G. K. Butterfield: “tonight we have all talked about how sweet and how wonderful it was for the University of North Carolina to be crowned…”

“tonight we have all talked about how sweet and how wonderful it was for the University of North Carolina to be crowned as the NCAA Champions. But Mr. Speaker what makes this team so special is how well they exemplified what it means to be a team. Winning the five games on their way to claiming their fourth national championship, three different players led the team in scoring and four players led the team in rebounding. Sean May certainly earned the honor of tournament MVP. But the road to the finals required the collective effort of the entire team. After two easy wins again, Oakland and Iowa, Carolina fans collectively held their breath when the referee's whistle blew in the final seconds against Villanova. Fear of a shooting foul turned into the joy of a traveling call against Villanova, and the Heels held on for the one-point win. A strong game against Wisconsin then sent Carolina on to the final game in St. Louis. The game brought together the two best teams in the country. It was a fitting finale to a memorable season and an exciting NCAA tournament. Fittingly, the game was full of tension and drama until the waning seconds. Illinois showed the perseverance and will that had resulted in 37 wins, while Carolina showed the determination, the unity, and the cohesion needed to overcome a team that went undefeated for much of the season. This Carolina team, Mr.…”