The smell of smoke is a good thing on Franklin Street. It smells like victory.
Moments after the last few seconds ticked off the clock in North Carolina’s 77-76 win over Oregon in the Final Four in Phoenix, UNC fans in the bars in Chapel Hill emptied into the street, and met with a roar at Franklin and Columbia. With chants and small fires, hundreds of the Tar Heel faithful celebrated their second year playing the last game of the season. UNC will meet Gonzaga Monday night in the NCAA tournament final, a clash with the highest stakes between one of college basketball’s most storied programs and one of its nouveau blue bloods.