UNC 2009 
Award surprises Ellington
When you play alongside the 2008 National Player of the Year and the 2009 ACC Player of the Year, individual awards can be hard to come by.
Tar Heels prove worthy of title
Defense, rebounding crucial in UNC triumph.
Ratings for title game take a big nosedive
Television ratings are down for an NCAA men's basketball championship game that wasn't competitive for most of the night.
Tar Heels prepare for an exodus
UNC forward Deon Thompson spoke in the past tense when talking about junior teammates Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington on Monday night. Whether that was a bit of foreshadowing will become clearer in the days to come.
- Photo gallery: UNC 89, Michigan State 72
- First Look: Images from UNC-Michigan State
- Photo gallery: UNC returns to Chapel Hill
- Time-lapse video: See the celebration on Franklin Street
- Panoramic view: Franklin Street celebration
- Read all the UNC stories in the N&O's commemorative section
- Buy the commemorative poster of the 2008-09 UNC Tar Heels
- One Standing: Buy the N&O's book about the 2009 UNC championship season
Not even close: UNC rolls to title
No matter the outcome of Monday's game, Tyler Hansbrough -- one of the most decorated players in school history -- would have left UNC a winner. But by helping shellac Michigan State 89-72 at Ford Field, he finished his career with the pride of being a national champion.
- Time-lapse video: See the celebration on Franklin Street
- Panoramic view: Franklin Street celebration
- Read all the UNC stories in the N&O's commemorative section
- Photo gallery: UNC 89, Michigan State 72
- First Look: Images from UNC-Michigan State
- Hansbrough won't donate this memento
- Tudor's Take: Thompson's time coming
- Dean Smith: 'That was sensational'
- Buy the commemorative poster of the 2008-09 UNC Tar Heels
- One Standing: Buy the N&O's book about the 2009 UNC championship season
Return engagement ends perfectly
Bobby Frasor remembers hearing it from the moment Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green announced on June 16 they were returning for the 2008-09 season instead of leaving for the NBA.
Heels fulfill their destiny
At North Carolina, basketball has long been about winning championships, clipping nets, hoisting trophies and hanging banners.
Observations
* Former North Carolina coach Dean Smith did not make the trip to Detroit. Smith watched from home in Chapel Hill, a team spokesman said.
Lawson grabs his award
All eyes were on point guard Ty Lawson's grasp on the Cousy trophy Monday morning when he accepted the award for the nation's best point guard.
Dean enjoys title game
Former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith didn't make the trip to Detroit, but he liked what he saw the Tar Heels do from afar Monday night.
Carolina enhances its hoops status
Tudor:Driven by the awful memory of the Final Four semifinal loss to Kansas in 2008, Roy Williams' Tar Heels completed their unwavering yearlong quest for vindication by winning a national championship.
Jordan speaks on title
Since he didn't do it when North Carolina won the 2005 national championship in St. Louis, Michael Jordan did not plan to speak to the Tar Heels before they played Michigan State on Monday night for the NCAA title at Ford Field.
North Carolina Tar Heels Championships
1957 UNC 54, KANSAS 53 (THREE OVERTIMES)
Lawson steals show
Throughout Ty Lawson's career, coach Roy Williams has said the North Carolina point guard was only scratching the surface of his ability to be disruptive as a defender.
