ESPN: 50 in 50 series

[CincyEngGrad02]

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...0-in-50-series

My predictions:

UC - #25

50 in 50 starting five
G – Steve Logan
G – Van Exel
F – Forston
F – Corie Blount
C – Kenyon

Top options off the bench
LaZelle Durden
Ruben Patterson
Jason Maxiell

50 in 50 coach: Huggins

Best teams
1991 - 92 (Final Four)
1992 - 93 (Elite Eight)
1999 - 2000 (Kenyon's year)

[cpawstoney]

Ok ... here's my team:

C - Paul Hogue (1088 career rebounds - 3rd on UC list)
F - Kenyon Martin (292 Blocked shots - 1st on list)
F - Danny Fortson (1881 Points - 3rd on list)
G - Steve Logan (.861 Free Thow %) (456 Assists) (1985 Points - 2nd only to Oscar)
G - Field williams (.401 3-Point Field % - 1st on list)

Tops off the bench
Eddie Lee (500 Assists- 1st) (163 Steals - 3rd)
Pat Cummings (756 field Goals made - 2nd only to Oscar) (.581 Field Goal Percentage)
Rick Roberson (12.4 avg rebounds/game - 4th)

The ESPN article says it includes players 1962-present. That's the only reason Oscar Robertson, Jack Twyman and Connie Deirking didn't make the team.

Yes, there's quite a few players (Nick Van Excel, Damon Flint, Ron Bonham, etc.) that I would also like on my team but cuts need to be made.

[BasketBySteveLogan]

Gotta have E Hicks on the team for toughness

[cpawstoney]

Originally Posted by BasketBySteveLogan

Gotta have E Hicks on the team for toughness

Yea I wanted Eric in the worst way. I think he's second to K-mart in blocks, but which would you rather have, blocked-shots or rebounds?

[CincyEngGrad02]

Kenyon was plenty "tough".

Good list cpaws. My big gripe though is Field Williams. I'd put Durden, Burton, Van Exel, Stokes, Levitt, Flint, and probably even Legree above Field.

[GoBearcats31]

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...-24-cincinnati

Editor's note: Using a point system devised by the ESPN Stats & Information department, ESPN.com is counting down the 50 most successful programs of the past 50 years. A running list of the top 50 can be found here. For an explanation of the scoring system, read our intro.

24. Cincinnati (285 points)
Positives: Made 1963 national title game; also made Final Four in 1992; received credit for 24 conference titles (12 regular season, 12 tourney); five consensus first-team All-Americans (seven total); four top-10 picks.

Negatives: Lost 20 points due to sanctions; missed NCAA tourney every year from 1978-91; no conference title of any kind since 2004. And let's face it: UC is the tough-luck loser of this study since it begins right after the Bearcats reached four straight Final Fours and won back-to-back titles.

Fun fact: Cincinnati's Sweet 16 appearance in 2012 was its first since 2001.

Rank by the decade
1962-69: 60 (11th)
1970-79: 26 (T-59th)
1980-89: minus-20 (T-332nd)
1990-99: 132 (9th)
2000-present: 87 (24th)

50 in 50 starting five (1962-present)
G – Nick Van Exel (1991-93)
G – Steve Logan (1998-2002)
F – Ron Bonham (1961-64)
F – Danny Fortson (1994-97)
C – Kenyon Martin (1996-2000)

Top options off the bench
Tom Thacker (1960-63)
Pat Cummings (1974-79)
George Wilson (1961-64)

50 in 50 coach: Bob Huggins (1990-2005)

Best teams (1962-present)
1962-63 (26-2, NCAA runner-up)
1991-92 (29-5, NCAA national semifinals)
1999-2000 (29-4, NCAA second round)

--Harold Shelton and Brett Edgerton contributed to this post

[CincyEngGrad02]

Shoulda guessed Pat Cummings. Not too shabby otherwise.

[juckerrules]

Originally Posted by CincyEngGrad02

Shoulda guessed Pat Cummings. Not too shabby otherwise.

Maybe you're just too young, but the '62 team, which lost the NC game in OT was a no-brainer.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Originally Posted by juckerrules

Maybe you're just too young, but the '62 team, which lost the NC game in OT was a no-brainer.

You are off a year. The '62 team WON the NC over Ohio State. It was the '63 team which lost in the NC to Loyola Chicago.

[ucjay99]

Originally Posted by CincyEngGrad02

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...0-in-50-series

My predictions:

UC - #25

50 in 50 starting five
G – Steve Logan
G – Van Exel
F – Forston
F – Corie Blount
C – Kenyon

Top options off the bench
LaZelle Durden
Ruben Patterson
Jason Maxiell

50 in 50 coach: Huggins

Best teams
1991 - 92 (Final Four)
1992 - 93 (Elite Eight)
1999 - 2000 (Kenyon's year)

...um the '99-'00 team was quite superior to the others despite the end result (I will leave out the terrible incident that haulted a National Title run for fear of nausea).

Also where is Herb Jones, Mel Levitt, Eric Hicks and/or Erik Martin? I realize one could argue and throw in all sorts of names, but the inclusion of Lazelle is very debatable IMO. You've hit the starters right on the head, but I think I would argue about the bench...with Levitt and Herb Jones especially. I know Lazelle was a scorer, but his game all around was not at the level of Levitt and/or Jones. My 2 cents anyway.

[ucjay99]

..continuing from my previous post; Roger McClendon, Louis Banks and Derrick Dickey deserve a mention as well... and is this list exclusive of one and doners like Dermarr, Dontonio and Lance?

[cpawstoney]

Originally Posted by ucjay99

..continuing from my previous post; Roger McClendon, Louis Banks and Derrick Dickey deserve a mention as well... and is this list exclusive of one and doners like Dermarr, Dontonio and Lance?

Wingfield and Stephenson were one year wonders - flash in the pan. They only played for themselves, not the team.

[swilsonsp4]

It would've been nice to see all of the UC guys together on the court in their primes. But, we can't, so here's my opinion:

Starters

Nick Van Exel
Lloyd Batts
Pat Cummings
George Wilson
Kenyon Martin

Bench

Steve Logan
Tom Thacker
Ron Bonham
Danny Fortson
Jim Ard (#6 overall pick in 1970 NBA draft)

[ucjay99]

Originally Posted by cpawstoney

Wingfield and Stephenson were one year wonders - flash in the pan. They only played for themselves, not the team.

uh..Thank You Captain Obvious... but my question was more about what the criteria is for being one of the greatest... if it is simply having played for the Bearcats then it would be hard NOT to include guys like those in some conversation... don't know of too many UC SGs I'd just automatically insert over a 6'9" Dermarr Johnson without at least considering him.

I'm with you ultimately though, if I chose the criteria there has to be a "3 yr. on the roster" minimum...

[juckerrules]

Originally Posted by Oldtimer_UC_fan

You are off a year. The '62 team WON the NC over Ohio State. It was the '63 team which lost in the NC to Loyola Chicago.

True, I was thinking 1962-63 season

[wall]

A couple of names that won't make the top five, but were exciting to watch! Don Ogletree and Jason Maxiel.

[juckerrules]

Originally Posted by ucjay99

uh..Thank You Captain Obvious... but my question was more about what the criteria is for being one of the greatest... if it is simply having played for the Bearcats then it would be hard NOT to include guys like those in some conversation... don't know of too many UC SGs I'd just automatically insert over a 6'9" Dermarr Johnson without at least considering him.

I'm with you ultimately though, if I chose the criteria there has to be a "3 yr. on the roster" minimum...

I'd hate to eliminate Van Exel

[weez1414]

You can't eliminate Nick at Night. Arguably the best clutch shooter ever. Fearless and you had to start checkin him as soon as he crossed half court, cuz he would drain it from there.

[ucjay99]

Originally Posted by juckerrules

I'd hate to eliminate Van Exel

Absolutely right... I ammend my previous post to 2 yrs.. LOL

3 yrs would automatically removed Ruben Patterson, Corey Blount and Slick Nick... what the heck was I thinking?

But again, goes back to my original pose.... are 1 and doners considered? It would be hard to not put Dermarr Johnson or a Lance Stephenson in a conversation.

[Carin's Dad]

Originally Posted by ucjay99

It would be hard to not put Dermarr Johnson or a Lance Stephenson in a conversation.

I hate to be blunt but Born Ready couldn't carry the jocks of some of those other players mentioned. He did nothing for the team, IMO. Lot of hype - not a lot shown on the court.