The 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game was the finals of the 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and it determined the national champion for the 2004-05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2005 National Title Game was played on April 4, 2005 at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri, The 2005 National Title Game was played between the 2005 Chicago Regional Champions, #1-seeded Illinois and the 2005 Syracuse Regional Champions, #1-seeded North Carolina.

For the 1st time since 1999, the national championship game was played between two #1 seeds.

North Carolina entered the 2005 NCAA Tournament as the #1 seed in the Syracuse Regional. In the 1st round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament, North Carolina used 73% shooting in the 1st half to claim a 96-68 victory over Oakland. In the 2nd round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament, Sean May dominated with a double-double with 24 points and 17 rebounds and Marvin Williams also dominated with a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds which led to UNC beating Iowa State for a chance to face Villanova in the Sweet 16 and North Carolina would hold off Villanova in the Sweet 16 beating them 67-66 to advance to the Elite Eight. In the Elite Eight, Sean May had a double-double with 29 points and 12 rebounds and Rashad McCants scored 21 points to beat Wisconsin 88-82 to advance to the 2005 Final Four. In the 2005 Final Four, North Carolina beat Michigan State 87-71 to advance to the 2005 National Title Game.

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