The breakdown of the top five player in the history of every NBA franchise continues with a look at the Phoenix Suns.
The best point-guard in Suns history was Kevin Johnson. Johnson was every a great all-around point-guard who combined great scoring numbers and assist numbers to become one of the best point-guards during the 90s. Johnson averaged 18 points, 9 assists and 2 steals per game to key the Suns offensive attack. Johnson was the franchise leader in assists, until Steve Nash took the record in February 2012. Johnson is still the franchise leader in free throws made. Johnson's weakness was his outside shooting where he only shot 30 percent for his career. However, Johnson overcame his poor outside with great ball-handling and athleticism.
The best shooting-guard in Suns history was Danny Ainge. With all due respect to Ainge, shooting-guard is the weakest position in Suns franchise history. Ainge came to the Suns after being signed as a free agent away from the Boston Celtics. Ainge brought a winning mentality the Suns lacked and during his three year stint with the Suns showcased the veteran leadership the Suns needed. During his career, Ainge averaged 12 points, 4 assists and shot 38 percent from 3-point range providing the Suns with the 3-point threat they desperately needed. At this point in his career, Ainge had slowed down considerably in the speed department and became a liability on defense.
The best small-forward in Suns history was Walter Davis. Davis is still considered to be the best shooters in Suns' history. Davis had one of the purest shooting strokes in the league from 1977 to 1992 averaging 19 points per game. In today's game, the best pure shooters are great 3-point shooters, but Davis' great shooting touch came from mid-range. Davis is still the franchise leader in points. His best season may have been his rookie season when he put up 24 points and 6 rebounds both would be his career highs in both categories.
The best power-forward and best player in Suns history was Charles Barkley. Make no mistake, Barkley was as great a player in Philadelphia as he was with the Phoenix Suns, but since Barkley is the best player in Suns history I will put him here. Barkley had the unenviable task of playing during the Michael Jordan era. Barkley was a beast of a player, despite being 6'6" he was able to use his incredible athleticism to out jump taller power-forwards. During his career with the Suns he averaged, 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steal per game. Barkley's tenacity on the boards intimidated opponents.
The best center in Suns history was Alvan Adams. Adams was a great rebounder and team defensive player who could score when needed, but primarily focused on being the team's stalwart on defense. Adams averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game, but in 1977 broke exploded with a triple-double of 47 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists. Adams is the franchise leader in rebounds and steals for the Suns.
The Phoenix Suns have always been an exciting team from the Paul Westphal-Adams days in the the 70s to the Barkley-Johnson era in the to the current Steve Nash era. The franchises' strongest positions are point-guard and power-forward. Point-guard has featured Johnson, Jason Kidd and Nash, while power-forward featured Tom Chambers, Charles Barkley and Amare Stoudemire.
"Where sports history meets the present" The place for true sports fans.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Los Angeles Lakers Players In Franchise History
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most storied teams in NBA history. Even the logo itself is based on Laker hall of famer Jerry West. Three notable players are not on this list Shaquille O'neal is not on this list because he is on the Orlando Magic list, Kobe Bryant is not on this list because he is a current player and Kareem Abdul Jabbar is not on this list because he is on the Milwaukee Bucks list.
The best point-guard was Magic Johnson. Johnson is the tallest point-guard in NBA history and during his career he has played in every position. Johnson averaged 20 points and 11 assists during his career and ushered in the "showtime" era of Lakers basketball alongside Kareem and James Worthy. Johnson utilized his size advantage to oversee the offense and get the ball to the open man. Worthy retired in 1991 after revealing he had HIV only to make a one season comeback in 1995.
The best shooting-guard was Gail Goodrich. Goodrich was one of best jump shooter in the late 60s and early 70s. Together Goodrich and West dominated opposing back courts. Goodrich averaged 19 points per game despite not being a great inside player. Goodrich was simply one of the most gifted scorers the NBA had, while his defense left a lot to desire due to his somewhat limited athletic ability.
The best small-forward was Jame Worthy. Worthy was the third part of the "Showtime" offense that featured Kareem and Johnson. Worthy had a great all-around game he could shoot from the outside, get to the basket, play in the post, defend, good rebounder and passer. However, what truly made his great was his play during clutch time. For example, in the 1988 NBA Finals game 7, Worthy posted the only triple-double of his career with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists to win the Finals MVP. Whenever the Lakers needed the extra boost at the end of game they looked to Worthy to win the game.
The best power-forward was Elgin Baylor. Baylor at 6'5" switched between playing small-forward and power-forward depending on the opposing teams lineup. Baylor was one of the most athletic players during his playing days and used that athletic ability to get to the basket, averaging 27 points and 14 rebounds per game. Despite a franchise that has boasted such great big men as O'neal, Wilt Chamberlan and Jabbar the player with the most rebound in franchise history remain Baylor at 6'5".
The best player in franchise history was center Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain was dominant during his career. If you think Dwight Howard and O'neal are dominant they are nothing compared to Wilt Chamberlain. For his career, Chamberlain averaged 30 points and 22 rebounds per game. Before he became a Laker he was criticized as a selfish player, in response during the 1967-68 season he became the first center to ever lead the NBA in assists. He is the only player to score 100 points in one game and is still the NBA leader in rebounds and is fourth all-time in points, including the 1961-62 season in which he averaged 50 points per game. The only criticism against Chamberlain is that he only won two titles during his career, but that was mostly due to the teammate around Chamberlain as opposed to Chamberlain himself.
The best shooting-guard was Gail Goodrich. Goodrich was one of best jump shooter in the late 60s and early 70s. Together Goodrich and West dominated opposing back courts. Goodrich averaged 19 points per game despite not being a great inside player. Goodrich was simply one of the most gifted scorers the NBA had, while his defense left a lot to desire due to his somewhat limited athletic ability.
The best small-forward was Jame Worthy. Worthy was the third part of the "Showtime" offense that featured Kareem and Johnson. Worthy had a great all-around game he could shoot from the outside, get to the basket, play in the post, defend, good rebounder and passer. However, what truly made his great was his play during clutch time. For example, in the 1988 NBA Finals game 7, Worthy posted the only triple-double of his career with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists to win the Finals MVP. Whenever the Lakers needed the extra boost at the end of game they looked to Worthy to win the game.
The best power-forward was Elgin Baylor. Baylor at 6'5" switched between playing small-forward and power-forward depending on the opposing teams lineup. Baylor was one of the most athletic players during his playing days and used that athletic ability to get to the basket, averaging 27 points and 14 rebounds per game. Despite a franchise that has boasted such great big men as O'neal, Wilt Chamberlan and Jabbar the player with the most rebound in franchise history remain Baylor at 6'5".
The best player in franchise history was center Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain was dominant during his career. If you think Dwight Howard and O'neal are dominant they are nothing compared to Wilt Chamberlain. For his career, Chamberlain averaged 30 points and 22 rebounds per game. Before he became a Laker he was criticized as a selfish player, in response during the 1967-68 season he became the first center to ever lead the NBA in assists. He is the only player to score 100 points in one game and is still the NBA leader in rebounds and is fourth all-time in points, including the 1961-62 season in which he averaged 50 points per game. The only criticism against Chamberlain is that he only won two titles during his career, but that was mostly due to the teammate around Chamberlain as opposed to Chamberlain himself.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Best Players in Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets History
Every team that has occupied the city of Charlotte has had a tenuous existence. The Hornets started in Charlotte in 1988 and relocated in 2001 to New Orleans. Charlotte would receive a new franchise in 2004 called the Bobcats. The Bobcats and Hornets have struggled in recent years to be relevent, but in the mid-90s, the Charlotte Hornets routinely made the playoffs, but never were able to get past the conference semifinals. Here are the best players in Charlotte Hornets history.
Note: Alonzo Mourning would be on this list, but since he had a longer career with the Miami Heat I put him on the that list.
The best point-guard in Charlotte Hornets history was Muggsy Bogues. Bogues is still to this day the shortest player in NBA history at 5'3". Bogues brought a different energy to the court and was an instant spark on both side of the floor. On offense, he struggled to score due to his vertical limitations, but he made up for that with his great passing skills. Bogues averaged eight assists for his career and is still leads that franchise in assists. Bogues was also a great defensive player averaging two steals per game and is the franchise leader in steals. More than anything Bogues brought an energy that could be felt throughout the team. For example, Bogues has even blocked a Patrick Ewing shot attempt from behind.
The best shooting-guard in Hornets history was Dell Curry. Curry had quite possibly the best shooting stroke in NBA history, though Ray Allen has a silky smooth stroke as well. Curry averaged 12 points per game for his career and provided a good outlet for Bogues to get the ball to. Curry is the franchise leader in points, 3-point field goals made and games played. He also shot 41 percent from 3-point range despite taking around three 3-point shots per game. Curry was one of the players taken in the expansion draft in 1988 and spent most of his years coming off the bench wining one sixth man of the year awards in the process. Curry was never a good defender, but for most of his time in with the Hornets it was covered up by good defensive centers in Mourning and Vlade Divac.
The best small-forward in Hornets history was Glen Rice. Rice only played three seasons with the Hornets, but they were the best statistical seasons of his career. Rice was a dynamic scorer particular from mid-range and from 3-point territory. He averaged 23 points per game during his run with the hornets and is second in franchise history at 44 percent from 3-point range. Rice was a marginal defender and passer, but when the Hornets needed someone to put the ball in the basket, Rice was the go to player.
The best power-forward in Hornets history and best player was Larry Johnson. Johnson is most widely known for his playoff runs with Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks, but Johnson's best seasons came as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. In fact, his worst season in Charlotte (16.4 ppg) was better than his best season in New York (15.5 ppg). Johnson had no weakness early on in his career as he is the franchise leader in rebounds, second in assists and second in points. Johnson was so well-rounded that he put up back-to-back triple-doubles in 1993. He could beat you offensively in multiple ways: In the post, off the dribble or from mid-range. He utilized his strong upper body in the post. He also had agile feet and coach Allan Bristow would even put Johnson at small-forward to utilize his combination of strength and speed. He also featured a solid mid-range jumper particularly around the elbow area. Johnson was also a good on-ball defender until back injuries derailed his career in New York.
The best center other than Mourning in Hornets history was Vlade Divac. Divac was one of the first European players to make a successful transition to the NBA style of basketball. He possessed rare qualities for an NBA center; he was mobile, good ball handler, good passer and could shoot from the outside. His best attribute was his team defense, he was good at rotating on player and developed the technique known as flopping. His style of defense was particular confusing to Shaquille O'neal.
Note: Alonzo Mourning would be on this list, but since he had a longer career with the Miami Heat I put him on the that list.
The best point-guard in Charlotte Hornets history was Muggsy Bogues. Bogues is still to this day the shortest player in NBA history at 5'3". Bogues brought a different energy to the court and was an instant spark on both side of the floor. On offense, he struggled to score due to his vertical limitations, but he made up for that with his great passing skills. Bogues averaged eight assists for his career and is still leads that franchise in assists. Bogues was also a great defensive player averaging two steals per game and is the franchise leader in steals. More than anything Bogues brought an energy that could be felt throughout the team. For example, Bogues has even blocked a Patrick Ewing shot attempt from behind.
The best shooting-guard in Hornets history was Dell Curry. Curry had quite possibly the best shooting stroke in NBA history, though Ray Allen has a silky smooth stroke as well. Curry averaged 12 points per game for his career and provided a good outlet for Bogues to get the ball to. Curry is the franchise leader in points, 3-point field goals made and games played. He also shot 41 percent from 3-point range despite taking around three 3-point shots per game. Curry was one of the players taken in the expansion draft in 1988 and spent most of his years coming off the bench wining one sixth man of the year awards in the process. Curry was never a good defender, but for most of his time in with the Hornets it was covered up by good defensive centers in Mourning and Vlade Divac.
The best power-forward in Hornets history and best player was Larry Johnson. Johnson is most widely known for his playoff runs with Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks, but Johnson's best seasons came as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. In fact, his worst season in Charlotte (16.4 ppg) was better than his best season in New York (15.5 ppg). Johnson had no weakness early on in his career as he is the franchise leader in rebounds, second in assists and second in points. Johnson was so well-rounded that he put up back-to-back triple-doubles in 1993. He could beat you offensively in multiple ways: In the post, off the dribble or from mid-range. He utilized his strong upper body in the post. He also had agile feet and coach Allan Bristow would even put Johnson at small-forward to utilize his combination of strength and speed. He also featured a solid mid-range jumper particularly around the elbow area. Johnson was also a good on-ball defender until back injuries derailed his career in New York.
The best center other than Mourning in Hornets history was Vlade Divac. Divac was one of the first European players to make a successful transition to the NBA style of basketball. He possessed rare qualities for an NBA center; he was mobile, good ball handler, good passer and could shoot from the outside. His best attribute was his team defense, he was good at rotating on player and developed the technique known as flopping. His style of defense was particular confusing to Shaquille O'neal.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Best Players in Washington Wizards/Bullets History
The Washington Wizards have gone through many name changes during there history starting out as the Chicago Packers. Then Chicago Zyphers before moving to Baltimore where they became the Bullets, then finally made there move to Washington where they became the Wizards. The Wizards won their only NBA title in 1978.
The best point-guard was Earl Monroe. Monroe was mostly well know for his play as a New York Knick, but statistically Monroe's best seasons were with the Baltimore Bullets. Monroe averaged more than 20 points per game each of his four seasons with the Bullets along with Wes Unseld helped bring recognition to the Bullets team. Monroe had a modern type of game utilizing spin moves in the lane and no look passes. Monroe is what you would call a scoring point-guard as he only average four assists per game during his career. His other shortcoming was his defense.
The best shooting-guard was Phil Chenier. Chenier was great all-around player until the 1978 championship season when he was forced to sit out most of the season due to a back injury that he never really was able to recover from. However, after his rookie season Chenier went on a tear offensively over the next five seasons he averaged around 20 points per game, picking up the slack once Monroe was traded to the Knick in 1971. Chenier was also a solid defender as he averaged around two steals per game until the back issues started occurring.
The best small-forward was Greg Ballard. Small-forward is the weakest position in Wizards history. Ballard had a solid offensive game average 12 points and six rebounds during his career. However, Ballard's main contribution came on the defensive end as he and Unseld dominated defensively. Ballard remains the franchise leader in steals with 877 for his career with the Bullets. He was also a member of the 1978 NBA title team and play a big role in winning the title.
The best power-forward and best player in franchise history was Elvin Hayes. Hayes joined Unseld to form one of the most potent forward-center duos in NBA history. Hayes was a dominate force on both ends of the court as he is the franchise leader in points and blocks. Hayes put up Dwight Howard-like numbers averaging 21 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks per game. Hayes' offensive repertoire was extensive and his go to move was his turn around jumper. Hayes was given a Lebron James-like criticism for not being able to win a championship, but that changed when he helped lead the Bullets to the title in 1978. Hayes played at least 80 games every season during his 16 year NBA career.
The best center in franchise history was Wes Unseld. While Hayes was the offensive threat for the Bullets front court, while Unseld was the defensive stalwart. Unseld was one the most physically impressive players in the league and did all the small things to help the Bullets win the championship in 1978. Unseld is probably the best screen-setter in NBA history, not to mention his defensive awareness was amongst the best in the league. For his career, Unseld averaged 11 points and 14 rebounds but what made Unseld great was his ability to make a great outlet pass and his relentless pursuit on the glass. Unseld is still the franchise leader in rebounds and assists.
Four of the five players on this list were on the 1978 team that won the championship. However, the 1980s and 90s were not rough on the Washington team. There were brief turning points in 2000 when Michael Jordan came out of retirement and Gilbert Arenas was able to help get the Wizards into the playoff. Unfortunately, the Wizards were never able to reclaim the glory that those 1970s Bullets teams reached.
The best point-guard was Earl Monroe. Monroe was mostly well know for his play as a New York Knick, but statistically Monroe's best seasons were with the Baltimore Bullets. Monroe averaged more than 20 points per game each of his four seasons with the Bullets along with Wes Unseld helped bring recognition to the Bullets team. Monroe had a modern type of game utilizing spin moves in the lane and no look passes. Monroe is what you would call a scoring point-guard as he only average four assists per game during his career. His other shortcoming was his defense.
The best shooting-guard was Phil Chenier. Chenier was great all-around player until the 1978 championship season when he was forced to sit out most of the season due to a back injury that he never really was able to recover from. However, after his rookie season Chenier went on a tear offensively over the next five seasons he averaged around 20 points per game, picking up the slack once Monroe was traded to the Knick in 1971. Chenier was also a solid defender as he averaged around two steals per game until the back issues started occurring.
The best small-forward was Greg Ballard. Small-forward is the weakest position in Wizards history. Ballard had a solid offensive game average 12 points and six rebounds during his career. However, Ballard's main contribution came on the defensive end as he and Unseld dominated defensively. Ballard remains the franchise leader in steals with 877 for his career with the Bullets. He was also a member of the 1978 NBA title team and play a big role in winning the title.
The best power-forward and best player in franchise history was Elvin Hayes. Hayes joined Unseld to form one of the most potent forward-center duos in NBA history. Hayes was a dominate force on both ends of the court as he is the franchise leader in points and blocks. Hayes put up Dwight Howard-like numbers averaging 21 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks per game. Hayes' offensive repertoire was extensive and his go to move was his turn around jumper. Hayes was given a Lebron James-like criticism for not being able to win a championship, but that changed when he helped lead the Bullets to the title in 1978. Hayes played at least 80 games every season during his 16 year NBA career.
The best center in franchise history was Wes Unseld. While Hayes was the offensive threat for the Bullets front court, while Unseld was the defensive stalwart. Unseld was one the most physically impressive players in the league and did all the small things to help the Bullets win the championship in 1978. Unseld is probably the best screen-setter in NBA history, not to mention his defensive awareness was amongst the best in the league. For his career, Unseld averaged 11 points and 14 rebounds but what made Unseld great was his ability to make a great outlet pass and his relentless pursuit on the glass. Unseld is still the franchise leader in rebounds and assists.
Four of the five players on this list were on the 1978 team that won the championship. However, the 1980s and 90s were not rough on the Washington team. There were brief turning points in 2000 when Michael Jordan came out of retirement and Gilbert Arenas was able to help get the Wizards into the playoff. Unfortunately, the Wizards were never able to reclaim the glory that those 1970s Bullets teams reached.
Monday, March 26, 2012
NCAA Tournament Final Four Upsets
During this series, I have broken down the biggest upsets that have occurred in each round of the NCAA tournament. Now we come to the end as we break down the biggest upsets that have occurred during the Final Four and National Championship.
The No. 5 biggest NCAA tournament Final Four upset was when the Duke Blue Devils defeated UNLV Rebels 79-77 in the 1991 NCAA tournament national semifinal. A year prior, UNLV defeated the Blue Devils by 30 in the NCAA championship game, the biggest blowout in the history of the national championship game. For the 1991 season, the Rebels retained the core of their championship team in future NBA players Stacey Augmon, Larry Johnson and Greg Anthony. They also were undefeated heading into the championship game and had little trouble progressing through the tournament. However, the Duke contained a talented roster themselves in Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill and Christian Laettner. Laettner was the star for the Blue Devils putting up 28 points. The other factor was the Duke got Anthony into foul trouble early and took Augmon out of the game, only allowing six points.
The No. 4 biggest upset was when the Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 83-79 in the 1988 National Championship game. Oklahoma was a powerhouse featuring three superstars and Kansas had one. Oklahoma featured Stacey King, Harvey Grant and Mookie Blaylock, while Kansas had Danny Manning and coach Larry Brown. In this game, one superstar was better than three as Manning finished with 31 points and 18 rebounds to cap off a great collegiate career. The game was close throughout with the game being tied at 50 at half-time.
The No. 3 biggest upset was when the North Carolina State Wolfpack defeated the Houston Cougers 54-52 to win the 1983 National Championship. Houston was a powerhouse coming into the 1983 tournament with future NBA Hall of Famers in Hakeem Olajuwan and Clyde Drexler. Great games aren't defined by statistics, they are defined by moments and NC State's run to the championship was full of buzzer beating shot, but none was bigger than this moment. A 17-2 run by Houston to begin the 2nd half looked to have ended the story, but NC State fought back to tie the with two minutes left. The last designed play was a 30-foot heave by Dereck Whittenburn that glanced off the rim only to be dunked in by Lorenzo Charles. The other standout moment was when NC State head coach Jim Valvano ran onto the court after the play looking to hug as many people as possible.
The No. 2 biggest upset was when the Villanova Wildcats defeated the Georgetown Hoyas 66-64 to win the 1985 National Championship. Georgetown was lead by Patrick Ewing and was poised to win the title, especially against the No. 8 seeded Wildcats, whom Georgetown had already defeated twice during the season. However, Villanova shot 78 percent against the best defensive team in the college basketball even going nine for 10 in the 2nd half. After the game, Georgetown coach John Thompson and the rest of the Hoyas applauded Villanova's performance and showed praise for their opponent rather then hanging their shoulders after the loss. Villanova is still the lowest seeded team to ever with the national championship as a No. 8 seed.
The No. 1 biggest upset was when Texas Western defeated Kentucky 72-65 to win the 1966 NCAA championship. Kentucky was coached by legendary Adolph Rupp and featured All-Americans Pat Riley and Louie Dampier. This team was known as Rupp's "runts" and featured an all white player roster and no player was taller than 6'6". While Texas Western featured the first all African American starting lineup in NCAA championship history. Texas Western exploited Kentucky's lack of size and athleticism and ran on every play. This win resulted in Rupp recruiting the first African American player to the South Eastern Conference and really ushered in change to college basketball.
These are the biggest upsets in college basketball history.
The No. 5 biggest NCAA tournament Final Four upset was when the Duke Blue Devils defeated UNLV Rebels 79-77 in the 1991 NCAA tournament national semifinal. A year prior, UNLV defeated the Blue Devils by 30 in the NCAA championship game, the biggest blowout in the history of the national championship game. For the 1991 season, the Rebels retained the core of their championship team in future NBA players Stacey Augmon, Larry Johnson and Greg Anthony. They also were undefeated heading into the championship game and had little trouble progressing through the tournament. However, the Duke contained a talented roster themselves in Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill and Christian Laettner. Laettner was the star for the Blue Devils putting up 28 points. The other factor was the Duke got Anthony into foul trouble early and took Augmon out of the game, only allowing six points.
The No. 4 biggest upset was when the Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 83-79 in the 1988 National Championship game. Oklahoma was a powerhouse featuring three superstars and Kansas had one. Oklahoma featured Stacey King, Harvey Grant and Mookie Blaylock, while Kansas had Danny Manning and coach Larry Brown. In this game, one superstar was better than three as Manning finished with 31 points and 18 rebounds to cap off a great collegiate career. The game was close throughout with the game being tied at 50 at half-time.
The No. 3 biggest upset was when the North Carolina State Wolfpack defeated the Houston Cougers 54-52 to win the 1983 National Championship. Houston was a powerhouse coming into the 1983 tournament with future NBA Hall of Famers in Hakeem Olajuwan and Clyde Drexler. Great games aren't defined by statistics, they are defined by moments and NC State's run to the championship was full of buzzer beating shot, but none was bigger than this moment. A 17-2 run by Houston to begin the 2nd half looked to have ended the story, but NC State fought back to tie the with two minutes left. The last designed play was a 30-foot heave by Dereck Whittenburn that glanced off the rim only to be dunked in by Lorenzo Charles. The other standout moment was when NC State head coach Jim Valvano ran onto the court after the play looking to hug as many people as possible.
The No. 2 biggest upset was when the Villanova Wildcats defeated the Georgetown Hoyas 66-64 to win the 1985 National Championship. Georgetown was lead by Patrick Ewing and was poised to win the title, especially against the No. 8 seeded Wildcats, whom Georgetown had already defeated twice during the season. However, Villanova shot 78 percent against the best defensive team in the college basketball even going nine for 10 in the 2nd half. After the game, Georgetown coach John Thompson and the rest of the Hoyas applauded Villanova's performance and showed praise for their opponent rather then hanging their shoulders after the loss. Villanova is still the lowest seeded team to ever with the national championship as a No. 8 seed.
The No. 1 biggest upset was when Texas Western defeated Kentucky 72-65 to win the 1966 NCAA championship. Kentucky was coached by legendary Adolph Rupp and featured All-Americans Pat Riley and Louie Dampier. This team was known as Rupp's "runts" and featured an all white player roster and no player was taller than 6'6". While Texas Western featured the first all African American starting lineup in NCAA championship history. Texas Western exploited Kentucky's lack of size and athleticism and ran on every play. This win resulted in Rupp recruiting the first African American player to the South Eastern Conference and really ushered in change to college basketball.
These are the biggest upsets in college basketball history.
Monday, March 19, 2012
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight Upsets
The Elite Eight has featured some truly memorable performances from underdogs. Teams that win in the Elite Eight vault themselves from cinderella to true title contenders.
The No. 5 greatest upset NCAA tournament Elite Eight history was when No. 3 Marquette Golden Eagles defeated No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats 83-69 in the 2003 NCAA tournament. Kentucky was led by future NBA player Keith Bogans who averaged 16 points per game, while Marquette was led by future NBA all-star Dwyane Wade and current NBA forward Steve Novak. Bogans did his part putting in 15 points, but the this Elite Eight game became a showcase for Wade. Wade put up a triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and Novak also chipped in with 15 points.
The No. 4 greatest upset was when No. 5 Butler Bulldogs defeated No. 2 Kansas State Wildcats 63-56 in the 2010 NCAA tournament. The Wildcats were led by guard Jacob Pullen who averaged 19 points per game. However, Butler featured two future NBA players in Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack who had 22 and 16 points respectively to key the offensive effort. Butler used tough defense to force Pullen off his game, while Pullen did put up 14 points he did so shooting 4-13 from the field. The victory put Butler into the Final Four for the first time in school history. The Final Four was played five miles away from campus, giving the cinderella team basically home court advantage.
The No. 3 greatest upset was when No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) defeated No. 1 Kansas 71-61 in the 2011 NCAA tournament. Kansas featured one of the strongest front court in the country Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris. While VCU represented one of the best offensive teams in the country with a furious up tempo offense. Jamie Skeen led the way for VCU with 26 point and placed the game at their pace. The Morris duo also performed well for Kansas as they both had a double-double, but it was not enough. VCU also had the disadvantage of playing an additional game to get to the Final Four, as 2011 was first year that the tournament field had increased from 64 to 68.
The No. 2 greatest upset was when No. 11 Louisiana State University (LSU ) Tigers defeated No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats 59-57 in the 1986 NCAA tournament. The highlight of this game was the defense designed by LSU coach Dale Brown called "The Freak" to become the lowest seed to ever advance to the Final Four. The start of the season did not start well as LSU lost three players: one who quit, one got injured and another failed out, then to make things tougher the team was struck with chicken pox. Yet, Brown overcame it all and got his team to the Final Four. John Williams led the way for the Tigers with 16 points.
The No. 1 greatest upset was when No. 11 George Mason defeated No.1 Connecticut 86-84 in overtime during the 2006 NCAA tournament. Connecticut featured two future NBA players Hilton Armstrong and Rudy Gay, but were unable to overcome George Mason who had already gone through North Carolina earlier on in the tournament. Gay led the way with 20 points. However, coach Jim Larranaga kept his team focused throughout the game and the tournament as all five starters scored in doubles digit with Jai Lewis putting up 19 points. He also made a gutsy decision to keep his starters on the floor for almost the entirety of the game. Gabe Norwood played 19 minutes off the bench, but the rest of the bench played a combined six minutes in a game that went into overtime. The gamble paid off as the George Mason advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
The No. 5 greatest upset NCAA tournament Elite Eight history was when No. 3 Marquette Golden Eagles defeated No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats 83-69 in the 2003 NCAA tournament. Kentucky was led by future NBA player Keith Bogans who averaged 16 points per game, while Marquette was led by future NBA all-star Dwyane Wade and current NBA forward Steve Novak. Bogans did his part putting in 15 points, but the this Elite Eight game became a showcase for Wade. Wade put up a triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and Novak also chipped in with 15 points.
The No. 4 greatest upset was when No. 5 Butler Bulldogs defeated No. 2 Kansas State Wildcats 63-56 in the 2010 NCAA tournament. The Wildcats were led by guard Jacob Pullen who averaged 19 points per game. However, Butler featured two future NBA players in Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack who had 22 and 16 points respectively to key the offensive effort. Butler used tough defense to force Pullen off his game, while Pullen did put up 14 points he did so shooting 4-13 from the field. The victory put Butler into the Final Four for the first time in school history. The Final Four was played five miles away from campus, giving the cinderella team basically home court advantage.
The No. 3 greatest upset was when No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) defeated No. 1 Kansas 71-61 in the 2011 NCAA tournament. Kansas featured one of the strongest front court in the country Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris. While VCU represented one of the best offensive teams in the country with a furious up tempo offense. Jamie Skeen led the way for VCU with 26 point and placed the game at their pace. The Morris duo also performed well for Kansas as they both had a double-double, but it was not enough. VCU also had the disadvantage of playing an additional game to get to the Final Four, as 2011 was first year that the tournament field had increased from 64 to 68.
The No. 2 greatest upset was when No. 11 Louisiana State University (LSU ) Tigers defeated No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats 59-57 in the 1986 NCAA tournament. The highlight of this game was the defense designed by LSU coach Dale Brown called "The Freak" to become the lowest seed to ever advance to the Final Four. The start of the season did not start well as LSU lost three players: one who quit, one got injured and another failed out, then to make things tougher the team was struck with chicken pox. Yet, Brown overcame it all and got his team to the Final Four. John Williams led the way for the Tigers with 16 points.
The No. 1 greatest upset was when No. 11 George Mason defeated No.1 Connecticut 86-84 in overtime during the 2006 NCAA tournament. Connecticut featured two future NBA players Hilton Armstrong and Rudy Gay, but were unable to overcome George Mason who had already gone through North Carolina earlier on in the tournament. Gay led the way with 20 points. However, coach Jim Larranaga kept his team focused throughout the game and the tournament as all five starters scored in doubles digit with Jai Lewis putting up 19 points. He also made a gutsy decision to keep his starters on the floor for almost the entirety of the game. Gabe Norwood played 19 minutes off the bench, but the rest of the bench played a combined six minutes in a game that went into overtime. The gamble paid off as the George Mason advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen Upsets
While the upsets in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA tournament are exciting, it is the upsets that occur in the Sweet Sixteen that cement a team's Cinderella status. Teams like Davidson and George Mason have used the Sweet Sixteen to capture the attention of fans nation-wide.
The No. 5 biggest upset in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament was when No. 12 Missouri Tigers defeated No. 8 UCLA Bruins 82-73 in the 2002 NCAA tournament. For a matchup between eight and 12 seeds there was a lot of NBA talent on the court. The Bruins featured Dan Gadzuric, Matt Barnes and Jason Kopono. Jason Kopono was the Bruins leading scorer averaging 16 points per game and provided strong outside scoring, while Barnes provided athleticism and defensive tenacity and Gadzuric provided the strong post presence on both ends of the court. The Tigers also featured future NBA talent in forward Kareem Rush who was the leading scorer for the Tigers averaging 20 points per game. Missouri utilized a smart game plan that focused on running Kopono off the three-point line, while on offense Clarence Gilbert led the way with 23 points. The Tigers win over the Bruins was the first time a 12 seed had ever advanced to the Elite Eight.
The No. 4 biggest upset was when No. 5 Arizona Wildcats defeated No.1 Duke Blue Devils 93-77 in the 2011 NCAA tournament. Duke came into the 2010 NCAA Tournament as the defending champions and looked ready to make another run behind point-guard Kyrie Irving, instead the Wildcats blew out the Blue Devils in about four minutes of game time. Kyle Singler and Irving did their part for Duke accounting for 46 of Duke's 77 points, but not another Duke player scored in double digits. The second pick in the 2011 NBA Draft forward Derrick Williams dominated the game with 32 points and 13 rebounds.
The No. 3 biggest upset was when No. 10 Davidson Wildcats defeated No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers 73-56 in the 2008 NCAA tournament. Wisconsin like most Big Ten teams liked to slow down the pace and play solid defense. Davidson was coming off a huge victory in the second round when they defeated No. 1 Georgtown, thanks to up and coming guard Stephen Curry who was averaging almost 26 points per game. Wisconsin possessed one of the best defensive guards in the country in Michael Flowers and believed that if they could stop Curry, Davidson would go down. Flowers was not able to stop Curry as he scored 33 points. Wisconsin was unable to match the scoring output as there highest scorer Flowers only managed 12 points.
The No.2 biggest upset was when No. 11 Temple Owls defeated No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions 84-72 in the 2001 NCAA tournament. Penn State was led by guard Joe Crispin who led the team with an average of 20 points per game. However, the brotherly duo of Joe and John Crispin only managed to go 6-21 from the field, and the team overall struggled to score as they only managed to shoot 39 percent from the field, thanks to a stifling defense from Temple. Temple was led by guard Lynn Greer who had 21 points.
The No. 1 biggest upset in the history of the Sweet Sixteen was when No.11 Loyola Marymount Lions defeated No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide 62-60 in the 1990 NCAA tournament. Alabama was a front court heavy team led by future NBA player Robert Horry and David Benoit. Horry played well against the Lions putting up 21 points. However, the Lions featured one of the most offensively potent teams in the country leading the nation in scoring that year with an average of 122 points per game. Guard Bo Kimble led the Lions offense by being the nation's leading scorer averaging 35 points per game. Kimble put up 19 points to lead the Lions to the Elite Eight. The most memorable part of this run happened before the NCAA tournament. All-American Hank Gathers died suddenly during the West Coast Conference tournament championship game, while shooting a free throw. Despite the tragedy the Lions were able to make it to the Elite Eight.
The No. 5 biggest upset in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament was when No. 12 Missouri Tigers defeated No. 8 UCLA Bruins 82-73 in the 2002 NCAA tournament. For a matchup between eight and 12 seeds there was a lot of NBA talent on the court. The Bruins featured Dan Gadzuric, Matt Barnes and Jason Kopono. Jason Kopono was the Bruins leading scorer averaging 16 points per game and provided strong outside scoring, while Barnes provided athleticism and defensive tenacity and Gadzuric provided the strong post presence on both ends of the court. The Tigers also featured future NBA talent in forward Kareem Rush who was the leading scorer for the Tigers averaging 20 points per game. Missouri utilized a smart game plan that focused on running Kopono off the three-point line, while on offense Clarence Gilbert led the way with 23 points. The Tigers win over the Bruins was the first time a 12 seed had ever advanced to the Elite Eight.
The No. 4 biggest upset was when No. 5 Arizona Wildcats defeated No.1 Duke Blue Devils 93-77 in the 2011 NCAA tournament. Duke came into the 2010 NCAA Tournament as the defending champions and looked ready to make another run behind point-guard Kyrie Irving, instead the Wildcats blew out the Blue Devils in about four minutes of game time. Kyle Singler and Irving did their part for Duke accounting for 46 of Duke's 77 points, but not another Duke player scored in double digits. The second pick in the 2011 NBA Draft forward Derrick Williams dominated the game with 32 points and 13 rebounds.
The No. 3 biggest upset was when No. 10 Davidson Wildcats defeated No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers 73-56 in the 2008 NCAA tournament. Wisconsin like most Big Ten teams liked to slow down the pace and play solid defense. Davidson was coming off a huge victory in the second round when they defeated No. 1 Georgtown, thanks to up and coming guard Stephen Curry who was averaging almost 26 points per game. Wisconsin possessed one of the best defensive guards in the country in Michael Flowers and believed that if they could stop Curry, Davidson would go down. Flowers was not able to stop Curry as he scored 33 points. Wisconsin was unable to match the scoring output as there highest scorer Flowers only managed 12 points.
The No.2 biggest upset was when No. 11 Temple Owls defeated No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions 84-72 in the 2001 NCAA tournament. Penn State was led by guard Joe Crispin who led the team with an average of 20 points per game. However, the brotherly duo of Joe and John Crispin only managed to go 6-21 from the field, and the team overall struggled to score as they only managed to shoot 39 percent from the field, thanks to a stifling defense from Temple. Temple was led by guard Lynn Greer who had 21 points.
The No. 1 biggest upset in the history of the Sweet Sixteen was when No.11 Loyola Marymount Lions defeated No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide 62-60 in the 1990 NCAA tournament. Alabama was a front court heavy team led by future NBA player Robert Horry and David Benoit. Horry played well against the Lions putting up 21 points. However, the Lions featured one of the most offensively potent teams in the country leading the nation in scoring that year with an average of 122 points per game. Guard Bo Kimble led the Lions offense by being the nation's leading scorer averaging 35 points per game. Kimble put up 19 points to lead the Lions to the Elite Eight. The most memorable part of this run happened before the NCAA tournament. All-American Hank Gathers died suddenly during the West Coast Conference tournament championship game, while shooting a free throw. Despite the tragedy the Lions were able to make it to the Elite Eight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)