Tonight's NCAA championship game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Duke Blue Devils had the feeling of a great boxing match. One team throws a few jabs and gains the momentum, then the opponent comes roaring back to even the score. Just when you thought Duke had a comfortable lead in the first half, Wisconsin fought back to tie the game up at 31.
Early in the second half, the Badgers started strong and built a sizable margin on the Blue Devils. With Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow in foul trouble, head coach Mike Krzyzewski made a bold decision and sat both guys as the No. 1 seed out of the South region looked to make a comeback. Out of nowhere, Duke came clawing back, thanks to freshmen Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen, who scored a combined 39 of the team's 68 points.
With 7:29 remaining and the Blue Devils down by two, Jones made one clutch basket after another, scoring 10 of Duke's final 16 points. Even after Duke pulled ahead 66-58 with 1:24 remaining, the Badgers made a last ditch effort but overdribbling and indecisiveness proved to be their downfall as they failed to get create clean looks at the basket with time running out.
Following a stellar showing tonight, Jones became the fifth freshman to be named the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four. This victory gives Coach K his fifth National Title.
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