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What is each SEC school’s best ever MBB team?
Posted on 3/15/21 at 12:54 am
Posted on 3/15/21 at 12:54 am
Here are my picks:
Alabama - 1975-76: 23-5, CM Newton took this team to a third straight SEC crown and 2nd round loss (Sweet 16 at that time) to Indiana. Hoosiers would finish as undefeated champs, and Bama was the closest game IU had in the Tourney.
Arkansas - 1993-94: 31-3, obviously this is it. It was peak Nolan Richardson and the Hogs went all the way, led by Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman.
Auburn - 2018-19: 30-10, with all due respect to the 98-99 squad, I think the Final Four team gets the nod, especially with the way they rolled to a SECT championship.
Florida - 2006-07: 35-5, somehow, this squad topped the previous year’s version. The players returned and kept the drive while being a marked team. Gators lost 3 of 4 late in the season, but righted the ship to win the SECR and SECT prior to winning it all.
Georgia - 1982-83: 24-10, Hugh Durham’s Bulldogs lost 6 of their last 9 in the regular season to go 9-9 in SEC play, but they rallied to win the SECT and advanced to the only Final Four in school history by knocking off St. John’s and UNC.
Kentucky - 1995-96: 34-2, only losses came against UMass and Miss State, both of which joined UK in the Final Four. Tony Delk and Antoine Walker led a team that featured 9 future NBA players.
LSU - 1980-81: 31-5, Dale Brown had the Tigers in the midst of a great run, but this year they went 17-1 in SEC play and stormed into the Final Four before falling apart against eventual champ and nemesis Indiana.
Ole Miss - 2000-01: 27-8, Rod Barnes took the Rebels to a school record in wins as Rebs advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual runner-up Arizona.
Mississippi State - 1958-59: 24-1, unfortunately Babe McCarthy’s Bulldogs couldn’t accept an NCAA bid because they’d compete against blacks. Bailey Howell led this team to the first of 4 conference titles in 5 years.
Missouri - 1993-94: 28-4, close call, but this version of Norm Stewart’s Tigers went undefeated in Big 8 regular season and advanced to the Elite 8. ‘82, ‘89, and ‘09 teams make this one a tough choice.
South Carolina - 1971-72: 24-5, Frank McGuire brought SC to the national spotlight. This squad lost to UNC in the Sweet 16 after knocking off Temple. If Eddie Fogler could win a postseason game this might be a different choice.
Tennessee - 2007-08: 31-5, very tough choice as Ray Mears, Rick Barnes and Jerry Green had some good ones, but Pearl took this team to a number 1 ranking, albeit briefly, after beating Memphis in a 1 v 2 game. Chris Lofton led Vols to Sweet 16
Texas A&M - 1979-80: 26-8, Shelby Metcalf took the Ags to a regular season and tournament crown in the SWC. Aggies knocked off Bradley and UNC before falling to eventual champ Louisville in OT of the Sweet 16.
Vanderbilt - 1992-93: 28-6, I will give Eddie Fogler his due here. Commodores won the SECR and went to the Sweet 16 led by co-SEC POTY Billy McCaffrey.
Alabama - 1975-76: 23-5, CM Newton took this team to a third straight SEC crown and 2nd round loss (Sweet 16 at that time) to Indiana. Hoosiers would finish as undefeated champs, and Bama was the closest game IU had in the Tourney.
Arkansas - 1993-94: 31-3, obviously this is it. It was peak Nolan Richardson and the Hogs went all the way, led by Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman.
Auburn - 2018-19: 30-10, with all due respect to the 98-99 squad, I think the Final Four team gets the nod, especially with the way they rolled to a SECT championship.
Florida - 2006-07: 35-5, somehow, this squad topped the previous year’s version. The players returned and kept the drive while being a marked team. Gators lost 3 of 4 late in the season, but righted the ship to win the SECR and SECT prior to winning it all.
Georgia - 1982-83: 24-10, Hugh Durham’s Bulldogs lost 6 of their last 9 in the regular season to go 9-9 in SEC play, but they rallied to win the SECT and advanced to the only Final Four in school history by knocking off St. John’s and UNC.
Kentucky - 1995-96: 34-2, only losses came against UMass and Miss State, both of which joined UK in the Final Four. Tony Delk and Antoine Walker led a team that featured 9 future NBA players.
LSU - 1980-81: 31-5, Dale Brown had the Tigers in the midst of a great run, but this year they went 17-1 in SEC play and stormed into the Final Four before falling apart against eventual champ and nemesis Indiana.
Ole Miss - 2000-01: 27-8, Rod Barnes took the Rebels to a school record in wins as Rebs advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual runner-up Arizona.
Mississippi State - 1958-59: 24-1, unfortunately Babe McCarthy’s Bulldogs couldn’t accept an NCAA bid because they’d compete against blacks. Bailey Howell led this team to the first of 4 conference titles in 5 years.
Missouri - 1993-94: 28-4, close call, but this version of Norm Stewart’s Tigers went undefeated in Big 8 regular season and advanced to the Elite 8. ‘82, ‘89, and ‘09 teams make this one a tough choice.
South Carolina - 1971-72: 24-5, Frank McGuire brought SC to the national spotlight. This squad lost to UNC in the Sweet 16 after knocking off Temple. If Eddie Fogler could win a postseason game this might be a different choice.
Tennessee - 2007-08: 31-5, very tough choice as Ray Mears, Rick Barnes and Jerry Green had some good ones, but Pearl took this team to a number 1 ranking, albeit briefly, after beating Memphis in a 1 v 2 game. Chris Lofton led Vols to Sweet 16
Texas A&M - 1979-80: 26-8, Shelby Metcalf took the Ags to a regular season and tournament crown in the SWC. Aggies knocked off Bradley and UNC before falling to eventual champ Louisville in OT of the Sweet 16.
Vanderbilt - 1992-93: 28-6, I will give Eddie Fogler his due here. Commodores won the SECR and went to the Sweet 16 led by co-SEC POTY Billy McCaffrey.
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Posted on 3/15/21 at 12:56 am to TexasTiger08
quote:
Mississippi State - 1958-59: 24-1, unfortunately Babe McCarthy’s Bulldogs couldn’t accept an NCAA bid because they’d compete against blacks. Bailey Howell led this team to the first of 4 conference titles in 5 years.
I’m convinced you made this whole thread just to put this here.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 1:04 am to FourThreeForty
What's crazy is reading this and realizing only 3 SEC teams have ever won a National Title.
It should be, which is the best title winning team:
The Rollin with Nolan Hogs, one of the Back to Back Florida teams, or the 96 Kentucky team or the Anthony Davis squad.
As much as I'd love to say the Corliss Arkansas team, the Noah/Brewer/Horford Florida squad could probably beat anyone in the modern tournament era.
It should be, which is the best title winning team:
The Rollin with Nolan Hogs, one of the Back to Back Florida teams, or the 96 Kentucky team or the Anthony Davis squad.
As much as I'd love to say the Corliss Arkansas team, the Noah/Brewer/Horford Florida squad could probably beat anyone in the modern tournament era.
This post was edited on 3/15/21 at 1:08 am
Posted on 3/15/21 at 1:08 am to TexasTiger08
Great list!
Nolan said his '91 team was better and I'd agree if he'd only had a little more size.
I wonder how Missouri's best team would have fared against Arkansas'?
Nolan said his '91 team was better and I'd agree if he'd only had a little more size.
I wonder how Missouri's best team would have fared against Arkansas'?
This post was edited on 3/15/21 at 1:14 am
Posted on 3/15/21 at 1:30 am to TexasTiger08
2018-19 Tennessee was better than 07-08. Number one for over month rather than just a week.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 2:01 am to redeye
quote:
I wonder how Missouri's best team would have fared against Arkansas'?
Let me help you with that...
1993 Arkansas vs Missouri
Posted on 3/15/21 at 4:22 am to TheCheshireHog
Our 2012 basketball team was better. Big time upset in the tourney but we dominated in the regular season for 30 wins.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 4:23 am to RamboMizzou
Also, must say the Hogs seem to care about us quite a bit now adays.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 4:41 am to RamboMizzou
quote:
now adays.
This was a big non conference game every season for years.
Also, I was in attendance when we spanked your '94 team.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 5:18 am to TexasTiger08
quote:
Florida - 2006-07: 35-5, somehow, this squad topped the previous year’s version. The players returned and kept the drive while being a marked team. Gators lost 3 of 4 late in the season, but righted the ship to win the SECR and SECT prior to winning it all.
I'd agree...2013-14 had a better record but the 07 team was loaded with NBA talent
Posted on 3/15/21 at 5:28 am to SpartyGator
I honestly just couldn't see that '07 team losing come NCAAT time. People talk about Brewer, Horford, and Noah, but Green really was the player that made that team go. Also Humphrey stretching the floor cannot be overstated for how it helped Green, Brewer, and Horford. Just such a great overall team.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 6:18 am to TexasTiger08
A&M was either 2006-2007 or 2015-2016.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 6:35 am to redeye
Arkansas was so tough. You may be up 10 at halftime but that pressure would eventually wear you down and you do something stupid.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 6:56 am to TexasTiger08
I'm missing the SECT status from several of these teams. As I learned Saturday from LSU fans, a team's winning the SECT is not meaningless in evaluating it's season outcome, so I'd like that shown as well. TIA
This post was edited on 3/15/21 at 7:08 am
Posted on 3/15/21 at 7:00 am to TexasTiger08
quote:
Arkansas - 1993-94: 31-3, obviously this is it. It was peak Nolan Richardson and the Hogs went all the way, led by Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman.
They won the title, but not sure if they’re the best team ever.
1989-90 team of Lee Mayberry, Todd Day, Oliver Miller, Lenzie Howell, and Ron Huery may have been better. They just got cold in the Final Four game against Duke. They had a shot to beat UNLV @UNLV earlier in the season and couldn’t close the deal.
1977-78 with the Triplets also could be argued. That team was loaded and again, just didn’t put it together against Kentucky and fell by 5 in the Final Four. Kentucky won the title and Arkansas had to settle for beating Notre Dame in the 3rd place game.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 8:06 am to TexasTiger08
We had to sneak out of the state, complete with decoy buses, in order to avoid the racist Ole Miss machine to play in the “Game of Change”
This post was edited on 3/15/21 at 8:07 am
Posted on 3/15/21 at 8:15 am to TexasTiger08
Your Alabama pick is probably correct. CM Newton’s teams often get overlooked in favor of some of Wimp’s teams, such as the 1986-1987 team.
I’d go with the 1995-1996 Mississippi State team. SEC tournament champs and Final Four participant,
I’d go with the 1995-1996 Mississippi State team. SEC tournament champs and Final Four participant,
Posted on 3/15/21 at 8:35 am to TexasTiger08
Good pick but the 1953-54 Kentucky team (different era) went 25-0 won the SEC in a playoff with LSU but declined NCAA berth because 3 key players graduated at Christmas. That rule was later changed. Average margin 27.2 points per game.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 9:06 am to TexasTiger08
We have a Final Four now, so I'm going with that team - especially considering I wasn't alive in the 70s.
Posted on 3/15/21 at 11:30 am to Hawgeye
quote:
They won the title, but not sure if they’re the best team ever.
1989-90 team of Lee Mayberry, Todd Day, Oliver Miller, Lenzie Howell, and Ron Huery may have been better. They just got cold in the Final Four game against Duke. They had a shot to beat UNLV @UNLV earlier in the season and couldn’t close the deal.
The 1990-91 team was better than that team you are talking about. #1 seed in the NCAAT.
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