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Let’s compare UConn to the 2009 Tar Heels, shall we?
Connecticut’s newest national champs broke Carolina’s record for average margin of victory in six NCAA tournament games. The Huskies beat their opponents by 140 points or an average of 23-plus points. In 2009, UNC won its six games by 121 points or an average of 20-plus points.
BUT, there are several “buts” that show Roy Williams’ second national champions were a better team than Danny Hurley’s.
UConn finished the 2024 season with a 37-3 record (18-2 in the Big East). Carolina, 2009, was 34-4 (13-3 in the ACC), entered the NCAA tournament ranked No. 2 and finished at No. 1 after stripping the nets in Detroit.
BUT, the Huskies had an easier road to and through the Final Four than did the Heels.
UConn played four ranked teams in the most recent Big Dance – No. 24 San Diego State, No. 10 Illinois, No. 19 Alabama and No. 3 Purdue for the title. That’s an average ranking of 14th.
The Heels of Hansborough defeated No. 21 LSU, No. 10 Gonzaga, No. 7 Oklahoma, N. 11 Villanova and No. 8 Michigan State for the NCAA crown, an average ranking of 11th, three higher than this UConn team.
Statistics show that Carolina put a better team on the floor, with senior All-American Tyler Hansbrough, junior ACC Player of the Year Ty Lawson; All-ACC guards Wayne Ellington and Danny Green plus junior Deon Thompson. Two seniors and three juniors.
Connecticut started a pair of All-Big East seniors Triston Newton and Cam Spencer, two sophomores up front, All-Big East honorable mention center Donovan Clingan and forward Alex Karaban. Plus All-Big East freshman swingman Stephon Castle. The Huskies aggregate scoring average for those five is way under UNC’s for 2009.
Both teams were obviously great, both went to back-to-back Final Fours and UConn won consecutive NCAA championships.
BUT, Carolina’s 2009 team was better, in my humble opinion.
Featured image via Todd Melet
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
There is no doubt that 2009 was better! And it’s a good thing Ty Lawson played more than 13 minutes and their best, most athletic defensive player played more than 11 minutes in the tournament games.
Are you applying for a coaching job? Ever participate as a player or coach?
I cannot say that Coaches decision was the right one, but at least I understand why he did what he did. We lost, so you can make any claim you want that the game would have been won had the coach followed your hindsight advice. OTOH, perhaps we would have lost by more than 2 points given the team we were playing and the physical nature of their guards.
I don’t know. Neither do you. We lost by 2 points to a pretty darn good basketball team that was probably playing their best of the year.
It’s not really even close. Carolina 2009 is the best BB team in history.