UNC Tar Heels: Newly Crowned Champions: Who's Next in Line to Win It All?

The torch has been passed.

The Kansas Jayhawks no longer own the title of defending national champions. That honor now belongs to the Tar Heels of North Carolina.

The Tar Heels looked like the team that, earlier in the season, people thought may never lose, after running away from the Michigan State Spartans, 89-72, in the Spartans' home state.

UNC flexed its muscles in the first half, setting the record for the most points scored in the first half, 55, while point guard Ty Lawson tied a championship-game record with seven steals in the first half. He then broke the record in the second half.

Ty Lawson filled up his stat box, leading the team with 21 points while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out six assists, not to mention the eight steals. Wayne Ellington, the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, put up 19 points, which was closely followed by Tyler Hansbrough, who had 18 points and seven rebounds.

Even Ed Davis, who only played 14 minutes for UNC, put up big numbers for the Heels, scoring 11 points and pulling down eight rebounds.

Give the Spartans credit;  they did not back down or give up. Michigan State outscored the Tar Heels 38-34 in the second half and cut the lead to 13 in the second half after being down by 24 in the first. 

Michigan State just could not hold onto the ball, committing 21 turnovers, which resulted in 25 points for UNC.

Senior Goran Suton led the way for the Spartans with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Kalin Lucas also finished in double figures, scoring 14 points.

It hasn't even been 24 hours since a new champion was crowned and already we are looking ahead to next year to the potential candidates to win in Indianapolis. 

It will be very difficult for UNC to repeat. Danny Green and Tyler Hansbrough will graduate and there is probably a pretty good chance Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington will join them in the NBA. This could be a similar situation to Kansas last year, when all five starters went to the NBA after winning a championship.

Michigan State should be strong again next year with the return of Lucas and Raymar Morgan. 

I really think one of the teams that has to be a contender next year is Kansas.

Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich have emerged to become two of the best players, at their respective positions, in the country. Also, Tyshawn Taylor and Marcus and Markieff Morris now have a season under their belt and should improve in the offseason. Mario Little may finally be healthy and be the solid player that he has the potential to be.

Finally, should Xavier Henry decide to become a Jayhawk, it would make Kansas' talent level and depth that much greater.

The Jayhawks were a team that lost 80 percent of their scoring and still managed to win the regular-season Big 12 title and made a trip to the Sweet 16. Imagine what Kansas can do if everyone returns, since the young players have a year's experience playing together.