Hoop Mania

This is the first in a series of about 4 posts dedicated to the history of college basketball.  As we prepare for the NCAA tournament, and as conference realignment threatens the very bastion of some of the most bitter basketball rivalries.   To celebrate the former and to reminisce on the latter, I am putting together teams from all of the major conferences:  the ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10 and SEC, as well two at-large teams comprised of the best of the rest, formed from teams in the east and the west.  This should open up lots of debate over whom should have/should have not been picked for each team, as well as which conference has the best team.

Given the recent realignments, sometimes which conferences teams - and their resulting players - are assigned to which conference is based simply on my whim.  For example, Missouri is not in the SEC, but Boston College is in the.  No real logic necessarily, just where I felt I wanted to place the school.

Instead of simply choosing which players I think are the best (although that is a major component), I tried to select an actual team.  To begin, I am selecting 14 players for each team.  Why 14 - because.  I will be picking teams in three sections:  the starters; the rotation players; and the bench.  The starters for each league are basically the best 5, although there is some component of position in my selections.  The rotation players, which are the next 4, would form the rotation of the team for most games.  The rotations are comprised of a point guard, a wing, a big and a fourth player.  The bench section will be composed of 5 players, comprised generally of a ball handler, shooter, defensive stopper, rebounder and a miscellaneous player - regardless of position.  Sometimes one player can fill more than one need, leaving the general manager, i.e. me, to have more flexibility in selecting the other players.

In determining which players belonged, I consulted simply myself.  I took into account the players entire basketball careers, including their NBA careers, but also gave great weight to their college exploits as well.  I am basically looking for the best players, not just the best college players, for the teams.  In most cases, some really talented players were left off, and some players are just too new to truly be considered.  This collection of teams, like all teams, could be very different in 10 years.

With all of that in mind, today's post is the all time teams from the ACC and the SEC.  Let the debates begin.

ACC

Starters

PG - Chris Paul, Wake Forest
SG - Michael Jordan, North Carolina
SF - David Thompson, North Carolina State
PF - Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
C - Ralph Sampson, Virginia

Most of these are no-brainers.  I included Duncan as a PF because that is where he played most of his NBA career.  David Thompson starting over Worthy and Hill was probably the closest decision, but I imagine both will end up on this team.

Rotation

PG - Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech
Wing - James Worthy, North Carolina
Big - Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
Misc - Len Bias, Maryland

Bias never had an NBA career, but he was a beast.  Bosh has proven that he can play, and succeed, with other great players.  Who better to sub for Paul than Kenny Anderson?

Bench

Ball Handler - Nate McMillan, North Carolina State (also doubles as defensive player)
Shooter - Dennis Scott, Georgia Tech
Rebounder - Horace Grant, Clemson
Misc - Grant Hill, Duke
Misc - Christian Laettner, Duke

Nate McMillan is one of those glue guys, that each team needs.  Dennis Scott could always shoot.  Laettner is one of the three or four best college players ever.  Grant was always a workhouse rebounder, and Hill should need no explanation.

So there you have it, your Atlantic Coast Conference team.  Those that merited serious consideration, Stephon Marbury, Mark Price, Rick Barry, Vince Cater and Tree Rollins.  Rollins was made unnecessary by the fact that Duncan can play center, and with Bosh, Bias and Grant on the team, rebounding would not suffer if the team went "small".  My biggest surprises?  Only two Tar Heels and two Blue Devils and Wake Forest having two starters.

SEC

Starters

PG - Pete Maravich, LSU
SG - Allen Houston, Tennessee
SF - Bernard King, Tennessee
PF - Charles Barkley, Auburn
C - Shaquille O'Neal, LSU

A much stronger starting lineup than I originally anticipated.  A little offensive oriented, but Barkley and Houston were better at defense than normally given credit for, and Shaq could always be the shot blocking presence in the middle.  I originally though that Dominique would be starting, but Bernard King is just too good.  I almost had three LSU starters, but I felt that Houston's three-point shooting earns him the nod.

Rotation

PG - Chris Jackson/Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, LSU
Wing - Dominique Wilkins, Georgia
Big - Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Other - Jamal Mashburn, Kentucky

Anthony Davis may be the most controversial choice, but he had one of the best freshman seasons ever in leading the team to the title, plus the shot-blocking is a rare skill that every team needs.  People forget just how good Mashburn was in college (he led a bunch of "nobodies" into the Elite Eight against Duke, and his NBA numbers were fantastic.

Bench

Ball Handler - Rajon Rondo, Kentucky
Defensive Stopper - Alvin Robertson, Arkansas
Shooter - Dale Ellis, Tennessee
Rebounder - Joakim Noah, Florida
Misc - Alex English, South Carolina

Rondo could end up starting on this team by the time his career is over.  I am not sure you can name three shooters better than Dale Ellis, and Alex English is one of the most all-time underrated players.  Noah is really coming into his own, on both ends of the court and Robertson is one of the all-time best on-the-ball defenders.

Here is your all Southeastern Conference team.  Those that merited serious consideration included John Wall (too small a sample size), Rex Chapman, Dan Issel, Robert Horry (almost took the miscellaneous spot from Alex just because of his big shot ability), Tayshaun Prince, Sydney Moncrief, Bob Petit, and Jeff Malone (just for his shooting ability).  Tony Delk should have made it just to piss off Sinickal.

Next post - Big East and Big 10.