Best 1 through 5 ever

[twincyties]

One of the things that have been a constant with TJ's team's is they seem to hit a wall in February because he is such a task master in practice. Or so we are all told on this website.

That 00-99 team just kept getting better as the season progressed basically playing 6-7 guys with LE as a coach. I doubt TJ's practices are any more difficult.

So while the 96-97 and 13-14 teams should get consideration..........the 99-00 team set the standard.

I think this year will be really telling.

TJ's first couple of years we were extremely limited offensively. For example, as soon as teams figured out Brockington couldn't go right we were f**ked. You needed a huge game from him or Gabe to beat a decent team and both to beat a good team.

23-24 we finished stronger and ran into a really good Illinois team. We spotted them a 13 point lead early and couldn't get over the hump.

Last year was a combination of injuries and what many report as some behind the scenes drama. never know what is going to happen with the former, but this team seems to have more maturity so hopefully we don't need to worry about the latter.

 

[enisthemenace]

1996-97 is up there. Not much roster depth, but the common starting unit, damned tight:

Holloway
Willoughby
Cato
Bankhead
Pratt

I’ll never forget this team getting absolutely worked by Adelaide in a preseason exhibition. Thought we were in for a very rough season.

They ended up being alright

 

[Irish1]

To me, the question isn't if this is the most talented team. Rather, is this the best team at the intangibles: mental toughness, teamwork, physical toughness, patience, and determination.
We need to overcome slow starts, February slumps, and injuries.
I believe they might be and am very ready for Big 12 play to start!

 

[ISUTex]

Horton could play PG if Tinsley was out for any reason, and Nurse too. They all had a handle and could score from about anywhere.

Having that be your 1-3 isn't a lot of size but lots of skill and a tough matchup on both ends.

Agree. Three PGs who were great shooters in the starting 5 was quite the luxury. Rancik and Shirley came off the bench didnt they? Didnt Stevie start?

 

[rosshm16]

Willoughby was ahead of his time, shooting eight threes per game before it was cool.

 

[madguy30]

Agree. Three PGs who were great shooters in the starting 5 was quite the luxury. Rancik and Shirley came off the bench didnt they? Didnt Stevie start?

Yeah Shirley and Rancik were reserves and Stevie was the 4ish spot that would do all sorts of little things.

Shirly was hurt at the end of the season and started getting minutes again in March; I just remember him getting a nice ovation in the UCLA game for some good minutes.

 

[NorthCyd]

Yeah Shirley and Rancik were reserves and Stevie was the 4ish spot that would do all sorts of little things.

Shirly was hurt at the end of the season and started getting minutes again in March; I just remember him getting a nice ovation in the UCLA game for some good minutes.

Pretty sure Rancik was the one with the injury and missed most of conference play. Our front court was pretty darn thin for a lot of the year. Evans was our 2nd guy off the bench for the front court and he was really undersized for the position.

I hope we will be able to say at the end of the year that this year's team is the best. It's every bit as good defensively and is incredibly versatile offensively. Conference is a lot tougher now too. We have to see what they can accomplish before I will crown them.

 

[cyclones500]

A team that people probably forget about was the 2018-19 that won the Big 12 tournament, and then lost in the first round to a weak Ohio State team.

Shayok (NBA draftee)
Horton-Tucker (NBA)
Jacobsen
Wigginton (NBA)
Weiler-Babb
Halliburton (NBA all-star)
Cam Lard

Needless to say, we should have fired Prohm at halftime for wasting this much talent.

I know there has been extended discussion since this post, I wonder what the best way to define 1-thru-5 for that team.

If I recall, Wigginton was injured for a while, and Halli/Weiler-Babb entered the fold, and there was "The Mysterious Lard Situation."

I don't have time to explore the most common starting 5 that season, I'm just asking because of context of the thread theme.

 

[NY Chicago Fan]

Fizer went 4th in the draft and Tinsley played over a decade in the league. Like where your head is at but we don’t have that kind of talent on this squad.

That is what worries me in the Elite8 if this Team makes it that far. Do they run into a Team with couple nba guys where the depth of good tough players cant overcome.

 

[twincyties]

That is what worries me in the Elite8 if this Team makes it that far. Do they run into a Team with couple nba guys where the depth of good tough players cant overcome.

They will, but they're also going to see that in the Big 12. The presence of NBA prospects does not always translate that well in CBB. Look at Rutgers last year. 2 of the top 5 and they were terrible. Duke had 5 players drafted (3 in the top 10) and didn't get to the final four.

Based on recent mock drafts (and focusing on the first round) Michigan and Duke are leading the pack in this regard. UNC is in there too, but they don't look that good right now.

 

[Pizzapitter]

Lotta mental masturbation going on as it should.
I'll add to the vaseline.
The current chemistry strikes me as 2nd to none, ever. EVER.
Add, the current depth.
There will be nights where MM and Jefferson won't hit the broadside of a barn.

Heise, Toure and Batemon will, + a dose of Buchanan, maybe even Pleta.
SERIOUSLY, solid team.
Sweet 16 at worst.

 

[Frak]

Pretty sure Rancik was the one with the injury and missed most of conference play. Our front court was pretty darn thin for a lot of the year. Evans was our 2nd guy off the bench for the front court and he was really undersized for the position.

I hope we will be able to say at the end of the year that this year's team is the best. It's every bit as good defensively and is incredibly versatile offensively. Conference is a lot tougher now too. We have to see what they can accomplish before I will crown them.

Yeah, both Shirley and Rancik were out at times during the season. I think that Rancik missed more games, but Shirley definitely missed the stretch run, KC and the first few games of the NCAA tourney.

What I like about this year's team is that we not only have some top end talent, we have really good depth. That 2000 team would have killed to have someone like Heise coming off the bench. Not to mention Nelson, Pleta, Batemon. My big concern was that TJ was going to shorten the rotation and he hasn't really done that. I like that if we have guys in foul trouble or having an off night, there's not a huge drop off going to the bench. But probably the biggest thing is that almost everyone can switch on screens. The high ball screen/pick and roll is such a huge part of college offenses that being able to disrupt that and not get caught on big mismatches is a huge weapon.

 

[rosshm16]

The starters played 78% of the minutes on the 1999-2000 team. On the current team the starters have played 66% of the minutes, although I'd imagine the rotation will tighten up a bit in Big 12 games.

 

[Pizzapitter]

I think this year will be really telling.

TJ's first couple of years we were extremely limited offensively. For example, as soon as teams figured out Brockington couldn't go right we were f**ked. You needed a huge game from him or Gabe to beat a decent team and both to beat a good team.

23-24 we finished stronger and ran into a really good Illinois team. We spotted them a 13 point lead early and couldn't get over

You forgot toure. That dude is special.

When dunking Toure dips his head to avoid gashing his forehead on the rim, I'll agree!
Ps. I LUV both.

 

[Pizzapitter]

Let's be end o day honest, minus who be da best, dating back to Orr.
We are freaking blessed mbb-wise beyond.
Seriously...who of color would want to spend their college year's in cornfield surrounding AMES, IOWA???
We've had, given the farm country neg bias, some damn amazing coaches/teams!

 

[Skodenix]

I was checking this out while waiting for a friend to finish signing up for utländska casinon—it took them forever. Anyway, I’d probably put Magic at the 1, MJ at the 2, LeBron at the 3, Duncan at the 4, and Kareem at the 5. That mix gives you everything: leadership, scoring, defense, and high basketball IQ across the board.