(02-10-2018 08:32 AM)rosewater Wrote: I think this team is the best since 96. The 02 team did not play the defense like this team. I thought that team was more like the Kilpatrick team. One man shows with a little contribution from others.
This is really an insult to what the 2002 UC team accomplished, but I hear it a lot from UC fans. The 2002 team, despite being the only UC team in recent UC history to earn a 1 seed, is often very underappreciated. Nevermind that you're also ignoring the 2000 team which was the best UC team since the 60s and a Kenyon Martin injury short of being the National Champion favorites.
I think it's reasonable to compare this team to 2002, 2000, 1996, 1993 and 1992. It's in that group. The 2002 team is not comparable to Kipatrick's senior season team.
2002- Conference Regular Season Champions, Conference Tournament Champions, 1 seed, RPI #3, 8-2 v. RPI top 50, 17-3 v. RPI top 100. #2 kenpom adjusted efficiency (first year he kept that stat). UC's total adjusted efficiency margin that season was +30.19 (this year by comparison is +27.71). UC finished 7th in adjusted offense and 3rd in adjusted defense (This year they are 55 and 2 as of right now). That 2002 team was excellent all season. Logan was unreal, but the other guys each had a role and they were great on both ends.
There are things to like better about this years team. Yes they are better defensively, though as this team has been historically great where that team was excellent within that season, but not to this level. Despite that team being significantly better in adjusted offense, I still feel like this team has more guys that can beat you. That team did depend on Logan a lot but Logan was super human and the other guys weren't slouches...particularly Stokes who had a great offensive season. I think this team's adjusted offensive numbers are probably not quite reflective of what they are... They get up so big early they really do sub in and out a lot. I still think the main lineups on this team constitute a top 30 offense.
Bottom line. If you want to say this team is better than 2002, so be it. It's a fair discussion. I think its still wait and see as the 2002 was outright conference champions, conference tournament champions and a 1 seed. We've already discussed the crazy record 2002 had against top teams and the kenpom numbers. This team is in that discussion with other great teams. Still, lumping 2002 in with that Kilpatrick team is insane to me.... as is ignoring 2000 when you say this is the best team since...