View Poll Results: What is the best Duke team Coach K has ever coached

Voters
121. You may not vote on this poll
  • 1986

    7 5.79%
  • 1991

    1 0.83%
  • 1992

    58 47.93%
  • 1999

    34 28.10%
  • 2001

    16 13.22%
  • Other

    5 4.13%
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Washington, D.C.

    Best Duke Team under Coach K

    Discuss your vote!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Toledo
    According to some, because this commentary is discussed on Ozzie's handbag thing, this is all futile. Shame on you for not thinking outside the box.

    Now back to reality...

    Since this is an argument on the "best team", and not best national champion, I had to go with '99 Duke. That team was just plain nasty. Brand, Langdon, Avery, Maggette, Carrawell, Battier, James. Two national players of the year, three ACC players of the year, and five All-Americans among them.

    Duke stormed into the Final Four in St. Petersburg with a 36-1 record, pumping in 92 points a night and outscoring its opponents by 26 points a game, the sixth best spread in NCAA history. During the first four rounds of the Tournament that year, the Blue Devils won by no less than 17 points, and thrashed a very talented Temple club 85-64 in the East regional final.

    Through its first 37 games that season, Duke trailed only 24 minutes in the second half. That is unbelievable.

    As far as the most talented, purely dominant team that Coach K has ever coached, this team is it. Duke's 1999 club was once in a lifetime, and that's saying something considering they didn't even cut down the nets. That people still refer to this outfit as the greatest college team they have ever seen is as solid a testament to '99's greatest as one can find.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Winston Salem, NC

    Has to be 1992

    Not only for winning the 2nd of two straight NCAA championships but for these players:

    Christian Laettner
    Bobby Hurley
    Grant Hill
    Thomas Hill
    Brian Davis
    Antonio Lang
    Cherokee Parks
    I know that the 1999 team had some star studded names on it, but none compare to Christian Laettner and Grant Hill. Throw in the best point guard in Duke history(maybe ncaa history) and Thomas Hill one of the better players in Duke history. I'm not talking about NBA play but college play. Go Duke!

  4. #4
    Have to go with the 92 team. I know there is much love for the 99 team given their dominance (and I'm one of them), title or no title, but some tend to forget the 92 team's dominance also.

    Another point, many state we should look past the 99 team's NC loss and look at how dominant a team it was. Well take a step back with the 92 team and look where their dominance began. Essentially, the 92 team was the same as the 91 team that won the NC that year and beat a team in UNLV, which is considered by many, to be one of the greatest teams ever, regardless of a NC or not. At the bear minimum, that UNLV team is the greatest team not to win a NC, effectively, better than the 99 Duke team putting our bias aside. Taking that into consideration, the 92 team which had many of their top rotation players on that 91 team, beat a UNLV team greater than the 99 Duke team. I know some will argue that this statement is like saying Harvard is on the same level as UNC this year since they beat BC which beat UNC but you have to think outside the box a bit here. I know their are many varying opinions but its hard to look past the fact that the 92 team beat arguably one of the greatest teams the year before, may have gone undefeated if not for Hurley's ankle injury, had one of the greatest college players of all time and had teamed with him 2 others considered among the best of this era.

    It's a fun discussion but just wanted to bring more support to the 92 which is starting to be forgotten about a bit as time goes by. Damn, I'm feeling old as that was my senior year in H.S...LOL

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Arlington, VA
    ^I'm on board with you on 92, and you are not so old - I was in my first year of law school and actually won the "bracket" on Duke's win. That was the last time I won anything associated with the NCAAT.

    The 99 team may have had more athletic players, but I'll still take the 92 team over every other.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    SoCal

    99 was The Dominator

    Quote Originally Posted by NYDukie View Post
    Essentially, the 92 team was the same as the 91 team that won the NC that year and beat a team in UNLV, which is considered by many, to be one of the greatest teams ever, regardless of a NC or not. At the bear minimum, that UNLV team is the greatest team not to win a NC, effectively, better than the 99 Duke team putting our bias aside.
    I too loved the 92 Team and I am going to say that the 91-92 team exhibited the greatest character of any of the great Duke teams. Yes They were dominant, but they also played hard as hell and smart as hell.

    However, I must totally disagree with your remarks about the 99 team versus either 92 or the 91 Vegas team. Fortunately, I was able to dig up a small amount of historical data to bloster my case. The 99 Duke team won by an average of 24.66 points while playiing the 11th most difficult schedule in the country and in the #2 rated conference according to Jeff Sagarin. Unfortunatley, Sagarin ratings archives only go back to 1991, so I can't directly use them for the comparisson to UNLV. However, UNLV did win its games in 91 by an average of 27.3 points. Now even though I can't find ratings going back to 91, looking at ratings for the Big West conference in the first year they are available (99) is helpful. In that year, the big west was rated the #18 most difficult (it's almost like an oxymoron at that point) conference and most of the teams played a schedule strength that varied between #150-#200. The toughest schedule came it at #111 (North Texas). Now even though the Big West membership has changed somewhat over the years, it's easy to see why UNLV dominated their conference even in 91 when I believe the best non-UNLV teams in the conference in that era were NM State, UCSB and UT State. It's hard to imagine that a Duke team that won by 24.6 points/game in the ACC would not have absolutely decimated that conference by at least 30 a game. Yes, UNLV played (and crushed) a few good out of conference teams, but sort of like Memphis this year, it's just not enough to make an assessment. Also, from a purely visual standpoint, I have never, ever, ever seen a team that just absolutely punished teams the way the 99 team. It was like watching Bambi vs. Godzilla almost every time out. Sadly, they could have used the character of the 92 team in order to realize the all-time destiny that awaited them.
    Last edited by Devils Rock; 04-09-2009 at 05:23 PM.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    SoCal

    Clarification

    ^^
    Just to clarify: i'm not trying to say that the UNLV team wasn't incredibly dominant (b/c they clearly were), but I'm not so sure they were a better team than the 99 Devils.

  8. #8
    The '92 team faced vastly better competition. In '92 players rarely came out early. In '88, the incoming freshmen class was billed as possibly the best ever. It didn't make it, but was still very good.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Devils Rock View Post
    ^^
    Just to clarify: i'm not trying to say that the UNLV team wasn't incredibly dominant (b/c they clearly were), but I'm not so sure they were a better team than the 99 Devils.
    Well, the sports media was gearing up to annoint them as the best BB team of all time, if they had won the '91 NC.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Lompoc, West Carolina
    The next one.
    The best is yet to come.
    Seriously.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Brooklyn, NY

    Nod to 92

    92 team beat Michigan Fab 5 twice (including at Michigan and 20 point blow out in the final game), beat LSU with Shaq at LSU, beat UCLA at UCLA with Tracy Murray and Don McLean (ok they weren't all that), won ACC regular season and tournament (and ACC had a solid pro prospect on EVERY roster that year), and only lost 2 games (both on the road against strong ACC teams with chances to win each). I think 99 only appeared more dominant because the level of competition wasn't as strong until they faced the 1 team that matched up well that was out there... and they came up short.

  12. #12
    Anyone that answers 1999 or 2001 should be obligated to include how many games of the 1992 season they watched...



    Note: I don't necessarily disagree that 1999 or 2001 is the correct answer here, but I think 1992 gets ruled out WAYY TOO quickly because it was 17-years ago and likely beyond the scope of many posters...

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    raleigh
    oops....it DID say best duke team...

    my bad..


    i'd say 99...i watched all games in 91-92...











    covering up now !

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Inman, SC & Fort Myers, FL
    Quote Originally Posted by captmojo View Post
    The next one.
    The best is yet to come.
    Seriously.
    I agree completely. Next year's team is always going to be the best!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Clifton, VA
    All of these teams as well as many others were great, but I gotta go with 1992. They defended their title and never lost their preseason #1 ranking despite a brutal schedule and injuries to multiple key players. They had incredible talent and depth and played great team ball on offense and defense. I must confess that I graduated in 92 and we all like to think our teams were better back in the day. The 1999 team was incredible and I still occasionally lose sleep over the 1999 loss in the final, but I'd put my money on 1992 in a one game showdown or seven game series. In the end, I think the 1992 team had too many shooters, too much defense, too much versatility, too much heart and too many intangibles for the 1999 team to overcome. For the record, I only saw the 1999 team play once in person.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    '92 would absolutely mop the floor with the '99 team. There is no question.

    I'd probably even take the '86 team over '99.

    Here's my take on the '99 team. Sure they were talented. Brand was arguably the most talented low post player to ever play at Duke. Maggette was an athletic freak off the bench and there were other offensive options available. But I think what gets lost is the level of competition that team faced in conference that year. The ACC as a whole was dreadful. UNC was of little significance nationally (remember they lost to Weber St 1st round) and the only team that factored into any post season possiblities was Maryland with Steve Francis and Terrance Morris. That was it. So the undefeated ACC season while impressive, is lessened a bit. Also, I always found the '99 team's backcourt to be a bit suspect. Avery was good player but not a natural pg. The only other option on the team for a ball handler was Carrawell who while capable was not the type to initiate an offense. Langdon was a liability on defense as he was laterally challenged. Unfortunately I don't recall the '99 team's ooc schedule but I do recall the Cincinatti game where Melvin Levitt scooted past a much slower Langdon for a soaring dunk to win the game against Duke.

    The '92 team was loaded with talent and versatility and like '99 they expected to win every game and dominate their opponent. While the '99 team featured one senior, one junior, and the rest freshmen and sophomores in it's regular rotation - '92 featured 2 seniors, 2 juniors, 2 sophomores, and a freshman among it's regular rotation. Oh yeah, and these guys were already proven winners. Unlike '99, there were few weaknesses in the '92 backcourt. Hurley was an absolute rock orchestrating the offense and Thomas Hill was a lock down defender who could be counted on to score at any time. Grant Hill more than filled in as capable ball handler though unlike Carrawell he could initiate offense quite well. Brian Davis and Antonio Lang were terrific role players providing defense and offense when needed. And then there was that Laettner guy. Cherokee Parks even provided ample support as a freshman. I'd take a freshman Parks over a sophomore Burgess.

    I was fortunate enough to see both these teams play in person on multiple occasions. The '92 team was the most impressive Duke team I've ever seen.
    Last edited by jipops; 04-09-2009 at 10:07 PM.

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Devils Rock View Post
    I too loved the 92 Team and I am going to say that the 91-92 team exhibited the greatest character of any of the great Duke teams. Yes They were dominant, but they also played hard as hell and smart as hell.

    However, I must totally disagree with your remarks about the 99 team versus either 92 or the 91 Vegas team. Fortunately, I was able to dig up a small amount of historical data to bloster my case. The 99 Duke team won by an average of 24.66 points while playiing the 11th most difficult schedule in the country and in the #2 rated conference according to Jeff Sagarin. Unfortunatley, Sagarin ratings archives only go back to 1991, so I can't directly use them for the comparisson to UNLV. However, UNLV did win its games in 91 by an average of 27.3 points. Now even though I can't find ratings going back to 91, looking at ratings for the Big West conference in the first year they are available (99) is helpful. In that year, the big west was rated the #18 most difficult (it's almost like an oxymoron at that point) conference and most of the teams played a schedule strength that varied between #150-#200. The toughest schedule came it at #111 (North Texas). Now even though the Big West membership has changed somewhat over the years, it's easy to see why UNLV dominated their conference even in 91 when I believe the best non-UNLV teams in the conference in that era were NM State, UCSB and UT State. It's hard to imagine that a Duke team that won by 24.6 points/game in the ACC would not have absolutely decimated that conference by at least 30 a game. Yes, UNLV played (and crushed) a few good out of conference teams, but sort of like Memphis this year, it's just not enough to make an assessment. Also, from a purely visual standpoint, I have never, ever, ever seen a team that just absolutely punished teams the way the 99 team. It was like watching Bambi vs. Godzilla almost every time out. Sadly, they could have used the character of the 92 team in order to realize the all-time destiny that awaited them.
    I know its easy for us to break out statistics and say this team is that and that team is this. And I do realize you mentioned how "character" played a great role in both teams end results but I think the 92 had both character and a intimidation factor that most teams never had. Usually teams had one but not the other. Intimidation can come in many forms. The 91 UNLV team had a bravado and a physicality about them that made teams fear them. The 99 Duke team had a all in your face and physical nature to them. And the 92 initimidated others by their skill and self confidence that said "you have no chance to beat us". I think we all have a tendency to get caught up in the numbers, which is indicative of society as whole, which is a whole other thread...LOL

    What I'm saying is that sports in general is not black and white, that there are many intangibles is what makes a great team and that's what I believe separates the 92 team from any of the other Duke teams.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Durham, NC

    Character and intimidation

    Quote Originally Posted by NYDukie View Post
    I know its easy for us to break out statistics and say this team is that and that team is this. And I do realize you mentioned how "character" played a great role in both teams end results but I think the 92 had both character and a intimidation factor that most teams never had. Usually teams had one but not the other. Intimidation can come in many forms. The 91 UNLV team had a bravado and a physicality about them that made teams fear them. The 99 Duke team had a all in your face and physical nature to them. And the 92 initimidated others by their skill and self confidence that said "you have no chance to beat us". I think we all have a tendency to get caught up in the numbers, which is indicative of society as whole, which is a whole other thread...LOL

    What I'm saying is that sports in general is not black and white, that there are many intangibles is what makes a great team and that's what I believe separates the 92 team from any of the other Duke teams.
    I agree with everyone who has selected the 1992 team... that was a unique group of young men who, totally unexpectedly a year earlier had beaten the UNLV team that was supposed to be able to destroy them with both hands tied behind their backs...

    The 92 team had swagger, confidence, incredible self-esteem, and real gut-level strength of character. I haven't seen much of that of late. If we could somehow clone Christian... but we can't dream, can we?

    92 wins over 99 and all others... no question. Take it from someone who has watched every team that's mentioned.
    DukeDevilDeb

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Watching carolina Go To HELL!
    Quote Originally Posted by Cameron View Post
    According to some, because this commentary is discussed on Ozzie's handbag thing, this is all futile.
    What are you talking about? I don't have no stinking handbag!

    I voted 1992 by a nose over 1999. I think the 92 team would have beaten the 99 team. Both had great players, 92 had better chemistry.
    Ozzie, your paradigm of optimism!

    Go To Hell carolina, Go To Hell!
    9F 9F 9F
    https://ecogreen.greentechaffiliate.com

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Toledo
    Quote Originally Posted by OZZIE4DUKE
    What are you talking about? I don't have no stinking handbag!
    Haha

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