What would happen if this past year's UCLA team met either of Ben Howland's previous Final Four teams? And could any of those defensive-oriented squads hang with the juggernaut Arizona and Stanford teams from earlier in the decade? Now's your chance to vote because I've created a Pac-10 Team of the Decade tournament to help us pass the time until college hoops gets started again.
The format for the 16-team tournament is simple: The eight most recent Pac-10 champions were seeded 1-8 with wild card spots awarded to the eight best remaining teams from 2000-2008. I listed some pertinent facts about each of the 16 teams below in case you need a refresher course on some of the ones from early in the decade.
You'll have a week to cast your votes on the first-round games, and I'll tally up the winners and post the second-round games next Monday morning. Is it a little corny? Sure. Will it be fun? I hope so too.
Pac-10 Team of the Decade tournament
First Round
1. UCLA (2007-08)
Record: 35-4, 16-2 (1st Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Memphis in the Final Four
Coach: Ben Howland
Starting lineup: F. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Jr.), F. Josh Shipp (Jr.), C. Kevin Love (Fr.), G. Russell Westbrook (So.), G. Darren Collison (Jr.)
Key bench players: James Keefe (So.), Lorenzo Mata-Real (Sr.), Alfred Aboya (Jr.)
Comment: Kevin Love's presence made this the most balanced of UCLA's three Final Four teams.
vs.
16. USC (2006-07)
Record: 25-12, 11-7 (T3rd Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost in the Sweet 16 to North Carolina
Coach: Tim Floyd
Starting lineup: F. Dwight Lewis (Fr.), F. Taj Gibson (Fr.), G. Lodrick Stewart (Sr.), G. Gabe Pruitt (Jr.), G. Nick Young (Jr.)
Key reserves: Keith Wilkinson, Abdoulaye N'Diaye
Comment: The guard-heavy Trojans gelled late in the season and gave North Carolina a big Sweet 16 scare.
8. Oregon 2001-02
Record: 26-9, 14-4 (1st Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Kansas in the Elite Eight
Coach: Ernie Kent
Starting lineup: F. Robert Johnson (Sr.), F. Luke Jackson (So.), C. Chris Christofferson (Sr.), G. Freddie Jones (Sr.), G. Luke Ridnour (Jr.)
Key reserves: Anthony Lever, James Davis
Comment: With the two Lukes and Freddie Jones, this was the best Oregon team of the modern era and one of the Pac-10's most entertaining teams to watch.
vs.
9. Arizona 2000-01
Record: 28-8, 15-3 (2nd Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Duke in the NCAA title game
Coach: Lute Olson
Starting lineup: F. Richard Jefferson (Jr.), F. Michael Wright (Jr.), C. Loren Woods (Sr.), G. Gilbert Arenas (So.), G. Jason Gardner (So.)
Key reserves: Luke Walton (So.), Eugene Edgerson (Sr.)
Comment: Has there been a more talented starting five this decade than the one the Wildcats fielded in 2001?
5. Arizona 2004-05
Record: 30-7, 15-3 (1st Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Illinois in the Elite Eight
Coach: Lute Olson
Starting lineup: F. Ivan Radenovic (So.), F. Hassan Adams (Jr.), C. Channing Frye (Sr.), G. Salim Stoudamire (Sr.), G. Mustapha Shakur (So.)
Key reserves: Jawann McClellan (Fr.), Chris Rodgers (Jr.)
Comment: Had this team not blown a late double-digit lead against Illinois, Arizona would have been in the Final Four.
vs.
12. Stanford (2007-08)
Record: 28-8, 13-5 (2nd Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Texas in the Sweet 16
Coach: Trent Johnson
Starting lineup: F. Lawrence Hill (Jr.), F. Brook Lopez (So.), C. Robin Lopez (So.), G. Anthony Goods (Jr.), G. Mitch Johnson (Jr.)
Key bench players: Taj Finger (Sr.), Landry Fields (So.)
Comment: The Lopez twins masked this team's deficiencies at guard
4. Arizona 2002-03
Record: 28-4, 17-1 (1st Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Kansas in the Elite Eight
Coach: Lute Olson
Starting lineup: F. Luke Walton (Sr.), F. Rick Anderson (Sr.), C. Channing Frye (So.), G. Salim Stoudamire (So.), G. Jason Gardner (Sr.)
Key reserves: Hassan Adams (Fr.), Andre Iguodala (Fr.)
Comment: Only a midseason loss to Stanford prevented this Arizona team from going undefeated in conference play.
vs.
13. Oregon (2006-07)
Record: 29-8, 11-7 (T3rd Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Florida in Elite Eight
Coach: Ernie Kent
Starting lineup: F. Maarty Leunen (Jr.), F. Malik Hairston (Jr.), G. Bryce Taylor (Jr.), G. Tajuan Porter (Fr.), G. Aaron Brooks (Sr.)
Key bench players: Chamberlain Oguchi (So.), Joevan Catron (Fr.)
Comment: Few people remember that this Oregon team came closer to beating Florida in the NCAA tournament than anyone else.
3. UCLA 2005-06
Record: 32-7, 14-4 (1st Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost in the national title game to Florida
Coach: Ben Howland
Starting lineup: F. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Fr.), C. Ryan Hollins (Sr.), G. Cedric Bozeman (Sr.), G. Arron Afflalo (So.), G. Jordan Farmar (So.)
Key reserves: Darren Collison (Fr.), Lorenzo Mata (So.), Michael Roll (Fr.)
Comment: With a shot-blocking center and long, ball-hawking wings, this was Ben Howland's best defensive team.
vs.
14. USC 2000-01
Record: 24-10, 11-7 (T4th Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Duke in the Elite Eight
Coach: Henry Bibby
Starting lineup: F. David Bluthenthal (Jr.), F. Sam Clancy (Jr.), C. Brian Scalabrine (Sr.), G. Jeff Trepagnier (Sr.), G. Brandon Granville (Jr.)
Key reserves: Jarvis Turner (Sr.), Desmon Farmer (Fr.)
Comment: Trepagnier's suspension cost this team some regular season games, but the Trojans went on a memorable tournament run
6. UCLA (2006-07)
Record: 30-6, 15-3 (1st Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Florida in the Final Four
Coach: Ben Howland
Starting lineup: F. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (So.), F. Josh Shipp (So.), C. Lorenzo Mata-Real (Jr.), G. Arron Afflalo (Jr.), G. Darren Collison (So.)
Key bench players: Alfred Aboya (So.), Michael Roll (So.), Russell Westbrook (Fr.)
Comment: This guard-heavy UCLA team might have brought home a 12th national title had it not run into Florida for the second year in a row
vs.
11. Washington 2005-06
Record 26-7, 13-5 (2nd Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Connecticut in Sweet 16
Coach: Lorenzo Romar
Starting Lineup: F. Bobby Jones (Sr.), F. Jon Brockman (Fr.), C. Mike Jensen (Sr.), G. Brandon Roy (Sr.), G. Justin Dentmon (Fr.)
Key reserves: Jamaal Williams (Sr.), Ryan Appleby (So.)
Comment: Questionable refereeing against UConn kept this Washington team from making an even deeper NCAA run.
7. Stanford 2000-01
Record: 31-3, 16-2 (1st Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Maryland in the Elite Eight
Coach: Mike Montgomery
Starting lineup: F. Ryan Mendez (Sr.) F. Jarron Collins (Sr.), C. Jason Collins (So.), G. Casey Jacobsen (So.), G. Michael McDonald (Sr.)
Key reserves: Julius Barnes (So.), Justin Davis (Fr.), Teyo Johnson (Fr.)
Comment: This balanced Stanford team spent much of the season ranked No. 1 before falling to Maryland in the Elite Eight.
vs.
10. Washington 2004-05
Record: 29-6, 14-4 (2nd Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Louisville in the Sweet 16
Coach: Lorenzo Romar
Starting lineup: F. Bobby Jones (Jr.), C. Mike Jensen (Jr.), G. Tre Simmons (Sr.), G. Will Conroy (Sr.), G. Nate Robinson (Jr.)
Key reserves: Brandon Roy (Jr.), Joel Smith (Sr.), Jamaal Williams (Jr.)
Comment: Guards, guards and more guards -- this team was fast, high-flying and fun to watch.
2. Stanford 2003-04
Record: 30-2, 17-1 (1st Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Alabama in the second round
Coach: Mike Montgomery
Starting lineup: F. Josh Childress (Jr.), F. Justin Davis (Sr.), C. Rob Little (Jr.), G. Matt Lottich (Sr.), G. Chris Hernandez (So.)
Key reserves: Nick Robinson (Jr.), Dan Grunfeld (So.) Matt Haryasz (So.)
Commment: The second-round debacle against Alabama overshadows the accomplishments of what was probably Mike Montgomery's best Stanford team
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15. Washington State (2006-07)
Record: 26-8, 13-5 (2nd Pac-10)
NCAA finish: Lost to Vanderbilt in the second round
Coach Tony Bennett
Starting lineup: F. Daven Harmeling (So.), F. Ivory Clark (Sr.), F. Robbie Cowgill (Jr.), G. Kyle Weaver (Jr.), G. Derrick Low (G)
Key bench players: Arron Baynes (So.), Taylor Rochestie (So.)
Comment: These Cougars came from out of nowhere to challenge UCLA for the conference title and emerge as one of the nation's top teams.
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