Candid Coaches Poll - Best team of the century

[BookofMormon]

1991 UNLV > 1990 UNLV

They won the title in 1990, but the dominant all-time team was the 1991 UNLV team. They should have been champs that year, not Duke.

Good point. 90 UNLV it is. Toss those four into an all-time FF. I'd love to see how the Pitino system and Hurley system do in that blender, given how unique both were.

Many talk about that 99 Duke team that lost to UConn as one of the greats. I honestly am not sure. They felt overrated. That 99 UConn was well coached and all, but didn't feel all that special. Hamilton was a savvy player, but wasn't all that physically talented.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Good point. 90 UNLV it is. Toss those four into an all-time FF. I'd love to see how the Pitino system and Hurley system do in that blender, given how unique both were.

Many talk about that 99 Duke team that lost to UConn as one of the greats. I honestly am not sure. They felt overrated. That 99 UConn was well coached and all, but didn't feel all that special. Hamilton was a savvy player, but wasn't all that physically talented.

99 Duke was absurdly stacked as was that year’s UConn team.

Honestly, 1991 UNLV, 1992 Duke, 1996 Kentucky, 1999 Duke, 1999 UConn are probably the 5 best teams of the 90s IMO

 

[Johnnie Africa]

The reality is that college basketball was absolute dog doo doo from 2010-2022. The one and done was the worst thing for the quality of the game and it was borderline unwatchable. The last 3 years with NIL and teams pre 2010 would beat any teams during the time period where Cal was dominating unfortunately I hate to say.

 

[BookofMormon]

The reality is that college basketball was absolute dog doo doo from 2010-2022. The one and done was the worst thing for the quality of the game and it was borderline unwatchable. The last 3 years with NIL and teams pre 2010 would beat any teams during the time period where Cal was dominating unfortunately I hate to say.

Agree - case in point, those two UConn teams that won it all. I mean, how in the F do those two teams win titles?

The general skill of players these days is much better than the 1990's, it's just that back then teams stuck together longer. I've tuned in to watch old tape of 90's hoops and it looks prehistoric compared to today.

 

[BBNinSCar]

Who cares about the win streak - didn't end in a title. Sometimes early losses make teams better, and the SEC stunketh that year. That UK team could have likely benefitted from an early loss.

I personally think 2024 UConn runs that UK team - wouldn't be close. They'd push them into that half court game, put them in a blender and neutralize all strengths with Clingan and Castle. I don't think freshmen teams can beat Hurley. I'd love to see him play a Calipari team.

Give me UConn by 12. UConn's only real loss that year was at Creighton w/Kalkbrenner, which got Clingan into early foul trouble and then bombarded them with threes. That's probably the recipe. Their first two losses were without Castle and some Clingan. 2012 could make it interesting with Davis.

Nope. The 2015 Kentucky squad was too deep and talented for UConn. It would be fun to see Danny Hurley losing his mind while UK is beating their a$$.

 

[BookofMormon]

Nope. The 2015 Kentucky squad was too deep and talented for UConn. It would be fun to see Danny Hurley losing his mind while UK is beating their a$$.

Will agree to disagree on this one. Harrison bros were meh deluxe. I think Hurley runs circles around that team, as well as that Wisconsin team. UConn had perfect roster construction. UK was just an assembly of talent.

 

[UKCowboys]

How?

Harrison brothers were incredibly overrated. Freshman KAT vs Clingan?

They put Stein and KAT in at the same time, UConn would spread one out and make them chase.

Castle would clamp Booker.

The coaching would have been an absurd gap.

2001 Duke vs them would be interesting. They didn't really have an answer for Jason Williams.

You're out of your mind lol

 

[UKCowboys]

38 game winning streak. That will never be equalled. The 2015 UK squad would run any UConn team off the floor.
As much as I love the 1996 Cats, the 2015 UK squad was the best team in NCAA basketball history.

Nah. 96 would take them. But they would wipe out 24 UConn

 

[RunninRichie]

Margin of victory would disagree. The 96 UK team would beat the 15 team by at least 15-20 pts. I loved that team but we played teams close in conference.

Because Cal shifted the offense to pound the rock to KAT. Early in the season before that, and when AP was healthy. They were 30 and 40 balling fools.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Because Cal shifted the offense to pound the rock to KAT. Early in the season before that, and when AP was healthy. They were 30 and 40 balling fools.

Don’t forget the 2022 team that many give zero credit to….

Was a wagon until late in the year where we started running post ups for Oscar instead letting the thoroughbreds run. Still think that team could have made a Final Four. I know it’s off-topic.

 

[RunninRichie]

Don’t forget the 2022 team that many give zero credit to….

Was a wagon until late in the year where we started running post ups for Oscar instead letting the thoroughbreds run. Still think that team could have made a Final Four. I know it’s off-topic.

He almost blew it in 2012 too, but that team was too talented to lose. They legitimately could’ve went 40-0.

 

[DudahUK]

Don’t forget the 2022 team that many give zero credit to….

Was a wagon until late in the year where we started running post ups for Oscar instead letting the thoroughbreds run. Still think that team could have made a Final Four. I know it’s off-topic.

And what will you say tomorrow? You change up just like the wind blows.

 

[BookofMormon]

Nah. 96 would take them. But they would wipe out 24 UConn

How? 80 coaches don't think so.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

And what will you say tomorrow? You change up just like the wind blows.

Change up what? I’ve said the same thing about the 2022 team since literally day one.

 

[DudahUK]

Change up what? I’ve said the same thing about the 2022 team since literally day one.

Never mind bro. Never mind.

 

[UKCowboys]

How? 80 coaches don't think so.

I don't care about your ridiculous anonymous poll lol. I saw both teams play

 

[BookofMormon]

I don't care about your ridiculous anonymous poll lol. I saw both teams play

LOL - my poll? It's a CBS coaches poll. You're eyeball test sounds like it just may be a little biased.

 

[BookofMormon]

Change up what? I’ve said the same thing about the 2022 team since literally day one.

Let's break this down.

UK had the 6th best efficiency, ahead of two F4 teams and behind two. There was no dominant team that year - forget the Zags and their ability to game computers. Their signature win that year was Texas Tech.

St Peter's made it to the Elite 8 and lost to 8 seed UNC, who we beat by 30 earlier in the year. We also beat eventual winner Kansas, at PA Fieldhouse, by 18. There is no question our ceiling was run worthy, it just felt like another Calipari blunder where he didn't have the team peaking and focused at the right time losing to Vandy in the SECT and to St Pete's. Those are the kind of years good programs have to take advantage of. That Kansas team was nothing special, but Self got himself his second natty instead of Cal.

 

[UKCowboys]

LOL - my poll? It's a CBS coaches poll. You're eyeball test sounds like it just may be a little biased.

As is yours. Your UK hate is spewed all over the board

 

[BookofMormon]

As is yours. Your UK hate is spewed all over the board

WTF are you talking about?

 

[mjj_2K]

Duke beat Maryland by double digits.

They had the three time CBB DPOY NPOY senior, two first team AA's and three guys drafted in the top 6, to go with a multiple times NBA AS at center. Not sure how they are overrated.

Nova team was good, but they had nothing inside. UConn would do exactly what they did against Purdue against, sit Clingan back and drape their shooters with big guards, and sick Castle on Brunson. They'd likely have to win with their bigs canning 3s or a ton of mid range shots.

I think Duke 2001 could give UConn a run.

Duke beat Maryland by double digits after trailing by 20. And that was the game that kick-started the "refs for Duke" movement. Maryland wilted under a combined assault of Duke and ref's whistles. There was one particular game changing play in the 1st half when Jay Williams, who was playing with 2 fouls because Duke was getting crushed, lost his balance and ended up riding the back of a Maryland player (who had the ball). That's a foul 99/100, but somehow that was the 1 where it wasn't.

Not that Duke was an unworthy champ, but we're talking best of the best with this list. That multiple time NBA all-star center (who didn't play center in the NBA) you mention averaged 6.5 rebounds per game and under 1 block (because he wasn't very good on defense). Duke that year was a hell of an offensive team and decent but not great defensively, very similar to Villanova 2018, except I think that Villanova team was better.

 

[BookofMormon]

Duke beat Maryland by double digits after trailing by 20. And that was the game that kick-started the "refs for Duke" movement. Maryland wilted under a combined assault of Duke and ref's whistles. There was one particular game changing play in the 1st half when Jay Williams, who was playing with 2 fouls because Duke was getting crushed, lost his balance and ended up riding the back of a Maryland player (who had the ball). That's a foul 99/100, but somehow that was the 1 where it wasn't.

Not that Duke was an unworthy champ, but we're talking best of the best with this list. That multiple time NBA all-star center (who didn't play center in the NBA) you mention averaged 6.5 rebounds per game and under 1 block (because he wasn't very good on defense). Duke that year was a hell of an offensive team and decent but not great defensively, very similar to Villanova 2018, except I think that Villanova team was better.

That Maryland team won the NC the next year, so they weren't too bad. Looking at the box score now, fouls were 26 to 23, so it wasn't too lopsided.

No Boozer wasn't a great defensive player, but Battier won DPOY 3x. Player for player, seniority, they were a very good team. They had what most thought were the two best players in the country, and these weren't freshmen.

Williams - First Team AA, 2nd pick of draft, NPOY by one publication
Carawell/Duhon - role players
Dunleavy - 3rd pick of draft
Battier - First team AA, NPOY by most publications
Boozer - 3rd team AA following year, long NBA career

Nova

Brunson - 1st team AA, NPOY
Bridges - 3rd team AA
Divencenzo - 17th pick of draft
Spellman - first rounder
Booth - second rounder

Both amazing teams. The Nova team was unique that they played 5 out. They were weird matchup, didn't win the BE regular season that year. Lost 3/8 in the BE down the stretch, beat Seton Hall in OT, the BEC in OT. Then caught fire in the tourney. Seasoned team that won a title two years prior, so it could have been some going through the motions.