Florida's case vs. 2024 UConn, 2001 Duke to be considered 21st century's best college basketball champion Author makes a compelling case. Man, I’m still on cloud 9.
Since 2002 (that's all I have access to for KenPom), UF faced the toughest road (using Kenpom ratings) when considering EACH of the following: - all 6 opponents - best 5 opponents - Sweet 16 on - Elite 8 on - Final Four opponents - championship game The path that this team overcame to win their title is absolutely legendary. Houston would have had an even tougher road overcome had they won. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
Baylor '21 is the only team over that span to rank in the top 5 of each of those categories. UNC '17 makes the cut for 5 of the 6. It's the margins that make the difference. In total, FLORIDA's 6-opponents were rated 9.4% higher than the next closest. The margins between #2 and #3 was less than 3%. To be determined on whether or not this is an outlier or representative of a shift in what we can expect going forward. Would really like to see how Duke '01 measures up. UConn '24 didn't have the toughest path, but they obliterated their opponents with nobody coming closer than 14 points and had a total MOV of 140 points...it was also the second end of a back to back. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
Gators 2007 vs Gators 2025 would be a battle of better front court versus better back court. If you believe that guard play wins championships then you have to favor 2025. OTOH the 2007 Gator front court had 3 lottery picks. And 2025 was a deeper team. It would be an interesting game.
We have always referred to the Gator backcourt this past season as the 1-3; i.e., Clayton, Martin and Richard. That backcourt, IMO, is not as good as Green, Humphrey and Brewer. Green also was the perfect facilitator and a tremendous pure point guard.
Green was a great piece of the 'O4 puzzle but with Martin in his face he might have some problems.. Like I said it would be an interesting game.
That is a quality post. Brewer, if I recall correctly, dismantled Aaron Afflalo in 2006 and 2007 until those games were out of hand. Green's game was built around high ball screens set by Horford and Noah. What makes you think that Martin would cause problems for Green, but pigs would fly with Brewer locking down Clayton?
I guess you didn't see Clayton play this year. He was better than Glover. Unless you don't think so. LOL.
What the hell does this have to do with Glover and what was funny about your post that you’re laughing at yourself?
Spider-Man would be a problem for WC Jr. His length gave a lot of elite scorers problems. But then Humphrey couldn’t hang defensively with Will Richard if that’s who he would be stuck guarding in a 3 vs. 3 guard game. Taurean would also have problems keeping up with Martin and facilitating. If it was a 3 on 3 guard vs. guard game (think half court to 21) the 2025 guys win. If it’s a 5 on 5 full court game I just don’t think the 2025 squad could hang with the 04’s. Those two teams, specifically the second of the back to back teams was next level and their games complimented one another more than 2025’s did. Taurean becomes as effective (think next level MVP of the New York tournament in the first title year to put us on the map effective) as Martin when adding the help he got from Noah and Horford. Martin didn’t benefit like that from our bigs. So in summary, by in itself 2025’s 1-3 positions were better than 2006/2007’s squads. But when factoring in the front courts, 2025 would have significant issues stopping the 04’s. Thoughts?
Donovan could also be considered a forerunner of the new offensive movement, being an early adoptee of the three pointer. In fact, he well anticipated the movement away from midrange shots as well with his offensive mantra to the 04s: “Layups, dunks, and Lee Humphrey”
