2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game

American college basketball final March 2026 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament August 2023 April 2015 2005 NCAA Tournament Championship Game ncg NCAA logo.svg April 4, 2005 2004-05 University of North Carolina North Carolina Tar Heels 32–4 ACC 3 3 Roy Williams 40 35 University of Illinois Illinois Fighting Illini 37–1 Big Ten 1 1 Bruce Weber 27 43 Edward Jones Dome St. Louis, Missouri 47,262 Ed Corbett, John Cahill, Verne Harris Sean May, North Carolina North Carolina by 2.5https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101786640/casper-star-tribune/ One-two punch: Illinois-Carolina 'the game everybody wanted to see'; Many current Tar Heels endured 8–20 record in 2001–02 Curiously, the Tar Heels are 2.5–point favorites. That's okay with Illinois. D1, D2 John Lindsay Casper Star-Tribune April 4, 2005 May 13, 2022 Newspapers.com CBS 15.0 Jim Nantz (play-by-play)Billy Packer (color)Bonnie Bernstein and Armen Keteyian (sideline) 2004 2006 The 2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game was the final game of the 2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and it determined the national champion for the 2004-05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The game was played on April 4, 2005, at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri and featured the Chicago Regional Champion, overall #1-seed Illinois and Syracuse Regional Champion, #1-seeded North Carolina. This was the first championship game since 1999 that was played between two #1 seeds. North Carolina took off with a 40–27 lead at the half and Illinois failed to mount a comeback win after coming back as much as 15. The Tar Heels won 75–70, for their 4th national championship, and first under Roy Williams. As of 2025, this remains Illinois’ sole appearance in the national championship game. Participants Illinois Fighting Illini 2004–05 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team Illinois entered the tournament as the #1 seed in the Chicago Regional. In the 1st round, Illinois survived a scare from Fairleigh Dickinson, rolling away with a 67–55 win after leading by just one at halftime.http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000047 https://archive.today/20140621002535/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000047 dead June 21, 2014 FDU's lead short-lived; Illini roll in second half ESPN.com 17 March 2005 20 June 2014 In the 2nd round, Illinois beat Nevada 71-59 for the chance to face Milwaukee in the Sweet 16http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000049 https://web.archive.org/web/20090108052610/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000049 dead January 8, 2009 Illinois overwhelms Nevada; UW-Milwaukee next ESPN.com 19 March 2005 20 June 2014 and in the Sweet 16, the Illinois backcourt propelled them to a 77–63 win over Milwaukee to advance to the Chicago Regional Finals.http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000053 https://web.archive.org/web/20090108052727/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000053 dead January 8, 2009 Backcourt propels Fighting Illini into Chicago final ESPN.com 24 March 2005 20 June 2014 In the Chicago Regional Finals, Illinois came back from a 15-point deficit with four minutes remaining to beat Arizona 90–89 in overtime to keep Illinois title hopes alive with a trip to their fifth-ever Final Four.http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000061 https://web.archive.org/web/20090108052611/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000061 dead January 8, 2009 Fighting Illini overcome 15-point hole to keep title hopes alive ESPN.com 24 March 2005 20 June 2014 In the Final Four, Illinois dominated Louisville in the 2nd half, outscoring them 41–29. They would go on to win 72-57 and advance to the national championship game.http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000031 https://web.archive.org/web/20090108052626/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000031 dead January 8, 2009 Illini beat down Louisville in second half ESPN.com 2 April 2005 20 June 2014 North Carolina Tar Heels 2004–05 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team North Carolina entered the tournament as the #1 seed in the Syracuse Regional. In the 1st round, North Carolina used 73% shooting in the 1st half to claim a 96–68 victory over Oakland.http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000016 https://web.archive.org/web/20140524062031/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000016 dead May 24, 2014 Tar Heels shoot 73 percent in first half ESPN.com 18 March 2005 23 May 2014 In the 2nd round, Sean May dominated with a double-double with 24 points and 17 rebounds and Marvin Williams also dominated with a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds which led to UNC beating Iowa State for a chance to face Villanova in the Sweet 16http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000018 https://web.archive.org/web/20090108052606/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000018 dead January 8, 2009 Cyclones unable to stop May, Williams; Nova next for UNC ESPN.com 20 March 2005 23 May 2014 and North Carolina would hold off Villanova in the Sweet 16 beating them 67–66 to advance to the Elite Eight.http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000022 https://web.archive.org/web/20090108052644/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000022 dead January 8, 2009 Villanova's spirited surge in closing minutes falls short ESPN.com 25 March 2005 23 May 2014 In the Elite Eight, Sean May had a double-double with 29 points and 12 rebounds and Rashad McCants scored 21 points to beat Wisconsin 88–82 to advance to the Final Four.http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000030 https://web.archive.org/web/20140324062910/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000030 dead March 24, 2014 Tar Heels reach Final Four behind May, McCants ESPN.com 27 March 2005 23 May 2014 In the Final Four, North Carolina beat Michigan State 87–71 to advance to the title game .http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000062 https://web.archive.org/web/20090108052636/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000062 dead January 8, 2009 Tar Heels coach closer to elusive title ESPN.com 2 April 2005 23 May 2014 Team rosters + 2004-05 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball rosterNo.NamePositionHeightWeightClass 4 Luther Head G 6-3 185 Sr. 5 Deron Williams G 6-3 210 Jr. 11 Dee Brown G 6-0 185 Jr. 15 Calvin Brock G 6-4 185 Fr. 33 Rich McBride G 6- 215 So. 34 Fred Nkemdi F 6-5 235 Sr. 40 James Augustine F 6-10 230 Jr. 41 Warren Carter F 6-9 210 So. 42 Brian Randle F 6-7 210 So. 43 Roger Powell, Jr. F 6-6 235 Sr. 44 Marcus Arnold F 6-8 250 Jr. 45 Nick Smith C 7-2 250 Redshirt Sr. 50 Jack Ingram F/C 6-10 245 Redshirt Sr. 55 Shaun Pruitt F 6-8 245 Fr. Reference: Matt Bowers Illinois 2004–05 Men's Basketball Chapel Hill, NC UNC Athletic Communications Office 2004 The Fighting Illini 55 https://archive.org/details/illinoisbasket200405univ/page/54/mode/2up Internet Archive + 2004-05 North Carolina Tar Heels rosterNo.NamePositionHeightWeightClass 0 Jesse Holley G 6-3 190 So. 1 Melvin Scott G 6-2 190 Sr. 2 Raymond Felton G 6-1 198 Jr. 3 Reyshawn Terry F 6-8 214 So. 5 Jackie Manuel G/F 6-5 189 Sr. 11 Quentin Thomas G 6-3 175 Fr. 15 Charlie Everett F 6-3 210 Sr. 21 Jawad Williams F 6-9 218 Sr. 22 Wes Miller G 5-11 185 So. 24 Marvin Williams F 6-9 230 Fr. 25 Damion Grant C 6-11 267 Jr. 32 Rashad McCants F/G 6-4 207 Jr. 34 David Noel F 6-6 224 Jr. 35 C.J. Hooker F 6-2 188 Sr. 41 Byron Sanders C 6-9 230 Jr. 42 Sean May F/C 6-9 266 Jr. Reference: Matt Bowers Carolina 2004-05 Tar Heel Basketball Chapel Hill, NC UNC Athletic Communications Office 2004 2004-05 Season 5–6 https://archive.org/details/uncbasketballblu20042005/page/5/mode/1up Internet Archive Starting lineups North Carolina Position Illinois Jackie Manuel G Deron Williams Raymond Felton G † Dee Brown Jawad Williams F Roger Powell Jr. Rashad McCants F James Augustine Sean May F Luther Head† 2005 Consensus First Team All-American SourceNorth Carolina vs. Illinois Box Score (Men), April 4, 2005 https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2005-04-04-illinois.html Sports Reference 29 March 2023 Game summary #e3e3e3 April 4, 2005 Recap #SY1 North Carolina Tar Heels 75 #CH1 Illinois Fighting Illini 70 40-27 35-43 Sean May 26 Sean May 10 Raymond Felton 7 Luther Head 21 Roger Powell Jr. 14 Deron Williams, Dee Brown 7 Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri 47, 262 CBS North Carolina was playing looking for its 4th National Championship while Illinois was playing in its first National Championship. It was a tight contest for much of the first half before an 8–0 run by North Carolina allowed them to take a 35–25 lead. Eventually they would take a 40–27 lead into halftime. North Carolina increased its lead to 15 at one point in the second half. But Illinois began a furious charge. At one point, they would hit seven consecutive shots from the floor to turn a fifteen-point lead back to four. Unfazed, North Carolina would push the lead back up to ten before a 10–0 run by the Illini tied the game at 65-65. Illinois would tie the game at 70–70 on a three by Luther Head. But North Carolina would fight back as freshman Marvin Williams tapped back a Rashad McCants missed shot to put North Carolina back in front. Illinois would get several cracks to take the lead but were unable to convert. Eventually, Raymond Felton was able to steal the ball from Luther Head, forcing Deron Williams to foul. However Felton converted on 1 of 2 free throws giving Illinois one last chance. Head's potential game-tying three pointer bounced high and out and went into the hands of Felton who this time connected on both free throws to give North Carolina a 75–70 victory. Illinois struggled offensively with what had succeeded the rest of the season, converting only 12 of a championship game record 40 three-point field goal attempts. With his stellar post play, North Carolina forward Sean May managed to get Illinois defenders into foul trouble; starting junior forward/center James Augustine fouled out, and his substitute, senior Jack Ingram, quickly amassed four fouls. May scored 26 points as he took the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the Final Four. For North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, it was his first national championship. Illinois was denied a chance to set the NCAA record for most wins in a season, instead tying the 1998–99 national runner-up Duke team with 37 (Kentucky has since won 38 games in two different seasons). For almost the entire 2004–05 season, Illinois and North Carolina were ranked #1 and #2, respectively, in all polls, and both teams were the favorites to meet in the national championship game. With its collection of raw talent, North Carolina would go on to field six players in the NBA draft, while four Illinois players would be selected in future drafts, with undrafted Roger Powell, Jr. also playing briefly in the NBA. In 2014, Sports Illustrated voted the 2005 Illinois team as the best team ever to not win a title. References NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball championship games Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball Category:North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball Category:Basketball competitions in St. Louis Category:College basketball tournaments in Missouri NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game Category:2000s in St. Louis