NCAA Basketball: Top 10 programs that can be called ‘Big Man U’
By Amaar Burton
5. NCAA Basketball “Big Man U” programs – North Carolina Tar Heels
Five of UNC’s six NCAA Tournament championships — and all five of their titles in the modern era — have been built on the shoulders of a standout big man.
In 1982, it was Sam Perkins, a sophomore All-America at the time who finished his career as the Tar Heels’ all-time leading rebounder and shot-blocker. James Worthy was the leading scorer and Michael Jordan hit the game-winner in the national title game, but Perkins was the rock in the middle as they took down Ed Pinckney’s Villanova and Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown squads on the way to the championship.
In 1993, it was Eric Montross, an All-America center and the team’s leading scorer with 15.8 points per game. After helping UNC edge Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, and Michigan “Fab Five” in the national title game, the 7-foot Montross went on to be a top-10 NBA pick.
In 2005, it was Sean May, an All-America center and Final Four MOP when UNC beat Illinois for the national title. May was the Tar Heels’ leading scorer and rebounder that season with 17.5 points and 10.7 boards per game. He posted 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting with 10 rebounds in the championship game.
In 2009, it was Tyler Hansbrough, consensus national player of the year and ACC tournament MVP as a junior who came back as a senior to earn All-America honors in 2009 and lead the Tar Heels over Michigan State for the championship. Hansbrough averaged with 20.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game that year. Hansbrough was All-America in each of his four college seasons, three times a consensus first-team pick.
In 2017, it was Kennedy Meeks, who broke Hansbrough’s UNC school record for most rebounds in an NCAA Tournament. Meeks averaged 9.5 rebounds to go with 12.5 points per game during the season, and in the national semifinal win over Oregon, he put up 25 points and 14 rebounds for a team whose calling card was owning the offensive glass. Meeks also had 17 rebounds in UNC’s Elite Eight win over Kentucky, and 10 boards in the championship game against Gonzaga.
Meanwhile, the list of UNC big men who didn’t win a national championship is even more impressive.
Brad Daugherty was the No. 1 pick in the 1986 draft. Bob McAdoo led the NBA in scoring three times and was league MVP in 1975. Antawn Jamison was college basketball’s Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and ACC Tournament MVP in 1998. Rasheed Wallace was a four-time NBA All-Star.
Other notables: Brice Johnson, Tyler Zeller, Luke Maye, Mitch Kupchak, J.R. Reid, John Henson, Brandan Wright