University of North Carolina Tarheels Deserving of Number 1 Ranking?

The University of North Carolina Tarheels have been ranked number 1 in basketball for much of the season. Has this ranking been justified by play on the court and by performance statistics?

Following two closely played games in the first two rounds of the ACC tournament against Florida State and Virginia Tech in which the Tarheels struggled mightily to win some have questioned whether Roy Williams' team is currently the best in the nation. Many observers of the Virginia Tech game thought that the better team that night lost the game as Virginia Tech outplayed and out hustled the Tarheels for the first 35 minutes only to falter in the closing minutes to Tyler Hansbrough's refusal to lose.

There is no question that the tarheels did not play their best basketball against either Virginia Tech or Florida State, but true to one trait common to all championship teams they refused to lose and played well enough to win. In tournament championship the tarheels played more like a number team as they slugged it out with a very talented and very inspired Clemson team.

Looking back over the season does the performance of this team justify the number 1 ranking in the nation?

Let's look at the numbers:

With today's completion of the ACC tournament in Charlotte the tarheels emerge as the undisputed conference champion, completing the season with a 14-2 conference record and 32-2 overall. Both of the tarheel losses came to in conference teams including a 80-82 loss to Maryland and a 78-89 loss to Duke, teams the tarheels also defeated in secondary meetings.

There were no losses outside the conference in a schedule that included victories over Ohio State and Kentucky, but also included some very close wins over Virginia (75-74) and Georgia Tech (83-82) and even tiny Davidson College (72-68)

National statistics indicate that the tarheels lead the nation in scoring offense with 2930 season points (88.8/game) and in made field goals with 1049 (48.2%) as well as free throws made with 648 (75.9%). The Tarheels rank second nationally in rebounds with 1454 (44.4/game). While not ranked in the number of 3 point shots made the tarheels are among the top teams in 3 point shooting percentages with 36.5%. (Sports writers have noted with a Tyler Hansbrough inside, there is little need to shoot 3 pointers).

Overall team per game statistics are solid throughout:

Points/game - 88.8
Rebounds/game - 44.1
Assists/game - 16.8
Turnovers/game - 14.5
Steals/game - 8.3
Blocks/game - 4.6
Field goal % - 48.2
Free throw % - 75.9

In these eight categories the tarheels rank first in three (Field goal %, Scoring offense and Free throws %) and second in rebounds per game.

In addition to team statistics the tarheels benefit from a well balanced starting five with 4 of the 5 averaging double figures and a combined scoring average of 14.4 points, an average field goal percentage of 49.0% and an average of 27.2 rebounds per game.

Three of the starting five are called upon for three point shooting, the three averaging 38% for the year.

In addition to the above the tarheels have a deep and talented bench and lose little when substituting 4 deep. Consider the field goal percentages of the tarheels second five players which are 45.1%, 49.5%,56.7%,41.4% and 66.7%.

Certainly the season long statistics of the tarheels indicate the performance of a championship team, perhaps even a number one ranked national team. There is however an unmeasurable factor that every National Championship Team always seems to have and that is a player who through effort and unwavering performance distinguished himself and his team and becomes the National Player of the Year. In Tyler Hansbrough the tarheels have just such a player.

Hansbrough Season Statistics:

Points/game - 23.1
Rebounds/game - 10.3
Field Goal % - 53.9
Free throw % - 81.7

Based on performance and team talent the tarheels deserve their national ranking of number 1. Now comes the opportunity to prove it as they enter the NCAA competition for the National Championship.