In college basketball, there is more than one road to the top of the mountain, more than one way to capture the national championship.

Throughout the long, proud history of North Carolina basketball, though, all six of its NCAA title teams followed a similar path in at least one regard: seniors and juniors led the way.

When the NBA stopped high school players from going directly to The League in 2006, it inadvertently created at the college level what became known as the one-and-done era.

Indeed, two of the last 10 national champions — Kentucky in 2012 and Duke in 2015 — won those national titles largely on the shoulders of extremely talented freshmen who spent only one season on their college campuses.

Historically speaking, UNC has captured its six NCAA titles in a polar opposite fashion. Just at the point guard position, for example, the Tar Heels were led by senior Tommy Kearns in 1957, senior Jimmy Black in 1982, junior Derrick Phelps in 1993, junior Raymond Felton in 2005, junior Ty Lawson in 2009 and junior Joel Berry in 2017.

Even Carolina’s four most recent national champions, in 1993 under Dean Smith and in 2005, 2009 and 2017 under Roy Williams, were overflowing with experience at virtually every position.

UNC’s eight-man rotation in 1993 had two seniors, five juniors and a sophomore.

UNC’s eight-man rotation in 2005 had three seniors, four juniors and a freshman.

UNC’s top seven players in 2009 included three seniors, three juniors and a freshman.

UNC’s top eight players in 2017 included three seniors, three juniors, a sophomore and a freshman.

Those are all extraordinarily experienced playing rotations.

Thanks to some recent run-it-back announcements, of course, next year’s Tar Heels will be overflowing with experience, too. One possible starting lineup is junior point guard RJ Davis, junior wing guard Caleb Love, fifth-year senior forward Leaky Black, junior forward Puff Johnson and senior center Armando Bacot.

Carolina’s four returning starters collectively have been in the starting lineup for more than 300 games during their time with the Tar Heels.

Such veteran talent and leadership doesn’t guarantee anything, of course, but it sure does put these Tar Heels on a fascinating path and in some pretty good company.

 

Photo via Todd Melet.

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