Decade-Unique Draft Challenge

[u/HyarionCelenar]

The Challenge: You have to draft a team to play through 6 games of March Madness and cut down the nets.
The Rules:
- Pick one school.
- Draft a 5 person team by position and one bench player based on College Career ONLY.
- You may only pick one player per decade. IE, if you chose UNC and Michael Jordan was your player from the 80's you couldn't pick James Worthy.

For example:
School: Duke.
PG: Tyus Jones 2015
SG: Johnny Dawkins 1986
SF: Shane Battier 2001
PF: Christian Laettner 1992
C: Mike Gminski 1979
Bench: Cooper Flagg 2025

Who's got the best chance of winning it all?

[u/Travbowman]

LSU would provide some interesting challenges:

PG: Chris Jackson (Mahmoud Abdul Rauf), 1989

SG: Pete Maravich, 1970

SF: Ben Simmons, 2016 (say what you want about his NBA career but he was a first team AA in college)

PF: Bob Petit, 1954

C: Shaquille O'Neal, 1992

[u/Travbowman → u/Travbowman]

I forgot a bench player:

Glen "big baby" Davis, 2006

[u/Professional_Ad9809 → u/Travbowman]

You also forgot pre fat John Williams and Rudy Macklin

[u/Travbowman → u/Professional_Ad9809]

Both played in the 80s so they weren't going to take the Chris Jackson slot.

[u/Professional_Ad9809 → u/Travbowman]

Rudy got there in 76, but he’s not replacing Pete lol

[u/jkfalconer]

UConn

PG: Kemba Walker (2010’s)
SG: Ray Allen (1990’s)
SF: Stephon Castle (2020’s)
PF: Cliff Robinson (1980’s)
C: Emeka Okafor (2000’s)
Bench: Walt Dropo (1940’s)

[u/jpetrie18 → u/jkfalconer]

Jesus, that backcourt…

[u/walkerstepbackwalker → u/jpetrie18]

Starters all going 40…

[u/wahfingwah]

Which decade’s rules/court are we playing by?

[u/HyarionCelenar → u/wahfingwah]

Modern court, modern rules. 

[u/CntrAltDefeat]

Purdue

G (PG): Wooden (30s)
SG: Mount (60s)
SF: Hummel (00s)
PF: Big Dog (90s)
C: Edey (20s)
Bench: Joe Berry Carrol (70s)

And if we want to get pedantic about wooden’s position, then the next best option is probably Smith/Mount/Hummel/Robinson/Carrol but I feel bad even typing that list without Edey.

[u/Adventurous_Egg857 → u/CntrAltDefeat]

At first I thought this post would just be an excuse for the top blue bloods to dunk on the rest of us but I'm pretty happy with our lineup

[u/HyarionCelenar → u/CntrAltDefeat]

AirBud as your PF is a bold choice. But I can totally see that. ;)

[u/CntrAltDefeat → u/HyarionCelenar]

No rule that says a dog can’t be your PF

[u/justaverage]

Arizona

PG - Mike Bibby (1997)

SG - Salim Stoudemire (2005)

SF - Sean Elliott (1988)

PF - Bob Elliott (1977)

C - Deandre Ayton (2018)

Bench - Tobe Awaka (2026)

[u/ExcaliburX13 → u/justaverage]

I think you've pretty much nailed it, but here's my best shot at an alternative:

PG: Steve Kerr (1980s)

SG: Miles Simon (1990s)

SF: Andre Iguodala (2000s)

PF: Al Fleming (1970s)

C: Christian Koloko (2020s)

Bench: Derrick Williams (2010s)

[u/justaverage → u/ExcaliburX13]

This is a great alternate squad, and arguably stronger at some positions (Salim had the better stats, but Miles is probably the better player. But taking Miles means giving up Bibby at the point…). And other spots where you have positional players that are objectively just better. I Stan for Tobe, but DWill is inarguably the better player. But taking DWill means giving up Ayton…

I basically started with rule one being that Sean had to be on the squad. Which was tough, because Steve Kerr is my Michael Jordan. Ruke 2 was that Ayton probably needed to make the list too. That’s not to say Ayton is the second best player we’ve ever had, but he is the best 5. Then just work backwards from there. We have riches at the 1 and 2…not hard to fill either of those spots from any decade from the 80s onwards. The 4 has to be DWill, Al, Bob, or Lauri. Lauri and DWill are out because Ayton, and strong arguments remain for Bob or Al…no wrong answer there.

What’s crazy is that there are so many more iconic players in our programs history, Budinger, Bayless, Gardner, RJ, Love, Stanley, Frye, Mighty Mouse…

A good exercise that makes for a great reminder of how this program has been recruiting and developing great talent for the better part of 50 years. Bear down!

[u/ExcaliburX13 → u/justaverage]

Yup. I agree with pretty much all of your logic. Sean is definitely the first name on the list. I considered Lauri before settling on DWill for the 2010s, but like you said, Ayton is the top choice for that decade. I also considered Ernie McCray, but the game was so different back then that it's hard to figure out where to put him. He technically played center, but was only like 6'6 or something like that. He still averaged 24 points and 12 boards as a senior, though.

As for Awaka, he's the guy you take not necessarily for the stats, but for the leadership, culture, and hustle. Totally respect the choice, even though there are many others from the 2020s so far that have put up better numbers and been much more dominant at their positions.

[u/blueberrymaple]

Kansas
PG JoJo White (1969)
SG Kirk Hinrich (2003)
SF Paul Pierce (1998)
PF Danny Manny (1988)
C Wilt (1958)
Bench Marcus Morris (2011)

There's three guys here who are non-negotiable and the rest we can have a discussion over.

[u/elkarpe → u/blueberrymaple]

I’ll take Frank Mason at PG

[u/GoBlueScrewOSU7]

Michigan:

PG: Trey Burke 10s

SG: Glen Rice 80s

SF: Cazzie Russell 60s

PF: Yaxel Lendeborg 20s

C: Chris Webber 90s

[u/Otherwise_Awesome → u/GoBlueScrewOSU7]

Bench: Either Wagner, Crawford, Howard, Rose, Robinson, Robinson III, Stauskas, Tarpley, Joubert, take your pick.

Tomjanovich at PF is a massive miss.

[u/Unusual_Scholar7444]

Man i love these kind of thought experiments even if they take forever to pick

School Kentucky

PG John Wall 2010

SG Tony Delk 1996

SF Jamal Mashburn 1993

PF Dan Issel 1969

C Anthony Davis 2012

Bench DeAaron Fox 2017

Mashburn at the 3 is maybe a little slow for modern game but dont care he was a bully. And having AD protecting the rim behind Wall pressuring the ball feels like a cheat code. Issel rebounding everything and Delk spotting up for 3 would be a nightmare for any team. Fox off bench to just run at tired legs, good luck

[u/TrustInRoy → u/Unusual_Scholar7444]

You picked 2 from the 2010s.

[u/HyarionCelenar → u/Unusual_Scholar7444]

Delk/Mashburn are both 1990s. Fox/Davis are both 2010s.

But a solid lineup

[u/Several-Hamster3096 → u/Unusual_Scholar7444]

PG John Wall 2010s SG Jodie Meeks 2000s SF Tayshaun Prince 1990s PF Oscar Tshiebwe 2020s C Dan Issel 1960s

Bench Kenny "Sky" Walker 1980s

Fixed it

[u/jpetrie18]

Let’s try this for the Zags…

PG: John Stockton (1980s)
SG: Frank Burgess (1961 NCAA scoring champ)
SF: Adam Morrison (2006 NCAA scoring champ)
PF: Chet Holmgren (2020s)
C: Domantas Sabonis (2010s)
6th: Richie Frahm (1990s)

All except Frahm were drafted, and all except Burgess played in the NBA. I would also accept Matt Santangelo or Casey Calvary from the ’99 team as the 6th man.

Sabonis and Holmgren could switch at 4/5.

[u/treeeezzzzy → u/jpetrie18]

Gonzaga
Pg -John Stockton (1984)
Sg - Frank Burgess (1961)
Sf - Adam Morrison (2006)
Pf- rui (2019)
C drew timmie (2023)

6 man - Matt santangelo

Went rui and Timmie since it said go
Off college career . Both first team all Americans

[u/jpetrie18 → u/treeeezzzzy]

Totally makes sense. I considered Rui and Timme, but couldn’t resist just how much of a freak Chet was his one year.

[u/treeeezzzzy → u/jpetrie18]

Ya his defense would be great, another pairing I thought was Kelly o and Chet

[u/Adventurous_Egg857 → u/treeeezzzzy]

Having Timme is unfair he spanned like 4 decades

[u/treeeezzzzy → u/Adventurous_Egg857]

He only played 4 years. I think he still has his covid year, he should be able to return , everyone else can

[u/Not_So_Bad_Andy]

Syracuse

PG/SG Pearl Washington (1980s)

PG/SG Dave Bing (1960s)

SF Carmelo Anthony (2000s)

PF Derrick Coleman (1990s) [he played in the 89-90 season, it counts!]

C Danny Schayes (1970s)

Bench Dion Waiters (2010s)

[u/jar3dp → u/Not_So_Bad_Andy]

I think this is the way, though I’d consider Rakeem Christmas or Tyler Lydon on the bench based solely on their college careers.

[u/Not_So_Bad_Andy → u/jar3dp]

Thought about them, Wes Johnson and Elijah Hughes but ended up going with Waiters.

[u/jar3dp → u/Not_So_Bad_Andy]

Ohhhh, Wes Johnson. Totally forgot about him.

[u/RefractedChaos]

MSU PG: Magic -70s

SG:Shawn Respert 90s

SF: Steve Smith 80s

PF: Johnny Green 50s

C: Paul Davis 00s

No Draymond only because I needed a good center, and MSU historically does not have a lot of studs at center. But Paul Davis is easily the best center MSU has ever had.

Bench: Cassius Winston 10s

[u/1StateFreePalestine]

Louisville:

Russ Smith 2010s

Darrell Griffith 1970s

Terrence Williams 2000s

Pervis Ellison 1980s

Wes Unseld 1960s

Bench: Cliff Rozier 1990s

[u/TrustInRoy]

Clarify... what about players who split decades? Worthy played at UNC in the fall of '79. Gminski was literally an All American in 1980.  Yet you say UNC can't use Jordan and Worthy, but dook can use Dawkins and Gminski. 

I don't think you've thought this through.

[u/HyarionCelenar → u/TrustInRoy]

For players who split decades, go by a single year, you get that year. 1992 Laettner is different from 1989 Laettner. 

[u/generally-mediocre]

for maryland ill go

pg: greivis vasquez (10s barely) sg: juan dixon (00s) sf: len bias (80s) pf: joe smith (90s) c: len elmore (70s) bench: derik queen (20s)

[u/NotADoberman]

i thought pitt's would be pretty fun:
PG: Don Hennon, 1958
SG: Justin Champagnie, 2021
SF: Billy Knight, 1974
PF: Dejuan Blair, 2009
C: Charles Smith, 1987

Bench: Brian Shorter, 1990

This probably isn't the most effective lineup but it's maybe the best set of guys playing by the rules. Hinson over Champagnie would be a better floor spacer and I have no clue how Hennon was as a player but his stats are insane. There were a lot of names that got cut though

[u/PatFlynnEire]

Virginia

PG Sean Singletary 2000s
SG Bryant Stith 1990s
C. Ralph Sampson 1980s
SF Malcolm Brogdon 2010s
PF Ryan Dunn 2020s
Bench Jeff Lamp 1970s

[u/windarto]

Duke:
PG - Jason Williams - 2000s
SG - Nolan Smith - 2010s
SF - Cooper Flagg - 2020s
PF - Christian Laettner - 1980s
C - Elton Brand - 1990s

Bench - Mike Gminski - 1970s

[u/Early_Meeting5700]

Surprised no one tried Indiana yet:

PG: Victor Oladipo 2013 SG: Steve Alford 1987 SF: Calbert Cheaney 1993 PF: Jared Jeffries 2002 C: Kent Benson 1976

[u/HyarionCelenar → u/Early_Meeting5700]

They were on my short list of schools that would produce a viable team, not just "grab a few NBA all-stars and a random guard from the 60's".

[u/Early_Meeting5700]

Also UCLA has a case:

PG: Gail Goodrich 1965 SG: Johnny Juzang 2021 SF: Reggie Miller 1987 PF: Kevin Love 2008 C: Bill Walton 1973

Alternatively, replace Walton with Kareem in 1969 and give the PG slot to 1995 Tyus Edney.

[u/Early_Meeting5700]

Georgetown:

PG: Allen Iverson 1996 SG: Sleepy Floyd 1979 SF: Otto Porter 2013 PF: Jeff Green 2007 C: Patrick Ewing 1984

[u/Early_Meeting5700]

Florida:

PG: Walter Clayton 2024 SG: Vernon Maxwell 1987 SF: Casey Prather 2014 PF: Al Horford 2006 C: Udonis Haslem 1999

[u/Early_Meeting5700]

NC State:

PG: Cat Barber 2015 SG: David Thompson 1974 SF: Julius Hodge 2005 PF: D.J. Burns 2024 C: Thurl Bailey 1983

[u/TrustInRoy]

UNC

Michael Jordan (80s) Worthy or McAdoo (70s) Billy Cunningham (60's) Jamison or Carter (90s) Hansbrough or Lawson (00s) Rosenbluth (50s)

[u/aldsar → u/TrustInRoy]

I'd go

Jordan 80s

Carter 90s

Hansbrough 00s

Ford 70s

Cunningham 60s

Bench Caleb Wilson 10s

[u/TrustInRoy → u/aldsar]

Great squad.  Though I'd argue Jamison was better in college than Carter.  

UNC has 7 guys inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame specifically for their playing careers.  Cunningham, McAdoo, Worthy, Jordan, Scott, Carter, Bobby Jones.

[u/aldsar → u/TrustInRoy]

That's fair, I chose Carter for position. Between Cunningham, Hansbrough and Wilson I've got plenty of interior presence.

[u/TrustInRoy → u/aldsar]

Wilson and Hansbrough will foul out a Lotta guys

[u/Professional_Ad9809 → u/TrustInRoy]

No Charlie Scott or Phil Ford?

[u/TrustInRoy → u/Professional_Ad9809]

Lawson's junior season was honestly better than any single season Ford had.  Kid was insane, especially in Roy's offense.  He outplayed reigning NPoY Hansbrough that season.  

Scott was a culture changing legend, and also a really good player.  But there were better players.

Keep in mind UNC has 7 players in the Naismith Hall of Fame (not including the players inducted for their coaching careers) and 13 players in the college basketball hall of fame.  So there's gonna be some guys left off of lists like these.

[u/Professional_Ad9809 → u/TrustInRoy]

A lot of guys would be left out. I was thinking more of Charlie being one of the first big guards. You made good points