Several people are creative in their lineups and justification. So much so that it ranges from simple eye test to well-reasoned bases for selecting them. While it may seem so, it is not an easy problem. Just one example: are we selecting on the basis of what they were throughout their four years at UConn or what they eventually became. Some started great and stayed that way, e.g. Maya Moore. Some started less assertive, therefore did not show out but eventually rose to her potential, e.g. Moriah Jefferson, so much so that if based only on what she eventually became, some would take her as the best PG over Sue before the verdict is in on Paige. But then, Paige is more like Diana in the greater portion of the roles she has played. And Moriah was a great defender at the point of the defense - much like Nika has done.
Some are thinking positionless basketball players for the team, without saying so but while the composition is a collection of great players, it would basically be a small-ball lineup that can easily be outrebounded by many teams then and now. As well, some are seduced by the greatness of some of these players into a team what would be a weaker defensive team.
And the seductive pull of each of these players can make us easily forget two important things for the team: the player's connectiveness with the rest on the floor on defense and offense and the player's intangibles in terms of inspiring others, creating conditions that make others play better, etc.
Finally, athleticism and speed of the collective as a team. All these at the level they showed, say, at least half of their college career to accommodate growth with the same training methods in the same environment, thus eliminating the effect of unequal opportunities to such development in their high school programs.
I cannot judge anyone before 2001, not having seen them. So.....
The most connected teams with great balance of offense and defense were the four seniors of Sue, Swin, Tamika and Asjha with sophomore Diana in 2001-2002; the two undefeated years of the Maya-Tina Era, the last three years of the Stewie Era and the first year of the post-Stewie Era. I include this last one without an NC because it was a great example of the positionless basketball idea that Coach G sometimes talked about - a smallish team that defeated South Carolina with big front court of Wilson and Coates, by outrebounding them and Gabby outplaying both.
If the 2001-2002 team is acknowledged as the best ever, it was due in large measure to their team play and their connectedness, outstanding read-and-react defense and offense. That being the case, who would you replace to turn it into the all-time UConn starting 5 that would be as outstanding in connectedness and balance for both offense and defense?
Sue and Diana together remains the best backcourt combination at UConn for their skills, intangibles (clutch, inspirational, steely nerves) and flexibility (interchangeable). The way that front court played defense and offense, including relentless offensive rebounding and their interchangeability is difficult to match. Would the combination of Maya, Stewie and Tina match them? Perhaps not in speed (Tina would be the slower one) and interchangeability but yes all else in defense with Stewie enhancing the shot-blocking ability. And yes, this combinaton would significantly raise the offensive capability. But by how much, really? The main advantage would be in its ability to overcome many more defenses with greater margin due to their individual scoring ability.
It is a fun exercise but the team combination you elect may not actually have a significant advantage over that 01-02 team.
