The Florida Gators Are the Greatest College Basketball Team of All Time
The historical significance of the Florida Gators’ repeat championships in basketball will have been gone over again and again long before this article is even posted on AC. Yes, it has been 15 years since the last repeat champs in Division I basketball. The Gators are indeed the first team in history to repeat as champions with all five starters from the previous title run returning. Florida is also the first school in history to win the national championship in both football and basketball in the same year. I am going to add one further accolade to describe this team.
The Florida Gators are the greatest team in college basketball history.
I am aware that what I’ve just suggested is blasphemy in the eyes of many basketball fans. After all the UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won an astonishing ten national championships. The Duke squads were full of superstar players not to mention coached by one of the all-time greats (Coach K, of course). But the Gators are better than these teams. They are better than any team that has come before them.
There are several attributes that a team deemed “the greatest” has to have. The greatest basketball team must obviously be full of talent. It must be a team that plays well under pressure and is a proven winner. The team must be able to play full court basketball, excelling at both ends of the court. Finally, the greatest team has to be led by an outstanding coach. While these are obviously not the final determining factors they are a great starting point. Here are some of the reasons why the Florida Gators are the greatest team in college basketball history.
First reason why the Florida Gators are the greatest team in college basketball history: These kids can shoot.
Throughout the season Florida shot slightly over 40 percent from three-point land. This is not a record-breaking mark but it’s still pretty darn impressive. Both last year and this year it was the perimeter game that made the overall difference for the Gators. Every time an opponent would appear to be ready to make a comeback somebody would drain a three for the Gators.
And how clutch is Lee Humphrey? If he shot had the ball within 30 feet of the rim he was pulling up and firing away. Chances are the shot was going in, too.
Second reason why the Florida Gators are the greatest team in college basketball history: Their inside game isn’t so bad, either.
The trio of Corey Brewer, Al Horford, and Joakim Noah were dominant throughout the season. The three of them combined for over 38 points and 22.6 rebounds per game in 2006-07. Horford (13.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game) and Noah (12 points and 8.4 rebounds per game) were close to averaging a double-double per contest. When there are two players close to a double-double every time they step out on the court it makes for quite a challenge for opposing teams.
Third reason why the Florida Gators are the greatest team in college basketball history: Joakim Noah.
Without question Noah wasn’t the best big man in college basketball this year. Truth be told he probably isn’t even the best big man on his own team. The things that Noah contributed to the Gators are things not found on a score sheet. Noah’s passion for the game, his desire to win, and his overall energy gave a boost to Florida every time he was out on the court. Any coach will tell you that having a player the caliber of Joakim Noah is immeasurable. All great teams have a player like this.
Fourth reason why the Florida Gators are the greatest team in college basketball history: Billy Donovan
Donovan is one of the most underrated coaches in the game today. Anybody searching for proof of his ability to handle a team need only look to the championship game against Ohio State. Buckeye superstar Greg Oden is an elite player and he played very well against Florida in the title game. If you go back and watch the game, however, you’ll see that Oden only faced one-on-one defense. This is because Donovan kept the pressure on the Ohio State shooters instead, causing the Buckeyes to be anemic from beyond the arc. By doing this along with Florida’s guards nailing three-pointers left and right Florida was trading threes for twos. It was a stroke of brilliance by a coach who was fully aware of what he had to do to beat Ohio State and it worked to perfection.
Fifth reason why the Florida Gators are the greatest team in college basketball history: They are unbeatable when it matters.
In two seasons Florida never suffered a lost in either the conference tournament or the NCAA Tournament. Simply put there is nothing better than perfection.
Sixth reason why the Florida Gators are the greatest team in college basketball history: They came back for one more year to win it all again.
The fact that the starting five for the Gators returned to college to defend their title gave them a vast amount of experience. It also gave them the opportunity to hone their talents. All of Florida’s starters averaged over ten points a game this season, a remarkable feat for a college basketball team. They put team success over individual prosperity, something that is unheard of in this day and age.
The Florida Gators truly are one of those “feel good” stories in sports. Don’t let that fact get in the way with their historical significance. This is a team for the ages, one that would most assuredly come out on top no matter what opposition was thrown their way.
