III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 133 

Congratulating the University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team 

for winning the 2016–2017 National Collegiate Athletic Association 

men’s basketball national championship. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 7, 2017 

Mr. BURR (for himself and Mr. TILLIS) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the University of North Carolina Tar Heels 

basketball team for winning the 2016–2017 National 

Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball national 

championship. 

Whereas, on April 3, 2017, the University of North Carolina 

defeated Gonzaga University by a score of 71 to 65 to 

win the 2016–2017 National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘NCAA’’) men’s 

basketball national championship; 

Whereas the University of North Carolina Tar Heels returned to the NCAA national championship just 1 year 

after a heartbreaking, last-second loss to Villanova University; 


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•SRES 133 IS 

Whereas the University of North Carolina Tar Heels were 

ranked sixth in the 2016–2017 preseason Associated 

Press and USA Today Coaches polls; 

Whereas the University of North Carolina Tar Heels finished 

the 2016–2017 season with— 

(1) a record of 33 wins and 7 losses; and 

(2) an Atlantic Coast Conference (referred to in this 

preamble as the ‘‘ACC’’) record of 14 wins and 4 losses; 

Whereas, for the 2016–2017 regular season, the University 

of North Carolina Tar Heels were the ACC champions 

for the 31st time, an ACC record; 

Whereas Justin Jackson was— 

(1) named 2016–2017 ACC Player of the Year; and 

(2) selected to the 2016–2017 ACC, Associated 

Press, National Association of Basketball Coaches, and 

the Sporting News All-America First Team; 

Whereas Joel Berry II was selected to the 2016–2017 ACC 

second team; 

Whereas Kennedy Meeks was selected to the 2016–2017 AllACC honorable mention team; 

Whereas the University of North Carolina Tar Heels were 

ranked third in the final NCAA rankings; 

Whereas the University of North Carolina Tar Heels— 

(1) beat Texas Southern University, the University 

of Arkansas, Butler University, and the University of 

Kentucky to win the South Region of the 2016–2017 

NCAA men’s basketball national championship; and 

(2) reached the Final Four for the 20th time, an 

NCAA record; 

Whereas Luke Maye, a former walk-on player, was named the 

South Regional Most Outstanding Player; 


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•SRES 133 IS 

Whereas the University of North Carolina defeated the University of Oregon to return to back-to-back national 

championships for the second time in the history of the 

University of North Carolina; 

Whereas seniors Nate Britt and Isaiah Hicks played in their 

151st game for the University of North Carolina; 

Whereas 76,168 fans attended the national championship 

game at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, 

Arizona; 

Whereas there were 11 ties and 12 lead changes throughout 

the national championship game; 

Whereas the University of North Carolina trailed Gonzaga 

University by 3 points at halftime; 

Whereas the University of North Carolina trailed Gonzaga 

University by 2 points with 1 minute and 53 seconds left 

to play in the game; 

Whereas the University of North Carolina held Gonzaga University scoreless over the final 1 minute and 53 seconds 

of the game, finishing on an 8 to 0 run; 

Whereas Joel Berry II— 

(1) fighting through dual ankle injuries— 

(A) scored 22 points; 

(B) gathered 3 rebounds; and 

(C) tallied 6 assists; and 

(2) was named the 2016–2017 NCAA men’s basketball championship Most Outstanding Player; 

Whereas Roy Williams— 

(1) coached in his 100th NCAA tournament game; 

(2) became the sixth coach in NCAA history to win 

3 national championships, surpassing Hall of Fame 


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•SRES 133 IS 

former University of North Carolina head coach Dean 

Smith; and 

(3) tied for fourth for the most national championship wins in NCAA history; and 

Whereas the 2016–2017 national championship was the sixth 

NCAA national championship in the history of the University of North Carolina, moving the University of 

North Carolina out of a tie with Duke University for sole 

possession of third most national championships in 

NCAA history: Now therefore be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the University of North Caro3 lina for winning the 2016–2017 National Collegiate 

4 Athletic Association men’s basketball national cham5 pionship; 

6 (2) recognizes the achievement of the players, 

7 coaches, students, and staff of the University of 

8 North Carolina whose perseverance and dedication 

9 to excellence helped propel the men’s basketball 

10 team to win the championship; and 

11 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

12 the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolu13 tion to— 

14 (A) the chancellor of the University of 

15 North Carolina, Carol L. Folt; 


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•SRES 133 IS 

1 (B) the athletic director of the University 

2 of North Carolina, Lawrence R. ‘‘Bubba’’ 

3 Cunningham; and 

4 (C) the head coach of the University of 

5 North Carolina men’s basketball team, Roy Wil6 liams. 

Æ 


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