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When North Carolina and Gonzaga meet for the 2017 national championship on Monday night, there will be five national championships between them.
Of course, all of those titles belong to the Tar Heels, but while these schools may be on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of national championship experience–this will be Carolina’s 11th time playing in college basketball’s ultimate game, while Gonzaga is making its debut–that won’t matter when the ball is tipped. It’s two No. 1 seeds. Two massive frontcourts. Two star players who can fill it up. Two teams with first-round NBA talent. And two teams that have proven they belong in this game.
Here’s an early look at everything you need to know:
Gonzaga vs. UNC Viewing Info
Date: Monday, April 3, 2017
Start Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV Channel: CBS
Spread: North Carolina by 2. (Wynn Las Vegas sports book, via Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.)
Early Preview
Most games, North Carolina and its quartet of talented big men have a significant advantage on the interior. But that won’t be the case in this one, as Gonzaga is one of the few teams in the country capable of matching the Heels’ size and depth in the frontcourt.
There are two particularly interesting matchups there.
The first, Kennedy Meeks vs. Przemek Karnowski. The former has been a dominant force inside for most of the season, and that has carried into the NCAA tournament. He had 16 points and seven offensive rebounds against Arkansas. Five offensive–and 12 total–rebounds against Kentucky. And another 25 points and eight offensive rebounds against Oregon.
Meeks bullies and out-works most people around the basket, and it’s going to be really interesting to see what happens when he battles down low with the 7-foot-1, 300-pound Karnowski.
Another key frontcourt matchup is one that’s indicative of each team’s depth: Zach Collins vs. Tony Bradley. Both freshmen come off the bench, but both have an NBA future. Collins came up massive against South Carolina with 14 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks in 23 minutes, and if he can have a similar effect against one of the best frontcourts in the country, it may not only mean a national championship for Gonzaga, it may mean he hears his name called by Adam Silver in June.
Zach Collins was a WALL tonight. #FinalFour #UnitedWeZag
Ultimately, there are plenty of other important things to watch. Can North Carolina solve Gonzaga’s ultra efficient defense? Can the Zags continue to shoot the lights out (21-of-43 from deep the last two games) against Carolina’s length on the perimeter? Then, of course, there’s each team’s star, Nigel Williams-Goss and Justin Jackson, who are both capable of taking the game over in a variety of ways.
It’s an endlessly compelling matchup, and after what has been an entertaining season, it should be an appropriate finale.
