Top 8 UK champions
- Thread starter Kentucky fan 1989
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Why? I don't know. Teams from 40-50 years before them aren't likely to be as athletic. They sure as hell didn't shoot threes as there was no reason to and I don't know many guys in the 40s and 50s who could guard guys like Magloire and Nazr.
you have to evaluate them for what they were in their era
beard was the isiah thomas of his day--better than anyone on 98, respective to peers
The 48' and 49' teams were just unbelievable and dominant. especially for their era. The '98 team was not dominant at all. Very good team, but hardly a dominant team that was expected to win a title, especially how they played at times during the year.
So right here you've already laid out a bias issue -
Implicit in your statement is that they'd be playing with a 3 point line, but if comparing a team before and after the 3 point line, why is that a fair assumption?
They could just as well play without one.
How do the refs deal with palming? If it's called like it was in the 50s, then every time a team from the 90s or later takes a dribble, they turn it over.
I think your points about the athleticism are fair - not really sure how it would play out. Might lean '98 by a little bit, but you have to be careful when establishing parameters for the game itself, because for many rules, either of the two options would produce a severe disadvantage to one team or the other.
1. 2012 (Yep..winning 38 games AND the National Title and dominating the SEC and having an amazing record against NCAA Tournament teams/Elite 8 teams/Final 4 teams puts them above the 1996 team that could barely handle an out manned UMass team in the Final 4 and that was beaten by that same insanely out manned UMass team earlier in the season by double digits.)
2. 1996
3. 1978
4.1998
5. 1948
6. 1949
7. 1958
8. 1951
Fun fact : The 2012 team was 16-2 vs. NCAA Tournament teams..10-1 vs. Sweet 16 teams..9-0 vs. Elite 8 teams..4-0 vs. Final 4 teams.
The 1998 team is extremely underrated by some. That team won the SEC, won the SEC Tournament, and had one of if not the most memorable run to the National Title ever. Utah, Stanford (An overtime classic), Duke (An amazing come back classic over DUKE), UCLA, etc...definitely a top 5 UK Champion.
The 78 team was preseason number 1 and was under lots of pressure to win the first national championship since Rupp They handle the pressure with a business like attitude
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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The 1978 team is vastly underrated on this board, and probably because a lot of the posters were too young. However, that team could play a fast game or a slow tiempo game. They also averaged 84ppg in the era where there was no shot clock or three point basket. If you're comparing the 1996 team to the 1978 team it's much closer than one thinks. We probably need IL Wildcat to give us a breakdown.
That 1996 UMass team was really good though. They went 35-2 and beat a lot of good teams out of conference. Camby was awesome and so was their backcourt.
Looking back at our 1958 roster our biggest man was center ed beck at 6'7."
Interestingly, of the 14-man roster, twelve were from kentucky. things sure have changed.
Interestingly, of the 14-man roster, twelve were from kentucky. things sure have changed.
Nobody dominated the SEC like the 96 Cats. Only 1 win by single digits (compare that to 5 by 2012 - 7 if you count the SEC tournament) and 6 wins by 30 plus points (compare that to 2 by the 2012 squad). Average margins of victory in SEC play was 16ppg for 2012 and the 1996 team was 24ppg average margin of victory. Pure dominance by the 1996 squad.
Both teams were special, no doubt about that!
It's hard to count anything during segregation because the best players probably were not allowed to be played.
If you go strictly by accomplishments, the Fabulous 5 will always be the best because of their national title and Olympic gold medal.
If you go strictly by accomplishments, the Fabulous 5 will always be the best because of their national title and Olympic gold medal.
Really good because of Coach Cal. We saw Coach Cal out coach Rick Pitino TWICE that season but came up just short in the Final 4 because UMass just didn't have the talent the 96 UK team had. Now Coach Cal gets the talent and has stomped Rick Pitino 8 out of 10 times. Enough said.
I agree but the 96 UK team didn't dominate RANKED teams like the 2012 UK team did...2012 UK was 10-0 vs. ranked teams..
96 UK was 8-2 vs. ranked teams. Both were all time amazing and great teams..but 2012 UK had TWO things 96 UK didn't have..Coach Cal and Anthony Davis.
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1. 1996
2. 2012
3. 1978
4. 1948
5. 1949
6. 1951
7. 1998
8. 1958
The last two were a bit of surprising runs IMO. I'll admit I am not enough of a scholar to rank 48, 49, and 51 in any fair order, but 48 did win the Olympics as well so I give them the edge over the other two, and then those guys came back and repeated in 49. It's really hard to rank the teams overall honesty due to different eras.
I just feel 96 holds up best over time and they beat a great UMASS team in the tourney run and dominated everyone up until the Final Four. 2012 won 38 games and set a record for wins in a season. 78 was great as well, played some really good teams in MSU and Ark on the path to the title.
2. 2012
3. 1978
4. 1948
5. 1949
6. 1951
7. 1998
8. 1958
The last two were a bit of surprising runs IMO. I'll admit I am not enough of a scholar to rank 48, 49, and 51 in any fair order, but 48 did win the Olympics as well so I give them the edge over the other two, and then those guys came back and repeated in 49. It's really hard to rank the teams overall honesty due to different eras.
I just feel 96 holds up best over time and they beat a great UMASS team in the tourney run and dominated everyone up until the Final Four. 2012 won 38 games and set a record for wins in a season. 78 was great as well, played some really good teams in MSU and Ark on the path to the title.
'98 deserves to be in the top 5. While the run was unexpected by the fans, that team finished 35-4, won the SEC, the SEC tourney and was a 2 seed going into the tournament.
Quit letting your hate of Tubby Smith blind you to how good that team was. They weren't the best team in college ball that year but they were certainly Top 5
Quit letting your hate of Tubby Smith blind you to how good that team was. They weren't the best team in college ball that year but they were certainly Top 5
I would argue 1998 was the only year we won a championship when we weren't the best team. Now, we've lost the championship when we were the best team plenty of times - in fact, twice during Cal's tenure.
1. Yes, I'd agree they were top 5. They avoided playing UNC, Arizona and Kansas though. They had a very favorable path to the title other than playing the tough 1 seed in Duke in the Elite 8. They were a very good team, but I'd rank them 4th in modern UK championship teams.
2. Those 48, 49, and 51 teams were dominant teams as well. I think you have to compare the teams to other teams in their era. That said, if you want to rank 98 UK 5th that is certainly fine to do.
And to the poster who says 98 was our only surprise champ, I disagree as 58 was a 6 loss champ.
96 pressed and took a lot of 3s
played faster than 2012. not surprising they'd have more blowout wins
played faster than 2012. not surprising they'd have more blowout wins
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Sorry, but the 2012 team was not better than the 1978 team and it's very close between the '96 and '78 team. The 2012 team actually showed just how diluted college basketball has become with all of the defections to the NBA.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Laugh all you want since you obviously didn't see the 1978 team play. What other player on the 2012 team other than Davis would've gotten significant minutes on the 1978 team. Stop showing your ignorance.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Like I said, the 2012 team won a title in the era that has seen college basketball really become diluted due to defection to the NBA.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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