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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Decade's Best: 5-3

I'm sure the order of the teams so far has been debated by some, and I have some admissions to make.

First, time has played a role in how I have doled out points. For example, 2008 Kansas may turn out to look better on paper years from now using my formula, because players that were stars on that team may become NBA stars as well. Second, splitting hairs between great teams is tough to do. I had to come up with some defining characteristics of a "great" team, and future NBA stardom was the best I could come up with. So a solid 30-4 Maryland team led by Juan Dixon and Steve Blake are seemingly punished for not being as good as, say, Al Horford in the NBA. Finally, this isn't a this-team-could-beat-that-team type of list. There are factors contributing to the final product, and they are entirely at my discretion.

With that being said, this is MY list. If you don't like it, make your own! I'll be more than happy to debate it with you, because this stuff is fun... Here are numbers 5-3:


5.) 2009 North Carolina 34-4 (+7): The bullseye was squarely on the back of the '08-09 Heels, and they totally lived up to the billing. Aside from getting everyone's best shot, they were the consensus favorite to win it all, and they did not disappoint. A dismantling of Michigan State in the title game left no doubt as to who was the best, but the lack of a superstar on the NBA level hurts them for now. Maybe one day Ty Lawson or Tyler Hansbrough will reach their potential and move this team further up the list.



4.) 2005 North Carolina 27-4 (+7): This team was one of my favorites. They beat a 37-2 Illinois team led by Deron Williams, and sent four players to the NBA draft. The only reason they are ranked so low is because with all that talent, it blows my mind that none of the stars on the team have translated to stardom in the NBA. Their road to the Final Four is what breaks the tie with the '09 team. In their region were perrenial powers UConn, Kansas, Florida, and Villanova.



3.) 2007 Florida 35-5 (+9): I created the bullseye factor for special teams like these Gators. After their magical 2006 run, the return of all their studs made Florida the favorite to win it all. They receive bonus points for the NBA stardom of Al Horford and Joakim Noah (yes, averaging a double-double is considered stardom) and the bullseye factor. The only negative points were because of the five losses, which come from getting everyone's best.

Numbers 2 & 1 will be up tomorrow, but you can put the pieces together to decide who they are. I'll try to bring good evidence to support my choices, but for now I'll leave it up for debate!

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