Where does Florida compare in history with some of the more recent championship teams? They are having a sportsnation thing on ESPN with this.... http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnatio...stranker?id=482
Here's how I ranked them: #1 - Duke - 2001 #2 - Michigan State - 2000 #3 - North Carolina - 2005 #4 - Kentucky - 1996 #5 - Connecticut - 2004 #6 - Connecticut - 1999 #7 - Maryland - 2002 #8 - Arizona - 1997 #9 - Kentucky - 1998 #10 - Florida - 2006 #11 - Syracuse - 2003 Like I said in our earlier discussion, I'd rank Florida #1 in an end of the season poll, because as the winner of the tournament, they deserve it. However, I don't think they were near the talent level of some teams like UConn, Duke, Michigan State, and a few others this season. They just really overachived all season long and hit their stride in March while those other teams I just mentioned all underachieved and played uninspired in March. I'm not trying to take anything away from them by ranking them #10, because every one of those teams was great. Even being mentioned among them is an honor for the Gators. However, there's a huge talent gap between this year's champ and most of the past champs. The only teams I'd consider putting them over are Syracuse and Kentucky ('98).
Off recent memory, I think this team was on the same level as Melo's Championship team. A group of young players who gelled at the right time, and went on to become champions.
I won't compare the Gators to any other team, because I honestly am not sure about the other teams other than last years UNC team and I know they would beat us. I will say though that the Gators are the first team since 1968 and the only team in this grouping that won both Final 4 games by 15 or more points. So none of these teams have won more convincingly then the Gators, although the Gators have probably ahd the easiest road to the championship then any of the other teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Off recent memory, I think this team was on the same level as Melo's Championship team. A group of young players who gelled at the right time, and went on to become champions.</div> I was about to post the same thing. Not the most talented team, but definitely the team who played the hardest and had the best chemistry.
I have florida 8, im a kentucky fan so i put the 1996 UK team number 1 and unc 05 2, but even tho im a fan the 1996 team was very good.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">...although the Gators have probably ahd the easiest road to the championship then any of the other teams.</div> I get tired of this argument. Not only did they beat the mighty UCLA and Villanova, they beat the teams that beat UConn, Ohio State, Boston College, Memphis, Gonzaga... if when we sleep with someone, we're sleeping with everyone they've slept with, why not when we beat someone we're beating everyone they've beaten? Even in victory, Florida get's no respect. Who cares how they rate with past champions?! Fact is, we're not going to know because they're never going to play '96 Kentucky. It's speculation and opinion. They beat everyone in their way, handily. They made minced meat of Villa and UCLA. They are the current champs and the best team in college basketball. Period. You don't think so? Get over it. >j<
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Greazy9:</div><div class="quote_post">I get tired of this argument. Not only did they beat the mighty UCLA and Villanova, they beat the teams that beat UConn, Ohio State, Boston College, Memphis, Gonzaga... if when we sleep with someone, we're sleeping with everyone they've slept with, why not when we beat someone we're beating everyone they've beaten? Even in victory, Florida get's no respect. Who cares how they rate with past champions?! Fact is, we're not going to know because they're never going to play '96 Kentucky. It's speculation and opinion. They beat everyone in their way, handily. They made minced meat of Villa and UCLA. They are the current champs and the best team in college basketball. Period. You don't think so? Get over it. >j<</div> I'm not throwing that argument around for this year, I'm just trying to compare us to previous years champions and I don't know too much about the previous teams who had tougher journies and I knew someone would eventually say it anyway, so I might as well put the argument out there. I'm not worrying about who we played, because the worse of these teams that we beat had to beat the other "better teams". We deserve the championship, we won 6 games in a row in which no other team could do, it's a whole new ball game comparing to past years champions, because they are all champions. It's pretty much impossible to compare them, but they were doing it on ESPN and I was just wondering where you guys think we rank.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Greazy9:</div><div class="quote_post">I get tired of this argument. Not only did they beat the mighty UCLA and Villanova, they beat the teams that beat UConn, Ohio State, Boston College, Memphis, Gonzaga... if when we sleep with someone, we're sleeping with everyone they've slept with, why not when we beat someone we're beating everyone they've beaten? Even in victory, Florida get's no respect. Who cares how they rate with past champions?! Fact is, we're not going to know because they're never going to play '96 Kentucky. It's speculation and opinion. They beat everyone in their way, handily. They made minced meat of Villa and UCLA. They are the current champs and the best team in college basketball. Period. You don't think so? Get over it. >j<</div> If you don't care how they rate with past champions, then why click on the thread? No one brought up that 'argument' you're going on a rant about except for Gators either, who is needless to say, a big fan of the U of F. And, no, by beating George Mason, you didn't beat everyone who George Mason beat. That makes no sense...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">If you don't care how they rate with past champions, then why click on the thread?</div> Because it's Florida related. It's like a car crash... you have to look. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">No one brought up that 'argument' you're going on a rant about except for Gators either, who is needless to say, a big fan of the U of F. And, no, by beating George Mason, you didn't beat everyone who George Mason beat. That makes no sense...</div> I'm very aware of where Gators stands and that he wasn't attacking them. But this isn't the only thread about the Gators here. In fact, you yourself were talking about it on another thread. Common sense is all, Voodoo. I used to love your posts, but your starting to split hairs about silly things. And it may not be a complete guage of who they beat, but it's adds more credit to saying they beat an 11 seed. I think GMU proved they were better than that. They manhandled both Villanova and UCLA. >j<
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Greazy9:</div><div class="quote_post"> I'm very aware of where Gators stands and that he wasn't attacking them. But this isn't the only thread about the Gators here. In fact, you yourself were talking about it on another thread. Common sense is all, Voodoo. I used to love your posts, but your starting to split hairs about silly things. And it may not be a complete guage of who they beat, but it's adds more credit to saying they beat an 11 seed. I think GMU proved they were better than that. They manhandled both Villanova and UCLA. >j<</div> I'm not splitting hairs at all bro'. The fact of the matter is that no one brought up the easy road in this thread. That's all I was saying. I wouldn't rank them over 9 of those 10 teams because they're not as good. It's got nothing to do with their schedule...
