Is it close or not
- Thread starter zoid1
- Start date
It seems people forgot how good the 1996 team was. The '96 team would likely go undefeated in the current NCAA.
Compare the 1998, 2010, 2012, or 2015 (modern era) teams and then we can have a more nuanced conversation.
Compare the 1998, 2010, 2012, or 2015 (modern era) teams and then we can have a more nuanced conversation.
Can we please see how these guys play in October before the fan base just decides to go full retard? The 95-96 team? Really?
Nah, man, I'm old enough to remember that championsip and to remember that immediately after and ever since we've looked on that as not just a great UK team but one of THE great teams in college basketball history.
This team is not in the same league as the 1996. I’m almost 80 and can remember the 58 team but never saw them play. However, from 78 until 2012 the 96 squad was the best.
Why does the page constantly refresh on this site?
Why does the page constantly refresh on this site?
I get that, but I'm not sure furure NBA talent automatically makes one team better than the other.
The college game is so different than the pro game and also, most of the guys that only play 1 year in college, then go pro, aren't playing at an NBA level when they're in college.
It would be different if SGA was playing at his current level when he was at UK, but he was just a shadow of himself.
The guys that came into college and dominated before going to the NBA, are pretty rare. I mean, Wall, Carmello, AD, Zion, Anthony Edwards, flagg, Towns etc… aren't common enough to buikd teams out of.
Give me a well coached college team with guys like Clayton, Martin, Oscar, Wayne Turner, Jodie Meeks, Oweh etc… and I would take them over all but a handful of freshmen.
Lastly, how many guys from that 96 team were more than just role players in the league? How many were stars? How many stuck around for 10 or 20 years? I really don’t know, just asking.
Oh I remember that season well too, they were crazy good, but they did lose 2 games, they weren't unbeatable and quite honestly, today's game has a lot more parity and the SEC is far tougher right now than it was back then. So many more teams and they all care more about college basketball than they did in the 90's.
Don't get me wrong here, the 96 team is better individually top to bottom, but shit, if this team goes 38-2, against this schedule, there is a conversations to be had.
Zoid1, this is totally meaningless. What were you trying to prove. Every team in America could make a like comparison with their past players.
If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle
Well yeah, the odds of this team coming out of that schedule with only 2 losses, are extremely low.
If you are comparing roster or results, not close. ‘96 was better.
But that’s a different question than who would win if they played. Example, look at UMass ‘96 roster. One great player and nothing else. And they beat the ‘96 Cats. So it can happen. But overall, no.
But that’s a different question than who would win if they played. Example, look at UMass ‘96 roster. One great player and nothing else. And they beat the ‘96 Cats. So it can happen. But overall, no.
In today’s world, that’s not a guarantee
I think your estimate of only 3-4 guys on this year's team playing in the NBA may be a little low when it's all said and done.
Could be. Trying not to overhype them before they all step on the court together.
Honestly, the system Pope uses doesn’t require future NBA players to be successful. The screening and cutting gets guys open for good shots. His system depends on good shooters more than ultra athletes. And he will get much better talent than he did at BYU. We are more about great college players that create a great college team success.
The 96 team was when they all shaved their heads (after a loss?) and had 20-30 point runs against people
They also whipped out the denim uniforms (I bought the Cons) for the title game against Syracuse
Lots of full court trapping to almost Shamelessly wither and blow ppl out
Poor Wake Forrest (with Tim Duncan?) and Utah
Both seemed to run into UK into the NCAAs for like -- 4 straight seasons
UK going up like 35-3 and $hit
Almost uncomfortable like watching a bully push little kids around
Amen brother NOT EVEN CLOSE! 96 is the all time best team!
Here’s 5-10:
Pope - Quaintance
Epps - Johnson
Sheppard - Williams
Turner - Chandler
Mohammed - Moreno
I would certainly give you 1-5, but these matchups above, imo, favor the 2026 cats.
I'm still taking that 1996 bench.
Those guys had a combined 15 Elite 8s between the five of them, and a combined ten Final Fours. The only ones who might have an advantage on that bench for '26 is Moreno and JQ, but I'm not sure I'd take JQ over a 5th year senior Mark Pope. Sheppard is taking Williams' lunch money. Epps would out-smart JJ all game. Freshman Turner is giving sophomore Chandler hell.
Moreno over freshman Mohammed? Probably. That's about it as far as clear cut advantages for the '26 team.
Almost certainly not but with 96 we have the advantage of hindsight while 2026 is just arriving so I'm not going to close the door before we even walk through it.
On paper and with experience together in the system the answer is no though.
On paper and with experience together in the system the answer is no though.
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