The BIAH Advent Calendar: Day 25

Yup, it is December. And as the temperatures outside drop, the heat is rising on college campuses across the country as basketball season kicks into full swing. But December is also a time to reflect on the past year. This December is special, because as we draw closer to the new year, we get closer to the end of the aughts. In the spirit of the holidays, we are going to celebrate the decade past by counting down the top 25 games, players, and teams of the last 10 years with the BIAH advent calender. Each day, we will be unveiling the next on each of our lists, culminating with our gift to you on Christmas Day: the best game, the best player, and the best team of the 2000's.

Here is No. 1:


2009 UConn vs. Syracuse: Six overtimes. 127-117. Big East Tournament. Madison Square Garden. Buzzer beaters. Shots overturned. Syracuse. UConn. I was lucky enough to be at the Garden for this game, and I can honestly tell you that I've never been in an environment as electric as the Garden was that night.

More than anything, my lasting memory of that game will be how tired I was that night. I know, I know, I shouldn't complain. Jonny Flynn played 67 minutes, and the next night played another overtime game. But I think anyone that was at the game can agree with me - when you left that arena, you were emotionally drained, physically exhausted from jumping up and down, and completely hoarse. Anyway, I can ramble on and on and on about this epic, but I already did right here.

So read that and watch this video:




Tyler Hansbrough, UNC: Hansbrough was not the most talented player of the decade. He wasn't successful simply because of his raw ability and natural talent. No, Psycho T was just a big, strong kid with a nice touch on his jumper and some good post moves that simply out worked everyone else on the court.

And it paid off. All you have to do is look at his hardware. In 2006, Hansbrough averaged 18.9 ppg and 7.8 rpg as he won national freshman of the year, was a second team all-american, and became the first freshman unanimously selected to the all-ACC first team. As a sophomore, his numbers took a bit of a hit as the Tar Heels added a talented recruiting class, but Hansbrough still managed to averaged 18.4 ppg and 7.9 rpg as UNC won the 2007 ACC regular season and tournament titles before earning a #1 seed and advancing to the Elite 8. Hansbrough was once again a unanimous first team all-ACC selection (the first person to ever do that four times) and first team all-american.

Hansbrough was all-ACC first team four times, all-american four times (three first-teams), made two Final Fours, and won a national title and a national player of the year award.
(photo credit: SI)

Hansbrough's best season was his junior year. He averaged 22.6 ppg and 10.2 rpg while leading UNC to a 29-2 regular season record, the ACC regular season and tournament titles, and to a Final Four. Hansbrough would be voted the. consensus national player of the year. As a senior, Hansbrough battled a stress reaction early in the season, but still managed to come back and average 20.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg while leading a potent UNC attack to a national title. Hansbrough would once again be named first team all american. Hansbrough graduated as the ACC's all-time leading scorer.


2009 UNC Tar Heels: This team was very close to not happening. After the 2008 Final Four, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green all toyed with the idea of entering the NBA Draft. But Green was dealing with injuries and pulled out, Lawson withdrew his name because of a controvesy over a DUI he had gotten, and Ellington simply wasn't ready for the league.

Combine that with Hansbrough's decision to return to school, and the Heels had a team that everyone picked to win the title in the preseason. Using a high-powered offense sparked by Lawson's ability to get the ball out in transition, the Heels did just that, winning the 2009 national title while beating every tournament opponent by double digits.



Lawson was named ACC player of the year and a second team all-american while Hansbrough was named to the first-team. All four players that decided to come back forin the '08-'09 season ended up making the NBA.


No. 2: Illinois v. Arizona, JJ Redick, Duke's 2001 team
No. 3: Gonzaga v. Michigan State and Gonzaga v. UConn, Adam Morrison, Florida's 2007 team
No. 4: Duke v. Maryland, Shane Battier, UNC's 2005 team
No. 5: Michigan State v. Kentucky, Jay Williams, UConn's 2004 team
No. 6: UConn v. George Mason, Emeka Okafor, Illinois's 2005 team
No. 7: Oklahoma State v. Texas, Carmelo Anthony, Michigan State's 2000 team
No. 8: UCLA v. Gonzaga, Jameer Nelson, Maryland's 2002 team
No. 9: Barton v. Winona State, Blake Griffin, St. Joseph's 2004 team
No. 10: West Virginia v. Wake Forest, Juan Dixon, Kansas's 2008 team
No. 11: Kansas v. Memphis, TJ Ford, Syracuse's 2003 team
No. 12: West Virginia v. Louisville, Stephen Curry, and UCLA's 2008 team
No. 13: Gonzaga v. Arizona, Kevin Durant, and Florida's 2006 Team
No. 14: UConn v. Duke, Joakim Noah, and Duke's 2002 team
No. 15: Oklahoma State v. St. Joe's, Chris Paul, and UConn's 2006 team
No. 16: Gonzaga v. Oklahoma State, Ty Lawson, and Kentucky's 2003 team
No. 17: Duke v. Maryland in the 2001 Final Four, Deron Williams, and Gonzaga's 2006 team
No. 18: Duke v. Indiana, Mateen Cleaves, Gonzaga
No. 19: Syracuse v. Kansas, Dwyane Wade, UCLA's 2006 team
No. 20: Pitt v. Villanova, Michael Beasley, and Duke's 2004 team
No. 21: Duke vs. Maryland in the 2001 ACC Semis, Josh Howard, Arizona's 2001 team
No. 22: Marquette v. Kentucky, Tayshaun Prince, UConn's 2009 team
No. 23: Vermont v. Syracuse, Andrew Bogut, and Memphis's 2008 team.
No. 24: UConn v. Miami, Luke Harangody, and Kansas's 2003 team
No. 25: Drake v. Western Kentucky, Wayne Simien, and Louisville's 2009 team.