After three weeks of action, 68 teams and millions of busted brackets, the 2017 NCAA Tournament came down to east vs. west as UNC took on Gonzaga Monday night.
The Tar Heels came out victorious with a final score of 71-65 as Roy Williams’ team made up for the heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss to Villanova last year, a victory which the coach attributed to their motto for the season: “tough enough.”
UNC is now just the fourth team to lose the national championship but come back to win it the next year. The win also marked the third national championship for Williams since he became head coach in 2003.
Before the game, which tipped off at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, UNC was favored by just 1.5 points over Gonzaga, according to OddsShark.
The Tar Heels’ redemption win sparked a rapid reaction on social media — along with the inevitable slew of Michael Jordan memes and proclamations that “the ceiling is the roof.”
See some of the best ones below.
YEAAAAAAHHHHHHHH UNC!! I had Tarheels from da start! Gonzaga was & is an amazing squad! Props 2 Few
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) April 4, 2017
If UNC's championship shirts don't say "The Ceiling is the Roof" then they deserve to be stripped of their title immediately.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) April 4, 2017
The UNC faithful r in a frenzy / National Champs 2017 #AwesomeBaby @UNC_Basketball pic.twitter.com/AT4fdXb54B
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 4, 2017
Heels!!! Congrats to @UNC_Basketball .
Natty Champs!!— Mia Hamm (@MiaHamm) April 4, 2017
Congratulations to legendary Coach Roy Williams and the @UNC_Basketball team! What a game! @ZagMBB fought until the end.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 4, 2017
On vacay so up past my bedtime..congrats @UNC_Basketball winning #NationalChampionship! Can't help but think of #StuartScott #booyah ?
— Robin Roberts (@RobinRoberts) April 4, 2017
The ceiling IS the roof. ??@UNC_Basketball #Nationalchamps pic.twitter.com/PWAZJqw0Mx
— Foot Locker (@footlocker) April 4, 2017
Congrats @UNC_Basketball on another great season. And another title.
Moments like these makes me think of @StuartScott #Booyah
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) April 4, 2017
Every Duke and State fan sit down…now. Don't even want to hear it.
— Tar Heel Nation (@UNC_TarHeelFan) April 4, 2017
Congrats UNC, but @IAmJericho would like a word with you… pic.twitter.com/QpjTeVMMQ5
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/JOEL9ONE/status/849104180874805249
The UNC Tar Heels are 2017 NCAA champs! The ceiling really is the roof! pic.twitter.com/dV9JOx91xk
— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 4, 2017
Congrats to @UNC and my favorite #TarHeel @KitHoover! We should have bet pie in the face 🙂
— Natalie Morales (@nmoralestv) April 4, 2017
Smile, @UNC_Basketball. You're the CHAMPS! #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/mOqSg7Hxdf
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) April 4, 2017
Smile, @UNC_Basketball. You're the CHAMPS! #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/mOqSg7Hxdf
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) April 4, 2017
Flagrant 1? Hmm. #NCAAChampionship #TheMasters #BallDontLie
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) April 4, 2017
CEILING. ROOF. NATTY.
— T.J. Yates (@TJ_Yates) April 4, 2017
"Who is: Michael Jordan?"#JeopardySports #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/k731MVS3tr
— Jeopardy! Sports (@JeopardySports) April 4, 2017