Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="SubbaBub, post: 5284939, member: 523"] This makes zero sense. Talent is no longer concentrated in top schools and leagues. You think Bulter, SDSU, FAU happen in 2004 or 2009? George Mason was earth shattering in 2006 (against a soft entitled UConn team). Now it's practically an annual event. Maybe NIL shoves no names off the stage, we'll see. Hilton, who mentioned him? He was a bench player in 04. Gordon was the first guard off the board after Dwight Howard and Okafor. Centers aren't as valuable today which make the DC argument even weaker. But this isn't about draft position. The older teams played better competition, period. The older teams were tougher and stronger. The newer teams shoot 3s better and from more people but they also don't dribble/drive, rebound or defend as well. If you don't think Moore/Brown can handle Newton or Spencer or that Rash and KEA can score with them then you either didn't watch them play or you're just deluding yourself. Rip should be in the HoF, he scored on people way better than Castle in college and the NBA. Free and Boone are mismatches for AK unless he's hitting from deep, which he doesn't always do. And just stop with the centers, Jake was way stronger and just as big as DC. He can play him straight up. Oak is 4inches shorter and might need a double from Boone/Armstrong to help. If 24 needs DC to score to win, then they aren't winning. 24 is relying on beating Rip, KEA, Anderson and Gordon on defense by screening at the 3pt line and making a good percentage. It's certainly possible for one game but just isn't the most likely outcome. They were all dominating champs, all 6. They all blew through the tournament. 6 games in a row. It's a nice history problem to have, but 2004 had it all including a bench that beats the other 5 benches, 2023 being the closest. What happens when Oak gets to go against Johnson for 15 minutes a game? How about Brown or KEA against Diarra? Boone, Freeman, Rip, CV vs Stewart or Ross or even AK? 2024 beat down who was in front of them. Nobody is matching a 30-0 run against a Big Ten Champ. Take nothing away from the only UConn back to back champs. If I gave points for playing as a team and completeness, they get the most but on the court 2004 wins, 99 would be fairly even and depend on who's hot but 2024 has no one even close to Rip. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach