Michigan Wolverines guard Trey Burke (3) walks off the court as the Louisville Cardinals celebrate defeating Michigan to win the NCAA men's Final Four championship basketball game in Atlanta, Georgia, April 8, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

'Getting a tattoo'

Louisville went into the championships as the number one seeds and stretched their winning streak to 16 games with Monday's victory under the guidance of Rick Pitino, who became the first coach to win NCAA titles at different universities after steering Kentucky to the 1996 title.

"For a young basketball team, to play that well is absolutely fantastic," Pitino said. "These guys ... they said if you win the national championship, 'Coach, you are getting a tattoo'. I said, 'Hell, yeah, I am getting a tattoo.'"

Michigan were making their first appearance in the final since 1993 when they were beaten by North Carolina after a bizarre ending to the game.

The Wolverines were trailing by two points with just 11 seconds to go when Michigan's Chris Webber called a time-out even though his team did not have any left, resulting in a technical foul that effectively ended his team's hopes of winning.

Michigan coach John Beilen thought his team did not perform the way they could have on Monday but paid tribute to the "terrific" Cardinals.

"We feel bad about it, we could have done some things better, every one of us," said Beilen.

"At the same time, Louisville is a terrific basketball team. I have not seen that quickness anywhere, it's incredible."