SI's 20 Greatest College Players of All-Time

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:26 am

On SpikeTV right now.

It got turned off when Laettner was only 19th. I'm not a Duke lover or anything but he probably had a top-5 college career. All he did was go to a Final Four every year, win two National Championships, win every award known to man and make one of the most clutch shots ever.

The Assassin · Post by **The Assassin** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:30 am

Rack Fu wrote:On SpikeTV right now.

It got turned off when Laettner was only 19th.

you're right,he should of been lower. :wink:

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:50 am

Laettner was 19th?!?! Damnit. I forgot that shit was on. Must be bullshit though if Chrissy is that low. David Thompson or Lew Alcindor better have been #1.

Q, West Coast Style · Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:26 pm

Off the top of my head. No research into stats or anything:

1. Lew Alcindor
2. Patrick Ewing
3. Laettner
4. Ralph Sampson
5. Carmelo Anthony
6. Bill Walton
7. Isiah Thomas
8. Wilt Chamberlain
9. Danny Manning
10. Hakeem
11. Pistol Pete
12. Gary Payton
13. Bobby Hurley
14. Chris Webber
15. MJ
16. Jack Molinas
17. Oscar Robinson
18. Dwayne Wade
19. Bo Kimble
20. Larry Johnson

Q, West Coast Style · Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:35 pm

Can't believe I left out Never Nervous Pervis!

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:00 am

Tisdale was badass. I used to play w/ him and Richmond w/ the Kings on NBA JAM.

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:18 am

In any list, I put Walton before Alcindor. Alcindor lost a game...

1) Walton
2) Alcindor
3) Laettner
4) The rest. Tisdale, and Akeem, and Clyde Drexler, and The Big O, and The Pistol, and Ralph Sampson, and Ewing (Pat, not Daniel), and Bird, and Magic, and David Thompson, and Austin Carr, and Bobby Hurley, and that's all I can pop out for now.

the_ouskull

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:18 am

They were talking about the list on the radio today. Ralph Sampson wasn't on the list - the only player to be named POY three times and he wasn't on the list. No Olajuwon! Maravich at #7, huh?

At least they included Cheryl Miller in the top 10... seriously! :roll:

My Top 5:
1. Walton
2. David Thompson
3. Pete Maravich
4. Christian Laettner
5. Lew Alcindor

The Big O barely gets left out of the top 5 for me.

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:22 am

Actually, I'd include Cheryl Miller... glad you mentioned it. Probably Diana Taursai too.

the_ouskull

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:45 am

Why stop there? Lets put it in Chamique Holdsclaw and Sheryl Swoopes as well.

C'mon! :x

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:52 am

No, because as good as those two were, they weren't as good as the two I listed... and more than two chicks would just be crazy talk. Dumbass.

the_ouskull

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:01 am

Holdsclaw not as good as Taurasi? I wouldn't go out on that limb.

They each won three national titles and two player of the year awards. I'd be willing to bet that Taurasi's stats aren't remotely close to Holdsclaw's (with the exception of assists).

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:56 am

Bo Kimble led the nation in scoring. Stats aren't everything. Taurasi came in, as a point guard, and was expected to lead the best team in the country to what has become their benchmark. The Final Four. Same with Holdsclaw, but the major difference is that she wasn't "leading" the team, only playing on it. She's a great horse, no doubt, but my money's on Taurasi... 'Mique' got too much pub for wearing #23.

the_ouskull

Terry in Crapchester · Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:28 pm

What, no love for Austin Carr or Adrian Dantley?

And I don't think Carmelo Anthony justifies a Top 5 ranking when he only played one year. A Top 5 season? Perhaps. A Top 5 career ranking all-time? No way.

Terry in Crapchester · Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:45 pm

Q, West Coast Style wrote:Off the top of my head. No research into stats or anything:

1. Lew Alcindor
2. Patrick Ewing
3. Laettner
4. Ralph Sampson
5. Carmelo Anthony
6. Bill Walton
7. Isiah Thomas
8. Wilt Chamberlain
9. Danny Manning
10. Hakeem
11. Pistol Pete
12. Gary Payton
13. Bobby Hurley
14. Chris Webber
15. MJ
16. Jack Molinas
17. Oscar Robinson
18. Dwayne Wade
19. Bo Kimble
20. Larry Johnson

Two more notable omissions from that list: Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

The 1979 tournament was a watershed in many regards. It was the first year where the Selection Committee seeded the participants. And the championship game between Johnson's Michigan State team and Bird's Indiana State team set a ratings record which, IIRC, has never been broken to this day. Magic and Larry obviously took their rivalry to the next level as well. Ironic thing is, most college basketball fans never saw Bird play, not even on TV, until his senior season.

Am I that much older than the rest of you, or do you just have bad memories?

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:48 pm

Terry in Crapchester wrote:What, no love for Austin Carr...?

Originally posted by the_ouskull a few posts above...

...and Austin Carr...

the_ouskull

SunCoastSooner · Post by **SunCoastSooner** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:53 pm

the_ouskull wrote:Actually, I'd include Cheryl Miller... glad you mentioned it. Probably Diana Taursai too.

the_ouskull

Shea Ralph would have been the greatest in UConn history if not for the injuries. I used to watch her school the mens team at Terry Sanford HS in North Carolina. Thats wasn't too shabby considering the mens team was a power in the region at the time. I made the mistake of attempting to gaurd her one evenning at Snyder's Baptist Church where she thourghly embarressed me infront about 200 people :?

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:55 pm

Is she the bitch that they rolled out there in a wheelchair to GIVE her a layup for the all-time scoring record? If so, fuck that bitch.

the_ouskull

orcinus · Post by **orcinus** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:56 pm

That was Nykesha Sales

Left Seater · Post by **Left Seater** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:04 pm

orcinus wrote:That was Nykesha Sales

I am not sure if I am sad or upset or both that you knew that so quickly.

SunCoastSooner · Post by **SunCoastSooner** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:06 pm

Shea was a white girl Skull hard to get the two confused ;)

rozy · Post by **rozy** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 3:02 pm

Terry in Crapchester wrote: And I don't think Carmelo Anthony justifies a Top 5 ranking when he only played one year. A Top 5 season? Perhaps. A Top 5 career ranking all-time? No way.

RACK

And Fu nailed the top 5.

? for some. Why Hurley over Grant Hill?

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 3:38 pm

Hurley won the Tournament MOP Award... Hill never did. Also, when Hurley left, what did Hill do?

the_ouskull

rozy · Post by **rozy** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 3:49 pm

the_ouskull wrote:Hurley won the Tournament MOP Award... Hill never did. Also, when Hurley left, what did Hill do?

the_ouskull

Put the entire team on his shoulders and played...point guard.

Hurley left when Laettner did.

Hill was a much better player than Hurley.

If MOP is the criteria, where is the love for Glen Rice?

As a Duke fan I can assure you I am taking nothing away from Hurley. Hill was just far superior. The only buyable argument that could be made it that it took Hill a couple of years to develop an outside shot.

And Drexler also deserves more mention.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 4:27 pm

Hurley or Hill is a coin flip. Hurley was F4 MVP and the all-time leader in assists. Hill took a team w/ no other great players and led them to the Finals against Arkansas. If not for Thurmond's shot that brought rain, Grant would have had 3 rings.

Rack Fu · Post by **Rack Fu** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:19 pm

Anyone seen the SI list on the web anywhere? I would like to see the complete list. My Google skills usually don't fail me but they have in this instance.

helmet · Post by **helmet** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 2:27 pm

1. Lew Alcindor, UCLA
2. Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
3. David Thompson, N.C. State
4. Bill Walton, UCLA
5. Bill Russell, San Francisco
6. Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
7. Pete Maravich, LSU
8. Cheryl Miller, USC
9. Bill Bradley, Princeton
10. Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
11. Larry Bird, Indiana State
12. Tom Gola, LaSalle
13. Jerry West, West Virginia
14. Calvin Murphy, Niagara
15. Michael Jordan, UNC
16. Elvin Hayes, Houston
17. Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M
18. Magic Johnson, Michigan State
19. Christian Laettner, Duke
20. Danny Manning, Kansas

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 3:23 pm

Well, Kurland did win back to back NCAA championship with ol' Mister Iba. in the 40's.

hard to friggin believe that Iba was *still* coaching in the early 70's--in the Olympics.

My granddad was good friends with Don Haskins (part of the Iba playing/coaching tree)--they used to play semi-pro baseball together back inna day--and he was a Sooner through and through....and he always referred to Henry P. as "Mister Iba".

pains me to say this, but in terms of college play....i don't think it's automatic Ewing should be ranked ahead of Manning.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 6:13 pm

20 isn't a good number for the top players list, since everyone who posted here came up with a very valid omission.

My glaring omission is Corliss. Did some pretty serious damage in a tourney or two...or three...or four.

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:54 pm

But he's not really one of those players that, when you hear his name, you think, "now THERE'S a college basketball player." (And it's not 'cause his pro success overshadowed his college success...) I don't know, to me, when I hear "greatest ever" you shouldn't even have arguments. The names just either come to mind or they don't... I've never really thought to list Corliss in the "greatest ever" talks, ya know?

the_ouskull

Ruff · Post by **Ruff** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:22 pm

I don't see Goose Givens on anyone's list. WTF? Is he #21?

And rack moot's list.

rozy · Post by **rozy** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:22 pm

Ruff wrote:And rack moot's list.

1. You work for SI?

2. You agree with Laettner being #19?

Ruff · Post by **Ruff** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:12 am

He's top 20. Better than Miller, but not as good as the big E.

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:08 am

i don;t know. Corliss was a damn good player....as was Larry Johnson. i think grandmmama was about as dominant a college player as there was. before he hurt his back, no one could guard him.

helmet · Post by **helmet** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:19 am

My list is SI's list.

Big Nasty was a damn good college player (and he's had a nice run in the pros, too), but he's not in the top 20 discussion.

Terry in Crapchester · Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:30 am

helmet wrote:My list is SI's list.

The glaring omission from that list is Patrick Ewing. You'd be hard-pressed to find a single player before or since who has had the impact on his program that Ewing had on Georgetown's.

Oops, my bad, found him at #10. But that's way too low, imho.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:13 pm

My List -- To be printed in Who gives a Fuck Magazine

1. Lew Alcindor, UCLA
2. David Thompson, N.C. State
3.Christian Laettner, Duke
4. Bill Walton, UCLA
5. Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
6. Bill Russell, San Francisco
7. Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
8. Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
9. Pete Maravich, LSU
10. Ralph Sampson, Virginia
11. Akeem Olajuwon, Houston
12. Larry Bird, Indiana State
13. Jerry West, West Virginia
14. Jack Givens, Kentucky
15. Calvin Murphy, Niagara
16. Elvin Hayes, Houston
17. Bobby Hurley, Duke
18. Magic Johnson, Michigan State
19. Michael Jordan, UNC
20. Danny Manning, Kansas

helmet · Post by **helmet** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:32 pm

That list looks a lot better to me. I've at least heard of all those guys....emphasis on GUYS.

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:18 pm

I'm with the Sooner fans...Tisdale has to be on this list. He was dominating player every year he was in school.

I'd put him on in place of:
Goose Givens
Bobby Hurley
Calvin Murphy

and I think he's higher than:
Elvin Hayes
Bob Kurland

Tisdale has to be on this list.

Buried_Nick · Post by **Buried_Nick** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:44 am

Q, West Coast Style wrote:Can't believe I left out Never Nervous Pervis!

ERRRRrrrrrrrr.... Magic Johnson!?

Damn man. :?

T1B

SI's 20 Greatest College Players of All-Time

SI's 20 Greatest College Players of All-Time

Re: SI's 20 Greatest College Players of All-Time