Best Husky team of all time

[CL82]

According to ESPN, it is

 

[PNolanFan]

I concur, 99 team was more locked in every game but when it came time to turn on the jets 04 had the highest ceiling and would crush team

 

[businesslawyer]

We've had this discussion for a generation and nothing has changed. The '04 team at its best might be slightly better than the 99 team at its best, but the 99 team was much, much more consistent, played at or near its best a much higher percentage of the time and found ways to win games that the '04 team didn't. To me, that makes the '99 team better.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Yes, the 04 team, on a talent level was the best but the 99 team had a resolve, a level of determination that no team (us or anyone else) ever had. That team would not be denied.

 

[gsmooth]

We've had this discussion for a generation and nothing has changed. The '04 team at its best might be slightly better than the 99 team at its best, but the 99 team was much, much more consistent, played at or near its best a much higher percentage of the time and found ways to win games that the '04 team didn't. To me, that makes the '99 team better.

What you said in the bold is true and the 99 team, although very talented in terms of college talent and pro talent (3 players drafted to NBA), it was greater than the sum of the individual players. I don't think there is a clear cut answer per se, both the 99 and 04 teams were excellent teams that produced banner years.

 

[CL82]

Who wants to get enterprising and run simulations of all four of our National teams playing against each other?

 

[Marat]

We've had this discussion for a generation and nothing has changed. The '04 team at its best might be slightly better than the 99 team at its best, but the 99 team was much, much more consistent, played at or near its best a much higher percentage of the time and found ways to win games that the '04 team didn't. To me, that makes the '99 team better.

My money would be on the 99 team to defeat 04 in a single game.

 

[upstater]

04 team, if healthy, wins.

With Okafor limited they lost a few games. Imagine 99 without Rip for several games. Do they win as many as they won?

As for the F4 game against Duke and falling behind, 2 quick fouls made Okafor sit.

Okafor really was POY over Jameer Nelson that year, and although they had many other good players on the team, Okafor was the dominant factor.

 

[CTBasketball]

Who wants to get enterprising and run simulations of all four of our National teams playing against each other?

Nerds!

 

[JayKoz]

The fact that 2006 team lost to George Mason still bothers me to this day. Not saying they beat 1999 or 2004, but that was the best team to not win a title in my opinion.

 

[gsmooth]

The fact that 2006 team lost to George Mason still bothers me to this day. Not saying they beat 1999 or 2004, but that was the best team to not win a title in my opinion.

mmm. ... I have to disagree on that one, FWIW. The 2009 team was better, especially if Dyson doesn't get hurt. I would also take the 1990 team, 1994-1996 teams, and the 2002 team as well. Even Calhoun stated he never got a good comfort level with that 2006 team.

 

[CL82]

I like how there is no love for the 2011 and 2014 national championship teams. They aren’t the best on paper, but who here would bet against Kemba with the game on the line? Similarly, Bazz and Boat were a great guard tandem for us. They stopped the teams that were ranked above us from running their stuff, making a lot of good teams look pretty bad against us.

 

[3RingsCT]

We've had this discussion for a generation and nothing has changed. The '04 team at its best might be slightly better than the 99 team at its best, but the 99 team was much, much more consistent, played at or near its best a much higher percentage of the time and found ways to win games that the '04 team didn't. To me, that makes the '99 team better.

I agree 100%. This arguement has been around forever, but having seen all these teams play, the 99 team was from start to finish a complete team that knew how to win. 04 had lapses that were mind boggling but when they clicked, they were unstoppable.

Until a better “team” comes along, it will always be 99 for me.

 

[Chin Diesel]

They got it right.
2004 was the best.

 

[Punkbo]

I like how there is no love for the 2011 and 2014 national championship teams. They aren’t the best on paper, but who here would bet against Kemba with the game on the line? Similarly, Bazz and Boat were a great guard tandem for us. They stopped the teams that were ranked above us from running their stuff, making a lot of good teams look pretty bad against us.

The Villanova, Iowa State, Michigan State, Florida and Kentucky fanbases all believed they lost the game against us because their teams played poorly. The truth is we were absolutely dialed in during that tournament on basic fundamentals, defense and FTs. It was truly a clinic by our guys to beat all of those teams. Truly memorable.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

The fact that 2006 team lost to George Mason still bothers me to this day. Not saying they beat 1999 or 2004, but that was the best team to not win a title in my opinion.

That team looked like they didn't want to be there for the entire tournament, starting with Albany. Every game was a slog.

 

[tzznandrew]

That team looked like they didn't want to be there for the entire tournament, starting with Albany. Every game was a slog.

It was the least joyful Elite Eight ever...every round.

I still think that team could have won the title if they deigned to GAF, but so it goes.

 

[uconn13]

It was the least joyful Elite Eight ever...every round.

I still think that team could have won the title if they deigned to GAF, but so it goes.

Laid up in a hospital with kidney stones (at that exact time) for me, was less painful than watching that 06 squad wandering around in the tournament.

 

[EBonz30]

2004 team had six NBA first round picks on the roster including four lottery picks & four bigs who were drafted in the first round- with three of them lottery picks. Just a ridiculous amount of talent- especially for big men- can’t remember a team with four post men with that amount of talent. Not to mentioned they had three starters on the team who weren’t drafted but were also pretty damn good themselves.

With all this said, 1999 team was a super special team & the first championship team who willed themselves to a chip & beat an all world Duke team in doing so. The Husky program & fans have a lot to be proud of- hopefully this year will make it five.

 

[HuskyFich]

My somewhat lame duck opinion:

Best is relative, does it mean most successful, most dominant, most talented?

1999 was our most influential of course. A true team effort spearheaded by Rip. Came in as massive "underdogs.
"
The '04 team had the 2 best players in CBB on the same team. Also had 2 of the best freshman in the country. Boone is probably a comparable impact to Clingan this year, but played more minutes. Charlie V was arguably the most talented mismatch in the country.

The 06 & 09 teams are a fluke against a team who should never be named again on this board, and a Jerome Dyson injury away from legitimate NC titles.

The 2006 team had 4 first round draft picks and denham in the 2nd round. That was the team I felt abused opponents the most. Our frontcourt with Rudy on the wing is still scary to think about.

2009 was a collection again. I think this team was heavily anchored by Thabeet and Adrien. But Dyson was incredible off the dribble, and price was possibly the last great "true PG" we've had.

If I'd have to choose, it's '04. But '06 is really really close.

 

[SportsFan88]

I firmly believe that ‘09 team with a healthy Dyson woulda beat both mich st and unc, I think that team had it ALL, after that game on the road vs Louisville i was like this team is the ONE, freshman Kemba was the ultimate 6th man

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

I firmly believe that ‘09 team with a healthy Dyson woulda beat both mich st and unc, I think that team had it ALL, after that game on the road vs Louisville i was like this team is the ONE, freshman Kemba was the ultimate 6th man

Complete, complete team. I wanted to see Adrien give punk ass Hansborough an elbow so bad while Thabeet threw his to the stands.

We were the best team healthy that year no question. Dyson was our best perimeter scorer and defender and we still went to the Final Four. That team had everything and that core was together for YEARS. I’m pretty sure we were either undefeated or had one loss before Dyson went down.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Who wants to get enterprising and run simulations of all four of our National teams playing against each other?

Just ran 10 simulations of 98-99 vs 03-04 teams at a neutral site using whatifsports.com.

Game 1: 85-81, 2004 team wins. Ben and Emeka lead with 22 pts each
Game 2: 94-88, 1999 team wins. Rip with 29 on 9-20 shooting.
Game 3: 91-83, 1999 team wins. Rip with 28 and KEA with 25 on a blistering 8/14 shooting with 5/7 from three.
Game 4: 81-70, 1999 team wins. Balanced scoring with 4/5 starters in double figures. KFree leads the way with 17 pts.
Game 5: 82-76, 2004 team wins. Emeka dominant with 28 on 14/21 shooting, 12 boards, and 6 blocks.
Game 6: 81-71, 1999 team wins. Rip with 24 pts, 3 reb, 5 assists.
Game 7: 85-79, 1999 team wins. Rip with 23. Ben with 24 on 4/6 from deep in a losing effort.
Game 8: 94-85, 2004 team wins. Ben and Emeka with 25 and 23 respectively. Charlie with 14/4/2/1.
Game 9: 96-84, 2004 team wins. Balanced scoring. Ben (20), Emeka (22), Denham (14), Josh (16) and Charlie (7).
Game 10: 88-75, 2004 team wins. Emeka with 25, 16 reb and 6 blocks before fouling out.

Five games a piece... the 2004 team closed strong. Should I do an extra game as the rubber match?

 

[Mike Honcho]

WOW. A barn-burner but the 2003-04 team takes it 86-84, overcoming a nine point halftime deficit.

The 98-99 team was actually leading 79-76 with 2 minutes to go, and then 81-80 with 1 minute to go, but a clutch bucket and FTs from Charlie V down the stretch, and two pressure-cooker free throws by Josh Boone (!!) sealed the deal with 18 seconds to go.

Rash hit a meaningless three at the end of the game to close the gap from 5 (yes, they create a play-by-play as well... it's lovely).

 

[Fishy]

2004 was a frightening collection of talent.

At full bore, I’ll take them over just about any team in the modern era.