So last year this was fun since I was dabbling in the top end of the countdown trying to figure out where to slot a national championship team among other national championship teams. This season, evaluating the THF Countdown is like putting lipstick on a pig since I am working at the other end of the spectrum. Well, it is what is it is.
For the record here is the bottom five where we will be conducting the unpleasantness of the day.
24. 2000
25. 2004
26. 1990
27. 2003
28. 2002
Since this team failed to make the NCAA Tournament they are automatically slotted behind 1990. Since they finished with 20 wins they rate out better than 2002. The question is whether they are better than 2003 or not. The easiest calculus where that is concerned is the NIT performance. 2010 made it all the way to the finals whereas 2003 lost in the 3rd round. While both teams faced a season ending injury to a quality big man, I am willing to mitigate more of 2010's troubles slightly since there were some forty plus games lost due to injury. The scheduling is close and 2003 probably faced a tougher ACC slate than 2010. Ultimately the NIT is the deciding factor, especially since UNC won three games away from Chapel Hill and finished with 20 wins.
Here is the full countdown updated to include 2010:
1. 1982
2. 2009
3. 2005
4. 1993
5. 2008
6. 1998
7. 1995
8. 1984
9. 1987
10. 1997
11. 1991
12. 2007
13. 1986
14. 1994
15. 1983
16. 1989
17. 1988
18. 1985
19. 2006
20. 2001
21. 1992
22. 1996
23. 1999
24. 2000
25. 2004
26. 1990
27. 2010
28. 2003
29. 2002
Oink, oink.