NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 2017
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The 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game is between the UNC Tar Heels and the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The road to this game was tough for both teams and extremely lucky for one of them.
North Carolina has been beyond lucky in this tournament. Should have lost to Arkansas but the Razorbacks self-destructed in the last 3 minutes – they did not score a point – behind brutal coaching and terrible decisions by players. Both comment elements for all teams. UNC got luck against Kentucky, whose two freshman failed to make any kind of impact after scoring 60 the game before – all due to their own ineptitude. That was exacerbated by some terrible coaching by John Calipari. So much for making $ 7 M per year. And against Oregon, UNC got supremely lucky with Oregon’s coach Dana Altman not doing ANYTHING to prevent UNC from scoring most their points from 3 feet out. Added to that gift was the double gift from Oregon’s Jordan Bell who failed to block out on consecutive occasions with 8 seconds to play to prevent Oregon to attempt to overcome a 1 point deficit – which they likely would have done. So, UNC should not even be in the final. Typical for an over rated team.
Gonzaga has shown its mettle, its flexibility, its consistency and ability to handle any opposition scenario. Nothing was easy but they never stopped working on defense, make shots when they had to, and made foul shots when they had too. They go 9 deep and can outlast anyone.
This is a bad matchup for UNC – they have no size advantage, their guards are not better than the Zags, they don’t shoot anywhere near as well as Gonzaga, they will not be able to score a ton inside, and they really cannot defend that well. UNC has no equalizer at all.
Gonzaga must do what they have been doing, starting with defense and must take care of business in the frontcourt. Karnowski, Collins, Williams, Taille must be tough on the boards. Just playing their game offensively and not forcing anything will get them all they need. They have too much firepower from too many sources to be shut down by an average, at best, UNC defense.
UNC is the 2 point favourite -which is a joke – and they will be fortunate to keep the difference under 10 points. Gonzaga wins the Championship 82- 68. MVP will be Nigel Williams-Goss. That will be the outcome barring something crazy like ugly officiating or some key injury.