The Sour 16

[SWC75]

This article proposes a 16 team tournament among the bets teams not to win the NCAA title:
http://www.si.com/college-basketbal...-team-no-national-championship?xid=nl_siextra

Surprized not tos e PHi Slamma Jamma, (Houston '83) on there. SU '87 didn't make the cut, either, despite the number of future NBA players on that team.

 

[Hoo's That]

Neither did our '83 and '84 teams with Ralph Sampson.

 

[cto]

Houston '83 IS there... as number 6.

 

[SWC75]

Houston '83 IS there... as number 6.

Opps. I guess I need new glasses.

 

[Eric15]

In my opinion, the best team on that list is 1999 Duke (Avery, Langdon, Carawell, Brand, Battier, Maggette). They got upset by Cincinnati in the Great Alaska Shootout early in the season, and then proceeded to simply blow the doors off everyone the rest of the year winning 30-something games in a row before getting upset by UConn in the title game.

 

[sdhusky]

In my opinion, the best team on that list is 1999 Duke (Avery, Langdon, Carawell, Brand, Battier, Maggette). They got upset by Cincinnati in the Great Alaska Shootout early in the season, and then proceeded to simply blow the doors off everyone the rest of the year winning 30-something games in a row before getting upset by UConn in the title game.

Rip Hamilton was the best player on the floor. That's seems to count a ton in tournament games.

They had no answer for him - Calhoun called his number non-stop in the second half. Duke tried multiple players, nothing worked.

The team with the best player won. Duke was a great team but Rip was a greater player.

Don't forget UConn went 34-2 that year and never lost a game when healthy.

 

[SWC75]

Rip Hamilton was the best player on the floor. That's seems to count a ton in tournament games.

They had no answer for him - Calhoun called his number non-stop in the second half. Duke tried multiple players, nothing worked.

The team with the best player won. Duke was a great team but Rip was a greater player.

Don't forget UConn went 34-2 that year and never lost a game when healthy.

I remember Billy packer describing that game as if it were a huge upset like NC State- Houston or Villanova- Georgetown. UCONN was #1 in the polls more weeks than Duke that year.

One of the sad things for 'Cuse fans about last year was that it was the first Connecticut national champion we hadn't beaten.

 

[CusefanATL]

I remember Billy packer describing that game as if it were a huge upset like NC State- Houston or Villanova- Georgetown. UCONN was #1 in the polls more weeks than Duke that year.

One of the sad things for 'Cuse fans about last year was that it was the first Connecticut national champion we hadn't beaten.

The cover of the SI's the week before and after:

"what will it take to beat Duke?"

"Yes UConn"

It was a pretty big upset.

 

[realorange]

When Packer was calling games, anytime an ACC team lost, it was a huge upset.

 

[sdhusky]

I remember Billy packer describing that game as if it were a huge upset like NC State- Houston or Villanova- Georgetown. UCONN was #1 in the polls more weeks than Duke that year.

One of the sad things for 'Cuse fans about last year was that it was the first Connecticut national champion we hadn't beaten.

If I recall correctly, you guys seemed to have our number in 2004 & UCONN seemed to have your number in 2003.

Funny.

 

[AlaskaSU]

Rip Hamilton was the best player on the floor. That's seems to count a ton in tournament games.

They had no answer for him - Calhoun called his number non-stop in the second half. Duke tried multiple players, nothing worked.

The team with the best player won. Duke was a great team but Rip was a greater player.

Don't forget UConn went 34-2 that year and never lost a game when healthy.

If I remember, it was a close game and Langdon forced the last shot, trying to be the hero.

 

[Eric15]

Rip Hamilton was the best player on the floor. That's seems to count a ton in tournament games.

They had no answer for him - Calhoun called his number non-stop in the second half. Duke tried multiple players, nothing worked.

The team with the best player won. Duke was a great team but Rip was a greater player.

Don't forget UConn went 34-2 that year and never lost a game when healthy.

The interesting thing about UConn is you guys have had some unbelievable teams not make the Final Four (e.g. 1994-1996, 2006) and then some good but not great teams win it all (2011, 2014).

 

[SWC75]

If I recall correctly, you guys seemed to have our number in 2004 & UCONN seemed to have your number in 2003.

Funny.

That's what makes a rivalry. Until last year we'd beaten each of your national champions and you'd beaten ours twice. Wish you were in the ACC. Maybe someday.

 

[SWC75]

The cover of the SI's the week before and after:

"what will it take to beat Duke?"

"Yes UConn"

It was a pretty big upset.

Poll progression, 1998-99, (from the ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia)

Preseason: #1 (in both) Duke. #2 writers/#3 coaches Connecticut
11/17: #1 Duke 1-0, #2 Connecticut 1-0 (writer's only)
11/24 #1 Duke 3-0, #2-3 Connecticut 2-0
12/1 #1 Connecticut 4-0, #4 Duke 5-1
12/8 #1 Connecticut 6-0, #3 Duke 7-1
12/15 #1 Connecticut 8-0, #2 Duke 9-1
12/22 #1 Connecticut 8-0, #2 Duke 10-1
12/29 #1 Connecticut 9-0, #2 Duke 11-1
1/5 #1 Connecticut 11-0, #2 Duke 13-1
1/12 #1 Connecticut 13-0, #2 Duke 15-1
1/19 #1 Connecticut 15-0, #2 Duke 17-1
1/26 #1 Connecticut 17-0, #2 Duke 19-1
2/2 #1 Connecticut 19-0, #2 Duke 21-1
2/9 #1 Duke 23-1, #2 Connecticut 20-1
2/16 #1 Duke 25-1, #2 Connecticut 22-1
2/23 #1 Duke 27-1, #4 Connecticut 23-2
3/2 #1 Duke 29-1, #3 Connecticut 25-2
3/9 #1 Duke 32-1, #3 Connecticut 28-2
Final Poll #1 Connecticut 34-2, #2 Duke 37-2

It was a confrontation between the two dominant teams of the year. Neither was ever ranked lower than 4th. Every poll had one or the other at #1. Connecticut was #1 eleven times and Duke eight times. If it was an upset, it certainly wasn't much of one.

 

[CusefanATL]

Poll progression, 1998-99, (from the ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia)

Preseason: #1 (in both) Duke. #2 writers/#3 coaches Connecticut
11/17: #1 Duke 1-0, #2 Connecticut 1-0 (writer's only)
11/24 #1 Duke 3-0, #2-3 Connecticut 2-0
12/1 #1 Connecticut 4-0, #4 Duke 5-1
12/8 #1 Connecticut 6-0, #3 Duke 7-1
12/15 #1 Connecticut 8-0, #2 Duke 9-1
12/22 #1 Connecticut 8-0, #2 Duke 10-1
12/29 #1 Connecticut 9-0, #2 Duke 11-1
1/5 #1 Connecticut 11-0, #2 Duke 13-1
1/12 #1 Connecticut 13-0, #2 Duke 15-1
1/19 #1 Connecticut 15-0, #2 Duke 17-1
1/26 #1 Connecticut 17-0, #2 Duke 19-1
2/2 #1 Connecticut 19-0, #2 Duke 21-1
2/9 #1 Duke 23-1, #2 Connecticut 20-1
2/16 #1 Duke 25-1, #2 Connecticut 22-1
2/23 #1 Duke 27-1, #4 Connecticut 23-2
3/2 #1 Duke 29-1, #3 Connecticut 25-2
3/9 #1 Duke 32-1, #3 Connecticut 28-2
Final Poll #1 Connecticut 34-2, #2 Duke 37-2

It was a confrontation between the two dominant teams of the year. Neither was ever ranked lower than 4th. Every poll had one or the other at #1. Connecticut was #1 eleven times and Duke eight times. If it was an upset, it certainly wasn't much of one.

Many were. Duke had won 31 games in a row, with only one of its previous 17 games being closer than 15 points. Even though UConn was 33-2 and had been ranked No. 1 for 10 weeks of the season, Duke was a 9 1/2-point favorite.

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/UCONN-CAN-AND-DOES-Huskies-outplay-Duke-to-3239459.php

 

[SWC75]

Many were. Duke had won 31 games in a row, with only one of its previous 17 games being closer than 15 points. Even though UConn was 33-2 and had been ranked No. 1 for 10 weeks of the season, Duke was a 9 1/2-point favorite.

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/UCONN-CAN-AND-DOES-Huskies-outplay-Duke-to-3239459.php

None of those games were against Connecticut. A 33-2 team isn't wearing Cinderella's dress.

 

[CusefanATL]

The interesting thing about UConn is you guys have had some unbelievable teams not make the Final Four (e.g. 1994-1996, 2006) and then some good but not great teams win it all (2011, 2014).

11 and 14 were barely good teams. they are the 2 worst championship teams this side of Villanova and NC State.

 

[Delmar]

One and done has seriously degraded college basketball. Any of the champions going back at least five years or more are not nearly as good as Villanova or NC State.

 

[jordoo]

If I recall correctly, you guys seemed to have our number in 2004 & UCONN seemed to have your number in 2003.

Funny.

I recall Calhoun letting Melo get his and trying to limit everyone else. It worked because you won both matchups despite Melo's big numbers.

 

[sdhusky]

11 and 14 were barely good teams. they are the 2 worst championship teams this side of Villanova and NC State.

Its interesting comparing the UCONN 11 team with the SU team of 2003.

Both were 3 seeds. UConn finished with 32 wins & SU finished with 30 wins.

Both teams had the best player in college basketball that year.

The UConn had a bad 15 day period but balanced by having the best performance in BET history.

It really comes down the traditional SU vs. UConn debate ie: How much do you count championships.

In 2011, UConn won 14 tournament games (11-0 against ranked teams), the 2003 SU team had a higher winning percentage.

 

[sdhusky]

I recall Calhoun letting Melo get his and trying to limit everyone else. It worked because you won both matchups despite Melo's big numbers.

Melo scored at will but he was even better on the boards.

 

[SWC75]

And the winner is:
http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2014/09/29/best-teams-no-champion-2005-illinois?xid=nl_siextra

 

[Delmar]

Tourney must have been designed by an Illini fan. They aren't one of the 10 best in the tourney.

Where was the UCLA team that lost to NC State? Walton, Wilkes, Dave Meyers, Marquis Johnson, Andre McCarter?