The UNC men’s basketball team is headed back to the national championship game and did so in dramatic fashion Saturday night, beating their rival Duke 81-77 in New Orleans.
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃.#CarolinaFamily | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/MtFj5ySItk
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) April 3, 2022
The Tar Heels really did the thing…
Now they're heading to the #NationalChampionship 🏆🔥 @UNC_Basketball #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/PaEfHLnRHb
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 3, 2022
UNC SPOILS COACH K'S FAREWELL … AGAIN 😳 pic.twitter.com/4ffNiCSafe
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 3, 2022
As is tradition, Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill was flooded by students and Carolina fans just moments after the final buzzer sounded.
A historic game = a historic celebration 🐏🏀#GDTBATH #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/1yvzFwYJ8N
— UNC-Chapel Hill (@UNC) April 3, 2022
Heels win. Franklin erupts. Fireworks explode.
Live look at Franklin Street from Top of the Hill for @newsobserver: pic.twitter.com/wYveEZUezw
— Kimberly Cataudella (@kcataudella) April 3, 2022
It wasn’t just Franklin Street that was the site of a party. The Dean Smith Center hosted thousands of UNC fans and the general public to watch the Final Four game. The Roy Williams Court got stormed after the Tar Heel victory as part of the celebration inside.
📍 Dean E. Smith Center ➡️ HEELS WIN.#GoHeels x #CarolinaFamily x #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/0rzCoZiBf0
— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) April 3, 2022
As called by @JonesAngell & shot by WRAL from the Dean Dome: pic.twitter.com/hIRIJTAV1y
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) April 3, 2022
The win sent both the Tar Heels to their 12th national championship and Duke’s program to the end of its season, as well as head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s career. Social media erupted in the aftermath with messages cheering on the Heels — and also needling their rivals.
Former Carolina men’s basketball players shared several posts from all around the world, including in the Caesars Superdome and across the Atlantic Ocean.
GOT 'EM!!!
😂😂😂😂😂#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/1cqH8kAioA
— JR Reid (@JRReid7) April 3, 2022
Get em outta here!!!!!!
— Danny Green (@DGreen_14) April 3, 2022
FIRST YEAR HEAD COACH AND DOING HIS THING, he ain’t LIKE ITTTTTT😂😂😂😂😂KEEP GOING COACH
— Reggie Bullock (@ReggieBullock35) April 3, 2022
Cam Johnson and younger brother Puff Johnson share a moment after UNC's Final Four victory 🐏🤍@UNC_basketball #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/h8t6uxnBuZ
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 3, 2022
Don’t ever call us out!! BECAUSE WE BOUT THAT ACTION!!!!
— Theo pinson (@tpinsonn) April 3, 2022
Let’s gooooo #CarolinaFamily cheering strong in England!! Run it back on Monday!!! It’s a #GDTBATH 🐏 pic.twitter.com/C3YrUycKkB
— Justin Pierce (@JustinPierce23) April 3, 2022
Mannnnnn stop playing with that perfect shade of BLUE!!!!🐑 pic.twitter.com/mWf8fPqGLB
— Vince Carter (@mrvincecarter15) April 3, 2022
Y’all thought dook hated us before?? They definitely hate us now 🤣🤣🤣
— Nassir Little (@2ez_nassie) April 3, 2022
So proud of this group!!! @UNC_Basketball #GDTBATH
— Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes) April 3, 2022
Lol… y’all stay classy tonight.
— Pep (@juliuspeppers_) April 3, 2022
While the Tobacco Road Rivalry typically draws national attention, the state of a Final Four meant many national journalists were on-site or tuned into Saturday’s game. Some shared their thoughts on the Tar Heels’ success against Duke this season.
Hubert Davis and North Carolina did what we thought was impossible.
They beat Duke on Coach K night, and just ended his career with a national title game appearance on the line.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 3, 2022
Tar Heel Nation is obviously ecstatic tonight. One more game remains. What a journey. Hubert Davis and his team are reminding the world what it means to bleed basketball blue.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) April 3, 2022
UNC with one of the most incredible hater moves of all time to retire Coach K like this. Forever iconic.
— Zito (@_Zeets) April 3, 2022
UNC fans have this over their rival for the rest of time. It's an aspirational level of petty achievement unlocked.
— Richard🇬🇾Johnson (@RJ_Writes) April 3, 2022
Nobody deserves to leave the game without a storybook ending more than Duke and Coach K. They’ve ruined so many hopes and dreams. And that is truly a compliment.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) April 3, 2022
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA
— bomani (@bomani_jones) April 3, 2022
Here are some other great reactions to the UNC win on social media:
could lose to Duke every game for the rest of my life. dont care.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 3, 2022
OH MY DAYS… THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!
4AM… WHO CARES!!!!!
TAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!
WE’RE OFF TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!! LETS GOOO!!! pic.twitter.com/MHhFnaNMXS
— George (@britishtarheel) April 3, 2022
This picture goes right there with all of the iconic photos in Carolina basketball history pic.twitter.com/0VV2XOj4jg
— Ivan Corriher (@IWCorriher) April 3, 2022
In his first season as North Carolina men's basketball coach, Hubert Davis has:
– ruined Coach L's farewell tour
– beaten Duke in the NCAA Tournament
– and now has his Tar Heels in the National Championship gameI'm so happy Hubert Davis is our coach
— UNC Humor (@UNC_Humor) April 3, 2022
Eric Church was right
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 3, 2022
All those letters in Mike Krzyzewski and there’s still room for one more L.
— Oluwajomiloju (@JomiAdeniran) April 3, 2022
We. Are. Speechless. Except: #GDTBATH pic.twitter.com/Q0kDzl6e3d
— Town of Chapel Hill | A Place for Everyone (@chapelhillgov) April 3, 2022
The Tar Heels men’s basketball team will now play against Kansas in the 2022 NCAA National Championship game on Monday night in New Orleans.
Photo via Todd Melet.
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