Tar Heels take NCAA title, 71-65, over Gonzaga

<p>Redemption is sweet for North Carolina. After losing a heartbreaker last year to Villanova&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTThyQPoXxY" target="_blank">in dramatic fashion</a>, the NCAA national title is headed back to Chapel Hill.</p><p>Despite the loss, this is still a historic year for Gonzaga. This is the Zags&#39; first trip to the Final Four and the national championship &mdash; their season comes to a close with just two losses.</p><p>On the other hand, for North Carolina, this latest championship only adds to a cemented legacy as college basketball royalty.</p><p>Believe it or not, North Carolina has been to back-to-back&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/gonzaga-vs-unc-tar-heels-experience-could-make-the-difference-in-title-game/" target="_blank">national championships before</a>, and similarly they lost the first year in 1981 and prevailed in 1982 &mdash;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2017-02-17/college-basketball-michael-jordans-greatest-moments-north" target="_blank">Michael Jordan&#39;s freshman year</a>.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/ncaa-march-madness-referees-whittled-down-to-select-few/">NCAA Referees Have Their Own Sort Of March Madness</a></b></p><p>Overall, Carolina has been to the NCAA title game&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/north-carolina/" target="_blank">11 times now</a>, and the Heels have won more than they&#39;ve lost, boasting a 6-5 record.&nbsp;</p><p>As for head coach Roy Williams, he&#39;s been a Hall of Famer for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wralsportsfan.com/rs/video/1780347/" target="_blank">a decade now</a>, but this third national title pushes him past his mentor, former Carolina coach Dean Smith. Only&nbsp;<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/632443-march-madness-the-11-greatest-coaches-in-ncaa-tournament-history" target="_blank">two coaches</a>&nbsp;in men&#39;s college basketball history have held the championship trophy more times.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/tv-viewer-tattles-on-lexi-thompson-costs-her-lpga-major/">A TV Viewer Tattled On This Pro Golfer And Likely Cost Her A Major</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/the-undertaker-retires-from-wwe/">The Undertaker Laid To Rest At WrestleMania 33</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/major-league-baseball-has-a-shorter-season-than-you-think/">Major League Baseball Has A Shorter Season Than You Think</a></li></ul>