Championship Game- Illinois vs North Carolina

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<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The consensus is that Illinois' teamwork and North Carolina's talent has helped established them as the top two teams in college basketball.
They're about to find out which approach works best, as the Fighting Illini and the Tar Heels will put their respective strengths on display when they meet for the national title.

It's the first matchup of the nation's top two teams since UCLA beat Kentucky in 1975. It will pit the Fightning Illini -- considered the best passing team in the country -- against the Tar Heels, who feature at least five players expected to be future first-round NBA draft picks.

This will mark the third straight season that Illinois and North Carolina have met, after playing twice in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Illini posted a 92-65 win two seasons ago in Champaign, Ill., forcing Felton into eight turnovers in his sixth college game.

Last season, North Carolina won 88-81 behind May's 23 points and 14 rebounds. Deron Williams scored 22 points to lead Illinois, which made only 7-of-18 foul shots.
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Can't wait to see this game tonight. I think it's going to be a very good matchup and might be the best championship games since UConn knocked off Duke back in 1999. Me personally, I see UNC winning this one. To me, they've been the best team in the tournament so far, winning every game by double figures except one I believe. They have three of the nations best players and one of the best sixth men in Marvin Williams. However, I think Illinois will put up a hell of a fight and this game could come down to the last possession. In the end though, I see the talent of UNC beating out the phenomenal team play of the Illini.

 

UNC! UNC! UNC! UNC! UNC! UNC!

UNC should win this one!

In my AP Bio class, each student made a bracket just for bragging rights at the end. Well, now, if Illinois wins my teacher wins, but if UNC wins I win! Guy is an awesome teacher but it would feel good to win this one. Also, I think I win JBB if UNC wins.

GO UNC!!!!

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PyroManiac:</div><div class="quote_post">UNC! UNC! UNC! UNC! UNC! UNC!

UNC should win this one!

In my AP Bio class, each student made a bracket just for bragging rights at the end. Well, now, if Illinois wins my teacher wins, but if UNC wins I win! Guy is an awesome teacher but it would feel good to win this one. Also, I think I win JBB if UNC wins.

GO UNC!!!!</div>

Scores haven't been updated in awhile and I don't know who the leaders in Group 1 have but I had the same championship matchup as you only with Illinois winning. Not hard to guess who I'm rooting for.

 

I think Illinois will win by 10+

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bull?ain?:</div><div class="quote_post">Scores haven't been updated in awhile and I don't know who the leaders in Group 1 have but I had the same championship matchup as you only with Illinois winning. Not hard to guess who I'm rooting for.</div>

The scores in this thread haven't been updated in a while, but I remember asking the leaders from Group 1 for their bracket and I noticed that all of those leaders lost their championship team. So unless some other person had all 4 final four teams right, they would not have been able to sneak into the lead.

Yeah, as far as I can conclude, it is between you and I for the championship. Go UNC!

 

Can't get any better than this! Number 1 vs. Number 2!

I've got UNC winning in all of my brackets, but I really like how Illinois is playing with the swagger. I think Illinois will be in good shape if the guards hit their shots and Powell and Augustine shutdown May and Jawad down low. UNC no doubt has the advantage down low and Illinois has the advantage at guard.

So, I am going to go with Illinois in a barn burner!

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Me personally, I see UNC winning this one. To me, they've been the best team in the tournament so far, winning every game by double figures except one I believe. They have three of the nations best players and one of the best sixth men in Marvin Williams. However, I think Illinois will put up a hell of a fight and this game could come down to the last possession. In the end though, I see the talent of UNC beating out the phenomenal team play of the Illini.</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">UNC! UNC! UNC! UNC! UNC! UNC!</div>

What the hell? You guys call yourselves Big Ten fans? Come on. Illinois has a near perfect season and is #1 in the nation, and you still doubt them? Do you not realize that 54% of the Big Ten teams will have a championship if Illinois pulls this off (No thanks to Iowa, Mook)? And Pyro, do you really want to see North Carolina get it's fourth title while Michigan State still only has two?

Anyway, as a pround Big Ten fan (), I'm going with Illinois in this one. All of this hype about Illinois not being able to contain Sean May is bogus. Did everyone forget Paul Davis grabbing 15 boards on May? In that matchup last Saturday, Davis player just as well as May. Augustine is not much of a step down from Davis. The place where North Carolina has killed teams in this tournament has been in the backcourt. As someone said on ATH (I forget who) had it not been for Raymond Felton playing out of his mind, Michigan State might have won on Saturday. Illinois is better prepared for a point guard like Felton than Michigan State was, and that's why I'm picking them to beat the Heels and win their first ever national championship.

 

Pyro is all about winning his bracket, no surprise to see him rooting for UNC.

Me personally I'm hoping UNC wins the game and gets Roy Williams his first ever national championship. I'm kind of a sucker for long time coaches finally getting that well deserved title. Was the same reason why I wanted Sryacuse to win it all a few years ago.

Illinois will have no real choice but to double team May tonight, If they play him on single coverage..May will have a field day. He is too strong for Augustine downlow.

Deron Williams should do yet another good job defensively where he should be guarding McCants who I expect to struggle just like Stoudamire and Garcia did. Should be a great match-up between Felton and Williams. A match-up that will really play a huge factor in the outcome.

The biggest key for me is Jawad Williams, he must come to play like he did against MSU. If he can give them good production then you got to go with a UNC win, which is what I expect to happen. I have basically picked them all tourament so no reason to go against that now.

Here's to a good game.

 

I feel like im seeing people using some reverse rationale when making their points and picking who will win whichever game thats being discussed.For example I saw people saying things like ,"Michigan St. just beat duke and kentucky so I think it will be tough for UNC...".When in reality neither Kentucky nor Duke is on the level of UNC,theyre team cyborg.Same with the Defense of Deron Williams.Sure hes a really good defender and pretty much shut down Stoudamire and Garcia,but are either of those players on Mccants's level?I dont think so.Will it matter all that much if Mccants gets shut down considering the number of weapons UNC has?Nope.If Carolina plays the defense that theyre capable of playing UNC should win by AT LEAST 10.In the end ill be pretty surprised if Carolina doesnt win it.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Pyro is all about winning his bracket, no surprise to see him rooting for UNC.</div>

I refute this statement!

What is this, "all about winning his bracket?" If it was MSU in the finals, do you think I would be cheering for the other team?

I see this as a damn good match up. Superb frontcourt for UNC vs. superb backcourt for Illinois.

It will be the first few minutes that should shape the game. We will see what type of tempo both teams will want to play with and what tempo is actually achieved. UNC definately will want a faster tempo to try to break through the defence of Illinois. If UNC continually gets caught in a half court offense, they could have some issues.

The way I imagine the game, is that UNC needs to keep it close during the first half. I think that they start to pick it up and click with their game in the second half but they need to make sure it's not too late.

I think UNC is the better team which is why I chose them in my bracket and why I'm cheering for them. I never win anything and it would feel pretty good to win this.

 

May is way to fat for anyone on Illinois to defend, dont argue, he aint that bulk muscle, HES FAT. He got power though, and that helps him. Game is great so far though, Illinois needs to Double Up on May to stop him because he is big. But to win UNC, has to not let down, because last to games Illinois played were as close as this one is.

 

both teams take to many threes IMO

 

UNC is up 40-27 at halftime.

Illinois just isn't having it's best shooting night and is having major problems shutting May down. THey've tried Augustine, Powell, and Smith, and none of them are getting it done.

Not looking good for the Illini, but I think they have the ability to get back in this one with good shooting from the guards.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Illinois is shooting far too, many 3 pt shots. They even settled for a 3, when they were on a 3 on 1 fastbreak. They had a total of 21 first half 3pt shots, that's not going to win it for them in this type of game.</div>
I agree wholeheartedly. A few days ago in the louisville vs. Illinois game thread "But the last two games the iilini have been shooting threes like theres no tommorow. gotta catch up with them soon." was I prophetic or what? they have been doing it since the elite eight but in never hurt them now the shooting goes cold and they are done.

 

Deron Williams and Luther Head came out firing, but they can't find a solution for May inside because Augustine had 2 cheap fouls to start the half off which gave him 4. So, if they can just stop UNC two or three times down the court and hit a few shots, then I think they may actually come away with the win. It's definitely going to be a great finish!

 

And UNC is your champion.