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Early flurry fuels Tar Heels' run to championship
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2009 NCAA TOURNAMENT
Published: April 7, 2009
DETROIT -- In an imperfect sport, North Carolina turned a nearly perfect first half into a national championship last night.
The Tar Heels, unanimous No. 1 picks before the first snowfall, exceeded expectations during a long and dominant stretch that buried Michigan State's local heroes 89-72.
The full flower of the Tar Heels' talent blossomed in the first half, when UNC scored 55 points and took a 21-point lead into the locker room. The record-breaking outburst determined the game's direction and flow.
Although Carolina maintained double-figures leads the entire second half, the celebration didn't begin until Coach Roy Williams made mass substitutions with 1:03 left. Senior Tyler Hansbrough finally released 250 pounds of emotion, wrapping each coach and injured Marcus Ginyard in bear hugs, the squeezes amplified by visceral screams.
"I desperately wanted this championship for that young man," Williams said.
When the horn sounded, fireworks and confetti supplemented the cheers. The confetti, oddly enough, was mostly dark blue and yellow -- the Michigan Wolverines' colors.
Williams didn't notice. While accepting the trophy that represented the school's fifth NCAA title, Williams saluted mentor Dean Smith. "Coach," he said, "I hope you're watching, and I hope you're enjoying it."
Hansbrough scored 18 points and snatched seven rebounds, his muscle-flexing resolve negating the Michigan State board-crashers. He was the consensus national player of the year in 2008, and he could have profited from turning pro, but Hansbrough returned because he wanted another college season and another shot.
"Coming back -- it sounds like I made a pretty good decision," he said. "Nothing beats this feeling right here."
Deon Thompson, who scored all nine of his points in the first half, reveled in Hansbrough's final glory.
"He's going out the right way," Thompson said. "For all the things he's accomplished in his career, this was the only thing missing. Now he's a legend. I mean, he was a legend before this, but now he is really a legend, winning the national championship and accomplishing all the things he's accomplished."
Carolina's energetic defense foiled the wobbly Spartans, especially point guard Ty Lawson's record eight steals. "I wanted to slow down Kalin Lucas, because he's the heart and soul of their team," Lawson said. Lucas made only 4 of 12 shots, scored 14 points and had six turnovers.
The Tar Heels achieved optimum balance on offense. Wayne Ellington, named the Final Four's top player after scoring 19 points, and Danny Green punished the Spartans on the perimeter. Lawson (21 points, six assists) burrowed down the lane and converted 15 of 18 foul shots. Hansbrough, reserve Ed Davis and Thompson controlled the inside.
In the first half, Carolina shot 53 percent, made 15 of 19 free throws, played even on the boards and benefitted from 14 Michigan State turnovers. Michigan State never recovered from the opening assault. Although inefficient and inelegant at times down the stretch, Williams' Tar Heels never lost their grip, enabling Williams to win his second national championship in five years.
"Roy Williams is not that good," he said, "but, boy, old Roy has got some big-time players, and that's what it takes."
Williams and his staff recruited the players over several years. They developed the game plan and the psychological approach in less than two days, after beating Villanova in the semifinals.
Yesterday, snow fell over the gray city as the Tar Heels awoke at their assigned hotel, a Hilton Gardens Inn only three blocks from the stadium. The flurries, sometimes blown sideways by an icy wind, dissipated during the afternoon and melted to almost nothing after the sun finally broke through.
The majority of the audience was downright chilly toward the Tar Heels, booing when the players jogged onto the court and again during an introductory video that began with the phrase "Tobacco Road…."
As the coaches were introduced, Williams walked toward the Michigan State huddle surrounding Coach Tom Izzo, who was diagramming a set. Izzo rushed out of the pack smiling and holding his clipboard. When Williams pretended to sneak a look at the clipboard, many fans booed again.
The crowd of 72,922 -- a tournament record -- was overwhelmingly Spartan green, with the substantial Carolina contingent adding fans in sections that Connecticut occupied Saturday. Regardless of color, they were united twice -- when the Temptations sang the national anthem and when Carolina's Michael Jordan was recognized at halftime along with other new members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Carolina's rocketship start muted the Michigan State noise advantage, fulfilling one of the coach's goals. Senior Bobby Frasor explained: "We love playing on the road. Coach Williams said it was like going into Cameron again."
Ellington, who scored 17 points in the first half, hit a 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 10 barely four minutes into the game. The Spartans missed contested jumpers, and their offense slipped into disarray.
The Tar Heels eviscerated the Michigan State defense, firing from long distance and then attacking inside. Hansbrough's jump shot took the spread to 20 midway through the half, and it grew to 24 points after 15 minutes.
The pattern established, the Tar Heels played out the string like consummate champions. "The final score says a lot," senior Green said. "It says how good a team of our potential could be. Now, we're going to be a memory forever. We just wanted to become legendary."
At the end of four years, they did.
■ Lenox Rawlings can be reached at lrawlings@wsjournal.com.
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