Devil's Debate: Which team was best -- 2001, 2010, or 2015?

[Truth&Justise]

Nice video showing guys from the 2001, 2010, and 2015 teams debating which was the best:



Coach K says he knows which one was truly the best. So, which one was it?

It's the off-season, might as well go down this rabbit hole.

[UrinalCake]

The black shirts in front of that black background makes them look like floating heads.

[JasonEvans]

1986 was best... or maybe 1999.

[Troublemaker]

2001 >> 2015 > 2010

Most of the debate would center around 2010 vs 2015. I think most would agree with 2001 being the best of those three teams.

[Bluedog]

Fun video, thanks for linking. I realize the guys are just trying to have fun with one another by sparking the "debate," but I think it's pretty obvious to a non-biased outsider that 2001 was the best team by far. College teams were simply better back in those days with talent actually sticking around. 2015 didn't even win the ACC regular season or tournament. They got hot in the NCAA tournament and I'm glad they did, but can't compete with that much more experience+talent. And, on top of that, 2001 was probably more dominant anyways (against other teams with more talent+experience than later eras). I'd say 2010 would be next because of their consistent D throughout the season and offensive rebounding firepower. But 1999 probably would beat them all in a 4 out of 7 series. (And '86 would possibly too). I guess we've had these debates many times before on this site.

Edit: I see Jason beat me to it.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

The video was hilarious, especially Marshall.

I'd say 1992 by far - and they peaked in December - were still good enough.
1986 and 1999 even though they didn't win titles were awesome too. A couple other non natty winners were great teams.

Of these three:
I'd go 2001 - and they faced the best competition. The epic comebacks against a great Maryland team...TWICE.

Second place would be really close. The 2010 team peaked the second half v. Baylor in Regional Final and the entire W Va game. Seemed to be a little off, but good enough to beat Butler (barely). 2015 was great too - though probably helped that Wisky and Kentucky went after each other in the semis.

I could be talked out of anything, except for that 92 was the greatest team ever.

[left_hook_lacey]

2001. And it's really not close.

[Truth&Justise]

The video was hilarious, especially Marshall.

Agree, plus credit to Mason for being the only person to name a team other than his own.

[gotoguy]

2001 had Shane (and Badazz Nate, whose tip-in beat the turtles in the ACC tourney semi). The others didn't

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

1999, 1991, 1986, 2001. Then you can choose.

[UrinalCake]

Of the three title teams discussed in the video, 2001 was definitely the best. Here’s how I would define it: imagine each of the teams played their respective tournament 100 times. How many times would they win it? IMO the 2001 team would win it 25 times, 2015 would win it 10, and 2010 would win it 5.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

1999, 1991, 1986, 2001. Then you can choose.

Uh, where's 92?

[OldPhiKap]

The 2010 team was dead in the water, with Scheyer mired in a nasty slump, until he hit a wild shot against GTech. We did not have a threatening paint presence until Zoubs woke up and got healthy a month before the season ended,

I love the 2010 team just because they were so unlikely to win it all as we sat in January and most of February. One of my favorite teams.

But nowhere close to the teams in 1986, 1991-1993, 1999, 2001, or 2015. That’s what made that a great year!

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Uh, where's 92?

After those? Lots of great teams.

[cato]

After those? Lots of great teams.

Interesting. How do you make the argument for including 91 but excluding 92?

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Interesting. How do you make the argument for including 91 but excluding 92?

I am not excluding them. They just aren't in my top tier.

It might simply be emotional, having watched them do the impossible.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

After those? Lots of great teams.

I'll bet you anything K would tell you this was his best team. They were the 91 team, but better. There is simply no doubt about that. They were the only team to repeat, the only team to go wire to wire number one in the nation, and their road games were circuses unlike anything that has ever been seen by Duke basketball, or anyone else's. And to boot, the played in the most remarkable college game ever.

[weezie]

HHhmmmm. '92 or '01 it's a toss up for me.

[Edouble]

2001

Jason and Shane were each better than any players on 2010 or 2015, and for my money, were the best two players in college that season.

Both have their jerseys in the rafters. 2010 and 2015 have no jerseys in the rafters.

[Wander]

2001. However, 2010 is underrated in this thread, as that team usually is by Duke fans. That team was better than 2015, and it's not even that close in my mind. Higher in kenpom overall, offense, defense, ACC standings, won the ACC tournament...