Are these Gators the best ever?

by Michael Mahan
Sunday Paper Sports Writer

After the Florida Gators became only the seventh team ever to repeat as National Champions, the debate has started. Are these Gators one of the best teams ever? Close, but no cigar. Since forever is such a long time, here is a breakdown of the best five college basketball teams of the last quarter-century, in ascending order.

Honorable Mention - 1985 Georgetown, 1983 Houston, 1994 Arkansas, 1999 Connecticut, 2001 Duke

5) 1982 North Carolina - This squad has become overrated and overmentioned in the discussion of the best teams ever. Jordan was a freshman who was still called "Mike Jordan" most of the time. Yes, Worthy, Perkins and Jordan were superb players, but after these three the talent level and depth of this team drops signifcantly.

4) 2007 Florida - Has there ever been a team with better chemistry? The "go-to guy" at any particular time was the player with the best look at the basket. They play basketball the way it was meant to be played. Naismith and Wooden would be proud.

3) 1992 Duke - Is there another player in the history of college basketball that you would want to take a do-or-die shot at the end of a game more than Christian Laettner?

2) 1991 UNLV - No, they didn't even win the championship. As defending champions, all this team did was go undefeated until meeting Duke in the Final Four. Larry Johnson may have been the most dominant single player in NCAA hoops in the last 25 years, bar none. LJ had a fine pro career, but on the collegiate level he was simply a man among boys. Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt, and a deep, talented bench ran all opponents but one of the court. Sure, they lost the big one, but in a game with any other team since 1980 I would take these Runnin' Rebels. Except.....

1) 1996 Kentucky - Rick Pitino taught Billy Donovan how to do it. Eleven years ago, this team revolutionized college basketball with unprecedented tempo, trapping defense, and downpours of three pointers. This team may not have invented this style of play, but they perfected it. Want star power? Antoine Walker, Ron Mercer, Derek Anderson, Tony Delk, Walter McCarty, Nazr Mohammed all had solid careers at the next level. The bench was 5 deep, and this team never, EVER let up. Possibly the best team ever.