The University of North Carolina Press is touting the home team in a new book commemorating the victory of the UNC Tar Heels in the 2017 NCAA championship over Gonzaga University.
Redemption: Carolina Basketball's 2017 Journey from Heartbreak to History by Adam Lucas, Steve Kirschner, and Matt Bowers, will be published in hardcover in September. According to the publisher, the book will offer "a behind-the-scenes look at the Tar Heels’ ride to the 2017 national title." Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams is writing the book's foreword.
“The opportunity to help tell one of the great stories in Carolina Basketball history—or in sports history—is truly a privilege," Lucas said. "The emotional investment put into the 2016-17 season by the players and coaches involved will make for a very special book.”
That a university press is releasing a glossy commemorative book is unusual, as these titles are often released by larger houses. Underscoring the importance of the title for the publisher, UNC Press will distribute the book worldwide through its distributor, Longleaf Services.
UNC Press director of publicity Gina Mahalek said the press's decision to handle its own global distribution was a strategic one. She explained that the press will "act as a distributor for some projects and institutions to increase particular titles’ availability and visibility to the trade."
The UNC Tar Heels lost last year's NCAA championship game in dramatic fashion as the Villanova Wildcats scored a three-pointer in the waning seconds of the game to take home the trophy. This year's victory in the tournament gave UNC its sixth national title.
"I will always remember how much sweat and hard work the players put into having a championship season," Williams said. "Last year, the feeling I had after the game was the most inadequate I’ve ever had as a head coach. This year, my feeling is one of appreciation for the effort they gave and the commitment they made to be national champions.”
