By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Men's college basketball will crown its national champion tonight (Monday) in St. Louis.
The game between Illinois and North Carolina will mark the first time in 30 years that the teams ranked first and second in the nation at the end of the regular season meet in the championship game.
It's Illinois' first appearance in a championship game. The Illini have only lost once this season; one more win would tonight would give them their 38th win. No men's college basketball team has ever won that many games in a season.
The Tar Heels of North Carolina will be going for their fourth national championship; their first since 19-93. But their coach, Roy Williams, is familiar with the Final Four. He was part of the national championship game just two years ago when he coached Kansas.
Tonight's game will be played at St. Louis's Edward Jones Dome.