2009 is over. Who was the team of the decade?

by chirop1 on Apr 7, 2009 2:09 PM EDT Comment 36 comments

Now that the 2009 tourney is over, I have a topic of discussion.

Who is the team/program of the decade? In the 90's, it was pretty much a toss-up between Duke and Kentucky. Who is it for the 2000's?

Carolina can make a strong case with two national titles and (I believe) two other Final Four appearances. However, they also had an NIT appearance and an 8-20 debacle in that stretch of time.

Florida played for a title in 2000 and won back-to-back national titles and then followed it up with two stellar recruiting classes that went to the NIT.

Arizona and UCLA were consistently good, but never closed the deal on a title.

Duke started the decade strong but has been in a very un-Duke like funk for the last 4 years or so.

UConn was strong, but only has one title this decade and a couple of down years.

Given that information, I will say its a toss up for Florida and Carolina... but neither team has as strong a claim to it as teams from the 90's had. Carolina is definitely better poised for dominance in the 2010's.

Thoughts?

Poll

Team of the decade 2000-2009?

North Carolina

68 votes

Florida

25 votes

Duke

1 votes

UConn

8 votes

UCLA

0 votes

Arizona

0 votes

Kentucky (No Final Fours and the last few years be damned!)

10 votes

Other (Please specify in comments)

4 votes

116 votes | Poll has closed

1 recs | Comment 36 comments

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Comments

Heh.

Well, what can I say, good for the folks that voted UK, even though I can’t see ANY case to be made that they’re the team of the 2000s.

Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
--O.W.

by blbskue on Apr 7, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was tempted to not include them in the options

In order to get a more accurate result, but in the end I figured the humor value would be worth it!

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Apr 7, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Voted UNC

4 FF appearances, 2 NC won.

Most FF (tied with Mich St) and most NC won (tied with Fla).

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 7, 2009 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Would you rather have two final fours or one championship appearance?

Florida had three title appearances in the 2000’s, winning 2.

by wklawdog on Apr 7, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Voted UNC

Others might prefer Fla.

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 7, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted UNC as well as I simply felt that I would rather have had there 10 years than Florida's.

by wklawdog on Apr 7, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Duke Had 291 W In The Decade

But little to show for it – 1 NC won and 2 FF (I think) appearances.

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 7, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What about Michigan State?

They had a pretty good decade as well, didn’t they?

After last night, however, I have to vote for UNC.

by tooblue on Apr 7, 2009 3:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Honestly... I somehow forgot about them until right after I posted the poll

I think they have just been quietly excellent this whole decade and don’t draw a lot of attention to themselves.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Apr 7, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2000-01-05-09 FF

But their NC was in 2000 so some may have forgotten.

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 7, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can edit that poll, you know. :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Apr 8, 2009 7:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would vote for MSU, narrowly

Consistent excellence at a high level, made the tournament every year, 4 FF and a NC. The only other contenders in my mind are UNC and Florida.

I think the 8-20 season and NIT appearance knocks UNC down a bit, as do the numerous early exits and NIT appearances for Florida.

I like important stuff just as much as the next guy, but please, for a little while, deliver us from meaning, baseball. That's your greatest glory, and we thank you for it very, very much. -- Craig Calcaterra

by JLeverenz on Apr 7, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Should have added

This is an interesting topic, chirop – excellent question. There is no clear cut answer and much like HoF voting, a lot depends on what a person values in a team. I value consistently good play year in and year out which is why I went for Michigan State, but I can understand why someone else might pick UNC or Florida.

by JLeverenz on Apr 7, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2004 UConn team.

"If anything's worth doing, it's worth doing right."

by mrmondaynite on Apr 7, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Whoever voted for Dook shoud be tied to a pole and beaten

j/k

I voted UNC

Envy our past......Fear our future

by btcoop71 on Apr 7, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

3 votes for UK....Really?

Slower Traffic Keep Right!

by SevenRings on Apr 7, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

UK Faded After 2005

Cats were 156-45 (77,6%) then but finished 240-97 (71.2%) for the decade.

Lowest W-L (%) since the 1920’s decade for UK.

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 7, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am just shocked anyone would vote for UK....

I guess its the homer in them that would pick UK. UK is certainly not the team of the decade or even in the discussion.

Slower Traffic Keep Right!

by SevenRings on Apr 7, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They Might Be Someone's FAVORITE Team Of The Decade

Perhaps that is the reason for voting UK over the other choices.

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 7, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really, really

wanted to vote for UK, but had to actually force myself to vote for FL. And it really hurt my soul to do so…… Agh…..the pain……lol

Blue, there is no other color to Bleed !!!

by a2d2 on Apr 7, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

I wanted to vote for UK too, but just couldn’t do it. Darn honesty.
0 championships, 0 runners-up, 0 final fours in the ‘naughts. Kentucky’s lost decade.
Let’s turn it around for the 2010s!

by EEWildcat on Apr 7, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My vote ...

… went to Florida, and not because their record was more impressive than UNC, but because they are a football school who performed arguably as well as UNC.

UNC would be in the mix for team of the decade in almost any decade. Florida? No. So I’m giving the Gators props for that. It was an amazing accomplishment for a school like Florida to even be in the same zip code as UNC.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Apr 8, 2009 7:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A Kansas fan friend of mine made a strong case for the Jayhawks too

I think it’s three team race between KU, UNC, and MSU. And they’re all very close. In terms of tournament wins in the past 10 years KU and UNC are tied at 26, and MSU had 25.

Why it should not be UNC: 8-20. 8 and freaking 20. Missed the tournament twice. Four seasons with double digit losses.

Why it should not be MSU: Three first round tournament losses. Five seasons with double digit losses. Only three conference championships.

Why it should not be KU: Back-to-back first round losses. Only three final fours.

Why it should be UNC: Two titles, four total final fours, 5 conference championships, and their team in ‘05 may be the best team of the decade (it’s a close race between them and KU ’08).

Why it should be MSU: … Consistency … Although, KU was consistently better in the regular season and has more total tournament wins.

Why it should be KU: One national title, Seven conference titles, only one season with double digit losses, tied with UNC for the most tournament wins, ’08 was possibly the best team of the decade, and our 37 wins last year set the record of most wins by the NCAA champ.

Obviously I’m biased, but our consistency more than makes up for our two first round losses (especially when MSU has three and UNC missed the tournament twice). So, when taking the decade as a whole – KU is the best team

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Apr 8, 2009 7:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I...

think he said it best when he said, “Obviously I’m biased.” Only 1 title for them and 2 for 2 other schools, and in my opinion there were two teams that were arguably the best of the decade, both Tar Heels.

by the spork on Apr 8, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The team of the decade?

UCONN WOMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They have five titles this decade with three undefeated seasons. Smoke em if you got em!

by bluecrip on Apr 8, 2009 8:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I...

believe only 2 of those undefeated season were in this decade. I think they had one in ‘95, if I’m not mistaken.

by the spork on Apr 8, 2009 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2002 And 2009 = UConn Women Going Undefeated

I think there were 3 such years for them in 1990’s.

One (4 sure) was in 1995 – Nat’s friend Kara Wolters was on that team.

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 8, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I...

know they’ve had 3 total in school history, saw the post game conference with Aurriema(sp?). I think it was the 5th or 6th perfect season by a women’s basketball team in NCAA history, I forget who the others were.

by the spork on Apr 8, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tennessee In 1998 (I Think)

And one other – I forget.

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 8, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Texas Was The Other

I forget when?

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 8, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, perfect seasons aside....

UCONN women team of the decade? ;)

by bluecrip on Apr 8, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I don’t think any other basketball team has dominated this decade quite like they have.

by the spork on Apr 8, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i heard a story that uconn women's HC

doesn’t like Summit. anyone know where’s the beef? or lack of? ;)

by bluecrip on Apr 9, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Geno And Pat Simply Don't Like Each Other At All

Not sure what started.

by FortyYearCatFan on Apr 9, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kansas

Jayhawks have to be in the mix for “team of the decade.” If you value consistent excellence at all, they are even stronger. As the post above says, they are tied with UNC for NCAA tourney wins for the decade.
Unlike UNC, the Jayhawks made the tourney every year. If you give a team 1 point for making the tournament, and 1 point for winning a tourney game, then Kansas is ahead of anyone else.
AND…. they lost their coach in the middle of the decade.

by Gobe Igbloo on Apr 8, 2009 4:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs