Roy’s in the Band

Roy Williams’ first title

1 His critics labeled him an underachiever, saying he couldn’t win the “Big One.” That doesn’t apply anymore. North Carolina delivered the first national title for Coach Roy Williams, defeating Illinois, 75-70, in front of 47,262 at the Edward Jones Dome. All-American center Sean May scored a game-high 26 points, making 10 of 11 shots in the second-best shooting performance in a championship game. “We did it together, and I’m just happy we got it done for Coach Williams,” said May, whose father, Scott, was the 1976 NCAA player of the year for undefeated Indiana. Williams, a North Carolina alumnus who returned to Chapel Hill last season, led Kansas to title games in 1991 and 2003. North Carolina also won championships in 1957, 1982 and 1993, and its four titles are one more than archrival Duke, not that anyone on Tobacco Road needs to be reminded.

Classic comeback

2 It appeared that Illinois’ “fairy tale,” as Coach Bruce Weber described the season, would end badly against Arizona in the Chicago Regional final. The Wildcats led, 75-60, with four minutes remaining, stirring disappointment from the Windy City to Champaign. Then All-American guards Deron Williams and Luther Head spearheaded one of the most dramatic rallies in tournament history. The Illini tightened their defense in a 20-5 run, tying the score on Williams’ three-pointer with 38 seconds left in regulation. In overtime, Arizona’s Hassan Adams missed a rushed three-point shot at the buzzer, leaving Illinois with a 90-89 victory. The Illini advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1989, continuing the fairy tale. “We just kept fighting,” Williams said. “We never gave up.” Said Weber: “Just amazing.”

Change of plans

3 West Virginia sizzled against Louisville’s 2-3 zone in the Albuquerque Regional final. The Mountaineers made 10 of 14 three-point shots in the first half, building a 38-18 advantage and leading, 40-27, at halftime. Louisville Coach Rick Pitino abandoned the game plan at halftime for the first time in his career, instructing the Cardinals to press, trap and play more aggressively on offense. Louisville went on to a 93-85 overtime victory, and Pitino became the first coach to lead three programs -- Providence, Kentucky and Louisville -- to the Final Four. “My pride level for this basketball team is as high as it has ever been,” Pitino said.

Hail, Salim

4 In the Sweet 16 against Oklahoma State, Arizona guard Salim Stoudamire showed why he’s considered the nation’s best shooter. Stoudamire, who scored 10 of his 19 points in the final 4 minutes 35 seconds, wanted the ball at the end and got it, making an off-balance jump shot from the left side with 2.8 seconds remaining, lifting Arizona to a 79-78 victory in a Chicago Regional semifinal. Cowboy guard John Lucas missed a shot at the buzzer. “I thrive on those situations. That’s what I live for,” Stoudamire said. “Big-time players step up in big-time situations, and I see myself as one of those players.”

Eye on the toe

5 CBS played a big part in the most suspenseful moment of the tournament. Trailing Michigan State, 75-72, in the Austin Regional final, Kentucky held its breath as guard Patrick Sparks released a leaning, double-clutch three-point shot with one second remaining in regulation. The ball bounced four times on the rim before dropping, and the Wildcats celebrated overtime. Uh, not so fast. Officials needed more than five minutes to determine whether Sparks’ right toe was behind the arc. Referee James Burr finally ruled it was after asking CBS to zoom in on Sparks’ feet. Kentucky, however, lost in double overtime, 94-88. “We survived,” Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo said.

Bison tracks

6 Bucknell had only five scholarship players, along with eight walk-ons and a borrowed pep band, but it achieved the tournament’s biggest upset against formidable Kansas, 64-63, in the first round of the Syracuse Regional. The 14th-seeded Bison, who recently began awarding athletic scholarships, earned their first tournament victory in three appearances after Wayne Simien’s 15-foot jump shot bounced off the front of the rim at the buzzer. The third-seeded Jayhawks, who started 14-0 and had the nation’s highest RPI ranking, suffered their first opening-round defeat since 1978. “Certainly, it’s the biggest win we’ve ever had,” said Coach Pat Flannery, a 1980 Bucknell graduate. “Our kids battled their big kids all night long. Our kids made them work for everything they got.”

Busy Mountaineer

7 Tyrone Sally’s end-to-end performance in the final seconds against Creighton provided the difference in West Virginia’s 63-61 first-round victory. After getting a piece of Nate Funk’s three-point attempt, Sally dunked with 2.9 seconds remaining, launching the Mountaineers’ Elite Eight run. Sally’s two free throws tied the score, 61-61, with 42 seconds to play, and a teammate grabbed the ball after Sally had deflected Funk’s shot, igniting a clinching fastbreak. “I was having a terrible game,” Sally said. “I figured if I kept playing and did the little things, I’d get myself into the game and things would start to happen for me.”

Going out in style

8 Popular Coach Tom Brennan led 13th-seeded Vermont to its first tournament victory in his final season. The Catamounts upset fourth-seeded Syracuse, 60-57, in overtime in the Austin Regional. Brennan, who retired after a second-round loss to Michigan State, received a much better send-off gift than a gold watch. In terms of a feel-good tournament story, it doesn’t get any better.

Demon (Deacon) slayers

9 West Virginia apparently preferred to live on the edge. After forward Tyrone Sally had made the biggest plays in the first round against Creighton, swingman Mike Gansey scored 19 of his 29 points after regulation to help West Virginia outlast Wake Forest, 111-105, in double overtime. The Demon Deacons had said they, not Washington, deserved the top seeding in the regional. If you’re going to complain about seeding, don’t get bounced in the second round.

Former mascot makes good

10 Wisconsin Milwaukee Coach Bruce Pearl wore the Eagles’ mascot suit for a game while attending Boston College. Pearl’s game plan against his alma mater, however, wasn’t a laughing matter. The 12th-seeded Panthers upset the fourth-seeded Eagles, after having upset fifth-seeded Alabama, to advance to the Sweet 16. Forward Joah Tucker and guard Ed McCants pushed the Panthers to play harder than their higher-profile opponents.