Rick Pitino now has won two national championships with two different schools and is the first coach to do so, but that doesn't mean he can't get scared, which he did on Monday night when the confetti exploded and his team were champions.
According to the Associated Press, Pitino became startled when the explosion went off at the Georgia Dome and he was not ready for it as the Cardinals won 82-76 over the Wolverines. The stadium was filled with over 70,000 fans and the team now has the chance to win championships in both the men's and women's tournaments, as the Cardinals are also in the NCAA Women's final against UConn.
The Cardinals had a one point lead heading into halftime and held back Trey Burke, the national player of the year who scored 24 points. Spike Albrecht had 17, but it wasn't enough for the Cardinals, who got 18 from Peyton Siva and saw Luke Hancock win the MOP. Pitino promised his players that he would get a tattoo if the team won and the Cardinals played with heavy hearts for injured star Kevin Ware.
The team was the last number one seed left in the tournament and the number one overall seed of all the teams. Michigan made it back to the championship for the first time in two decades and while they were able to close the gap late to two points, time ran out and the Cardinals won.
"We went into a war today against a great Michigan team," said Hancock, who was named the outstanding player of the tournament. "We needed to rally and we have done it a couple of games."
"At the same time, Louisville is a terrific basketball team. I have not seen that quickness anywhere, it's incredible."
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