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Ranking the top 10 individual seasons, post-probation.

Son_Of_Saul

All-American
Dec 7, 2007
40,769
78,283
113
What's your list look like? Here's mine:

#1. 1993 Jamal Mashburn: 21ppg, 8.4rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg; 49%; 37%; 67%.
#2. 1992 Jamal Mashburn: 21ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg; 57%; 44%; 71%.
#3. 2012 Anthony Davis: 14.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 4.7bpg, 1.4spg; 62%; 15%; 71%.
#4. 2010 John Wall: 16.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 6.5apg, 1.8spg; 51%; 33%; 75%.
#5. 1996 Tony Delk: 17.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.8apg, 1.9spg; 49%; 44%; 80%.
#6. 1996 Antoine Walker: 15.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.7spg; 46%; 19%; 63%.
#7. 1997 Ron Mercer: 18.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.4apg, 1.7spg; 49%; 35%; 78%.
#8. 2009 Jodie Meeks: 23.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.8apg, 1.3spg; 46%; 41%; 90%. *
#9. 2024 Antonio Reeves: 20.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.6apg, 0.7spg; 56%; 45%; 86%. *
#10. 2022 Oscar Tschiebwe: 17.4ppg, 15.1rpg, 1.1apg, 1.8spg; 61%; 0%; 69%. *

Honorable mentions: 2017 Malik Monk; 2016 Jamal Murray; 2002 Tayshaun Prince; 1995 Tony Delk; 2003 Keith Bogans; 2010 DeMarcus Cousins; 2016 Tyler Ulis.


* I just can't put Meeks, Reeves, and Oscar ahead of the guys ranked #1-7. For one, their teams didn't even advance past the first weekend in those seasons with Kentucky. Meeks' team didn't make the tourney at all. Reeves' 2024 team got bounced in the first round. Oscar's 2022 team also got bounced in the first weekend.

Meanwhile, Mashburn made at least the Elite Eight in both of the seasons on this list, only falling in OT twice to some of the most legendary teams in college basketball history (1992 Duke and 1993 Michigan); Delk won it all in his season, as did Walker. Mercer almost single-handedly led his team within an OT of a title. Wall turned UK from an NIT team into a 35 win team in one season, and almost made the Final Four as a freshman. Davis obviously won it all.


Thoughts?
 
AD had the year of years. Love Mash but I’m putting AD up top.
I can understand that, but part of my rationale was asking the question: what would Mashburn have done on the 2012 team, and what would AD have done on the 1992 and 1993 teams?

I simply don't think the '92 or '93 teams would have been as good if AD was their main weapon, as opposed to Mashburn; and I think the 2012 still wins it all with Mashburn instead of AD. Just go small with Jones as your 5 and Mashburn as your 4. That team would have been impossible to defend with Miller, MKG, Lamb, and Teague as your other four pieces.

Mashburn's real issue was never having a legitimate second option. Ford was a great player, but he was one-dimensional. Rhodes and Delk weren't ready in '93, and the Unforgettables didn't have an NBA player.
 
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I can understand that, but part of my rationale was asking the question: what would Mashburn have done on the 2012 team, and what would AD have done on the 1992 and 1993 teams?

I simply don't think the '92 or '93 teams would have been as good if AD was their main weapon, as opposed to Mashburn; and I think the 2012 still wins it all with Mashburn instead of AD. Just go small with Jones as your 5 and Mashburn as your 4. That team would have been impossible to defend with Miller, MKG, Lamb, and Teague as your other four pieces.

Mashburn's real issue was never having a legitimate second option. Ford was a great player, but he was one-dimensional. Rhodes and Delk weren't ready in '93, and the Unforgettables didn't have an NBA player.
Who would've been our Center in 2012? Eloy Vargas? Unless we go smaller but then we'd miss the D of Anthony Davis. He's THE main reason we won it all.
 
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