On Monday night, the Duke Blue Devils beat the Wisconsin Badgers 68-63 to win the Men’s NCAA College Basketball Championship. This was the 5th national championship for Duke and their head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Only John Wooden, with his 10 titles, has more than Krzyzewski now.
In a match-up of top seeds, Duke outscored Wisconsin by 14 points in the final 13 minutes to turn a 9-point deficit into a 5-point win. Tyus Jones led the way for Duke with 23 points, while Grayson Allen added 16 points in only 21 minutes. Meanwhile, the possible #1 pick in the next NBA Draft, Jahlil Okafor, had a modest 10 points, and only 3 rebounds.
Player of the year, Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin, had his way with Okafor, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. But it wasn’t enough. After Wisconsin upset Kentucky 71-64 in the Final 4, the Badgers looked to be on a mission to win the championship, however the Blue Devils had other thoughts.
Duke didn’t even win their own conference. They lost in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament to Notre Dame 74-64. Notre Dame lost in the Elite 8 to Kentucky 66-64. Duke responded to that loss by winning 6 in a row and another national championship.
Kentucky was the #1 ranked team for the entire basketball season, winning their first 38 games, and being compared to the all-time great college teams. But like the 1991 UNLV Running Rebels, they couldn’t close the deal. Now they will be remembered for blowing a chance at immortality. Indiana in 1976 is still the last team to complete a season undefeated.
In the Women’s National Championship Game, the result was predictable. Connecticut won it’s 3rd title in a row, beating rival Notre Dame 63-53 in the final game. Head coach Geno Auriemma won his 10th national championship, tying him with the previously mentioned John Wooden, and Phil Jackson, as the only coaches in any sport, on any level with 10 championships.
Notre Dame was in their 4th championship game in the last 5 years, but have lost them all. Their only title was back in 2001. UConn and Notre Dame used to be in the Big East together, but Notre Dame has since moved to the ACC.
The two-time AP Player of the Year, Breanna Stewart, has now won 3 championships, and still has her senior year to go. There doesn’t seem to be anything keeping UConn from winning a 4th title in a row next year, barring major injuries. The women’s game has huge discrepancies between the upper echelon of teams and the rest of the field. All 4 #1 seeds made the Final 4. Of course 3 of the 4 #1 seeds in the Men’s field also made the Final 4.
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