Baylor University trounced the previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs to take the NCAA Men's Basketball crown, making it to the top of 64 teams that started out in the month-long knockout tournament known as March Madness.
Baylor notched up 86 points to 70 points for Gonzaga, handing the Bulldogs their only loss of the season and joining the elite of U.S. college basketball.
Baylor coach Scott Drew led the team to the university's first national championship in strong form, dominating a Gonzaga squad aiming to complete the first perfect season since 1976. The Bears made 45% of their three-pointers. They won every individual matchup.
The big game even drew a tweet from U.S. President Joe Biden congratulating both teams.
"Congrats to the Baylor Bears on their National Championship - and to the Gonzaga Bulldogs on a great season. After an unimaginable year, every team in the tournament proved what's possible with hard work and determination. You made your schools, communities, and country proud."
A year after winning 23 games in a row and likely entering the NCAA tournament as a top seed, had the tournament not been canceled, Baylor brought back every key player who contributed to that run.
Although they started this season by winning their first 18 games, the Bears were mostly overshadowed by Gonzaga, which seemed capable of becoming the first team since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers, and the first team since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, to complete a perfect season.
