heels opened the game up on a 24-8 run and never looked back, setting a Championship Game record for points scored at halftime with 55. The Tar Heels' 21-point halftime lead was also a Championship Game record. Ty Lawson led the way with 21 points, including 15-18 from the free throw line, 6 assists, and, 8 steals - yet another record. In addition, Tyler Hansbrough capped off his collegiate career with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Wayne Ellington - voted the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player - finished with 19.
It's safe to say that North Carolina stands head and shoulders above every other team in the nation. It's as simple as that. They won every game in the tournament by 12+. Insane. That includes beating teams like Gonzaga, Oklahoma, and Villanova. And for a team who's defense was suspect all season, how about this: none of their opponents touched 80. The closest was Gonzaga's 77, and that was Carolina's largest victory.
While it seemed as though Michigan St. may have been destined to win it all in Detroit, for the city, it just wasn't meant to be. Coach Izzo said it best: "The best team won. That's a pretty easy statement to make".
Via: ESPN
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