2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game

2013 NCAA Tournament Championship Game
National Championship Game
Michigan Wolverines Louisville Cardinals (31-7) (34-5) 76 82 Head coach:  John Beilein Head coach:  Rick Pitino AP Coaches 10 11 AP Coaches 2 2 1 2 Total Michigan 38 38 76 Louisville 37 45 82
Date	April 8, 2013
Arena	Georgia Dome
Location	Atlanta, Georgia
MVP	Luke Hancock, Louisville
Favorite	Louisville by 5
Referee	John Cahill, John Higgins, Tony Greene
Attendance	74,326
United States TV coverage
Network	CBS
Announcers	Jim Nantz (play-by-play) Clark Kellogg and Steve Kerr (color) Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
Nielsen Ratings	14.0 (23.4 million)

The 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game was the finals of the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and it determined the national champion for the 2012-13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The 2013 National Championship Game was played on April 8, 2013 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, and featured the 2013 Midwest Regional Champions, #1-seeded Louisville, and the 2013 South Regional Champions, #4-seeded Michigan.

Participants

Michigan

Michigan, who was led by 2013 national player of the year Trey Burke, was a #4 seed in the South Regional of the 2013 NCAA Tournament. In the 2nd round, Glenn Robinson III scored 21 points to lead the Wolverines past South Dakota State 71-56.^[1] In the 3rd Round, Michigan crushed VCU with a 78-53 win to advance to the Sweet 16 for the 1st time since 1994.^[2] Against Kansas, Burke made a long game-tying three pointer with 4.2 seconds left to send the game to overtime and Michigan would then win to advance to the Elite Eight.^[3] Michigan routed Florida 79-59 to advance to the Final Four for the 1st time since 1993.^[4] Against Syracuse, with Michigan leading 58-56 with 19.2 seconds left, Jordan Morgan took the charge and Brandon Triche was called for an offensive foul. Then, Jon Horford made 1 of 2 free throws for a 59-56 lead. With 6 seconds left, Trevor Cooney missed a jump shot and Tim Hardaway Jr. got the rebound, then Caris LeVert threw it all the way to Morgan who would dunk it in for a 61-56 over Syracuse and a trip to the 2013 National Championship Game.^[5]

Michigan was competing for their 2nd ever National Title being in their 6th national title game, their 1st since the 1993 National Title Game when the Fab Five was around.

Louisville

Louisville was the #1 overall seed in the 2013 NCAA Tournament and was placed in the Midwest Regional. Louisville had no trouble beating North Carolina A&T in the 2nd round with an easy 79-48 win.^[6] In the 3rd Round, Russ Smith scored 27 points as Louisville crushed Colorado State 82-56.^[7] In the Sweet 16, Russ Smith scored 31 points to beat Oregon 77-69 for a trip to the Elite Eight.^[8] Then the Cardinals overcame Kevin Ware's injury to beat Duke 85-63 and advance to the 2013 Final Four.^[9] Louisville survived the surprising Wichita State team to advance to the 2013 National Championship Game.^[10]

This was Louisville's 3rd trip to the National Title Game and they also vied for their 3rd national title.

Game summary

CBS

April 8 9:23pm EDT

Recap

Michigan Wolverines 76, Louisville Cardinals 82
Scoring by half: 38-37, 38-45
Pts: Burke, 24 Rebs: McGary, 6 Asts: Hardaway Jr., 4		Pts: Hancock, 22 Rebs: Behanan, 12 Asts: Dieng, 6

Georgia Dome Attendance: 74,326 Referees: John Cahill, John Higgins, Tony Greene

First Half

Spike Albrecht scored 17 points during the 1st half of the 2013 National Championship Game.

Trey Burke scored seven quick points to get Michigan out to an early 7-3 lead. But then he picked up two fouls and would be forced to sit on the bench. Spike Albrecht, replacing him, made four consecutive three pointers leading to a 17-point 1st half performance and Michigan would be up 35-23. But, Luke Hancock made four consecutive three-pointers to cut the Michigan lead to 38-37 at halftime.

Second Half

The 2nd half featured several lead changes, then with 5:09 remaining, Trey Burke fouled Peyton Siva on a shot and Siva made both free throws for a Louisville 69-64 lead. With 3:27 left, Luke Hancock made a three-pointer to give Louisville a 76-66 lead. Michigan took the game to an 80-76 deficit with 14 seconds left, but Siva made two free throws to give Louisville an 82-76 win. With 22 points, Hancock was named the 2013 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.^[11]

Louisville celebrates their 2013 National Championship

References

1. "Glenn Robinson III leads No. 4 Michigan past No.13 South Dakota State". ESPN.com. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
2. "Michigan breezes past VCU to Sweet 16 berth". ESPN.com. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
3. "Trey Burke's late 3 forces overtime as Michigan knocks off Kansas". ESPN.com. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
4. "Michigan routs Florida en route to 1st Final Four berth since 1993". ESPN.com. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
5. "Wolverines overcome Orange to reach championship game". ESPN.com. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
6. "No. 1 Louisville has no trouble eliminating N.C. A&T". ESPN.com. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
7. "Louisville routs Colorado State behind Russ Smith's 27 points". ESPN.com. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
8. "Russ Smith scores 31 points to boost Louisville into Elite 8". ESPN.com. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
9. "Emotional Louisville overcomes injury to Kevin Ware to reach Final Four". ESPN.com. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
10. "Louisville edges upstart Wichita State, advances to NCAA title game". ESPN.com. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
11. "Louisville outlasts Michigan to win national championship". ESPN.com. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2014.