Your teams top 10 games of the decade

[ericd7633]

With it relatively slow in the cbb landscape until Saturday and with the decade winding down, I'm curious as to which 10 games would be the best for your program? Obviously for @douggie or @jontaejones it'll be tough to distinguish which Natty was better, but for those of us(like myself) who's team hasn't had much tournament success I'd be curious as to which games stand out the most for your programs as well.

Here's my top 10 games of Gopher hoops the last decade: (ranking at time of game)

#1. February 2013: vs. #1 Indiana
#2. March 2010: vs. #11 Michigan State(B1G Tournament)
#3. November 2010: vs. #8 North Carolina(Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
#4. March 2019: vs. Louisville(NCAA tournament)
#5. February 2016: vs. #6 Maryland
#6. March 2010: vs. #6 Purdue(B1G tournament)
#7. January 2019: at #22 Wisconsin
#8. December 2019: vs. #3 Ohio State
#9. March 2019: vs. #13 Purdue(B1G tournament)
#10. March 2013: vs. #24 UCLA(NCAA tournament)

All in all, 3 Semifinal appearances in the B1G tournament, with a finals appearance. 2 NCAA tournament wins and a win over a #1 team, highlight the decade.

 

[Wild Turkey]

Let's just say the last 10 of last season and leave it at that.

 

[jontaejones]

Only from 2010? Ok...

 

[douggie]

The National Title games of course were huge,

April 5, 2010 Duke 61, Butler 59
April 6, 2015 Duke 68, Wisconsin 63

and the rivalry games against UNC when both are ranked high:

-February 8, 2012: #9 Duke 85, #5 North Carolina 84
-February 18, 2015: #4 Duke 92, #15 North Carolina 90 (OT)
-March 10, 2017: #14 Duke 93, #6 North Carolina 83
-March 15, 2019: #5 Duke 74, #3 North Carolina 73

Other than that probably the West Virginia win 78-57 in 2010 Final Four, the Michigan State win in 2015 Final Four 81-61, and the two Virginia wins last season, 2019 ACC games I guess? I like the FSU ACC Tourney Championship in 2019 73-63,

I can't go with just 10, they were all important!

 

[jontaejones]

1. Villanova - UNC - 2016 NCAA tourney - no explanation needed
2. Villanova - Kansas - 2016 NCAA tourney - also really none needed
3. West Virginia - 2018 NCAA tournament S16 - phenomenal, underrated game and WVU would have gone far if they got past us
4. Villanova - Syracuse, 1/26/13 - dawn of a new era
5. Villanova - Virginia Jan 2017 - Jerome and Guy were freshmen
6. Villanova - Creighton Dec 2016 - really good Creighton team b4 injuries hit
7. Nova - Michigan 2018 Championship
8. Nova - WVU Feb 2010. Beat them in Morgantown, team that went to F4. Then came the collapse.
9. Nova - Kansas Dec 2019
10. Providence 2015 BET semis

Rough order, but I favor the 2016 team over the 2018 because the underdog factor made it way more dramatic. The games were also better. The 2018 E8 vs Texas Tech was once of the worst I've seen.

The worst game by far was the loss to NC State as a #1 seed.

 

[douggie]

1. Villanova - UNC - 2016 NCAA tourney - no explanation needed
2. Villanova - Kansas - 2016 NCAA tourney - also really none needed
3. West Virginia - 2018 NCAA tournament S16 - phenomenal, underrated game and WVU would have gone far if they got past us
4. Villanova - Syracuse, 1/26/13 - dawn of a new era
5. Villanova - Virginia Jan 2017 - Jerome and Guy were freshmen
6. Villanova - Creighton Dec 2016 - really good Creighton team b4 injuries hit
7. Nova - Michigan 2018 Championship
8. Nova - WVU Feb 2010. Beat them in Morgantown, team that went to F4. Then came the collapse.
9. Nova - Kansas Dec 2019
10. Providence 2015 BET semis

Rough order, but I favor the 2016 team over the 2018 because the underdog factor made it way more dramatic. The games were also better. The 2018 E8 vs Texas Tech was once of the worst I've seen.

The worst game by far was the loss to NC State as a #1 seed.

Hey, worse losses can take up a bunch of bandwidth by Duke alone, this year's SFA game, St Johns in 2011, Mercer 2014, Lehigh 2012, South Carolina 2017 just to name a few

 

[jontaejones]

The National Title games of course were huge,

April 5, 2010 Duke 61, Butler 59
April 6, 2015 Duke 68, Wisconsin 63

and the rivalry games against UNC when both are ranked high:

-February 8, 2012: #9 Duke 85, #5 North Carolina 84
-February 18, 2015: #4 Duke 92, #15 North Carolina 90 (OT)
-March 10, 2017: #14 Duke 93, #6 North Carolina 83
-March 15, 2019: #5 Duke 74, #3 North Carolina 73

Other than that probably the West Virginia win 78-57 in 2010 Final Four, the Michigan State win in 2015 Final Four 81-61, and the two Virginia wins last season, 2019 ACC games I guess? I like the FSU ACC Tourney Championship in 2019 73-63,

I can't go with just 10, they were all important!

I've obviously seen many Duke games, though other teams games just kind of blend into one.

The 2012 game was nuts. I even still remember that.

Also, last year's Louisville game. Although you can easily argue that was more due to Louisville's incompetence.

 

[ericd7633]

1. Villanova - UNC - 2016 NCAA tourney - no explanation needed
2. Villanova - Kansas - 2016 NCAA tourney - also really none needed
3. West Virginia - 2018 NCAA tournament S16 - phenomenal, underrated game and WVU would have gone far if they got past us
4. Villanova - Syracuse, 1/26/13 - dawn of a new era
5. Villanova - Virginia Jan 2017 - Jerome and Guy were freshmen
6. Villanova - Creighton Dec 2016 - really good Creighton team b4 injuries hit
7. Nova - Michigan 2018 Championship
8. Nova - WVU Feb 2010. Beat them in Morgantown, team that went to F4. Then came the collapse.
9. Nova - Kansas Dec 2019
10. Providence 2015 BET semis

Rough order, but I favor the 2016 team over the 2018 because the underdog factor made it way more dramatic. The games were also better. The 2018 E8 vs Texas Tech was once of the worst I've seen.

The worst game by far was the loss to NC State as a #1 seed.

That NC State game was one of the flukiest losses I've ever seen. Nova kept getting wide open 3's and for some reason just couldn't knock them down.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

1. Marquette vs Davidson, 2013 NCAA Tourney- Vander Blue game winner, crazy comeback. Avoid a 1st round loss to a 14 seed, end up in the Elite 8. Pretty easy call.

2. Marquette vs Syracuse, 2011 NCAA Tourney- Crazy back and forth game. Crowder and DJO with the big 3s. As an 11 seed we finally breakthrough to the sweet 16 after many heart breaks the years prior with better squads. Set the tone for another couple years of being one of the BE best and second weekend tourney games

3. Marquette vs #1 Villanova, 2017 regular season- Improbable comeback. #1 on our home floor. Signature win for Wojo. Without it we don't end our tournament drought.

4. Marquette vs St. Johns, 2017 Regular Season finale. Vander Blue. Game winner. Share of the BE title. The last year of the old BE.

5. Marquette vs West Virginia, 2011 BE tournament. We typically have our struggles in the BE tournament. Huge win. Locked in our spot to the tourney. Allowed the above Cuse game to take place.

6. Marquette vs Villanova, 2010 BE tournament. Another back and forth game. Got us a trip to the semi's and cemented a high seed. Honestly, that underdog team won countless thrillers that year including round 1 the day before vs St. Johns as 3 straight road games in conference play and 2 Butler buzzer beaters. This game makes the list because of when it happened. That whole year was a thriller, including the Washington NCAA loss.

7. Marquette vs West Virginia, 2012 Regular Season. The Buzz Williams mid court logo dance. WVU and POY contender Kevin Jones had a home game while we suspended so many guys for 1 half of that game they had to take turns which half they actually sat. Jae Crowder didn't sit. BE POY was won that night. Most impressive win of the decade.

8. Marquette vs Butler, 2013 NCAA tournament. Another back and forth tourney game. Got us to our 3rd straight sweet 16. Big time win. Could be higher due to importance, but wasn't quite as memorable.

9. Marquette vs Miami, 2013 NCAA tournament. Complete beatdown. Not thrilling for any outside fan watching a tourney game. But it was fun for us fans. Win convincingly for a change and make the Elite 8.

10. Marquette vs Murray State, 2012 NCAA tournament. 6 seed Murray was the trendy upset pick and they were legit. But that Marquette team was a legit final 4 talented team(especially if not for the injuries). Back then we were one of the "toughest" teams in the BE, it showed. Too strong for Murray State.

So many games I coulda chosen. I filed it out late with NCAA tourney games for the obvious impact. Since we went in that 3 year lull with the Buzz/Wojo transition. Some might forget how good we were for a long stretch. 2010-2013 had so many insane regular season games. I picked some of the biggest. But we had a lot of thrillers in that stretch.

 

[ericd7633]

The National Title games of course were huge,

April 5, 2010 Duke 61, Butler 59
April 6, 2015 Duke 68, Wisconsin 63

and the rivalry games against UNC when both are ranked high:

-February 8, 2012: #9 Duke 85, #5 North Carolina 84
-February 18, 2015: #4 Duke 92, #15 North Carolina 90 (OT)
-March 10, 2017: #14 Duke 93, #6 North Carolina 83
-March 15, 2019: #5 Duke 74, #3 North Carolina 73

Other than that probably the West Virginia win 78-57 in 2010 Final Four, the Michigan State win in 2015 Final Four 81-61, and the two Virginia wins last season, 2019 ACC games I guess? I like the FSU ACC Tourney Championship in 2019 73-63,

I can't go with just 10, they were all important!

Was 2012 the year Rivers hit the 3 at the buzzer against UNC? That game was so good.

 

[douggie]

Was 2012 the year Rivers hit the 3 at the buzzer against UNC? That game was so good.

February 9, 2012 Austin Rivers hits the game winner in the River-Dome and I remember Doc Rivers was interviewed and he said, "I hate them"! Hahahaha

 

[jontaejones]

1. Marquette vs Davidson, 2013 NCAA Tourney- Vander Blue game winner, crazy comeback. Avoid a 1st round loss to a 14 seed, end up in the Elite 8. Pretty easy call.

2. Marquette vs Syracuse, 2011 NCAA Tourney- Crazy back and forth game. Crowder and DJO with the big 3s. As an 11 seed we finally breakthrough to the sweet 16 after many heart breaks the years prior with better squads. Set the tone for another couple years of being one of the BE best and second weekend tourney games

3. Marquette vs #1 Villanova, 2017 regular season- Improbable comeback. #1 on our home floor. Signature win for Wojo. Without it we don't end our tournament drought.

4. Marquette vs St. Johns, 2017 Regular Season finale. Vander Blue. Game winner. Share of the BE title. The last year of the old BE.

5. Marquette vs West Virginia, 2011 BE tournament. We typically have our struggles in the BE tournament. Huge win. Locked in our spot to the tourney. Allowed the above Cuse game to take place.

6. Marquette vs Villanova, 2010 BE tournament. Another back and forth game. Got us a trip to the semi's and cemented a high seed. Honestly, that underdog team won countless thrillers that year including round 1 the day before vs St. Johns as 3 straight road games in conference play and 2 Butler buzzer beaters. This game makes the list because of when it happened. That whole year was a thriller, including the Washington NCAA loss.

7. Marquette vs West Virginia, 2012 Regular Season. The Buzz Williams mid court logo dance. WVU and POY contender Kevin Jones had a home game while we suspended so many guys for 1 half of that game they had to take turns which half they actually sat. Jae Crowder didn't sit. BE POY was won that night. Most impressive win of the decade.

8. Marquette vs Butler, 2013 NCAA tournament. Another back and forth tourney game. Got us to our 3rd straight sweet 16. Big time win. Could be higher due to importance, but wasn't quite as memorable.

9. Marquette vs Miami, 2013 NCAA tournament. Complete beatdown. Not thrilling for any outside fan watching a tourney game. But it was fun for us fans. Win convincingly for a change and make the Elite 8.

10. Marquette vs Murray State, 2012 NCAA tournament. 6 seed Murray was the trendy upset pick and they were legit. But that Marquette team was a legit final 4 talented team(especially if not for the injuries). Back then we were one of the "toughest" teams in the BE, it showed. Too strong for Murray State.

So many games I coulda chosen. I filed it out late with NCAA tourney games for the obvious impact. Since we went in that 3 year lull with the Buzz/Wojo transition. Some might forget how good we were for a long stretch. 2010-2013 had so many insane regular season games. I picked some of the biggest. But we had a lot of thrillers in that stretch.

Marquette had some really good teams in the beginning of the decade.

We had some battles in the old Big East.

The 2009 BET is the one I remember...

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Marquette had some really good teams in the beginning of the decade.

We had some battles in the old Big East.

The 2009 BET is the one I remember...

Don't remind me. That was the year that shoulda been. Team collapsed after James went down and lost so many heartbreakers. That team while lacking a true big man was loaded. McNeal, Matthews, James, Hayward and a role player Jimmy Butler.

Theres a lot of what if's from 2008-2013.

First the 3 amigos and their underachieving March success

Then the first Sweet 16 team in 2011 was barely a tourney team. Fast forward a few years and thats a deadly roster in hindsight. Guys like Jamil Wilson, Dwight Buycks and Vander Blue found their games later on(Jamil and Buycks professionally). Then of course that team had Crowder, DJO, Jimmy and Gardner.

The 2012 was probably the best of all the ones we had

Don't run into a grossly underseeded Florida in the sweet 16 or don't have crucial injuries to Otule and Gardner that year and I think we were a legit final 4 team.

Now I am just hoping to get that consistency on the court back. Because our recruiting is better set up than ever before.

 

[jontaejones]

Don't remind me. That was the year that shoulda been. Team collapsed after James went down and lost so many heartbreakers. That team while lacking a true big man was loaded. McNeal, Matthews, James, Hayward and a role player Jimmy Butler.

Theres a lot of what if's from 2008-2013.

First the 3 amigos and their underachieving March success

Then the first Sweet 16 team in 2011 was barely a tourney team. Fast forward a few years and thats a deadly roster in hindsight. Guys like Jamil Wilson, Dwight Buycks and Vander Blue found their games later on(Jamil and Buycks professionally). Then of course that team had Crowder, DJO, Jimmy and Gardner.

The 2012 was probably the best of all the ones we had

Don't run into a grossly underseeded Florida in the sweet 16 or don't have crucial injuries to Otule and Gardner that year and I think we were a legit final 4 team.

Now I am just hoping to get that consistency on the court back. Because our recruiting is better set up than ever before.

Yea, those last Old Big East teams were nuts. Dom James, Gardner, Jae Crowder. Jimmy Butler and Crowder were on a team together.

Tough league and they just couldnt get over the hump but came close. I think Pitt was similar. They had some really good teams, but just didn't get a break to get to the FF.

I would argue Marquette's recruiting is actually down a tick blue chip wise, but you don't need McD AA to win anymore. You just need kids who buy into the program.

Nova's been pretty lucky, that 2009 was running hot right time, cuz the next year the same team was a dumpster fire.

I'll be honest, if we don't land Jalen Brunson, we may have zero titles. He wasn't the star of that first title team, but he was no role player either.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Yea, those last Old Big East teams were nuts. Dom James, Gardner, Jae Crowder. Jimmy Butler and Crowder were on a team together.

Tough league and they just couldnt get over the hump but came close. I think Pitt was similar. They had some really good teams, but just didn't get a break to get to the FF.

I would argue Marquette's recruiting is actually down a tick blue chip wise, but you don't need McD AA to win anymore. You just need kids who buy into the program.

Nova's been pretty lucky, that 2009 was running hot right time, cuz the next year the same team was a dumpster fire.

I'll be honest, if we don't land Jalen Brunson, we may have zero titles. He wasn't the star of that first title team, but he was no role player either.

Our recruiting is much better right now.

Buzz made a living off nailing under the radar JUCO gems. Butler, Crowder, DJO and Buycks.

Or complete diamond in the rough high schooler like Gardner.

Wojo already has 5 Star Ellenson(even if it was family related), fringe 5 Star Markus(before he reclassified) and 5ish Star Garcia.

Add in Lewis who plays USA ball and Torrence who was top 50 before reclassifying and it’s going well.

We are in the final 2 or 3 of 5 Stars all the time. But lose out to the blue bloods for obvious reasons.

Wojo has a really solid chance at Karin Mane and decent shot at Kendall Brown. Land those guys with Garcia and actually start winning. It should really explode.

 

[douggie]

Our recruiting is much better right now.

Buzz made a living off nailing under the radar JUCO gems. Butler, Crowder, DJO and Buycks.

Or complete diamond in the rough high schooler like Gardner.

Wojo already has 5 Star Ellenson(even if it was family related), fringe 5 Star Markus(before he reclassified) and 5ish Star Garcia.

Add in Lewis who plays USA ball and Torrence who was top 50 before reclassifying and it’s going well.

We are in the final 2 or 3 of 5 Stars all the time. But lose out to the blue bloods for obvious reasons.

Wojo has a really solid chance at Karin Mane and decent shot at Kendall Brown. Land those guys with Garcia and actually start winning. It should really explode.

Wojo was an overrated basketball player, but is an underestimated coach/recruiter.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Wojo was an overrated basketball player, but is an underestimated coach/recruiter.

Still got a lot to prove as a coach but I love his and the staffs recruiting strategies.

He’s a little bold putting all his eggs in the basket of recruits with blue bloods kicking around. But can’t fault him for that. I love it.

 

[jontaejones]

Still got a lot to prove as a coach but I love his and the staffs recruiting strategies.

He’s a little bold putting all his eggs in the basket of recruits with blue bloods kicking around. But can’t fault him for that. I love it.

He's got a little ways to go, definitely.

I'm not sure if this team is the one to put him on the map. Maybe the next class.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

He's got a little ways to go, definitely.

I'm not sure if this team is the one to put him on the map. Maybe the next class.

Def not this team overall.

The hope is. Get in. Markus blackout for a weekend. Mane comes.

Next years class would be elite but necessary for what we are losing.