Much has changed over the first 55 seasons of ACC basketball.
Coaches. Players. Arenas. Television. Ticket prices. Haircuts. Fashion statements. Uniforms. Technology. Heck, even some of the most basic rules (think shot clock, 3-pointers) are different now.
But here's one thing that hasn't changed, from North Carolina's run to the NCAA championship in 1957, through N.C. State's national titles in 1974 and 1983, through Duke's banners in 1991, 1992 and 2001, and through UNC's more recent titles in 1982, 1993 and 2005:
If you want to build a national champion, you'd better develop a reliable, ball-handling, experienced, tough-minded point guard, and you'd better find an extremely productive low-post player to go with him. Those two things don't guarantee anything, but they typically give a team a chance at great things. If you can add two or three more players capable of putting the ball in the basket, then you're really onto something.
Why is UNC in the Final Four this year?
Start with national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough, who's listed as a forward but functions as a center for the Tar Heels. Continue with point guard Ty Lawson, whose inspired play since returning from an ankle injury has the Heels at their peak performance at exactly the right time.
UNC coach Roy Williams has run out of superlatives to describe Hansbrough. Louisville coach Rick Pitino also found himself searching for the right words after Hansbrough (28 points, 13 rebounds) led the Tar Heels to an 83-73 victory over the Cardinals in the Elite Eight.
"I haven't seen a guy play every possession like that for a long time," Pitino said. "He made two shots that you prayed they were going to take. I was following the flight of the ball. He couldn't even see the basket. That's what an All-American does."
Washington State coach Tony Bennett, a former NBA point guard, said it was less complicated to prepare for Hansbrough than it was to prepare for Lawson when the Cougars faced UNC in the Sweet 16. The Tar Heels advanced with a 68-47 victory.
"(Lawson) showed why he's thought of as a big-league guard," Bennett said. "We worked so hard preparing for (him) and sprinting back and trying to build a wall. But you can't mimic that (speed) in practice. You know, his ability to change directions and use his strength."
Beyond point guard and the post, this UNC team has plenty of "other stuff" on its side. Wings Wayne Ellington and Danny Green are dangerous 3-point threats and double-figure scorers. Beyond Hansbrough, very few ACC big men were better at catching and scoring in the post than Deon Thompson. Marcus Ginyard is a defensive stopper, a dangerous offensive rebounder, and an exceptional leader.
But it all begins for the Tar Heels with Hansbrough and Lawson. History suggests that's a good thing for UNC.
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The ACC's National Champions
1957 North Carolina
Post: senior Len Rosenbluth (All-American), 28.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg.
Point: junior Tommy Kearns (All-American), 12.8 ppg.
Others: junior forward Pete Brennan (14.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg), junior center Joe Quigg (10.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg), junior forward Bob Cunningham (7.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg).
1974 N.C. State
Post: senior Tommy Burleson (All-American), 18.1 ppg, 12.2 rpg.
Point: junior Monte Towe (All-American), 12.8 ppg.
Others: All-American junior forward David Thompson (26 ppg, 7.9 rpg), junior guard Mo Rivers (12.1 ppg), sophomore forward Phil Spence (6 ppg, 6.3 rpg).
1982 North Carolina
Post: sophomore Sam Perkins (All-American), 14.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg.
Point: senior Jimmy Black, 7.6 ppg.
Others: All-American junior forward James Worthy (15.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg), freshman guard Michael Jordan (13.5 ppg), sophomore forward Matt Doherty (9.3 ppg, 3 rpg).
1983 N.C. State
Post: senior Thurl Bailey (first-team All-ACC), 16.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg.
Point: senior Sidney Lowe (first-team All-ACC), 11.3 ppg.
Others: senior guard Dereck Whittenburg (17.5 ppg), freshman guard Ernie Myers (11.2 ppg), sophomore forward Lorenzo Charles (8.1 ppg, 6 rpg).
1991 Duke
Post: junior Christian Laettner (All-American), 19.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg.
Point: sophomore Bobby Hurley (third-team All-ACC), 11.3 ppg.
Others: sophomore guard Thomas Hill (11.5 ppg), freshman forward Grant Hill (11.2 ppg), sophomore guard Billy McCaffrey (11.6 ppg).
1992 Duke
Post: senior Christian Laettner (All-American), 21.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg.
Point: junior Bobby Hurley (All-American), 13.2 ppg.
Others: All-American sophomore forward Grant Hill (14 ppg), junior guard Thomas Hill (14.6 ppg), senior forward Brian Davis (11.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg).
1993 North Carolina
Post: junior Eric Montross (All-American), 15.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg.
Point: junior Derrick Phelps, 8.1 ppg.
Others: senior forward George Lynch (14.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg), sophomore guard Donald Williams (14.3 ppg), junior forward Brian Reese (11.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg).
2001 Duke
Post: sophomore Carlos Boozer, 13.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg.
Point: sophomore Jason Williams (All-American), 21.6 ppg.
Others: All-American senior forward Shane Battier (19.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg), sophomore forward Mike Dunleavy (12.6 ppg), senior forward Nate James (12.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg).
2002 Maryland
Post: senior Lonny Baxter (All-American), 15.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg.
Point: junior Steve Blake (third-team All-ACC), 8 ppg.
Others: All-American senior guard Juan Dixon (20.4 ppg), sophomore forward Chris Wilcox (12 ppg, 7.1 rpg), senior forward Byron Mouton (11.1 ppg, 5 rpg).
2005 North Carolina
Post: junior Sean May (All-American), 17.5 ppg, 10.7 rpg.
Point: junior Raymond Felton (All-American), 12.9 ppg.
Others: junior guard Rashad McCants (16 ppg), senior forward Jawad Williams (13.1 ppg, 4 rpg), freshman forward Marvin Williams (11.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg).
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April 16, 2008 10:33 p.m.
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