National Title Game Thread
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
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58.3 percent shooting. Overcame UNC's dominance on the offensive glass. UNC had 15 more shots from the field, but Nova just didn't want to miss in the second half.
Both teams did what they do well really well. And it made for a classic.
Both teams did what they do well really well. And it made for a classic.
This is why march madness and nfl are the best. You don't get 3 mulligans
I'm confident unc would win 5 of 7 but it doesn't work this way
I'm confident unc would win 5 of 7 but it doesn't work this way
Congrats RedOctober et al. You guys hit a ton of incredible shots capped off by one final one. Jay's an amazing coach who deserved a national championship.
I have nothing bad to say about how UNC played, amazing comeback and Marcus hit a wonderful shot to come back. Jenkins hit a bigger one.
I have nothing bad to say about how UNC played, amazing comeback and Marcus hit a wonderful shot to come back. Jenkins hit a bigger one.
Wow! That was a great game with an incredible final 10 seconds.
How many weeks does it take to fill the roof with all of this confetti?
How many weeks does it take to fill the roof with all of this confetti?
Incredible game, great to watch as a fan. Agree with Ale that UNC would probably take them if they played often due to their offensive board dominance, but 'Nova had their number tonight.
Great finish to the season.
Great finish to the season.
That game won me $245 from a pool I forgot I was in. Hooray. I was also cheering for Nova so nice result regardless.
I'm not a Nova fan, but both teams played great. I just thought Nova would find a way to win
Totally. It's like Michael Bay telling Noah Baumbach that he's made a few cult classics. Fuck you, dude.
63-97 shooting in the final four.
Charles just said only 2 second chance points for UNC which I find implausible, and think maybe he confused the stat sheet.
Edit: Perhaps he said Nova.
Charles just said only 2 second chance points for UNC which I find implausible, and think maybe he confused the stat sheet.
Edit: Perhaps he said Nova.
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Joel Berry kinda lost Arch when he came into the frontcourt, and it looked like he might be able to drive it all the way, which forced Brice and the bigs to back up thinking he would keep going and left Jenkins as the trailer with only a close-out. Great play design but you'd like to see Berry keep his guy in front of him better.
and Arch did a great job deferring/recognizing he had the trailer too.
Villanova and Jay Wright earned this win. They dictated tempo which is crucial in slowing down Carolina's transition game and force them to execute in the halfcourt. If not for Berry in the first half this game could have been a blowout as Villanova outplayed and outexecuted UNC for most all of the game. What a game simply incredible.
The great thing about this tournament is we can debate how many games team x would win in a 7-game series and it doesn't matter (although I'd say Villanova wins 4 or 5 of the 7)......all that matters is coming through and executing tonight. Villanova nailed it.
The great thing about this tournament is we can debate how many games team x would win in a 7-game series and it doesn't matter (although I'd say Villanova wins 4 or 5 of the 7)......all that matters is coming through and executing tonight. Villanova nailed it.
Instant classic. 1985 ranks as my favorite National Championship Game, and I am a St John's fan. This would be second.....wow.
Bingo! I was just about to post similar. I told my brother that the first two steps off the initial dribble will determine whether Nova gets off a quality shot. Arch beat Berry off the first dribble which put pressure on the entire defense to retreat and defend against Arch's penetration to shoot it or pass......he made himself a multiple threat all based off the first step in the backcourt.
It's really rare when two of the teams that had a legitimate claim to being number 1 during the year play in a final and have the game live up to expectations and go down to the wire. Kansas against Memphis may have been the last. Connecticut against Duke before that (same final score as tonight!).
Sorry but no. Hicks had Archie covered if he got by Berry. Johnson was too far back given the time.
I must not normally stay up late enough to hear it. I have the day off tomorrow, and I saw that pre game thing, so now I know. Maybe it will grow on me.
I just want to say this may be the greatest first post in a thread in history.
Agreed. But I still don't understand not having Brice on the perimeter with Ochefu way out of the play. He should have been at the FT line ready to pop out on the perimeter or to stop any penetration.
Berry kind of accidentally picked hicks
Smart call by wright to have Jenkins outside as he is less likely to get his shot blocked
Feel really bad for Paige
He gave the 5 jersey its due in his 4 years
Smart call by wright to have Jenkins outside as he is less likely to get his shot blocked
Feel really bad for Paige
He gave the 5 jersey its due in his 4 years
He hit a corner 3, an amazing O rebound and layup in the big timber and then the craziest shot in Carolina history to tie the game, and then got upstaged.
I ache for him b/c he's everything you want a student-athlete to be.
No what? You said it yourself.....Hicks had to shade to Arch once he recognized that Berry failed to contain him in the backcourt. Johnson is not supposed to abandon his defensive positioning to panic and suddenly decide to defend a player 30 feet from the basket who is another defenders responsibility. He's positioned in the set that way to prevent Arch from impersonating Danny Ainge or Tyus Edney.
"Cats win it all! Cats win it all! Cats win it all!"
Is reminiscent of a certain Dave O'Brien call...
It wasn't unnecessary help though. Hicks recognized that Berry didn't have Arch contained. None of the chaos occurs if Berry keeps Arch contained and in front of him.
No. Johnson was too far back. Archie was never getting to the rim and neither was anyone else once he had to dribble the ball up the court. He passed the ball with like 1.5 seconds left. Johnson was too far back. And Ochefu was in no man's land. He was a non threat. It was bad positioning.
And, yes, Berry and Hicks were the primary cause for it.
