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North Carolina Tar Heels: 2008 v 2009, Bracket Challenge

By John Woodcock

Jan 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Ed Davis (17) goes up for a shot during the first quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Ed Davis (17) goes up for a shot during the first quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Ed Davis (17) goes up for a shot during the first quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Ed Davis (17) goes up for a shot during the first quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

The North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket Challenge continues with Tyler Hansbrough versus Tyler Hansbrough.

The North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket Challenge continues today in the second round as the 2009 championship team takes on the 2008 team. This is a simulator game for sure, but it also one that suggests bending the rules. After all, the 2009 team IS the 2008 team, just with more support. That would not be any fun though, so we will play it just like we would play any other.

The biggest difference between the 2009 and 2008 teams are the boatload of freshmen that joined the roster. The biggest addition was forward Ed Davis, who would become the team’s key sixth man by the end of the season. However the team also added Tyler Zeller, Larry Drew II, and Justin Watts to the mix. Zeller would be slowed by an injury suffered in Maui, and Drew would see time in a deep point guard rotation.

The 2008 team had Quentin Thomas as a senior and Alex Stepheson before he transferred out to Southern California. Thomas saw plenty of time when Bobby Frasor went down with injury.

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The 2009 was the last shot of the Tyler Hansbrough nucleus to win the title. Hansbrough had won Player of the Year the year before, so individual honors did not need to be a focus for him. Danny Green and Bobby Frasor were also playing their senior seasons with Green having flirted with the pros the year before. An injury to Marcus Ginyard elevated Green to full time starter.

That strong senior class had also had a good junior class right behind it. Like Green, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson had also flirted with the NBA Draft. Lawson in particular showed himself to be a dominant player as the year went on. He overcome health issues to almost single-handedly defeat LSU in the round of thirty-two that year.

The Tar Heels had a largely comfortable run through the tournament, winning every game by ten points or more. That included showdowns with Blake Griffin and Oklahoma and the Villanova Wildcats. They finished by running Michigan State out of the gym in the Championship Game in Detroit.

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