Ranking the UConn Teams

[nelsonmuntz]

Ranking the UConn Sweet 16 teams in the modern era based on quality of the team. For this ranking, tournament outcomes matter, but are not the only factor driving the ranking. There were some bad beats in the tournament, and one team got on an amazing heater that no other team in college basketball history has ever gotten on.

1) 2024 - Best offensive team in NCAA history.

2) 2004 - Would have only lost 1 or 2 games if Okafor had stayed healthy the whole season.

3) 1999 - Really skilled and deep team. I only rank them 3 because the 2004 team had more future NBA starters.

4) 2023 - This team was very good, which makes the 2-6 stretch in the middle of the year so puzzling. How does this team lose to St. Johns (82 KenPom), Seton Hall (58) AND Providence (40)?

5) 2011 - The conference was stacked this year which caused some of the losses and the lower seed, but it was clear this was a championship caliber team by the BET.

6) 1995 - For the era, this was an amazing offensive team, with 4 future NBA players, Sheffer, who could have played NBA, and one of the best pure shooters UConn has ever had in Fair. If a Missouri defender could have gotten Tyus Edney to take one step right or left at any point during his 90-foot sprint in the second round, UConn would have cut down the nets this year.

7) 2026 - UConn was really good, and I think time will show just how talented this team was.

8) 2009 - If Dyson could have stayed healthy, UConn had a chance to cut down the nets.

9) 1990 - Not close to the most talented team individually, but as a team, this team was incredible. 1+1+1+1+1=10. Fudging Laettner.

10) 2006 - This UConn team could play The Team That Shall Not Be Named 100 times and win 97 or 98 of them. Another ball handler and better team chemistry would have helped.

11) 1998 - You could tell this team was a year away from being special all season long. Needed more experience.

12) 2014 - The single most amazing, unexpected tournament run in NCAA history.

13) 1994 - A case can be made to move this team up, but I am not sure this team was ready to be a Final Four team. There are curfews for a reason.

14) 2002 - Team was basically a one man show, but what a show it was.

15 EDIT) 2003 - similar to the 1998 team, you could tell this team was a year away. Can't believe I missed it originally.

16) 1996 - A case could be made for moving them way up, and Mississippi State was pretty good this year so it was not a terrible loss. Still, disappointing way to go out.

17) 1991 - UConn beat Shaq by 17 with Rod Sellers at Center. Amazing that this team reached the Sweet 16.

18) 1976 - Makes the cut because it was barely in the modern (32+ team Tournament) era, but ending your season with a loss to Rutgers puts you last on the list.

Have at it.

 

[InKembaITrust]

2011 was far more surprising than 2014 IMO.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

1995 team was exciting. Sheffer was the kind of PG I yearn for every season. Nothing fazed him.

 

[RuffRuff]

First 4 look about right, then it starts getting really subjective.

 

[Pmurph678]

2009 should be higher, with Dyson they are better than 2026

 

[Jaydumo20]

First 4 look about right, then it starts getting really subjective.

100% after that it starts to get into how much coaching had to do with it. Or if we won or lost a close but meaningful game.

But it's a fun game. I put 2011 higher because the beginning of the year, especially that Florida game, I had confidence that they could beat almost anyone.

 

[Lafayette]

#1 2024 - also very good defensive team (hint: 30-0 run in Elite 8)

 

[ZenConn]

15) 1996 - A case could be made for moving them way up, and Mississippi State was pretty good this year so it was not a terrible loss. Still, disappointing way to go out.

The team was still reeling after Ricky Moore was injured and had to sit out. I think we could have won that game if Ricky had played.

 

[superjohn]

Boy did I hear some stories about the 1994 team over final 4 wknd. It was such a different time than today.

2014 team needs to be honored. There's a reason Hurley kept mentioning Ollie in his postgames during the tournament.

 

[Fishy]

Ranking the UConn Sweet 16 teams in the modern era based on quality of the team. For this ranking, tournament outcomes matter, but are not the only factor driving the ranking. There were some bad beats in the tournament, and one team got on an amazing heater that no other team in college basketball history has ever gotten on.

1) 2024 - Best offensive team in NCAA history.

2) 2004 - Would have only lost 1 or 2 games if Okafor had stayed healthy the whole season.

3) 1999 - Really skilled and deep team. I only rank them 3 because the 2004 team had more future NBA starters.

4) 2023 - This team was very good, which makes the 2-6 stretch in the middle of the year so puzzling. How does this team lose to St. Johns (82 KenPom), Seton Hall (58) AND Providence (40)?

5) 2011 - The conference was stacked this year which caused some of the losses and the lower seed, but it was clear this was a championship caliber team by the BET.

6) 1995 - For the era, this was an amazing offensive team, with 4 future NBA players, Sheffer, who could have played NBA, and one of the best pure shooters UConn has ever had in Fair. If a Missouri defender could have gotten Tyus Edney to take one step right or left at any point during his 90-foot sprint in the second round, UConn would have cut down the nets this year.

7) 2026 - UConn was really good, and I think time will show just how talented this team was.

8) 2009 - If Dyson could have stayed healthy, UConn had a chance to cut down the nets.

9) 1990 - Not close to the most talented team individually, but as a team, this team was incredible. 1+1+1+1+1=10. Fudging Laettner.

10) 2006 - This UConn team could play The Team That Shall Not Be Named 100 times and win 97 or 98 of them. Another ball handler and better team chemistry would have helped.

11) 1998 - You could tell this team was a year away from being special all season long. Needed more experience.

12) 2014 - The single most amazing, unexpected tournament run in NCAA history.

13) 1994 - A case can be made to move this team up, but I am not sure this team was ready to be a Final Four team. There are curfews for a reason.

14) 2002 - Team was basically a one man show, but what a show it was.

15) 1996 - A case could be made for moving them way up, and Mississippi State was pretty good this year so it was not a terrible loss. Still, disappointing way to go out.

16) 1991 - UConn beat Shaq by 17 with Rod Sellers at Center. Amazing that this team reached the Sweet 16.

17) 1976 - Makes the cut because it was barely in the modern (32+ team Tournament) era, but ending your season with a loss to Rutgers puts you last on the list.

Have at it.

Generally agree.

Kinda off the topic, but 2000 was not a particularly good team, but it still rolls into the final four if KEA isn’t injured.

 

[RitzLuce1]

The 1994 Florida-UConn second half and overtime is on YouTube and after watching it, that team is very lucky the boneyard and X were not around at the time. I think it’s the worst ncaa loss we’ve ever had. The entire second half and overtime was a combo of being hungover and peeing down your leg. A hour long slow car crash. With BC waiting in the elite 8!

 

[Drame]

2011 was far more surprising than 2014 IMO.

Going into the season yes, but not going into the tournament. We're talking a 3 versus a 7 seed winning it

 

[RuffRuff]

The 1994 Florida-UConn second half and overtime is on YouTube and after watching it, that team is very lucky the boneyard and X were not around at the time. I think it’s the worst ncaa loss we’ve ever had. The entire second half and overtime was a combo of being hungover and peeing down your leg. A hour long slow car crash. With BC waiting in the elite 8!

Easily worse loss in UConn history. First F4 sitting there.

 

[JBG4]

Can't see 2006 being ranked any worse than #5. Stacked with talent.

 

[Travelman6]

2009 without Dyson getting injured was a threat vs unc in the championship imo. I think that's a better team than 2026.

Also, I think 2006 beats 2026 7 times out of 10 at least, but 26 had way more heart.

Can't see 2006 being ranked any worse than #5. Stacked with talent.

Most frustrating team I've seen since I started watching in 94. If they had 2026s grit they'd have smoked gmason and gotten number 3 and we'd be talking about how we almost got #8 last week.

Carons 2002 team was very good too, I'd put them around 10 and 2003 is top 15.

 

[InKembaITrust]

Going into the season yes, but not going into the tournament. We're talking a 3 versus a 7 seed winning it

I'm talking preseason expectations.

 

[Travelman6]

Easily worse loss in UConn history. First F4 sitting there.

Gmason 2006 was worse imo.

That nc st loss in 2005 really hurt too.

 

[Inyatkin]

Gmason 2006 was worse imo.

That nc st loss in 2005 really hurt too.

Nah, we had two titles to fall back on then.

My vote is Mississippi State 96. Felt like we were cursed at that point

 

[Excalibur]

Generally agree.

Kinda off the topic, but 2000 was not a particularly good team, but it still rolls into the final four if KEA isn’t injured.

The bracket opened up for us -- none of the remaining teams would have beaten us with a healthy El-Amin.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The 1994 Florida-UConn second half and overtime is on YouTube and after watching it, that team is very lucky the boneyard and X were not around at the time. I think it’s the worst ncaa loss we’ve ever had. The entire second half and overtime was a combo of being hungover and peeing down your leg. A hour long slow car crash. With BC waiting in the elite 8!

Maybe he was just furious with his star, but it was Calhoun's worst coached game of his career. Junior year KO was 2 for 8 from 3 going into that game, and he inexplicably took 2 3-point shots against Florida. Donyell was 0 for 5 from deep, which was not surprising considering. We needed shooting that night, and we had a 40.8% 3 point shooter in Brian Fair on the bench for all but 4 minutes of the game. Fair was a poor defender, but defense was not our problem in the second half and OT that night. Fair should have started the second half with the greenest light possible. I would have been fine living or dying on Fair's shooting any night, and it wasn't like Florida could score anyway so why did Calhoun care about his defense?

For the younger guys reading this, a 40.8% high volume 3-point shooter in 1994 is like a 50% high volume 3-point shooter today. They allowed a lot more contact on defense back then and offenses were not designed to generate as many open 3's, so Fair was getting clutched and grabbed on his way to 40.8% from deep. Fair would be one of the best shooters in the country if he was 21 right now, and no one would care at all about his defense.

 

[Excalibur]

Maybe he was just furious with his star, but it was Calhoun's worst coached game of his career. Junior year KO was 2 for 8 from 3 going into that game, and he inexplicably took 2 3-point shots against Florida. Donyell was 0 for 5 from deep, which was not surprising considering. We needed shooting that night, and we had a 40.8% 3 point shooter in Brian Fair on the bench for all but 4 minutes of the game. Fair was a poor defender, but defense was not our problem in the second half and OT that night. Fair should have started the second half with the greenest light possible. I would have been fine living or dying on Fair's shooting any night, and it wasn't like Florida could score anyway so why did Calhoun care about his defense?

For the younger guys reading this, a 40.8% high volume 3-point shooter in 1994 is like a 50% high volume 3-point shooter today. They allowed a lot more contact on defense back then and offenses were not designed to generate as many open 3's, so Fair was getting clutched and grabbed on his way to 40.8% from deep. Fair would be one of the best shooters in the country if he was 21 right now, and no one would care at all about his defense.

Our defense was a problem, but it was more interior defense. We needed to win the game on the perimeter, so I agree Fair should have played.

 

[RitzLuce1]

Gmason 2006 was worse imo.

That nc st loss in 2005 really hurt too.

George Mason was more embarrassing. But Florida was a slow motion choke job. Numerous missed free throws. A 9 minute scoring drought. A blown lead. And we still should have won. We played awful and almost survived it. Florida didn’t even play well. UConn gave that game away. You could at least argue Mason took the game from us.

Nc State in 2005 was a big fat whatever. We were going nowhere with Rashad Anderson not 100% and eventual champion UNC in our region.

And while it may have sucked at the time Mississippi State and 1996 were wiped from the record book with the season being vacated.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

2009 without Dyson getting injured was a threat vs unc in the championship imo. I think that's a better team than 2026.

Also, I think 2006 beats 2026 7 times out of 10 at least, but 26 had way more heart.


Most frustrating team I've seen since I started watching in 94. If they had 2026s grit they'd have smoked gmason and gotten number 3 and we'd be talking about how we almost got #8 last week.

Carons 2002 team was very good too, I'd put them around 10 and 2003 is top 15.

Oops. Missed 2003. Added them in.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Generally agree.

Kinda off the topic, but 2000 was not a particularly good team, but it still rolls into the final four if KEA isn’t injured.

I kept thinking that UConn needed to pull away that whole USU game so Calhoun could pull the starters, but they didn't, and then KEA gets hurt with about 90 seconds left.

 

[RuffRuff]

George Mason was more embarrassing. But Florida was a slow motion choke job. Numerous missed free throws. A 9 minute scoring drought. A blown lead. And we still should have won. We played awful and almost survived it. Florida didn’t even play well. UConn gave that game away. You could at least argue Mason took the game from us.

Nc State in 2005 was a big fat whatever. We were going nowhere with Rashad Anderson not 100% and eventual champion UNC in our region.

And while it may have sucked at the time Mississippi State and 1996 were wiped from the record book with the season being vacated.

GM was an Elite 8 with a sluggish team after having won two titles already.

94 was our first real chance at the third weekend after Duke ringing our bell twice in years prior. The game was in hand.

 

[Excalibur]

GM was an Elite 8 with a sluggish team after having won two titles already.

94 was our first real chance at the third weekend after Duke ringing our bell twice in years prior. The game was in hand.

In 94 you knew we would have good teams for the next few years. I was way more upset in 96. That was the first time where you began to question whether it would ever actually happen.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

1995 team was exciting. Sheffer was the kind of PG I yearn for every season. Nothing fazed him.

It was just a good team. Ollie and Donny were ace defenders, Sheffer was steady, Ray was becoming Ray, and Knight was a really good center offensively, particularly with his passing. Brian Fair didn't play enough for my tastes, but he was a very accurate shooter coming off the bench. UCLA played almost a perfect game against us in the Final 8.

 

[Excalibur]

It was just a good team. Ollie and Donny were ace defenders, Sheffer was steady, Ray was becoming Ray, and Knight was a really good center offensively, particularly with his passing. Brian Fair didn't play enough for my tastes, but he was a very accurate shooter coming off the bench. UCLA played almost a perfect game against us in the Final 8.

Toby Bailey played the game of his life. Guy averaging under 10 at the time goes for 26 on 10-16 shooting.

He did it again in the Championship game.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

George Mason was more embarrassing. But Florida was a slow motion choke job. Numerous missed free throws. A 9 minute scoring drought. A blown lead. And we still should have won. We played awful and almost survived it. Florida didn’t even play well. UConn gave that game away. You could at least argue Mason took the game from us.

Nc State in 2005 was a big fat whatever. We were going nowhere with Rashad Anderson not 100% and eventual champion UNC in our region.

And while it may have sucked at the time Mississippi State and 1996 were wiped from the record book with the season being vacated.

The biggest weakness of the 2006 team was ballhandling. Marcus Williams was an amazing point guard, but he was not in primo shape and would get tired, and there was no one else that could handle the ball. The backup PGs (Austrie, Garrison) were smart, but a big step down in terms of skills. The rest of the team was great. Denham Brown could do a little of everything, Rashad Anderson shot 40% from 3, Rudy Gay was the prototype attacking 90's/00's wing, and the front court of Boone, Armstrong, and a freshman Adrien was as good as any in the country. Calhoun only played Williams 33 mpg that season which shows Williams' conditioning issues given that back then because Calhoun typically didn't like taking his PG off the floor.

Ironically, UConn lost to GMU inside. They only had 9 TOs that game against 15 assists, but Boone and Armstrong got abused by GMU's 6'7 front court. Adrien had a great game, but I believe was on the bench in OT.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

#1 2024 - also very good defensive team (hint: 30-0 run in Elite 8)

The 2024 team's offense would break the other team's will. It felt like UConn was scoring every possession, which put so much pressure on the other team's offense to keep pace. If they started to fall behind, teams would panic because they knew there was no recovering. The Alabama Final Four game is the perfect example. They shot out of their mind for 30 minutes, but they could not get a sustained lead, and UConn just kept scoring, so Alabama's shots got crazier and crazier until they started missing, and UConn finally pulled away.

UConn was 50% from the field, 40% from 3, with only 4 TO's in that game, and we killed them on the offensive boards. Imagine being on the other side of that. They could not get stops. We broke them. The difference with Illinois is that the Illini were not hitting crazy shots early.