It’s a simple question but a nearly impossible one to answer: What is the great college basketball team of all-time?
We need your help deciding, America. We’ve already got the ball rolling by whittling your choices down to 32 deserving teams; now it’s your turn to whittle the field down to one. Will it be Jordan’s Tar Heels? Or Walton’s Bruins? Maybe Christian Laettner’s Blue Devils or Anthony Davis’ Wildcats? You’ll decide over the next week.
The field consists of teams across multiple eras. And that’s what makes this process so difficult. How do you account for the rule changes and evolution of the sport and the athletes themselves? That’s up to you. We won’t tell you how to vote.
With all that said, let’s meet the teams and the Round of 32 matchups…
East region
(1) 1991-92 Duke
Notable players: Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley
(8) 2015-16 Villanova
Notable players: Kris Jenkins, Josh Hart, Ryan Arcidiacono
(4) 2007-08 Kansas
Notable players: Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers
(5) 1993-94 Arkansas
Notable players: Corliss Williamson, Scotty Thurman, Alex Dillard
(3) 1992-93 NORTH CAROLINA
Notable players: Eric Montross, George Lynch, Donald Williams
(6) 1965-66 Texas western
Notable players: Bobby Joe Hill, David Lattin, Orsten Artis
(2) 1971-72 UCLA
Notable players: Bill Walton, Henry Bibby, Jamaal Wilkes
(7) 2008-09 North Carolina
Notable players: Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington
Midwest region
(1) 2011-12 Kentucky
Notable players: Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones
(8) 2005-06 Florida
Notable players: Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer
(4) 1966-67 UCLA
Notable players: Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Lucius Allen, Mike Warren
(5) 2004-05 North Carolina
Notable players: Raymond Felton, Sean May, Rashad McCants
(3) 1970-71 UCLA
Notable players: Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, Steve Patterson
(6) 1985-86 Louisville
Notable players: Pervis Ellison, Billy Thompson, Milt Wagner
(2) 1975-76 Indiana
Notable players: Scott May, Kent Benson, Quinn Buckner
(7) 1999-2000 Michigan State
Notable players: Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell
South region
(1) 1981-82 North Carolina
Notable players: Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Sam Perkins
(8) 1994-95 UCLA
Notable players: Ed O’Bannon, Tyus Edney, Charles O’Bannon
(4) 1989-90 UNLV
Notable players: Larry Johnson, Anderson Hunt, Stacey Augmon
(5) 2000-2001 Duke
Notable players: Shane Battier, Jay Williams, Carlos Boozer
(3) 2006-07 Florida
Notable players: Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer
(6) 2003-04 Connecticut
Notable players: Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva
(2) 1995-96 Kentucky
Notable players: Tony Delk, Antoine Walker, Walter McCarty
(7) 1983-84 Georgetown
Notable players: Patrick Ewing, David Wingate, Michael Jackson
West region
(1) 1972-73 UCLA
Notable players: Bill Walton, Jamaal Wilkes, Keith Wilkes
(8) 1982-83 NC STATE
Notable players: Thurl Bailey, Dereck Whittenburg, Sidney Lowe
(4) 2001-02 Maryland
Notable players: Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter, Chris Wilcox
(5) 1996-97 Arizona
Notable players: Miles Simon, Mike Bibby, Michael Dickerson
(3) 1998-99 Connecticut
Notable players: Richard Hamilton, Khalid El-Amin, Kevin Freeman
(6) 2014-15 Duke
Notable players: Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, Quinn Cook
(2) 1978-79 Michigan State
Notable players: Magic Johnson, Greg Kelser, Jay Vincent
(7) 1977-78 Kentucky
Notable players: Jack Givens, Rick Robey, Kyle Macy