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National Championship Predictions: Blue Blood vs New Blood


(1) North Carolina vs. (1) Gonzaga

Brandon: And then there were two...Only 40 minutes (or more) stand between us and the legendary “One Shining Moment” montage. The Gonzaga Bulldogs were rolling for about 30 minutes in their National Semifinal game, before having to hold off a late rally. The North Carolina Tar Heels survived a sloppy all-around game by grabbing two late offensive rebounds after missing four consecutive free throws in the last six seconds of the game. The two teams meet tonight, each with a different narrative to finish their ending. Gonzaga comes in as one of the best teams all season long, yet nobody really believes they are good. North Carolina comes in looking to heal from last year’s heart breaking loss in the title game. The matchup everybody is talking about is Kennedy Meeks vs Przemek Karnowksi. Meeks has been carrying the load the last two games for the Tar Heels and Gonzaga likes to run their offense through Karnowski. Gonzaga is the first team in the tournament that can match big for big against North Carolina. Behind Karnowski, the Bulldogs bring 7-footer Zach Collins and 6-foot-11 Killian Tillie off the bench to battle North Carolina's frontcourt. The past two games against Kentucky and Oregon, the Tar Heels have played teams whose best players are guards. North Carolina has been able to put the size of Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson on the guards and stymie both offenses. North Carolina will not be able to do that against Gonzaga who have big men that can get position down low and can either score or kick it out to an open man. Both teams are in the bottom half of rankings for three point shooting, but the three ball will be a big factor tonight. I trust the Gonzaga guards to hit their open three’s more than North Carolina's. Gonzaga has been doubted all year and will silence the critics tonight. I can already hear the “if Joel Berry wasn’t injured” excuse from Tar Heel fans. North Carolina will become the “Sacrificial Lamb” for Gonzaga to reign supreme. Beating a blue blood in the North Carolina Tar Heels will be the perfect ending to a great season by the Zags.

Brandon's Prediction: Gonzaga 71-65

Rickey: Tomorrow will be exactly one year from when Villanova's Kris Jenkins gave us a true "One Shining Moment" when he hit a buzzer beater against North Carolina in the National Championship. Denying North Carolina their school's sixth National Championship. The Tar Heels have made it back to Monday night's National Championship and look to take care of some unfinished business. Standing in their way are the Bulldogs of Gonzaga. Once everyone's favorite Cinderella, Gonzaga has quickly made themselves a household name for the right reasons, because they win. Gonzaga has won at least 25 games the past ten seasons and won a school record 36 games this season. The one skepticism every year when it comes to how good the Bulldogs really are, is in which the conference they play. The competition in the WCC is inferior to the competition of the ACC, where North Carolina plays. So how can you compare two teams from two different conferences who have played completely different teams? You let them play in the National Championship to determine who the better team is. North Carolina has been on a mission ever since the ending to last season. Joel Berry has hurt both of his ankles in two different games this tournament and hasn't quite been 100%, paving the way for Kennedy Meeks to put the team on his back and carry them to Monday night's game. Unfortunately for North Carolina, Gonzaga is unlike any team the Tar Heels have seen in this tournament. Gonzaga has a frontcourt in Przemek Karnowski and Zack Collins that can match up with North Carolina's Meeks and Isaiah Hicks. Gonzaga has the athletic guard in Nigel Williams-Goss who can run with Berry. The only advantage I think North Carolina has in this game is on the wing where Justin Jackson is one of the best in the nation. Jackson's play will be the deciding factor for North Carolina. The Tar Heels suffered a horrible defeat in last year's title game, but you know what is worse than that? Losing in the National Championship two years in a row.

Rickey's Prediction: Gonzaga 77-76

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