North Carolina on way to NCAA title game after beating Syracuse 83-66

As Roy Williams left the court at halftime with his North Carolina Tar Heels leading Syracuse by 11, some Orange fan issued a warning.

“ ‘Hey, Williams, you remember, 2003 don’t you?’ ”

That was a reference to Syracuse’s victory over the Williams-coached Kansas team in the NCAA title game.

That outcome would not be revisited. The Tar Heels ran away from Syracuse 83-66 on Saturday and will meet Villanova on Monday night in the NCAA Tournament title game.

“I was looking for them after the game,” Williams said. “I didn’t see them.”

Probably not included in that fan group was vice president Joe Biden, a 1968 Syracuse law school grad. He took in the game and was happy to see the Orange hang with North Carolina early. He could be seen mouthing “bingo” after a Syracuse three-pointer fell.

But there will be no championship game for Syracuse and Biden. North Carolina found itself superior in nearly category except one. The Tar Heels couldn’t knock down three-pointers. They missed their first 12.

But the Tar Heels were terrific inside the arc against the Syracuse zone, scoring nearly at will in the paint. And as the game progressed they asserted themselves on the boards and played terrific defense.

Both semifinals finished decisively after Villanova’s Final Four-record 44-point victory over Oklahoma. Will that assure a close game on Monday night?

Williams didn’t want to talk about it and referenced former Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer in the postgame.

“He a good friend of mine and he used to say (after victories) enjoy the heck out of it until midnight,” Williams said. “I haven’t thought about (Villanova).”

Syracuse couldn’t summon the magic it used to overcome a 16-point deficit in the Midwest Region final last week and stun Virginia.

There were a couple of flourishes where the Orange forced a turnover or two and converted in transition. But it didn’t happen often enough.

The Orange cut a 16 point deficit to 57-50 with 9:48 remaining. But Marcus Paige buried the Tar Heels’ first three-pointer, and moments later Theo Pinson made one from deep and the margin needle returned to the comfort side.

Syracuse was getting inspired play from guard Trevor Cooney, who finished with 22 points. But North Carolina had enough answers, especially when it started connecting on three-pointers.

“We needed our press to work, our traps to work, but it’s hard to turn over North Carolina,” Cooney said.

Or as coach Jim Boeheim assessed the risk: “If I’m on top of the Empire State Building, I don’t have to jump to know it’ll hurt.”

Syracuse also could have used better free-throw shooting. The Orange went 4 of 13 from the stripe.

The outcome ended a Syracuse season that looked doomed at several junctures this season. The team went 4-5 during Boeheim’s nine-game suspension for NCAA violations.

When it appeared Syracuse had righted the ship, it limped through the final couple of weeks of the regular season, losing five of six, including its first ACC Tournament game.

There was no assurance the Orange would be invited to the NCAA Tournament with a 19-13 record. But it was awarded a No. 10 seed and knocked off Dayton in its opener.

Syracuse then caught a huge break, meeting Middle Tennessee State instead of Michigan State in the second round. It pulled off comeback victories over Gonzaga and Virginia to reach its first Final Four since 2013.

Boeheim was disappointed with the loss, but when the 40-year head-coaching veteran was asked about retirement he bristled.

“Why do you keep asking me that,” Boeheim said. “I’m happier now than any time I ever coached.”

Boeheim said to ask Williams the same question, and Williams heard him while waiting to address the media. When it was his turn, and before he took a question, Williams had a message.

“Don’t ask me that stupid question either,” Williams said.

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 10:11 PM.