Sanborn's .895 winning percentage is the second highest of any Virginia Tech men's basketball head coach.

Sanborn would inherit a strong North Carolina team, with Jack Cobb, who would later be named to the All-American team and would later have his number retired at North Carolina, Bill Dodderer, and Sam McDonald.

[3] These players had earned the nickname for the Tar Heels as the "White Phantoms" because of their fast playmaking and defense.

[3] In one of the more memorable games during Sanborn's time as head coach, the Tar Heels played NC State Wolfpack team that planned to slow down the game in order to counter the Tar Heels fast offense.

In the end, the Wolfpack was able to maintain control of the ball and North Carolina lost the game with a final score of 17–8.