<u>BURGER KING ALL-90's Final Four team</u> As the decade comes to a close, I've put together a little "Final Four" Team-of-the 90's. Players were chosen based on their overall success and impact on the world of college basketball POINT GUARD: TIE Mike Bibby--Arizona Bobby Hurley--Duke Hurley went down in the record books as the NCAA all-time leader in assists and stomach flues, helping to lead Duke to three Final Fours and two National Titles. Bibby was the most special freshman of the decade, leading the upstart 'Cats, who have had (and still do have) a tendency to choke in big tourney games, through three #1 seeds en route to Lute Olson's first National Title-putting an abrupt halt to what could have been an unprecedented back-to-back-to-back National Championships for the other 'Cats from Kentucky. Hopefuls: Jason Kidd--Cal Kenny Anderson--Ga Tech Bo Kimble--Loyola MM GUARD: Richard "Rip" Hamilton--UConn At the expense of having the Burger King squad look more like the Duke All-Stars, Rip Hamilton narrowly beats out Duke's Trajan Langdon for the shooting guard spot. Rip won Big East player of the year every year he chose to play college ball. A lottery pick for the '99 draft, Rip stayed in school to win a championship, which may not be as admirable as staying around for the education, but hey, it shows he's got the love. Hamilton was on fire in the '99 National Title game against "unbeatable" Duke and reminded us that even shots with a difficulty rating of 9.999 that fall through the net are worth two points. Most importantly, Hamilton handled himself in the class manner of predecessors like Ray Allen as opposed to the way some of his unruly teammates chose to celebrate. Hopefuls: Trajan Langdon-- Duke Billy McCaffrey--Duke/Vanderbilt Michael Redd--Ohio State FORWARD: Chris Weber--Michigan After leading Michigan's Fabulous Five to back to back National Title games, the first time around losing in a blowout and blowing it badly the second time by asking for a phantom time-out, Weber left as a sophomore for the riches of the big show, which helped to create a downward spiral in college ball as more and more players opted for the million dollar contracts of the NBA. Sure, others like MJ and Kenny Anderson had left early for the NBA, but Chris Weber's departure was the high profile exit that finalized the deal: college kids with real game? Take it to the next level ASAP! Hopefuls: Grant Hill--Duke Corliss Williamson--Arkansas Derek Anderson--Kentucky FORWARD: Larry Johnson--UNLV LJ helped pave the way for the street to come into college ball. A high school player of the year who spent his first two years in the JUCO waters before joining Jerry Tark out in Vegas as a trash-talkin' transfer, Johnson brought the funk on to the hardwood and was the catalyst of the '90 (National Champion) and '91 (one loss) UNLV squads that were the first true teams with attitude. Could players like today's Steve Francis of Maryland and Chris Porter from Auburn have entered the college realms if not for the ground breaking work of Larry Johnson? Hopefuls: Glen Robinson-Purdue Calbert Chaney--Indiana Ed O'Bannon--UCLA CENTER: Christian Laettner--Duke The only player ever to start in four Final Fours. Led the Duke Blue Devils to Back to Back National Championships in '91 '92 and went 10 for 10 from the charity stripe and 10 for 10 from the field including the shot heard round the world that gave Duke the 104-103 win in the greatest college game of all time vs. Kentucky in the 1992 East Regional Finals. Hopefuls: Tim Duncan--Wake Forest Marcus Camby--UMass Brian Reeves--Oklahoma Link ________________________________________________ I agree with alot of this list,but I think I would put in Grant Hill over Webber and maybe even Williamson over Webber....
Decent list, but Bo Kimble at PG? He was a SG. Speaking of LMU, it's too bad my man Hank "the bank" Gathers didn't make that list also - actually it's shameful. I'm working on a new article about Hank right now, check for it soon...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting OgShowtime:</div><div class="quote_post">Decent list, but Bo Kimble at PG? He was a SG. Speaking of LMU, it's too bad my man Hank "the bank" Gathers didn't make that list also - actually it's shameful. I'm working on a new article about Hank right now, check for it soon...</div> I was wonderin' bout Kimble too....but yano.. lol maybe it's a typ-o on their part. Hank Gathers..he was a special player I've always thought. Bo Kimble shootin' those left hand free-throws is an immortal image...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Hank Gathers..he was a special player I've always thought. Bo Kimble shootin' those left hand free-throws is an immortal image...</div> Yeah, those two were like brothers, I thought that was a very fitting tribute by Bo...I always shoot my first FT of any game that I play left-handed in Hank's honor as well.
Where's Elton Brand? I wouldn't put him on the 1st team, but I'd give him props as an honorable mention. Other than that, good teams.
I believe that Mateen Cleaves deserves to be on that list. Although he had a bad professional career, he was the best or second best player in the league when he played college ball. The same could be said about Ed Cota. Anyway, fair list all around though, but was Laettner a Center? I don't remember.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe that Mateen Cleaves deserves to be on that list. Although he had a bad professional career, he was the best or second best player in the league when he played college ball. The same could be said about Ed Cota. Anyway, fair list all around though, but was Laettner a Center? I don't remember.</div> Yea I agree,if I made a list I'd go with Cleaves on there. And yea,Laettner was a center.
Is this list for players who had an impact on the final four??? or is it just college bball in general (which looks to be the case) If the latter, what's up with the title...it confused me
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Is this list for players who had an impact on the final four??? or is it just college bball in general (which looks to be the case) If the latter, what's up with the title...it confused me</div> It's the 90's All-Final Four team..the best of the guys that played in the Final 4 in the 90's.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">It's the 90's All-Final Four team..the best of the guys that played in the Final 4 in the 90's.</div> Yo that list is messed up then...half those guys never played in the final four
I was also under the impression that it was based solely on the players college impact, but it also says "overall success" is part of the selection process. I don't really like that, it doesn't coorelate well. It should be strictly based on their college performances IMO. I think it's just his top four players from each position, not necessarily players who have played in the final 4. It confused me a bit too at first...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Yo that list is messed up then...half those guys never played in the final four</div> Well I went back readin' some of the other stuff..and you're right...I was under the impression it was based solely on the tourney.
