Final Four 2013: 10 things the national championship game taught us

The last hurrah of the 2012-13 college basketball season provided us with some history, some unlikely heroes and a lot of new knowledge about Rick Pitino. Let’s examine 10 things we learned from Louisville’s win over Michigan.

1. Rick Pitino Stands Alone

Louisville’s win means that Rick Pitino is now the first and only head coach in Division I to win a national championship at two different programs. Pitino’s only other title came in 1996 at Kentucky.

2. He’s Also Apparently Getting A Tattoo

Pitino dropped a bit of a bombshell while on stage with CBS’ Jim Nantz during the postgame trophy presentation.

“About 12 or 13 games ago, all of these guys, when they’d say hello, they’d say, ‘Get a tattoo,’” the newly-enshrined Naismith Hall of Famer said. “They said, ‘if you win the national championship, you are getting a tattoo.’ I said, ‘Hell yeah, I am getting a tattoo.’”

3. And He’s Terrified Of Fireworks

I’m terrible at determining when the grand finale has actually taken place, which leaves me doing this about twice a year. . . . I see fireworks shows about twice a year.

After scoring 21 points or more in each of Louisville’s first five NCAA Tournament games, Russ Smith delivered his worst performance of the postseason on Monday night. The junior guard missed 13 of his 16 field goal attempts, scored just nine points and made several key mistakes in the game’s closing minutes, which allowed Michigan to stay within striking distance. Still, Smith’s father says his son has accomplished all he needs to accomplish at the college level.

“When you go out, you want to go out with a national championship,” Smith Sr. said. “He’s got five rings: back-to-back Big East, back-to-back Final Four, national championship. What other way to go out?”

So that’s it?

“That’s it.”

He’s gone?

“He’s gone.”

Wooden Award winner Trey Burke has the type of fiery on-court attitude that leaves opposing fans saying things during the course of a game that they would never say to the young man’s face. Despite this, Burke showed his true colors on Monday night with a highly commendable tweet.

6. A Guy Named Spike Nearly Stole The Show

The Cardinals put the clamps down on Albrecht in the second half, allowing him to take just two more shots and score no more points.

The coolest.

Mouseover the GIF to make it play.

When the All-Final Four team was announced inside the Georgia Dome on Monday night, Most Outstanding Player Luke Hancock was one of only two players who didn’t have an animated graphic to accompany his recognition. That’s because the animated graphics are reserved for starters. I doubt it was much of a concern for Hancock, who became the first non-starter in the history of the Final Four to be named MOP.

9. There’s A New Final Four Attendance Record

An announced crowd of 74,326 watched Louisville defeat Michigan inside the Georgia Dome, a record for both the Final Four and a national championship game. Your move, Jerry World.

10. It’s Good To Be A No. 1 Seed

For a sport known for its capriciousness, college basketball has gotten awfully predictable in recent seasons. Louisville’s win over Michigan makes this the seventh time in nine years that a No. 1 seed has won the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals are also the second straight No. 1 overall seed to cut down the nets, joining their arch-rivals from Kentucky in pulling off the feat.

• Kevin Ware cuts down the nets

• Make it 3: Cardinals bring home title

• SB Nation presents One Whining Moment

• Luke Hancock wins Most Outstanding Player

• GIFs: Trey Burke’s awesome block (which was called a foul)