There isn’t a more decorated Tar Heel backcourt than Lawson and Ellington. The duo went to the Final Four together in 2008 and won the national championship the next year with the juggernaut 2008-2009 squad. They helped lead UNC to an amazing 70-7 record over these two seasons.
Plus, the 2009 squad is one of only 4 teams to win every tournament game by 12 or more points since the NCAA tournament expanded in 1985 — along with 2023 and 2024 UConn and 2018 Villanova. This is not only my top-ranked backcourt, but Lawson, Ellington, Danny Green, Deon Thompson, and Tyler Hansbrough may also be UNC’s best lineup of all-time, featuring two All-Americans: Hansbrough (First Team) and Lawson (Second Team).
This backcourt paired Lawson's blistering speed and dynamic finishing ability with Ellington's silky smooth shooting. It was nearly flawless. During the championship season, Lawson averaged 16.6 points and 6.6 assists per game, while Ellington added 15.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. A balanced yet potent 1-2 punch like that is enough to give any defense nightmares.
Lawson and Ellington brought home the hardware and racked up the accolades. Lawson was a blur in transition — a true one-man fastbreak. As potentially the quickest, shiftiest UNC guard ever, Lawson’s dominant season was rewarded with an ACC Player of the Year. Ellington was clutch during the championship run, winning the 2009 Final Four Most Outstanding Player award. A championship, Final Four, All-American award, ACC Player of the Year, and Most Outstanding Player is more than any other backcourt on this list can boast.