The 25 best college basketball teams of the past 25 years

[HuskyHawk]

Last year's team belongs on this list. The reality was that the midseason losses were an anomaly that was corrected. We were the best team before that and after, despite a very close loss to Marquette.

I think the 2003-04 team would beat the 1998-99 team, but that's really not what is being measured. I think it is greatness compared to the peers.

 

[superjohn]

It's ridiculous the 2017-2018 Villanova team is ranked 15th on this list. They should be top 3, they steamrolled everyone in the tournament blowing out four top 15 teams. It's also arguably the most talented team.

 

[BlueMAB]

I don't get too worked up about these type of lists either, but it is nice to see UConn teams getting their credit that is overdue. That 1999 team was really good and they triple crowned the season winning the BE regular season, BE tournament, and the National Championship. I do think the UConn 2023 will go down as one of the better teams of all time and I see some teams on this list they are definitely better than, but I think Medcalf is looking at the seasons as well. The Villanova 2018 team is underrated IMO by a lot and should be a top 10 team.

The UConn 2023 did get screwed over with the BE officiating and I hate saying that as I very rarely talk about officiating. I am good at separating my UConn bias out of these kind of takes, but you don't have to believe me. The Marquette website agrees with this take, too.

2023-24 Big East Men’s Basketball Summer Check-In: Connecticut Huskies

Where do the reigning national champions go from here?

www.anonymouseagle.com

Great write up but no mention of Samson Johnson. Hoping he comes out of nowhere to surprise a lot of people.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

They were well beyond 25 years, but just wanted to mention Nevada Las-Vegas in 1990. Beat Duke in the final by 20 points and had three 30pt wins in the tournament.

 

[tzznandrew]

Hard not to think last years team not on there. How 'bout "top 25 March Madness teams" =#1

They would not be, nor would they deserve to be. But they would be Top 5, I'd expect.

In terms of just NCAAs it's hard to jump past that 2018 Nova team or 2009 UNC (though I wish we could have played them).

 

[auror]

It's ridiculous the 2017-2018 Villanova team is ranked 15th on this list. They should be top 3, they steamrolled everyone in the tournament blowing out four top 15 teams. It's also arguably the most talented team.

Think they got "penalized" because Xavier finished a game ahead of them in Big East in a true double round robin that year.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It's ridiculous the 2017-2018 Villanova team is ranked 15th on this list. They should be top 3, they steamrolled everyone in the tournament blowing out four top 15 teams. It's also arguably the most talented team.

Nah. There were no good teams that year. 1999 UConn or Duke or 2004 UConn thrashes that Nova team. Honestly, few of these recent teams could compete with the older era teams when top players weren't one and done.

 

[superjohn]

Nah. There were no good teams that year. 1999 UConn or Duke or 2004 UConn thrashes that Nova team. Honestly, few of these recent teams could compete with the older era teams when top players weren't one and done.

Bad take, that Nova team was nasty. They had the national player of the year, another top 10 player in the country, and their 6th man was probably as good as any shooting guard in the country. Five NBA players and the rotation were veterans. They were also coached by an all-time great coach.

 

[Ports21]

They were well beyond 25 years, but just wanted to mention Nevada Las-Vegas in 1990. Beat Duke in the final by 20 points and had three 30pt wins in the tournament.

Then why would they be mentioned in best teams of the last 25 years?

 

[uconnfan68]

No one will ever do what 2011 did.

 

[gsmooth]

Bad take, that Nova team was nasty. They had the national player of the year, another top 10 player in the country, and their 6th man was probably as good as any shooting guard in the country. Five NBA players and the rotation were veterans. They were also coached by an all-time great coach.

Yeah my lasting memory of that 2018 Nova team was them making the title game boring and them obliterating every team in the NCAAT (maybe WVU game them a somewhat tough match).

UConn 2004/UConn 1999/UConn 2023 vs Nova 2018/Nova 2016 would be a hell of a best of 7 series.

 

[Deepster]

The 2 UConn losses in 98/99 were:

1) The loss to Syracuse 59-42. They were 15-0 (2/1/99) and without Voskuhl and Rip. They were short 2 starters, their best player and shot 3/15 from 3 over the zone.

2) The loss on 2/20/99 to #15 Miami. From there they ripped off 15 wins in a row.

Make no mistake, that team was a season long mission and would not be denied.

 

[gsmooth]

The 2 UConn losses in 98/99 were:

1) The loss to Syracuse 59-42. They were 15-0 (2/1/99) and without Voskuhl and Rip. They were short 2 starters, their best player and shot 3/15 from 3 over the zone.

2) The loss on 2/20/99 to #15 Miami. From there they ripped off 15 wins in a row.

Make no mistake, that team was a season long mission and would not be denied.

If I recall correctly, they were not all that healthy even for the Miami game even though the Rip and Voskuhl played.

 

[Inyatkin]

If I recall correctly, they were not all that healthy even for the Miami game even though the Rip and Voskuhl played.

No, they were fine, Miami was really good that year. We still had a chance to win in the last possession though

 

[KryHavok]

I'm glad UConn is listed twice in the top 10, but ummmm, the school won 5 NCAAs in those 25 years. Seems that list needs to include more UConn and less Puke (5 mentions, that stinks) or Kansas (3 mentions), then it would be a seriously accurate list!!!

 

[tzznandrew]

I'm glad UConn is listed twice in the top 10, but ummmm, the school won 5 NCAAs in those 25 years. Seems that list needs to include more UConn and less Puke (5 mentions, that stinks) or Kansas (3 mentions), then it would be a seriously accurate list!!!

I mean, this is regular and post-season, and three of our title teams didn't combine an exceptional regular season with that post-season success. None won the regular season conference title, and two didn't win the conference tournament.

I think this was a fair showing given that. You can make an argument for 2023, but that's about it.

 

[djct1999]

I mean, this is regular and post-season, and three of our title teams didn't combine an exceptional regular season with that post-season success. None won the regular season conference title, and two didn't win the conference tournament.

I think this was a fair showing given that. You can make an argument for 2023, but that's about it.

100%. When you factor in the totality of the season, this years team probably doesn't deserve it. But rest assured, the way they were playing March, no one on this list would want to face them.

 

[Dogdeacon]

I'm glad UConn is listed twice in the top 10, but ummmm, the school won 5 NCAAs in those 25 years. Seems that list needs to include more UConn and less Puke (5 mentions, that stinks) or Kansas (3 mentions), then it would be a seriously accurate list!!!

UConn treated that list EXACTLY the way it treats the season-to-NCAA tournament, what matters most is who is on top at the end.

 

[tzznandrew]

100%. When you factor in the totality of the season, this years team probably doesn't deserve it. But rest assured, the way they were playing March, no one on this list would want to face them.

Side note: of the teams that didn't make the title that were on this list (1999 Duke, 2002 Duke, 2019 Duke, 2015 Kentucky, 2005 Illinois, 2008 Memphis, 2000 Cincinnati), I think 2009 UConn is had a very strong argument. Oh well.