Helena Frye
The 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament determined the National Champion for the 2008-09 season. The championship game was played on April 6, 2009, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, between the No. 1-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels and the No. 2-seeded Michigan State Spartans. North Carolina won the game 89–72, claiming their second national championship in five seasons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2009 |
| Competition | NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament |
| Champion | University of North Carolina/Tar Heels |
| Runner-up | Michigan State |
| Final score | 89-72 |
| Date | 6 April 2009 |
| Stadium | Ford Field |
| City | Detroit |
| State | Michigan |
| Previous wins (North Carolina) | 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005 |
| Coach (North Carolina) | Roy Williams |
| Previous wins (Michigan State) | 1979, 2000 |
| Coach (Michigan State) | Tom Izzo |
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What You'll Learn
- North Carolina Tar Heels win their second national championship in five seasons
- Michigan State Spartans lose despite home-court advantage
- Villanova Wildcats defeat Pittsburgh Panthers in the East Regional Finals
- North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough becomes the leading scorer in ACC history
- President Barack Obama correctly predicts North Carolina's win
North Carolina Tar Heels win their second national championship in five seasons
The North Carolina Tar Heels were crowned the 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball national champions, marking their second national championship in five seasons. The Tar Heels dominated the tournament, winning all their games by double digits—a feat only previously achieved by Duke in 2001.
The championship game, played on April 6, 2009, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, featured a highly anticipated matchup between the No. 1-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels and the No. 2-seeded Michigan State Spartans. This game held special significance as it was a rematch of "BasketBowl II" from the previous year, where the Tar Heels had handily defeated the Spartans 98-63.
The 2009 championship game saw the North Carolina Tar Heels continue their winning streak, showcasing their dominance over the Spartans once again. Led by the impressive performances of Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, and Ty Lawson, the Tar Heels routed the Spartans with a final score of 89-72. This victory further solidified the Tar Heels' reputation for excellence in college basketball, adding to their already impressive record of four national championships (1957, 1982, 1993, and 2005) prior to their 2009 triumph.
The road to the championship game for the North Carolina Tar Heels was marked by a series of impressive victories. In the First Round, Tyler Hansbrough and Wayne Ellington shone, with Hansbrough becoming the leading scorer in ACC history and Ellington contributing 25 points to secure a commanding 101-58 win over Radford. The Second Round witnessed Ty Lawson's stellar performance, scoring 23 points to lead the Tar Heels to a 21-7 run and a final score of 84-70 over LSU. Their momentum continued in the Sweet Sixteen, with Hansbrough's double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Lawson's 19 points and nine assists, guiding them to a 98-77 victory over Gonzaga. In the Elite Eight, Lawson once again took center stage, scoring 19 points to propel the Tar Heels past Oklahoma with a score of 72-60, securing their place in the Final Four.
The North Carolina Tar Heels' journey to their second national championship in five seasons was a testament to their skill, strategy, and unwavering determination. Their consistent dominance throughout the tournament, highlighted by their double-digit victories, cemented their legacy in the annals of college basketball.
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Michigan State Spartans lose despite home-court advantage
The 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament determined the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I men's basketball national champion for the 2008–09 season. The championship game was played between the South Regional Champions, No. 1-seeded North Carolina, and the Midwest Regional Champions, No. 2-seeded Michigan State Spartans. Despite the Spartans' home-court advantage, they lost to North Carolina, who won their second national championship in five seasons.
The game was a rematch of "BasketBowl II" in 2008, which was also played at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, and won by North Carolina with a score of 98-63. The 2009 championship game was a closer contest, but North Carolina still dominated, taking an early lead and maintaining their momentum throughout the game. The final score was 89-72, with Tyler Hansbrough's 18 points, Wayne Ellington's 19 points, and Ty Lawson's 21 points leading North Carolina to victory.
The Michigan State Spartans, led by coach Tom Izzo, had a strong season and entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed. They had previously won two national championships, in 1979 and 2000, and Izzo had guided them to five Final Four appearances. However, they fell short in the 2009 championship game, unable to overcome North Carolina's strong start and offensive prowess.
North Carolina, coached by Hall of Famer Roy Williams, came into the game with a 4–4 record in finals appearances. Their victory in 2009 marked their fifth national title and their second under Williams. With this win, North Carolina became the first team since Duke in 2001 to win all their NCAA Tournament games by double digits. Their performance in the 2009 tournament showcased their dominance, with a +121-point differential, the second-highest since the expansion to 64 teams in 1985.
While the Michigan State Spartans had the advantage of playing in their home state, it was not enough to secure the win. North Carolina's strong offense and consistent performance throughout the tournament ultimately proved too much for the Spartans to overcome. The 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game showcased the talent and competitiveness of both teams, with North Carolina ultimately claiming the title and solidifying their place in collegiate basketball history.
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Villanova Wildcats defeat Pittsburgh Panthers in the East Regional Finals
The 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament crowned the University of North Carolina as champions, defeating Michigan State 89-72. This was North Carolina's fifth title, and second under coach Roy Williams.
In the East Regional Finals, the Villanova Wildcats defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers 78-76. With five seconds remaining, Levance Fields was fouled by Corey Fisher, giving him two free throws to tie the game for Pitt. However, Scottie Reynolds scored a one-second jumper to give Villanova the win. Pitt's Sam Young and DeJuan Blair scored 28 and 20 points, respectively, while Dwayne Anderson was the top scorer for Villanova with 17 points.
Villanova's victory over Pittsburgh denied the Panthers their first national championship in men's basketball. The Wildcats had previously won the national championship in 1985, and would go on to win again in 2016 and 2018.
The 2009 tournament featured 65 teams and began on March 17, concluding with the championship game on April 6. All four teams in the Final Four had won at least one national championship, with North Carolina holding the most at four.
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North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough becomes the leading scorer in ACC history
The University of North Carolina defeated Michigan State to become the 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball national champions. This was the Tar Heels' fifth title, and their second under coach Roy Williams. North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, who scored 18 points in the championship game, became the leading scorer in ACC history.
Hansbrough, the only four-time, first-team All-America player in ACC history, scored 22 points in the first round of the tournament against Radford, breaking Duke guard J.J. Redick's conference record. He is also the only ACC player to lead his school in scoring and rebounding for four seasons. In his freshman year, he scored 40 points against Georgia Tech, which remains a UNC freshman record.
Hansbrough averaged 20.2 points and 8.6 rebounds in 142 games for UNC, the sixth-highest average at Carolina. He also averaged 20.1 points and 10.8 rebounds in his career against the Blue Devils, and 19.1 points and 8.6 rebounds in 17 NCAA Tournament games. He led the Tar Heels to two Final Fours, including the 2009 championship.
Hansbrough is the ACC's and UNC's all-time leading scorer with 2,872 points, and UNC's all-time leading rebounder with 1,219 rebounds. He also holds the NCAA career record for most free throws made, with 982, and is second in free-throw attempts with 1,241. He was the 2008 National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, ACC Male Athlete of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP, and NCAA East Regional Player of the Year.
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President Barack Obama correctly predicts North Carolina's win
In 2009, the University of North Carolina defeated Michigan State to become the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball national champion for the 2008–09 season. This was the Tar Heels' fifth title and their second under coach Roy Williams.
President Barack Obama, a noted basketball fan and former player, has made it an annual tradition to unveil his NCAA tournament brackets for the men's and women's sides. In 2009, Obama correctly predicted that North Carolina would win the men's championship. This was not the first time that Obama had made an accurate prediction; in 2024, he correctly predicted that South Carolina would beat Iowa in the women's championship.
Obama's 2009 bracket selections included several upsets in the first round, such as No. 11 North Carolina over No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 10 Arkansas over No. 7 Kansas, and No. 10 Vanderbilt over No. 7 Saint Mary's. The former president also predicted that No. 5 Clemson would defeat No. 1 Houston in the Sweet 16 before ultimately falling to No. 2 Tennessee.
North Carolina's victory over Michigan State was a dominant performance, with the Tar Heels taking an early lead and never looking back. The game ended with a score of 89-72, marking North Carolina's fifth national championship and their second under coach Roy Williams. This win further solidified Obama's interest and knowledge of basketball, demonstrating that his predictions are often accurate and worth considering.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of North Carolina won the 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship.
North Carolina played Michigan State in the final, winning 89-72.
The final took place at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, and Ty Lawson all scored highly for North Carolina.
North Carolina led 55-34 at halftime, the largest halftime lead in NCAA Tournament History.
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