Will The Big Game Experience Of Roy Williams Key A Carolina Win?
Monday night, number 2 seeded Villanova takes on number 1 seed North Carolina, in the NCAA Championship game. The contest will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Tar Heels are slight favorites in this matchup (favored by 2), with many observers believing that the final has a chance to be a close game.
For Tar Heels coach Roy Williams, this will be his fifth title game (3 – UNC, 2 – KU). The 65-year-old is seeking his third national championship since becoming the North Carolina coach in 2003. All told, the Marion, North Carolina native has led the Tar Heels and Jayhawks to a combined eight Final Fours.
In comparison, Villanova coach Jay Wright is coaching in his first championship game, in what is his second Final Four appearance (2016, 2009).
These two teams do not feature the star power that often appears in title games, with Tar Heels senior forward Brice Johnson (17.0 points and 10.5 rebounds a game) and Villanova junior guard Josh Hart (15.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest) representing the top players for each side.
This matchup is a contrast in styles, with UNC preferring to pound the ball inside, while Nova is best known for its success from beyond the three-point line.
In what could be a very tightly contested game, the experience of Roy Williams could be a deciding factor down the stretch.
