The BIAH Advent Calendar: Day 11

Yup, it is December. And as the temperatures outside drop, the heat is rising on college campuses across the country as basketball season kicks into full swing. But December is also a time to reflect on the past year. This December is special, because as we draw closer to the new year, we get closer to the end of the aughts. In the spirit of the holidays, we are going to celebrate the decade past by counting down the top 25 games, players, and teams of the last 10 years with the BIAH advent calender. Each day, we will be unveiling the next on each of our lists, culminating with our gift to you on Christmas Day: the best game, the best player, and the best team of the 2000's.

Here is No. 15:


2004: Oklahoma State vs. St. Joseph's: St. Joe's came into this game as a bit of a controversial #1 seed. Yes, they had gone undefeated throughout the regular season (their only loss was to Xavier in the first round of the A-10 tournament), but many people, including Billy Packer who was calling the game, believed that Oklahoma State was more deserving of the #1 seed than the Hawks.

The game itself pitted two of the best point guards in the country in John Lucas and Jameer Nelson. Lucas struggled in the first half, making just 1-6 shots from the field as the Cowboys trailed 33-27 at halftime. But in the second half, both teams started to heat up as the game became very back-and-forth. Neither team held a lead bigger than three over the final 12 minutes of the game, but a jumper from Lucas would give the pokes a 61-59 lead with just 41 seconds left. At the other end, however, Pat Carroll would answer with a three pointer to take the lead back. Then, well, I'll just let you watch:



Jameer Nelson would a fall away 17 footer at the buzzer and the Hawks would go on to win.

Chris Paul, Wake Forest: As a freshman, Chris Paul came in and, as a freshman, was one of the best point guards in America. Teaming with Justin Gray to form one of the most dynamic back courts in the country, Paul would win the ACC freshman of the year award, as well as national freshman of the year by some outlets, as he averaged 14.8 ppg, 5.9 apg, and 2.7 spg. Wake would finish as a #4 seed in 2004, reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Chris Paul was an all-american at Wake Forest.
(photo credit: NBC Sports)

As a sophomore, Paul was ever better. He was named a first-team all-american as he posted averages of 16.3 ppg, 6.6 apg, 4.5 rpg, and 2.4 spg in leading Wake to a second place finish in the ACC and a #2 seed in March. The Demon Deacons would lose in the second round in a thriller to West Virginia, but that did nothing to diminish the career of Chris Paul.


2006 UConn Huskies: In terms of talent, there were not many teams this decade that could match-up with the Huskies. Loaded with size and athleticism, this team had six guys averaging more than 9.7 ppg and had five players taken in the 2006 NBA Draft, four - Rudy Gay, Josh Boone, Hilton Armstrong, and Marcus Williams - in the first round. UConn would finish the regular season at 27-2, sharing the Big East regular season title and winning the Maui Invitational, before bowing out to Syracuse in the Big East Tournament during Gerry McNamara's unforgettable run.

Rudy Gay was the best player on a loaded UConn squad.
(photo credit: ESPN)

Despite that size and talent, this Husky team seemed to struggle when the lights were brightest. They came dangerously close to becoming the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed, trailing Albany by as much as 12 in the second half. The barely hung on to beat Kentucky and Washington in the next two rounds before losing in one of the all-time great upsets to George Mason in the Elite 8.


No. 16: Gonzaga v. Oklahoma State, Ty Lawson, and Kentucky's 2003 team
No. 17: Duke v. Maryland in the 2001 Final Four, Deron Williams, and Gonzaga's 2006 team
No. 18: Duke v. Indiana, Mateen Cleaves, Gonzaga
No. 19: Syracuse v. Kansas, Dwyane Wade, UCLA's 2006 team
No. 20: Pitt v. Villanova, Michael Beasley, and Duke's 2004 team
No. 21: Duke vs. Maryland in the 2001 ACC Semis, Josh Howard, Arizona's 2001 team
No. 22: Marquette v. Kentucky, Tayshaun Prince, UConn's 2009 team
No. 23: Vermont v. Syracuse, Andrew Bogut, and Memphis's 2008 team.
No. 24: UConn v. Miami, Luke Harangody, and Kansas's 2003 team
No. 25: Drake v. Western Kentucky, Wayne Simien, and Louisville's 2009 team.