South is here
Round 1
1. Bill Walton d. 16. Steve Alford
-Walton shot 65% from the floor for his career
9. Sabrina Ionescu d. 8 Wilt Chamberlain
-I mean, Wilt was Wilt, however good you think he was he was better than that - but Ionescu played in a hundred more games and at a really high level.
5. Maya Moore d. 12. Steph Curry
-I'm a Warriors fan, but Moore had back to back perfect seasons.
13. Brittney Griner d. 4. David Thompson
-Thompson was terrific, this is a really tough matchup - in Griner's junior year she blocked more shots than any other team, that's enough.
11. David Robinson d. 6. Jay Williams
-They each won the Wooden and the Naismith; Williams won the national title; I think for me the extraordinary talent disparity between the two supporting casts gets the Admiral a narrow win.
3. Cheryl Miller d. 14. Chris Webber
-three time Naismith; Miller is Ralph Sampson.
7. Elvin Hayes 10. Tim Duncan
-Hayes averaged 31-17 for his career
2. Michael Jordan 15. Nancy Lieberman
-Jordan won the Wooden, won the Naismith, won a title, that's enough in a super close match
Round of 32
1. Walton d. 9. Ionescu
-3 Naismith's, 2 titles, 2 tournament MVPs
5. Moore d. 13. Griner
-Moore went 150-4 in her college career.
3. Miller d. 11. Robinson
-3 Naismiths for Miller
7. Hayes d. 2. Jordan
-Did I mention the 31-17?
Sweet 16
1. Walton d. 5. Moore
-Walton won 90 straight; Moore 88 straight - this is a really comparable matchup; Moore played in many more games and that might be enough for the edge, but in the end Walton's '73 title game performance (21 of 22, 44 points) is unparalleled.
3. Miller d. 7. Hayes
-This is really tight; Hayes still has the rebounding record for the tournament, but Miller was the transformative player in women's college basketball
Elite 8
1. Bill Walton d. 3. Cheryl Miller
-Could be the crosstown UCLA v USC matchup is too much to pass up; I might go Moore over Miller. honestly, the Walton/Moore matchup seems a little tighter. UCLA mens basketball and UConn womens basketball for the respective eras had similar types of dominance, that career shooting % for Walton is a really special kind of regular season might.
That ESPN 64 Player Bracket South Region
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
East is here
Round 1
1. Christian Laettner d. 16. Jimmer Fredette
-Laettner's the career points leader in the tournament
8. Danny Manning d. 9. Zion Williamson
-There isn't a single argument for Williamson. Not a single one.
12. Larry Johnson d. 5. Carmelo Anthony
-I'm still salty about that Manning/Zion thing. This is a lot closer than that but the same basic "you just played one year, sir" idea.
4. Chamique Holdsclaw d. 13. Trae Young
-What's with the one and dones in the South? Holdsclaw won 3 straight titles.
11. Tamika Catchings d. 6. Chris Mullin
-This is really close; they both had long careers and similar levels of dominance; Catchings won the Naismith, Mullin won the Wooden. But Catchings had that undefeated season.
14. Glen Rice d. Magic Johnson
-This is also close; Magic was the better player, but Rice played in more than twice as many games, also won a title and his 1989 tournament run is maybe unmatched.
7. Candace Parker 10. Kevin Durant
-Again with the one and dones; Parker won two Woodens and back to back titles.
2. Patrick Ewing 15. Jerry Lucas
-Close like Rice/Magic, but the huge games disparity gives it to Ewing.
Round of 32
8. Manning over 1. Laettner
-They each won a Naismith and a Wooden, each won titles (Laettner won a second) I mean, it's by a hair, but Manning was a little bit better in the regular season and with less help.
4. Holdsclaw d. 12. Johnson
-Holdsclaw's the leading scorer and rebounder all time in the tournament
14. Rice d. 11. Catchings
-Close - but Catchings had significantly better teammates, as evidenced by Holdsclaw's advancing
2. Ewing d. Parker
-The 3 straight finals apearances in a hotly contested time seals it for Ewing.
Sweet 16
4. Holdsclaw d. Manning
-3 straight titles and an undefeated season for Holdsclaw
2. Ewing d. 14. Rice
Won a title like Rice but also had two more finals appearances
Elite 8
4. Chamique Holdsclaw d. 2. Patrick Ewing
2 Naismiths and a Sullivan Award. I didn't look at this bracket ant automatically think Holdsclaw, but she's the winner for sure.
Round 1
1. Christian Laettner d. 16. Jimmer Fredette
-Laettner's the career points leader in the tournament
8. Danny Manning d. 9. Zion Williamson
-There isn't a single argument for Williamson. Not a single one.
12. Larry Johnson d. 5. Carmelo Anthony
-I'm still salty about that Manning/Zion thing. This is a lot closer than that but the same basic "you just played one year, sir" idea.
4. Chamique Holdsclaw d. 13. Trae Young
-What's with the one and dones in the South? Holdsclaw won 3 straight titles.
11. Tamika Catchings d. 6. Chris Mullin
-This is really close; they both had long careers and similar levels of dominance; Catchings won the Naismith, Mullin won the Wooden. But Catchings had that undefeated season.
14. Glen Rice d. Magic Johnson
-This is also close; Magic was the better player, but Rice played in more than twice as many games, also won a title and his 1989 tournament run is maybe unmatched.
7. Candace Parker 10. Kevin Durant
-Again with the one and dones; Parker won two Woodens and back to back titles.
2. Patrick Ewing 15. Jerry Lucas
-Close like Rice/Magic, but the huge games disparity gives it to Ewing.
Round of 32
8. Manning over 1. Laettner
-They each won a Naismith and a Wooden, each won titles (Laettner won a second) I mean, it's by a hair, but Manning was a little bit better in the regular season and with less help.
4. Holdsclaw d. 12. Johnson
-Holdsclaw's the leading scorer and rebounder all time in the tournament
14. Rice d. 11. Catchings
-Close - but Catchings had significantly better teammates, as evidenced by Holdsclaw's advancing
2. Ewing d. Parker
-The 3 straight finals apearances in a hotly contested time seals it for Ewing.
Sweet 16
4. Holdsclaw d. Manning
-3 straight titles and an undefeated season for Holdsclaw
2. Ewing d. 14. Rice
Won a title like Rice but also had two more finals appearances
Elite 8
4. Chamique Holdsclaw d. 2. Patrick Ewing
2 Naismiths and a Sullivan Award. I didn't look at this bracket ant automatically think Holdsclaw, but she's the winner for sure.
That ESPN 64 Player Bracket East Region
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
West is here
Round One
1. Breanna Stewart d. 16. Austin Carr
Stewart won the Naismith 3 times
8. Bobby Hurley d. 9. Allen Iverson
Hurley played in more than twice as many games and won two titles
12. Shane Battier d. Len Bias
-Battier won the Naismith and a title
4. Ralph Sampson d. Pete Maravich
-This is a cruel draw; Sampson won the Naismith three times, Maravich averaged 44 points a game...other than Stewart, each of these guys is better than anyone else in the top half of this bracket.
6. Sheryl Swoopes d. 11. JJ Redick
-Swoopes averaged more than 35 points a game in the '93 tournament
3. Larry Bird d. 14. Dawn Staley
-30 points, 13 rebounds a game for his career; this is a tough out for Staley
10. Rebecca Lobo d. 7. Grant Hill
-Lobo won the Naismith and had an undefeated season
2. Bill Russell d. 15. Doug McDermott
-Russell averaged 20-20 for his career
Round of 32
1. Stewart d. 8. Hurley
Stewart won 4 titles.
4. Sampson d. 12 Battier
3 Naismiths...and 2 Woodens...
3. Bird d. 6. Swoopes
Without really looking hard, I might have gone Staley over Swoopes
2. Russell d. 10. Lobo
-back to back titles for Russell
Sweet 16
1. Stewart d. 4. Sampson
Stewart was 151-5 in her career.
2. Russell d. 3. Bird
Like the top half matchup, the team success that Russell had is a real advantage over Bird
Elite 8
1. Breanna Stewart d. 2. Bill Russell
-very similar; individual dominance, team success - but Russell played in less than half Stewart's games.
Round One
1. Breanna Stewart d. 16. Austin Carr
Stewart won the Naismith 3 times
8. Bobby Hurley d. 9. Allen Iverson
Hurley played in more than twice as many games and won two titles
12. Shane Battier d. Len Bias
-Battier won the Naismith and a title
4. Ralph Sampson d. Pete Maravich
-This is a cruel draw; Sampson won the Naismith three times, Maravich averaged 44 points a game...other than Stewart, each of these guys is better than anyone else in the top half of this bracket.
6. Sheryl Swoopes d. 11. JJ Redick
-Swoopes averaged more than 35 points a game in the '93 tournament
3. Larry Bird d. 14. Dawn Staley
-30 points, 13 rebounds a game for his career; this is a tough out for Staley
10. Rebecca Lobo d. 7. Grant Hill
-Lobo won the Naismith and had an undefeated season
2. Bill Russell d. 15. Doug McDermott
-Russell averaged 20-20 for his career
Round of 32
1. Stewart d. 8. Hurley
Stewart won 4 titles.
4. Sampson d. 12 Battier
3 Naismiths...and 2 Woodens...
3. Bird d. 6. Swoopes
Without really looking hard, I might have gone Staley over Swoopes
2. Russell d. 10. Lobo
-back to back titles for Russell
Sweet 16
1. Stewart d. 4. Sampson
Stewart was 151-5 in her career.
2. Russell d. 3. Bird
Like the top half matchup, the team success that Russell had is a real advantage over Bird
Elite 8
1. Breanna Stewart d. 2. Bill Russell
-very similar; individual dominance, team success - but Russell played in less than half Stewart's games.
That ESPN 64 Player Bracket West Region
Monday, March 23, 2020
ESPNs doing an all time college player bracket. Here would be my selections:
West:
Round 1
1. Lew Alcindor over 16. Seimone Augustus
-I don't have any rankings anyplace of all time college players, but if I don't advance Kareem to the final four at minimum I'd be surprised.
8. Sue Bird d. 9. Shaquille O'Neal
-Shaq won this understandably, but Bird won two titles and had an undefeated season
5. Tyler Hansbrough d. 12. Lisa Leslie
-This is the toughest of these three games for me, as Leslie is more important to her sport than is Hansbrough to his, but all time ACC leading scorer is pretty heavy resume material.
13. Jerry West d. 4. Anthony Davis
-I'm going to hammer the one and dones; Davis played 40 games in his college career, less than half West's total.
6. Kemba Walker d. 11. Marcus Camby
-super close, Walker's title gets him the narrow, narrow win
3. Oscar Robertson d. 14. Bill Bradley
-led the country in scoring three seasons, come on.
7. Akeem Olajuwon d. 10. Dwyane Wade
-Hakeem went to back to back finals, losing to Ewing and in the miracle to NC St.
2. Diana Taurasi d. 15. Chris Jackson
-3 titles, a perfect season, two Naismith Awards
Round of 32
1. Alcindor d. 8. Bird
Kareem averaged 26-16 for his career
5. Hansbrough d. 13. West
West>Kobe in their NBA careers, but Hansbrough's 142 game career at UNC is too much to deny.
3. Robertson d. 6. Walker
Oscar averaged 33 points and 15 boards for his college career. It's not close.
2. Taurasi d. 7. Olajuwon
Taurasi went 139-8 in her career.
Sweet 16
1. Alcindor d. 5. Hansbrough
-Kareem's 3 titles carries him through
3. Robertson d. 2. Taurasi
-This is super tough; Taurasi had so much more team success, but the ridiculous, just Chamberlain like dominance for Robertson can't be denied.
Elite 8
1. Lew Alcindor d. 3. Oscar Robertson
-I mean, he was NCAA Tournament MVP all 3 years.
West:
Round 1
1. Lew Alcindor over 16. Seimone Augustus
-I don't have any rankings anyplace of all time college players, but if I don't advance Kareem to the final four at minimum I'd be surprised.
8. Sue Bird d. 9. Shaquille O'Neal
-Shaq won this understandably, but Bird won two titles and had an undefeated season
5. Tyler Hansbrough d. 12. Lisa Leslie
-This is the toughest of these three games for me, as Leslie is more important to her sport than is Hansbrough to his, but all time ACC leading scorer is pretty heavy resume material.
13. Jerry West d. 4. Anthony Davis
-I'm going to hammer the one and dones; Davis played 40 games in his college career, less than half West's total.
6. Kemba Walker d. 11. Marcus Camby
-super close, Walker's title gets him the narrow, narrow win
3. Oscar Robertson d. 14. Bill Bradley
-led the country in scoring three seasons, come on.
7. Akeem Olajuwon d. 10. Dwyane Wade
-Hakeem went to back to back finals, losing to Ewing and in the miracle to NC St.
2. Diana Taurasi d. 15. Chris Jackson
-3 titles, a perfect season, two Naismith Awards
Round of 32
1. Alcindor d. 8. Bird
Kareem averaged 26-16 for his career
5. Hansbrough d. 13. West
West>Kobe in their NBA careers, but Hansbrough's 142 game career at UNC is too much to deny.
3. Robertson d. 6. Walker
Oscar averaged 33 points and 15 boards for his college career. It's not close.
2. Taurasi d. 7. Olajuwon
Taurasi went 139-8 in her career.
Sweet 16
1. Alcindor d. 5. Hansbrough
-Kareem's 3 titles carries him through
3. Robertson d. 2. Taurasi
-This is super tough; Taurasi had so much more team success, but the ridiculous, just Chamberlain like dominance for Robertson can't be denied.
Elite 8
1. Lew Alcindor d. 3. Oscar Robertson
-I mean, he was NCAA Tournament MVP all 3 years.
Every Warriors Team Ranked
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Here's what this is - I took Simple Rating System from Baseball Reference; ELO from FiveThirtyEight and smashed them together, with a bent toward valuing contemporary teams given a constant improvement of basketball as a system. Through 2020.
1. 2017 NBA Champions (C Green F Durant F Iguodala G Curry G Thompson)
2. 2015 NBA Champions (C Bogut F Green F Barnes G Curry G Thompson)
3. 2016 Conference Champions (C Bogut F Green F Barnes G Curry G Thompson)
4. 2019 Conference Champions (C Looney F Green F Durant G Curry G Thompson)
5. 2018 NBA Champions (C West F Green F Durant G Curry G Thompson)
6. 2014 2nd in Division (C Bogut F Lee F Iguodala G Curry G Thompson)
7. 1956 NBA Champions (C Johnston F Arizin F Gola G George G Dempsey)
8. 1976 Division Champs (C Ray F Barry F Wilkes G Dudley G Smith)
9. 1964 Division Champs (C Chamberlain F Meschery F Hightower G Attles G Rodgers)
10. 1975 NBA Champions (C Ray F Barry F Wilkes G Beard G Johnson)
11. 1992 2nd in Division (C Hill F Mullin F Owens G Hardaway G Marciulionis)
12. 1960 2nd in Division (C Chamberlain F Arizin F Grabowski G Gola G Rodgers)
13. 1977 3rd in Division (C Ray F Barry F Wilkes G Smith G Dudley)
14. 1951 Division Champs (C Fulks F Arizin F Closs G Senesky G Phillip
15. 2013 2nd in Division (C Lee F Landry F Barnes G Curry G Thompson)
16. 2008 3rd in Division (C Biedrins F Jackson F Harrington G Davis G Ellis)
17. 1962 2nd in Division (C Chamberlain F Arizin F Meschery G Gola G Attles)
18. 1967 Division Champs (C Thurmond F Barry F Meschery G Attles G Mullins)
19. 2014 2nd in Division (C Bogut F Lee F Iguodala G Curry G Thompson)
20. 1994 3rd in Division (C Webber F Owens F Mullin G Johnson G Sprewell)
21. 1991
22. 1973
23. 1957
24. 1978
25. 1974
26. 1972
27. 1982
28. 1958
29. 1961
30. 1947
31. 1979
32. 1955
33. 2004
34. 1948
35. 2005
36. 1952
37. 1989
38. 2003
39. 2011
40. 1981
41. 2006
42. 1949
43. 1993
44. 1959
45. 1954
46. 1963
47. 1987
48. 1996
49. 1966
50. 1971
51. 1969
52. 1968
53. 1950
54. 1984
1. 2017 NBA Champions (C Green F Durant F Iguodala G Curry G Thompson)
2. 2015 NBA Champions (C Bogut F Green F Barnes G Curry G Thompson)
3. 2016 Conference Champions (C Bogut F Green F Barnes G Curry G Thompson)
4. 2019 Conference Champions (C Looney F Green F Durant G Curry G Thompson)
5. 2018 NBA Champions (C West F Green F Durant G Curry G Thompson)
6. 2014 2nd in Division (C Bogut F Lee F Iguodala G Curry G Thompson)
7. 1956 NBA Champions (C Johnston F Arizin F Gola G George G Dempsey)
8. 1976 Division Champs (C Ray F Barry F Wilkes G Dudley G Smith)
9. 1964 Division Champs (C Chamberlain F Meschery F Hightower G Attles G Rodgers)
10. 1975 NBA Champions (C Ray F Barry F Wilkes G Beard G Johnson)
11. 1992 2nd in Division (C Hill F Mullin F Owens G Hardaway G Marciulionis)
12. 1960 2nd in Division (C Chamberlain F Arizin F Grabowski G Gola G Rodgers)
13. 1977 3rd in Division (C Ray F Barry F Wilkes G Smith G Dudley)
14. 1951 Division Champs (C Fulks F Arizin F Closs G Senesky G Phillip
15. 2013 2nd in Division (C Lee F Landry F Barnes G Curry G Thompson)
16. 2008 3rd in Division (C Biedrins F Jackson F Harrington G Davis G Ellis)
17. 1962 2nd in Division (C Chamberlain F Arizin F Meschery G Gola G Attles)
18. 1967 Division Champs (C Thurmond F Barry F Meschery G Attles G Mullins)
19. 2014 2nd in Division (C Bogut F Lee F Iguodala G Curry G Thompson)
20. 1994 3rd in Division (C Webber F Owens F Mullin G Johnson G Sprewell)
21. 1991
22. 1973
23. 1957
24. 1978
25. 1974
26. 1972
27. 1982
28. 1958
29. 1961
30. 1947
31. 1979
32. 1955
33. 2004
34. 1948
35. 2005
36. 1952
37. 1989
38. 2003
39. 2011
40. 1981
41. 2006
42. 1949
43. 1993
44. 1959
45. 1954
46. 1963
47. 1987
48. 1996
49. 1966
50. 1971
51. 1969
52. 1968
53. 1950
54. 1984
55. 2020
56. 1990
57. 1986
58. 2010
59. 1999
60. 2009
61. 2012
62. 1983
63. 1980
64. 1997
65. 1995
66. 1965
67. 2002
68. 1985
69. 2000
70. 1953
71. 1998
72. 2001
73. 1988
74. 1970
56. 1990
57. 1986
58. 2010
59. 1999
60. 2009
61. 2012
62. 1983
63. 1980
64. 1997
65. 1995
66. 1965
67. 2002
68. 1985
69. 2000
70. 1953
71. 1998
72. 2001
73. 1988
74. 1970
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