North Carolina takes care of business

Jeff Portnoy, who calls UH games for ESPN 1420, is writing from the Final Four.

Some folks wait for the game to be over before writing the game summary. I thought I would write the first part at the half and promise I won’t change a thing no matter how the game ends.

It was not the most artistic of halves. Neither team looked particularly sharp. First the Bulldogs. They have a three-point lead, but imagine what it might have been had they had any game from their big man Przemek Karnowski. How’s this for a poor first half. No points, four missed bunnies, and three turnovers within two feet of the basket. If it wasn’t for unsung guard Josh Perkins, who made three of five 3-pointers, they could be in trouble.

But then North Carolina shot 30 percent from the field. (I told Bobby Curran this morning their shooting woes would be their downfall. 2-for-13 from three, and only trail by three). One reason is only two turnovers. Rebounding was expected to be contested and it was. Almost even, but Carolina was not getting many second chance shots.

What has to happen for each team to win? For Gonzaga, they need to get their big men going. Karnowski and Collins cannot have only four total points in the second half. And for UNC, they need to make shots. At least 40 percent.

Carolina comes out fast and takes the lead. Will Joel Berry be the key? He has been most of the season before he got hurt. Three quick fouls on Gonzaga. Carolina on a seven-point run in the first 2:45. The Bulldogs take a timeout. By the way, Karnowski missed another bunny. He is really bothered by Carolina’s size, which he has not seen all year.

Collins, yes that guy, answers with a three-point play the hard way.

Now five quick fouls on the Tar Heels with 16 minutes to play. And Collins just picks up his fourth foul. Not a good sign for the Bulldogs. Carolina’s size is getting ready to dominate.

Eleven fouls in four and a half minutes. Come on, let them play.

And the crowd goes wild. Karnowski scores. And misses a free throw.

Both teams in one-and-one with 13:14 to play.

Berry makes the three. He is the leading scorer with 16.

A very poor first 10 minutes. Neither team can hit a shot and refs have taken all momentum away with constant whistles. Gonzaga is in the bonus for last 10 minutes. Meeks called for his fourth foul with 9-plus minutes to play. Lots of folks on both teams with 3.

Karnowski misses another bunny but Berry doesn’t miss. Berry is the only player on either team making any shots.

As good as Saturday’s games were, that’s how poor this one is at the moment. It won’t matter much to the winning team. UNC by two with eight minutes to play.

Now a double intentional foul on Berry and Karnowski sends Karnowski to the line. He makes both. Berry misses both of his. For a senior point guard to miss as many clutch free throws as he has is inexcusable.

Don’t know the stats at the moment, but this could be the worst shooting final in decades. Gonzaga at 30 percent, Carolina at 33. Add UNC’s 13 percent from 3-point range and free throw percentages at 66 for Gonzaga and 58 for UNC, you can see how poor this game has been.

Collins fouls out with five to play and the Bulldogs down by one. Carolina has struggled from the foul line several times this year. If they expect to hold on, they will need to do it at the line.

Berry with a big three to answer Gonzaga’s three. Berry with 21. As poor as this game has been on the floor, it has been very competitive. No team has had more than a four-point lead and with three minutes to play, it’s Carolina by two.

Carolina has made four threes, all by Berry. The rest of the team is 0-for-12 (Jackson is 0-for-9).

With 1:25 left, UNC is up by 1 and Gonzaga has the ball. The odds makers had UNC either a 1 point or 1.5 point favorite. Would like to see Las Vegas at this moment.

Hicks scores on a layup. Carolina by three. Gonzaga calls a timeout with 22 seconds left.

It’s Carolina. Blocked shot. Run out for a layup. And the Tar Heels win. Forget the ghost of last year. Gonzaga went for the two, not the three to tie. Carolina’s largest lead of the game is at the end, 71-65.

The Bluebloods prevail. But what a year for Gonzaga. Reminds me of the Duke-Butler game of a few years ago. Still waiting for so-called mid majors to win the national championship. And I couldn’t feel better for my friend Roy Williams. Three national championships for one of the really good guys in college coaching. And for Mark Few and his Bulldogs, what a year to remember.

This is the third time Carolina has won the Maui Classic and the Final Four in the same season. Pretty amazing.

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>> Lots to do before championship day
>> Two unforgettable games at Final Four