Thoughts on UNC All-Decade Team 2005-2014

- As is no surprise from a perennial power and two-time national champion during this span, UNC basically has two first teams.  Danny Green is the only non-first round pick among the two starting squads - and I think he's been doing pretty well for himself lately.  In fact, that brings up another important "rule" of the game.  The selections are based on college success only, specifically, in the year chosen.  The fact that someone, like Green, goes on to NBA-success is not directly considered, however, it can sort of confirm a selection if, for instance, the biggest question mark about a player was his athleticism or lack of high competition in college.  In other words, Jimmer Fredette's selection has not been confirmed yet.

- You could basically make a case for completely reversing the 1st and 2nd team backcourts.  But I went with Lawson over Felton as a matter of personal preference.  And though McCants and Barnes may have been more talented than Ellington and Green, the pair from 2009 simply continued to produce at a high level all the way through their championship runs.  McCants may have had the potential to be a better player than Ellington, but Ellington might be the perfect Roy Williams wing: athleticism, hustle, terrific shooter, didn't need the ball in his hands a lot to get shots.  McCants could also shoot the 3, and showed freakish strength and athleticism for his size, but he really didn't display it down the stretch in 2005 when he was a clear 3rd option behind Felton and May.   Barnes also faltered down the stretch in the tourney, essentially reverting back to his pre-Kendall Marshall levels of inefficiency after - shocker - Marshall went down.

- I was tempted to pair May with Henson on the first team.  The idea of the low post force May paired with the all time great defender Henson - who tended to float around a bit more offensively anyways - was enticing.  But to leave Hansbrough off the 1st team just isn't right, even if he was sort of a 1st (or 2nd?) among equals on the 2009 championship team.

- 3rd team and honorable mention bigs.  Don't forget how good Brandan Wright was.  From day one he was a dominant long-armed shot blocker and efficient scorer with a nice touch around the basket.  And he wasn't as skinny as Davis or Henson.  He would have been a monster if he stayed for a second season.  Davis is sort of a poor man's version of Wright, but he was too talented - even playing on the dreadful 2010 team - to not make 3rd team.  After that you could make a case for Noel, M. Williams, J. Williams or Thompson to make HM.

- Kendall Marshall and Kennedy Meeks - 3rd team here, 1st team in my heart.

- Leslie McDonald makes it as a sophomore (pre-ACL) tear.  He seemed a step slow and didn't shoot nearly as well last year, although admittedly he wasn't playing with as good a team.  Larry Drew makes it as a sophomore as well because, well, c'mon, he quit the fucking team halfway through his junior year.  Wes Miller and Bobby Frasor make it as seniors even though they were both more productive statistically when they started in 2006.