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North Carolina and Villanova arrive at critical stages in their programs

HOUSTON -- After the confetti falls from the rafters a mile above the court, after the trophy is presented and the hats and T-shirts are distributed, the new national champions will gather together, loop their arms around each other's shoulders and gaze at the big screen to watch "One Shining Moment."

But for Villanova and North Carolina, this title game isn't about a shining moment.

It's about a defining one.

That seems obvious. What national championship doesn't validate the winner?

This goes deeper than that. From two diametrically opposed directions, the Wildcats and the Tar Heels have arrived at, if not a crossroads, at least a critical juncture for their programs.