All time Champions part 24 (hoops)

[Hardwood_fanatic]

Yes, it has been discussed ad Nauseum in past threads, but since it is the off-season of both sports why not do it again since a credible media source decided to give their own list.

10. 2001 Duke
9. 1994 Arkansas
8. 2009 North Carolina
7. 2012 Kentucky
6. 1995 UCLA
5. 2007 Florida
4. 1999 UConn
3. 2008 Kansas
2. 1992 Duke
1. 1996 Kentucky

I can't really argue with the list, maybe flip flop a couple. I am inclined to think that one of the Wooden UCLA squads should probably be in there.

What say ye VN?

All time champions: No. 1 1996 Kentucky - NCAA Basketball - Sporting News

 

[LittleCat]

Tbh, when I first said that 2012 UK was top 3 easily for all time (shot clock era) I was probably pushing it. Looking over the list, I still say they are much more athletic than almost all these teams and could probably stand toe to toe with 99.99% of all teams ever. That being said, the list is pretty good. A couple i would flip as well, but overall it's as I would expect.

 

[ukvols]

I think '12 UK is too high.

 

[volprof]

I am a Tarheel bball fan, so I am naturally inclined to despise other programs that all seek claims to "the" all-time best. So, I admit my biases. That being said, I feel like I'm fairly objective when it comes time to evaluating team talent. Foremost, 2008 Kansas is grossly overrated. Yes, I know they kicked the hell out of UNC in the semifinal (anything can happen in a one game playoff, essentially; just look at the NBA playoffs, where one team kicks the hell out of the other, then vice versa happens the following night), but that team was not that great. Very good, but not that great. I would say either Memphis or UNC were overall better that year, but, of course, one game is all it takes. Second, although people, especially in the SEC, tend to rave about them, I never really thought either of the back-to-back Florida teams were that great. Yes, I know the 2007 team ran through the tournament beating everyone by double digits (I'll point out that 2009 UNC did as well by an even larger margin), but I think they really benefited from some relatively down years in college basketball. Anyhow, the rest of the rankings are fairly good, as far as the last 20 years or so are concerned.

 

[ukvols]

'07 Florida deserves their place on that list if we're only discussing NCAA Tournament performance. Their regular season performance wasn't exactly terrible, but it wasn't Top 10 of all time good. They lost by double digits at Vandy, LSU, and Tennessee. In the NCAAs, they turned it on and were elite.

 

[Daloth]

Yeah, I strongly agree that 08 kansas is over rated. I mean, were they good? sure. I don't know that I'd even call them top 10 good personally. (top 15 maybe). Now, that 99 UCONN team... that group was something.

 

[ukvols]

Funny thing is, Duke was widely thought of as the best team in 1999, and after they lost to UConn in the Final, they were viewed as a great team that failed to claim its trophy by getting upset. Now, history views UConn '99, who was the underdog, among the all-time greats.

 

[Hardwood_fanatic]

Yeah, I strongly agree that 08 kansas is over rated. I mean, were they good? sure. I don't know that I'd even call them top 10 good personally. (top 15 maybe). Now, that 99 UCONN team... that group was something.

I think numbers 5, 6, 7 and 9 are all better teams than 08 kansas.

 

[ukvols]

Probably true. If someone learns from his loss to Tenn that year and has his team commit a foul, they're not even considered for this list. Instead, they're third.