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Heel Heaven
North Carolina returned to elite status by knocking off No. 1 Illinois for the title.
David E. Klutho/SI

Heel Heaven

With a Tar Heels title, SI.com's Stewart Mandel says UNC proved Chapel Hill is home to one of the nation's top programs again.

• Ratings for NCAA title game best since 1999
• SI Extra May leads Tar Heels to the title
• Get SI's UNC Championship Package FREE!
•WINN: These X-factors can decide the title
•SCHECTER: Title game positional breakdown
•BURNS: Illinois ends UWM's Cinderella run
•LAWRENCE: Jordan is one of game's best
•MANDEL: Illinois, L'ville rallies memorable
•MORRILL: W. Va. wins epic battle with Wake
•MENEZ: Bucknell win over Kansas no fluke
•ANDERSON: Bogut does it all for the Utes
•DAVIS: Picking tourney's Sweet 16 winners
•WINN: Wolfpack places their trust in Hodge
•MANDEL: Meet basketball's other McCants
•WAHL: A sportswriter offers his bracket tips
•WALTERS: My top Mountaineer memories
•SI.com TOURNEY WRITERS ARCHIVE
It's never too early to look ahead here's an early look at the top teams.
A look at the title game reveals my season-long UNC pick is the right choice.
It's game time in St. Louis. Here's a running blog of Monday's title game.
It lost the title game, but that doesn't discount Illinois' amazing season.
SIOC's Road Trip
SIOC's Road Trip
• Day 23: The Vibe in St. Louis, Illinois
• Day 22: View from Indianapolis
• Day 21: Need ticket to big game
SI.com Video
SI.com Video
• Seth Davis' weekly Hoop Thoughts.
• Josh Elliott's Video Viewpoint.
• More SI Video
SI's GREATEST COLLEGE PLAYERS
• McCALLUM: Alcindor towered over the game
• WOLFF: Thompson made flight possible
• DUERSON: Imagine if Webber had stayed...
• McENTEGART: Chamberlain was dominate
• WAHL: Laettner had perfect March timing
• DEITSCH: Holdsclaw made hoops cool
• COMPLETE ARCHIVE | READER RESPONSES
 SI WRITERS AT THE TOURNEY
• WINN: Illini had memorable season
• MANDEL: UNC is once again elite
• MANDEL: Felton carries UNC to title game
• WINN: Illini's Williams shuts down Garcia
• CLOSER LOOK: UNC-MSU | Illinois-Louisville
• McENTEGART: Parties, coaches at Final Four
• COMPLETE WRITERS' TOURNEY ARCHIVE
Who should SI name as the greatest college basketball player of all time?
Lew Alcindor
Bill Russell
Diana Taurasi
David Thompson
Other
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