UNC Drops Duke, Coach K to Move to Championship

NEW ORLEANS, LOU ——- UNC is looking to show why they are the University of National Champions as the North Carolina Tar Heels are headed back to another championship game after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 81-77 in the Final Four on Saturday night.

 

The Tar Heels advance to the national championship game for the 12th time and third time in six seasons (2016, 2017, 2022).

 

Saturday’s game was the final in head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s legendary career on his 13th trip to the semifinals. Coach K retires with a college basketball record of 1,202 wins, including a record of 101 in the NCAA Tournament.

 

Mike Krzyzewski completed his 42nd and final season at Duke with a record of 1,129-309 at Duke and 1,202-368 overall in this, his 47th season.

 

The Tar Heels finished 50-50 against Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke teams.

 

This rivalry game did not disappoint with 12 ties and 18 lead changes. The game was nit and tuck all 40 minutes. 

 

Duke went into halftime with a 37-34 lead despite their starting center Mark Williams picking up two quick fouls. His backup, Theo John picked up four fouls too in the first half.

 

The Blue Devils dominated the paint scoring their first 20 out of 24 points inside the restricted area. They were forcing the ball inside and everything was working in their favor.

 

Coming out of the second half, Caleb Love was hitting big-time shots for the Tar Heels. He hit shot after shot to keep North Carolina within reach. With UNC up 75-74, Love hit a three to give Chapel Hill a four-point advantage. Love led UNC with 28 points. It was the fourth time in five games against Duke that he has scored 20 or more points.

 

Armando Bacot was also an X-Factor for UNC bringing this win home. Bacot has averaged double figures in each game this tournament. He finished this game with 11 points and 21 rebounds. Bacot’s recorded his 30th double-double, which sets the all-time ACC single-season record. Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan had 29 in 1996-97. 

 

Duke had momentum going on their side until sophomore center Mark Williams missed a pair of free throws to tie the game. Those free throws proved to cost the Blue Devils the game, and a championship. 

 

With the projected number one pick and four first-rounders, Duke will look to reload and start all over next season.

 

The Tar Heels will face Kansas Jayhawks in the national championship game on Monday at 9:20 pm on TBS.