Ranking the 10 Best Starting Lineups in College Basketball History
As you look throughout the history of college basketball, there are dozens and dozens of great teams that have made their mark on the sport.
But, even among the great teams, there are a select few that stand apart from the rest.
Here are the 10 best starting lineups of all time.
This list is not solely based upon numbers of NBA draft picks or a variety of rewards and recognitions. This list looks at team accomplishments instead of potential or talent.
Some teams had the horses but didn’t ultimately finish the race. They are not included.
These teams played well and won lots of games…and championships!
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Norris Cole Should Be Miami Heat’s Starting Point Guard
During the regular season, Norris Cole‘s ESPN Player Efficiency Rating was an underwhelming 7.85 (the league average is 15.0), putting him in the company of players such as the Los Angeles Lakers‘ point guard tandem of Chris Duhon and Darius Morris.
However, under the bright lights of the NBA postseason, the former Cleveland State standout has shined like a diamond.
In fact, as crazy as it sounds, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra should seriously consider putting Cole in the starting lineup going forward.
In nine playoff games this year, the 6’2″ Cole is averaging 8.8 points per game while shooting 60.4 percent from the field and a ridiculous 68.8 percent from beyond the arc.
When the 24-year-old backup point guard is on the floor, Miami averages more points per 48 minutes than it does while he’s on the bench (101.1 PPG vs. 96.4 PPG). As a whole, the team shoots better from three-point range (37.1 percent vs. 30.8 percent) thanks to Cole’s ability to stretch the floor.
“Right now, I’m feeling pretty comfortable out there on the court,” said Cole in an interview with Shandel Richardson of the Sun-Sentinel in early May. “I’m pleased with my progress so far.”
As good as he’s been on the offensive end, Cole’s true value may come in his ability to stay in front of opposing point guards. Each of the three remaining teams not named the Miami Heat has a solid floor general, but Cole is more than capable of defending nearly anyone that he would be matched up against.
“Norris’ ability, with his speed and his strength, is on defense,” said LeBron James while speaking to George Richards of The Miami Herald after the first round. “I think he’s one of the best on-ball defenders that we have in the Eastern Conference, if not the whole league.”
Meanwhile, starting point guard Mario Chalmers has been anything but super since the end of the regular season. He is averaging 7.0 points and 4.1 assists per game in the playoffs, but is shooting worse than 42 percent from the field and 24 percent from downtown.
And as we’ve seen in recent years, the trend of Miami’s “Big Three”—James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh—being visibly upset at Chalmers continues.
In Game 3 of the Heat-Bulls semifinal, Bosh and Chalmers had an animated discussion that prompted Chicago center Joakim Noah to applaud the proceedings.
To be fair, Cole isn’t the playmaker that Chalmers is. In the postseason, Chalmers is averaging nearly twice as many assists per 36 minutes as Cole is.
But with Wade at less than 100 percent and the Heat desperate for a complementary option, Chalmers has only managed one double-figure scoring game in the 2013 playoffs. Conversely, Cole scored 18 points in back-to-back games in the Bulls series (Games 2 and 3).
Cole has already played more minutes in this postseason (199) than he did during the Heat’s title run last year (170). As his commitment to working on his game has increased in recent months, his time on the court has risen as well.
“He’s getting so much more education and experience than he had last year,” Spoelstra told Richards in early May, well before Cole’s star turn in the Heat’s series versus Chicago. “He’s earned a bigger role.”
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Power Ranking Big Ten Starting Point Guards
Whether they are a floor general, a scorer or a defensive stopper, determining the point guard list was no piece of cake. There was excellent play from these ball-handlers, even prompting one of the players listed here to earn the nation’s highest honor of national player of the year.
Here is a recap of the 12 starting point guards in the Big Ten this past season, ranked solely on this season’s performances.
This is the fifth and final list analyzing Big Ten starters. Feel free to share your thoughts and look back at the previous lists of other positions.
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Power Ranking Big Ten Starting Shooting Guards
Whether they are a sharpshooter, a slasher or a playmaker, this has been the toughest list in determining the order of players. There was excellent play from these 2-guards, so I expect there to be some disagreement.
Here is a recap of the 12 starting shooting guards in the Big Ten this past season, ranked solely on this season’s performances.
This is the fourth of five lists analyzing Big Ten starters. Feel free to share your insight as there will only be one list following this one.
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Alabama starting guard Trevor Lacey transferring (Yahoo! Sports)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama guard Trevor Lacey, who led the team in assists and 3-pointers, is transferring before his junior season.
View full post on Yahoo! Sports – NCAA Men’s Hoops News
Starting PG Rodriguez transferring from K-State (Yahoo! Sports)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The final image that Kansas State fans will have of Angel Rodriguez in a Wildcat uniform will be an air ball at the buzzer in an NCAA tournament game against La Salle that could have prevented a massive upset loss.
View full post on Yahoo! Sports – NCAA Men’s Hoops News
Steve Nash in starting lineup for Lakers
Nash is in the starting lineup, Mike D’Antoni tells reporters.
View full post on USATODAY.com Feed
Power-Ranking Big Ten Starting Small Forwards
The small forward list had a little bit of everything—three-point shooters, slashers, defensive stoppers and even back-to-the-basket players. While this complicated the rankings, it was easy to determine the three classes of players in this list—the top two shooting forwards, third- through eighth-ranked three-forwards and the bottom-four small forwards.
Here is a recap of the 12 starting small forwards in the Big Ten this past season, ranked solely on this season’s performances.
This is the third of five lists analyzing Big Ten starters. We’ve reached the midpoint of these rankings so feel free to share your insight.
View full post on Bleacher Report – College Basketball
Power Ranking Big Ten Starting Power Forwards
The general makeup of each team in the Big Ten is different. Some squads are perimeter-oriented and rely on outside shooting, while others try to overpower their opponents with size. Some players on this list are true power forwards, while others could be defined as “stretch 4s.”
Here is a recap of the 12 starting power forwards in the Big Ten this past season, ranked solely on this season’s performances. This is Part 2 of five lists analyzing Big Ten starters. Enjoy!
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Duke Basketball: Projected Starting Lineups for Next Year’s Showdown with UNC
For Duke and North Carolina fans, the rivalry between the two schools is something that is talked about throughout the year
Even though the season is over for both teams, Duke fans will spend the next 10 months with bragging rights while Tar Heel fans will be talking about getting revenge next season.
With the two schools being only eight miles apart, the best rivalry in college basketball is a common topic of discussion no matter what month it is.
Keeping that in mind, let’s have some fun and look at the projected starting lineups for next year’s showdown between Duke and UNC.
(All stats via ESPN)
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