Greatest Teams ever

[DefenseBB]

Two weeks ago, at the 2015 & 2016 Team inductions into the Ring of Honor, comments and questions were asked about the programs greatest teams ever and it got me thinking. As I had most of the recent 15 years worth of data, I added and went back to 1991 to statistically compare all the teams since that first final 4 team (1991). I used the "efficiency calculation" on a team level that uses all the positive categories (points scored, rebounds, assists, blocks and deducts all the negative (missed shots-FGA minus FG, turnovers, missed FTA minus FT) and divided by the number of games. I also counted the number of future WNBA players on the roster, number of active/future POY (Wade, Naismith, AP) on the roster and that years All-American team status' earned (AP 3 teams, WBCA-10, UBSWA-10). After collecting the data which showed some really unbelievable teams, I had to filter it down so I initially only included the "undefeated teams" but I did notice one team with 1 loss really stood out (2015) so I added them back in.

I was left with 7 teams but there was a fairly large statistical drop off with three of the teams, so I put those at the bottom but included them in the discussions below. My opinion comments are next to the 7 teams based on the data I found.
1995-I think this team gets overlooked even though it started it all. It only had 4 future WNBA players on the roster but it did have 3 All-Americans on it (Lobo, Rizzotti, Wolters), 3 POY (Lobo, Rizzotti and Wolters) and 3 Head coaches on it (Rizzotti, Elliott, Berube and at least one top assistant Sales). Statistically, this team performed well in efficiency (3rd overall), scoring margin, creating turnovers >20 per game. To me, this is the 3rd BEST TEAM EVER at UConn
2002-There were 7 future WNBA players, 4 All-Americans (Bird, Cash, Taurasi, Jones), 2 POY (Bird, Taurasi) and 2 HC on it (Tamika William, Morgan Valley). Statistically, this was 4th overall, scoring margin was 3rd overall, but curiously it was lower on Assists, steals and had the most turnovers of the 7 teams. To me, this is the 4th BEST TEAM EVER at UConn. It did have the most All-American spots earned in 1 year with 4!
2009-One of the 3 low outlier squads Maya's sophomore year with 5 Futures WNBA players, 3 All-American mentions (Moore, Charles, Montgomery), 2 POY (Moore, Charles), 0 HC. Statistically, this was one of the 2 lowest team of this group with the smallest scoring margin. I rank this the 6th BEST TEAM EVER.
2010-One of the 3 low outlier squads Maya's junior year with 5 Futures WNBA players, 2 All-American mentions (Moore, Charles), 2 POY (Moore, Charles), 0 HC. Statistically, this was of the lowest team of this group. I rank this the 7th BEST TEAM EVER.
2014-One of the 3 low outlier squads Stewie's sophomore year with 8 Futures WNBA players, 3 All-American mentions (Steward, Dolson, Hartley), 1 POY (Stewart), 0 HC. Statistically this did have the highest Assists but overall was a lower efficiency team of this group. I rank this the 5h BEST TEAM EVER.
2015-this was a 1 loss team (to Stanford) but had great stats across the board. Stewie's junior year with 8 Futures WNBA players, 3 All-American mentions (Stewart, KML and Jefferson), 1 POY (Stewart), 0 HC. Statistically, this is the #1 team of the group by a fair amount. I rank this the BEST TEAM EVER (at the moment...).
2016-Stewie's senior year with 8 Futures WNBA players, 3 All-American mentions (Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson), 1 POY (Stewart), 0 HC. Statistically, this is the #2 team of the group. I rank this the 2nd BEST TEAM EVER

From a non-title team, the 2018 Team was very good. So as @visitingcock noted in his comments, this was a great team, just short of the high standard criteria. Statistically, I put this team at #10 as it did have 7 WNBA players and 3 All-Americans and it did lose to the eventually champion.

Again, this was using some slightly derivative analytics which I am sure some of the more statistically inclined colleagues can offer better tools but as I said, using what I know and had (all free), I did what analysis I could.

I am currently tracking this years team to this group and have to say, they are performing very well by comparison. Only time will tell but little girls watching this group are seeing something special...

Thoughts?

 

[Skeets]

The year, 2001? When both Shea and Svet went down with injuries. Someone jump in and slap me if I'm wrong, I'm doing this from memory, but they also had the TASS force and some freshman kid named Diana. What could have been, wasn't.

 

[bballnut90]

The year, 2001? When both Shea and Svet went down with injuries. Someone jump in and slap me if I'm wrong, I'm doing this from memory, but they also had the TASS force and some freshman kid named Diana. What could have been, wasn't.

This team was better on paper but chemistry wasn't as good as the 2000 or 2002 teams. Shea Ralph was a shell of herself in 2001 compared to 2000. Taurasi was streaky as a freshman and not yet the player she'd become. Relatively early in the season they had a close call with Tennessee and were blown out by Notre Dame prior to Shea/Svet going down. It was a good team but not one of the best UCONN teams despite having a star studded roster.

 

[bballnut90]

Two weeks ago, at the 2015 & 2016 Team inductions into the Ring of Honor, comments and questions were asked about the programs greatest teams ever and it got me thinking. As I had most of the recent 15 years worth of data, I added and went back to 1991 to statistically compare all the teams since that first final 4 team (1991). I used the "efficiency calculation" on a team level that uses all the positive categories (points scored, rebounds, assists, blocks and deducts all the negative (missed shots-FGA minus FG, turnovers, missed FTA minus FT) and divided by the number of games. I also counted the number of future WNBA players on the roster, number of active/future POY (Wade, Naismith, AP) on the roster and that years All-American team status' earned (AP 3 teams, WBCA-10, UBSWA-10). After collecting the data which showed some really unbelievable teams, I had to filter it down so I initially only included the "undefeated teams" but I did notice one team with 1 loss really stood out (2015) so I added them back in.

I was left with 7 teams but there was a fairly large statistical drop off with three of the teams, so I put those at the bottom but included them in the discussions below. My opinion comments are next to the 7 teams based on the data I found.
1995-I think this team gets overlooked even though it started it all. It only had 4 future WNBA players on the roster but it did have 3 All-Americans on it (Lobo, Rizzotti, Wolters), 3 POY (Lobo, Rizzotti and Wolters) and 3 Head coaches on it (Rizzotti, Elliott, Berube and at least one top assistant Sales). Statistically, this team performed well in efficiency (3rd overall), scoring margin, creating turnovers >20 per game. To me, this is the 3rd BEST TEAM EVER at UConn
2002-There were 7 future WNBA players, 4 All-Americans (Bird, Cash, Taurasi, Jones), 2 POY (Bird, Taurasi) and 2 HC on it (Tamika William, Morgan Valley). Statistically, this was 4th overall, scoring margin was 3rd overall, but curiously it was lower on Assists, steals and had the most turnovers of the 7 teams. To me, this is the 4th BEST TEAM EVER at UConn. It did have the most All-American spots earned in 1 year with 4!
2009-One of the 3 low outlier squads Maya's sophomore year with 5 Futures WNBA players, 3 All-American mentions (Moore, Charles, Montgomery), 2 POY (Moore, Charles), 0 HC. Statistically, this was one of the 2 lowest team of this group with the smallest scoring margin. I rank this the 6th BEST TEAM EVER.
2010-One of the 3 low outlier squads Maya's junior year with 5 Futures WNBA players, 2 All-American mentions (Moore, Charles), 2 POY (Moore, Charles), 0 HC. Statistically, this was of the lowest team of this group. I rank this the 7th BEST TEAM EVER.
2014-One of the 3 low outlier squads Stewie's sophomore year with 8 Futures WNBA players, 3 All-American mentions (Steward, Dolson, Hartley), 1 POY (Stewart), 0 HC. Statistically this did have the highest Assists but overall was a lower efficiency team of this group. I rank this the 5h BEST TEAM EVER.
2015-this was a 1 loss team (to Stanford) but had great stats across the board. Stewie's junior year with 8 Futures WNBA players, 3 All-American mentions (Stewart, KML and Jefferson), 1 POY (Stewart), 0 HC. Statistically, this is the #1 team of the group by a fair amount. I rank this the BEST TEAM EVER (at the moment...).
2016-Stewie's senior year with 8 Futures WNBA players, 3 All-American mentions (Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson), 1 POY (Stewart), 0 HC. Statistically, this is the #2 team of the group. I rank this the 2nd BEST TEAM EVER

From a non-title team, the 2018 Team was very good. So as @visitingcock noted in his comments, this was a great team, just short of the high standard criteria. Statistically, I put this team at #10 as it did have 7 WNBA players and 3 All-Americans and it did lose to the eventually champion.

Again, this was using some slightly derivative analytics which I am sure some of the more statistically inclined colleagues can offer better tools but as I said, using what I know and had (all free), I did what analysis I could.

I am currently tracking this years team to this group and have to say, they are performing very well by comparison. Only time will tell but little girls watching this group are seeing something special...

Thoughts?

I'd put 2016 at #1. They were just so dominant that year and got good contributions from Collier, KLS and Williams. Stewart had one of the better individual seasons of all time, Jefferson was arguably the 2nd best player in the country and Tuck always showed up big in big games.

I'd move 2010 up, they were pretty unbelievable defensively and Tina Charles was fantastic as a senior. Not a single team cracked 70 on them and the only time they were challenged was in the title game, which was one of the flukier performances I've seen from a UCONN team, but they still won handily against a loaded Stanford team that likely would've gone undefeated that season if UCONN wasn't there.


I'm not as high on 2014-15. I think losing at the beginning of the year downrates them and the bench was weaker, Geno only utilized Chong and Stokes in big games and neither contributed much offensively.

I'll also add in 2000, they were a late bucket by Semeka Randall from going undefeated. Shea Ralph/Svetlana Abrosimova was both 1st Team All Americans that year and they put on a clinic at the Final Four.

2017 too was probably the most overachieving team at UCONN. They had a loaded roster but virtually no size and they were head and shoulders better than the rest of the country that season despite a couple of flukey games (Tulane/Mississippi State). Team chemistry was unbelievable and they had a three headed monster of Collier/KLS/Williams. I thought the 2017 squad was better than the 2018 team. 2018 had more height and looked better on paper but there was a magic with that 2017 squad.

 

[ucmiami2]

Have always loved that snake-bit 2001 team - Sveta ended up as I think the only first team all American ever to play only the first half a season. 5 future Olympians, and underrated Kelly Schumacher and Kennitra Johnson. People also forget that Ashley Battle was the first to go down in game 5, followed by Sveta in game 19, and then Shea in game 30. And Shea was not 'a shell' of her former self - she averaged 10 points a game (.519%) and was second to sue in assists with 122 at a A/TO of 2.14 (better than Sue's.) And they had 11 players who average more than 10 minutes/game including the three who got injured - Sveta at 25, Shea at 24, and Ashley at 10. (Aside: Geno has referred to his coaching, especially at halftime, of that semi-final loss as his worst game ever.)

I also love the 2000 team (I love them all, even the non-championship teams.)

 

[hoophuskee]

great job Op!!!

For me, a team that loses showed they had a flaw they couldn't overcome.

i'd go
#1 --- 15-16. Too much firepower.

#2--- 01-02 Just a little too small and not enough bench to take the crown. Vs Okalahoma in finala game DT and Bird missed all their 3'sa. Also of note I'm pretty sure that Geno said after the game that he could have ran that backdown post move made by DT at anytime but didn't want to have to play that way.

#3-- 09-10 Think of this; Tina Charles got NPOY over Maya Moore. Though she probably wasn't. Advanced stats don't think so either.

 

[fomalhaut]

The 2010 team set a record for scoring defense and field goal percentage defense (technically their opponents shot under 30%, though it rounded to 30.00). They also led Division I in assists, A/TO ratio, FG%, fewest fouls, scoring margin, and finished second in 3-point percentage defense. Also undefeated and won every game by double figures until the national championship game.

The only team I'd put in the same category of statistical dominance (leading D1 in so many categories) is 2016 (A, A/TO, Blk (total), FG%, FT%, fewest PF, scoring offense, defense, and margin); also undefeated with two wins as few as 10 points.

 

[Bald Husky]

The year, 2001? When both Shea and Svet went down with injuries. Someone jump in and slap me if I'm wrong, I'm doing this from memory, but they also had the TASS force and some freshman kid named Diana. What could have been, wasn't.

This was the team with the most talent. If not for the two injuries, they would have won the NC easily. 2001.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Great job and I appreciate the amount of labor that went into this. If I could make one suggestion; statistically speaking not all shots are equal. A lot of the services equalize the shots by multiplying 3-point shots by 1.5 and free throws by .5. That gives the 3-point shooting teams their due while recognizing the difference in difficulty between a free throw and a contested mid-range.

 

[meyers7]

We did a poll (bracket poll) a few years back of all the NC teams. The 2016 team beat the 2002 team in the final 61% to 39%.

Semi's were - 2002 73% - 2015 27%
and 2016 69% - 2014 31%

 

[BBallF]

Last year's team set a record for largest combined margin of victory in the Final Four. Not even a mention? The way they were playing in late March-early April was extraordinary.

 

[fomalhaut]

Last year's team set a record for largest combined margin of victory in the Final Four. Not even a mention? The way they were playing in late March-early April was extraordinary.

Possibly the best tournament team ever, but if you're picking the best Connecticut team ever, they pretty much have to be undefeated.

 

[Citrusdog]

I'd put 2016 at #1. They were just so dominant that year and got good contributions from Collier, KLS and Williams. Stewart had one of the better individual seasons of all time, Jefferson was arguably the 2nd best player in the country and Tuck always showed up big in big games.

I'd move 2010 up, they were pretty unbelievable defensively and Tina Charles was fantastic as a senior. Not a single team cracked 70 on them and the only time they were challenged was in the title game, which was one of the flukier performances I've seen from a UCONN team, but they still won handily against a loaded Stanford team that likely would've gone undefeated that season if UCONN wasn't there.


I'm not as high on 2014-15. I think losing at the beginning of the year downrates them and the bench was weaker, Geno only utilized Chong and Stokes in big games and neither contributed much offensively.

I'll also add in 2000, they were a late bucket by Semeka Randall from going undefeated. Shea Ralph/Svetlana Abrosimova was both 1st Team All Americans that year and they put on a clinic at the Final Four.

2017 too was probably the most overachieving team at UCONN. They had a loaded roster but virtually no size and they were head and shoulders better than the rest of the country that season despite a couple of flukey games (Tulane/Mississippi State). Team chemistry was unbelievable and they had a three headed monster of Collier/KLS/Williams. I thought the 2017 squad was better than the 2018 team. 2018 had more height and looked better on paper but there was a magic with that 2017 squad.

2016 was just silly. A forgone conclusion. So many to choose from… Sarah Strong is just silly to watch her. Amazing young woman and talent.

 

[joea]

Recency bias, but as has been said, after the Tennessee game, last years team won 16 games by an average of 32 points, and rolled the playoffs. Combine that with Bueckers, Fudd, and Strong all playing high level game all facets, and the defensive intensity, that team should be in the mix, if not for full season, at least for peak effectiveness.

 

[BBallF]

Possibly the best tournament team ever, but if you're picking the best Connecticut team ever, they pretty much have to be undefeated.

Doesn't it also depend who they play during the regular season? We had a tough schedule away last year. As great as the 2002 team was, they beat Tennessee by 23 in the semis and Oklahoma by 12 in the finals. Last year we beat UCLA by 35 in the semis and South Carolina by 23 in the finals.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

With the mojo-warding disclaimer: “We’re DOOMED”…

Based on Massey-adjacent method Simple Rating System (SRS) from Sports Reference (SRSCB), here:

• SRS was first calculated beginning with the 2001-02 season (TASSK + Diana).
• One can filter the list, and apply a rerank on the filtered list.

 

[bballnut90]

Have always loved that snake-bit 2001 team - Sveta ended up as I think the only first team all American ever to play only the first half a season. 5 future Olympians, and underrated Kelly Schumacher and Kennitra Johnson. People also forget that Ashley Battle was the first to go down in game 5, followed by Sveta in game 19, and then Shea in game 30. And Shea was not 'a shell' of her former self - she averaged 10 points a game (.519%) and was second to sue in assists with 122 at a A/TO of 2.14 (better than Sue's.) And they had 11 players who average more than 10 minutes/game including the three who got injured - Sveta at 25, Shea at 24, and Ashley at 10. (Aside: Geno has referred to his coaching, especially at halftime, of that semi-final loss as his worst game ever.)

I also love the 2000 team (I love them all, even the non-championship teams.)

I stand by the 'shell of herself' statement--Shea went from being Final Four MOP, Big East Player of the Year and winning the Honda Sports Award as a junior to being 2nd Team All Big East and the team's 6th leading scorer as a senior. She wasn't close to being the player she was in 2000 due to knee pain.

 

[FridaFriend]

Another measure of dominance is the point differential of championship teams during the NCAA tournament

2016 +239
2010 +214
2013 +208
2015 +197
2025 +197
2000 +187
2002 +161
2014 +156

The only two non-UCONN schools in the top 10 were:

2019 Baylor +159
1982 Louisiana Tech +158 This was in only 5 games

The other 4 UCONN championship teams were:

1995 +144
2009 +141
2004 +108
2003 +99

All of Stewart's teams were in the top 10 all time
Pretty dominant!!!!!

 

[hoophuskee]

Doesn't it also depend who they play during the regular season? We had a tough schedule away last year. As great as the 2002 team was, they beat Tennessee by 23 in the semis and Oklahoma by 12 in the finals. Last year we beat UCLA by 35 in the semis and South Carolina by 23 in the finals.

Last year's team lost to Tennessee in February. The 01-02 team wasn't that way. As Renee Monty said there was a lot of added pressure going undefeated. And it shouldn't be 01-02' team's fault for being so dominant that they had what was it 1, 2-4 and 6 in the draft that other teams weren't as good? . . . ?

And if we're going to look at FF then let's look at E8. 01-02 won but 21 but had a 22 point halftime lead. That wasn't the case with last year's team. They struggled a bit in the E8 game-- and the other team didn't even have their best player.

At the end of the day we could "whatif' anything we feel important. I just think if talking about "greatest" the whole season counts and if there is perfection then that supersedes point differential in final fours etc.