Louisville Cardinals defeat the Michigan Wolverines 82-76 to win NCAA Championship at the Georgia Dome Monday night for its third all time championship
Atlanta GA-Under the leadership of Head Coach Rick Pitino (pictured) the Louisville Cardinal's won the NCAA Championship Monday night, defeating the Michigan Wolverines 82 to 76 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta GA. It was the third all-time championship win in the school's history and former University of Louisville coach Denny Crum, who took his teams to victory in 1980 and 1986, was there for support.
Pitino told reporters after the game that his players were the reason for the victory.
"Players put coaches in the hall of fame," said Pitino, who is among seven inductees to be inducted this year to the Basketball Hall of Fame, its officials announced hours before the game.
Spike Albrecht went four-for-four and scored 17 points in assisting in giving the Wolverines a comfortable head start, but at half time the Cardinals were behind by only one point after erasing a 12 point Wolverines lead. It was neck and neck afterwards in a fast moving game with high energy and high spirit.
As the clock begin ticking toward the end of the fourth quarter Louisville could brag of an 8 point lead.
Luke Hancock, who brought the Louisville, Ky. team back to life as half time approached and scored a team high of 22 points, was named the Final Four's most valuable player.
Point Guard Peyton Siva, who finished with 18 points, seem to also make the difference between a win and loss for the number one seed. But it was obvious that teamwork and brilliant coaching by Pitino help the Cardinals down the Wolverines, a young team led by consensus national player of the year Trey Burke, and coached by Joe Beilein, who said at half time that he believed that game could go to either team.
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