CBS Sports recently released a poll of 100 college basketball coaches asking which college basketball team was the best of the 21st century, and the results were a bit surprising.
The 2011-2012 UK Basketball team… the one with Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist… that only lost two games and won the national championship… didn’t even make the top 5.
The 2011-2012 Wildcats came in at #6 while the 2014-2015 Kentucky team came in at #7.
Here’s how the list came out.
- 23-24 UCONN 17%
- 2000-01 Duke 14%
- 25-26 Michigan 14%
- 17-18 Villanova 12%
- 06-07 Florida 11%
Here is what one coach had to say
about the 2011-12 Kentucky team.
“They had only two losses, right? One was at the buzzer [at Indiana]. They had the first and second picks in that draft. You look at their tournament run, their championship game — they dominated another really good team.”
And here are a couple quotes about the 14-15 team.
“2014-15 Kentucky to me was the most dominant team of the last 25 years. As we know they didn’t win the national championship but they were incredible all year!”
“I think it’s 2015 Kentucky. I don’t think it’s close. Two wins away from immortality. They had KAT. I mean, look at the guys that didn’t start. Look at Devin Booker, he didn’t even start on that team. That was Cal’s best team.”
The 14-15 team was obviously and understandably dinged because they didn’t win the championship that year, but the 11-12 team being left out of the top 5 is difficult to see. That Kentucky team lost on a buzzer-beater at Indiana and had a random loss to a good Vanderbilt team in the SEC Tournament. Other than that, those Wildcats took care of business the remainder of the season.
Not only did that team have one of the best college freshmen of all-time in Anthony Davis, but Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the #2 pick in the NBA Draft. That team also had one of the best shooters in Kentucky Basketball history in Doron Lamb, as well as Terrence Jones and Marquis Teague, who were both first-round picks. That’s not to mention Darius Miller, who was also an NBA Draft pick who played 6 seasons in the league.
Was Kentucky undervalued in these rankings?
Tweet of the Day
Another W for the Volleyball Cats.
Headlines
Stein waiting on a few things before Afari plays – Cats Pause
Will we see Afari suit up for the Wildcats this season?
Aces propel UK Volleyball past UCLA – UK Athletics
A big win for UK Volleyball.
Youngstown State players to watch on Saturday – KSR
There are a few other players to watch beside Youngstown’s QB.
Georgia AD says LSU should be kicked out of SEC if they play pros – ESPN
Can’t see a world where that happens.
NBA hands down major punishment for Clippers – ESPN
The league drops the hammer on the Clippers.
Looking at the MLB Rookie of the Year races – SI
Sal Stewart, anyone?
New stadium in the works for Angels? – Bleacher Report
The new owners reportedly have it in the plans
NFL players facing make-or-break seasons – Yahoo
An important year for these guys.
Best bargain NFL free agents – Bleacher Report
Will Lonnie Johnson be picked up by a team?
Ukranian player confirms she left LSU after Mulkey recruited Russian player – CBS Sports
What a wild story.
Picks for CFB Week 1 – CBS Sports
Several good games on tap for Week 1.
