The topic of media discussion after UK blew out the Hoopies became...

[wbrpanther]

Is UK the best team of all time? Many pundits were saying they were better than the Indiana team from '76 or the UCLA teams of John Wooden.It is tough to argue over different generations but after the ND game I would bet these pundits aren't as gaga over UK as they were after the Hoopies blowout.

Uk is one hell of a team for sure. But I doubt they would have beaten the undefeated Bruins of Alcindor or Walton last night. I saw those teams play and they were so good fundamentally and they had big men in Alcindor and later Walton who would have dominated Towns like Towns dominated the Domers.

 

[NCanton Panther]

I don't know if UK is the best team ever and really don't care because I think it is so difficult to compare teams across different eras such as the UCLA team you mention.

However, if someone is inclined to think they are, why would one close win necessarily change that opinion. Has every other good team over the ages never had a close game that they won? In one respect, it says something positive about UK that down the stretch when it all mattered, they were able to pull out a very tough win. ND definitely gave them all they can handle but you have to give UK some credit for how they were able to pull it out in the end. It's not like it was any favorable ref calls, questionable fouls or really stupid plays/turnovers by ND that allowed them to win.
This post was edited on 3/29 5:03 PM by NCanton Panther

 

[CentPaPittFan]

I think there are more than a few teams that are....


easily as good as this Kentucky team.

Some teams that would match up pretty well with them were:

UCLA 1967-1969, especially the 67 and 68 teams with Allen and Warren at guard.
Georgetown teams of 1982-85

Even the Final Four Houston teams that never won would be a real nice match up with them.
They had shooters, depth, speed, athletes, lot's of big bodies - heck Akeem Olajuwan didn't even start in 82.

Those were 3 that came to my mind last night when my teenage sons asked who could play with them.

The Louisville teams from the mid 80's had a lot of deep rosters too.... 10 guys who could contribute, although they never really had a big center, always did have a lot of 6'8"/6"9" guys who were tough inside. Just thought of that one.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Re: I think there are more than a few teams that are....

I still believe the UK squad that finished 38-2 and won it all with Anthony Davis is better than this one...

 

[CentPaPittFan]

My boys said the same thing about Davis year

they don't have 45 years of memories only about 8-12 of them.

If Kentucky wins it all ----- they will surely own a piece of history..... since no one has gone undefeated in 39 years.
And

But there have surely been a large number of national champions that are as good as this Kentucky team.

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

Originally posted by wbrpanther:
Is UK the best team of all time? Many pundits were saying they were better than the Indiana team from '76 or the UCLA teams of John Wooden.It is tough to argue over different generations but after the ND game I would bet these pundits aren't as gaga over UK as they were after the Hoopies blowout.

Uk is one hell of a team for sure. But I doubt they would have beaten the undefeated Bruins of Alcindor or Walton last night. I saw those teams play and they were so good fundamentally and they had big men in Alcindor and later Walton who would have dominated Towns like Towns dominated the Domers.

I'll go with the Alcindor and Walton teams. One thing those two teams had were .... well .... Lew and Bill. Two of the greatest centers of all time in college bb.

Some people may not know this but Alcindor's freshmen team beat the varsity. The varsity was the defending NC. And won it again that year.

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

Originally posted by NCanton Panther:

I don't know if UK is the best team ever and really don't care because I think it is so difficult to compare teams across different eras such as the UCLA team you mention.

However, if someone is inclined to think they are, why would one close win necessarily change that opinion. Has every other good team over the ages never had a close game that they won? In one respect, it says something positive about UK that down the stretch when it all mattered, they were able to pull out a very tough win. ND definitely gave them all they can handle but you have to give UK some credit for how they were able to pull it out in the end. It's not like it was any favorable ref calls, questionable fouls or really stupid plays/turnovers by ND that allowed them to win.
This post was edited on 3/29 5:03 PM by NCanton Panther

UCLA did have a close game. They beat S. Cal. 21 - 20. There was no shot clock at the time and USC just held onto the ball for minutes at a time.

 

[CentPaPittFan]

That is Incorrect

Yes the UCLA freshman team beat the Varsity. But UCLA did not win the 1966 NCAA Title.

UCLA won in 1964 and 1965 with the Gail Goodrich/Walt Hazzard teams that also included Keith Erickson, not a bad player either.

If Big Lew would have been allowed to play in 1966, UCLA probably wins that year too.

 

[wbrpanther]

Re: That is Incorrect

Correct. The year Big Lew was a freshman was the year Texas Western started an all black team and beat Adolf Rupp's all white Kentucky team.

 

[wbrpanther]

What I am saying is the discussion really ramped up because of how easily they beat WVU. If that game was as close as the ND game I don't think there would have been as much discussion.