The 10 Best Starting Five's In College Basketball Since 1980

When putting together top 10 lists I always seem to forget about someone or some team. Today at Bull City I am going to do something that I haven’t tried to do exclusively in hoops in a while. I have chopped it up with some of the best basketball minds I know over the past few days and although we didn’t agree on every team I used, we did agree on the majority of them.

I get excited around this time of year as the college basketball teams begin their season with Midnight Madness. Just the fact that they are getting ready for the season is good enough for me because football is still going strong, however around December it's nice to have some basketball on the television during the weekdays.

I feel pretty good about my picks, and the reason I started at 1980 was because it was when I started to have a full understanding of the game and I can still remember a lot of the players from that era in college. You might not agree with the order, but you have to agree that the teams that were chosen were all worthy of top 10 contention.

I know some of you will argue that a couple of the teams didn’t win a championship but we are talking starting fives, not full team play. In a lot of cases teams had solid starting 5’s but they didn't have a strong bench or a good coach so they were unable to win a championship.

T10 - 1993 - 1994 Arkansas Razorbacks – Corliss Williamson, Scotty Thurman, Corey Beck, Dwight Stewart, Ken Bailey (40 Minutes of Hell)

T10 - 2006 - 2007 Florida Gators -  Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, and Lee Humphrey **(won the year before with the same 5 players, the only team in NCAA history to ever repeat with the same starting 5)

9 - 1983 - 1984 Georgetown Hoyas – David Wingate, Freddie Brown, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jackson, Reggie Williams.

8 - 1992 - 1993 Michigan Wolverines - Chris Webber, Jimmy King, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard and Ray Jackson **(had back to back championship appearances and lost to UNC and Duke)

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Sean Merriman: Lights Out Looking More Like Burnt Out

Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman was once one of the most-feared players in the NFL. On Wednesday Merriman was placed on the injured reserve list because of a calf injury and a “minor-injury designation”. Because he was placed on the injured reserved list Merriman must be released once he’s healthy.

Technically, the Chargers could re-sign Merriman, but he was already a restricted free agent and the team is probably not going to be willing to pay the hefty price tag for a player that has been hurt more than healthy the past few seasons. So I honestly think that it won’t happen, because general manager A.J. Smith hasn’t been a fan of Merriman’s celebrity-leaning lifestyle.

Smith wasn’t really happy that Merriman brought unwanted attention off the field. He was arrested just before the 2009 season after reality television star Tila Tequila accused him of battery and false imprisonment at his suburban San Diego home. No charges were filed, and Merriman and Tequila settled dueling lawsuits.

A man who was once known as “Lights Out” because of his once-ferocious hits, Merriman had 39 1/2 sacks in his first three seasons. He’s had only four in the three seasons since then due to a variety of injuries.

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NCCU Football: A Season Of Hope Headed In The Wrong Direction

What started as a season of optimistic outcome has really turned into somewhat a disaster. The Eagles opened the season with a molly whopping of the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls and every sign was pointing to the beginning of something special at dear old NCC. However that is not the case. Failing to win 2 out of the next 3 games has the Eagles sitting 2 – 3 with a slew of talented teams left on the schedule. Let’s just say that the Eagles are in need of some intervention from a higher power.

The Eagles thus far have found ways to lose. In week 2 versus the Rams of Winston Salem State they were outperformed on offense and defense. The only real sparks came in the special team’s game with big returns by Arthur Goforth. In week 3 versus the Mountaineers of Appalachian State, the defense was stagnant but understood as the Mountaineers are a perennial power on the FCS scene.  In week 5 versus the Hampton Pirates, the offense and special teams were stagnant at best. With many opportunities to convert turnovers by the defense into points, the offense stalled and the field goal kicker had a day that he would like to forget forever.

In the two wins by the Eagles there were two things that were consistent, the ability to run the ball, and controlling all three phases of the game. I know it sounds cliché but running the ball is essential to winning in college football. If you look at the teams that win the national championship every year it is the team with the best running game. Call me crazy but running the ball does 3 things every team needs:

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Cliff Lee: All I Do Is Win, Now Show Me The Money

The bubbly was still flowing in the Rangers locker room (With the exception of Josh Hamilton who received a Ginger Ale Bath due to his bouts with Alcoholism) Tuesday night when the speculation started on how much Texas ace Cliff Lee stands to make in the free agent market this offseason.

Lee pitched another postseason gem in the Rangers series-clinching win in Game 5 of the ALDS, increasing his already sky high value on the open market.

ESPN's Buster Olney has already opened the bidding at "5 years, $115 million." Of course, Olney predicts Lee will go the Yankees, the team that tried in vain to acquire him this season and which Lee faces in the ALCS.

As soon as the Texas Rangers acquired Cliff Lee before the trade deadline, I was groaning because I knew it meant the Rangers would have a showdown against the Yankees in the ALCS. The Yankees had all but locked up the lefty when out of the blue, the Rangers showed up and now I know they are glad they did. The southpaw has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since winning the Cy Young Award in 2008 with the Indians, and he’s become one of the postseason starting pitchers we’ve seen.

Lee beat the Rays for the second time in the series, allowing just six hits and one run while striking out 11 in a complete game win. For the ALDS, he pitched 16 innings allowing just 11 hits, two runs, no walks and posting 21 strikeouts. The big stat that was being trumpeted for the series was that only seven times in postseason history has a pitcher gone 7 innings with double-digit strikeouts and no walks, and four of those games have now been accomplished by Cliff.

Earlier this year my blog brother wrote a piece on Mr. Cliff Lee telling his Rangers fans to enjoy him while you can. What Cliff Lee is doing in the playoffs the past few seasons is nothing short of spectacular.

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Wide Receiver Greg Little Issues Statement After Being Ruled Ineligible

Today Greg Little issued a statement of apology about his situation at North Carolina. Little a former Durham Hillside Wide Receiver has done terrific things since high school and this one scar has loomed deep. As he issued his statement today I can say he is genuine and well received.

“One of my greatest accomplishments was receiving a scholarship to the University of North Carolina. Representing the University was a true honor and I am so appreciative of Coach Davis and his staff for giving me the opportunity to achieve my dream of playing for North Carolina. I want to apologize first to my teammates, coaches, and the support staff for letting them down. To the community of Chapel Hill, students, alumni, and supporters of the University, I am terribly remorseful. 

The recent decision from the NCAA regarding my eligibility as a collegiate athlete is extremely painful, and has been a distraction from the team throughout the past five months. My situation should not take away from any of the team’s current accomplishments or future accomplishments. Now that I am no longer a part of the program, I hope my actions will not distract the team any longer.
For the remainder of this semester, I will continue to pursue my education at North Carolina. I understand the negative connotations associated with my punishment, but I would like to continue to be active in the community and participate in various outreach programs that I have always enjoyed.

There are defining moments in everyone’s life. I will use this as one of mine to shape and mold my morals and values as person. My time at UNC came to an abrupt conclusion, but I will forever be a proud supporter of the Tar Heels and the University of North Carolina.”

There is no doubt in my mind that this young man will make take this bad situation and turn it into motivation for his future.