The comparison's break down at cousin Jackie Manuel and Danny Green. Manuel and Marcus Ginyard match up but there was no one on the 2005 team quite as versatile as Green. That fact may put the 2009 Tar Heels ahead of the 2005 champs.
The other place the comparison breaks down is with Jawad Williams and Deon Thompson. Though they had similar stats - and coincidentally both torched Michigan State in the first half of a Final Four game - Jawad was more of an outside threat while Deon is almost exclusively a low-post player.
I've saved Jawad for last as a way of celebrating the news that the Cleveland native has signed with his hometown Cavaliers for the remainder of the season. Jawad had a cup of coffee with the Cavs earlier this season, and has played all over the last four years (Spain, Japan and Israel) but primarily in the D-League. He was recently called up from that league's Grand Valley franchise when anti-Heel/former NC State karma wrecker J.J. Hickson was lost for the season due to injury.
Jawad is the sixth member of the 2005 national champs to play in the NBA, joining the stars of that team (May, McCants, Felton and Marvin) and David Noel (who spent a season with Milwaukee and is currently playing with the Reno Bighorns in the D-League).
Despite Green's versatility having six NBA players - though in fairness only Felton and Marvin Williams are starters and consistent contributors to their teams - may give the edge to the 2005 champs.
Either way, GO HEELS!
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