The BIAH Advent Calendar: Day 16

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. 10:


2005: Wake Forest vs. West Virginia: West Virginia's 2005 team was a typical John Beilein team - shooters at every position on the floor at the cost of quality interior play. Wake Forest exposed this in the second round of the 2005 tournament, as Eric Williams controlled the first half en route to a 40-27 Wake Forest lead at the half.

In the second half, however, the Mountaineers stopped settling for jumpers as much, instead putting the ball on the floor and getting to the paint. West Virginia would complete their comeback on a Tyrone Sally tip-in with 1:07 left that gave WVU a 73-72 lead. West Virgina would hit 4-6 from the line down the stretch, but Taron Downey hit a three with 18 seconds left that tied the game and forced the first overtime.

The first OT was as fast as you are going to see basketball played. West Virginia held the lead for much of the period, but after two Mike Gansey free throws, Downey again hit a three, this time with 6 seconds left, forcing the second overtime. West Virginia controlled the second OT, using a 10-3 run at the start of the half, capped by a Kevin Pittsnoggle three pointer which gave the Mountaineers a 103-96 lead. Wake Forest would not get closer than four the rest of the way.


Mike Gansey was the star on this night, as he scored 19 of his 29 points in the overtimes.


Juan Dixon, Maryland: Replacing Steve Francis was not an enviable task, but Dixon proved to be more than up to the challenge. Playing three seasons as Maryland's go-to scorer and leader, Dixon twice led Maryland to the Final Four, winning the 2002 national title in his final game as a Terp.

As a senior, Dixon carried Maryland as he averaged 20.4 ppg, but his best performances came in the biggest moments. He averaged almost 26 ppg in the 2002 NCAA Tournament, hitting so many big shots. He hit a three to tie the Elite 8 game against UConn at 77, a shot that sparked a decisive 16-5 run. His bucket against Kansas ended a big Jayhawk, giving Maryland a seven point lead with just over a minute left. In the title game, a three midway through the second half gave Maryland their final lead at 45-44.

Dixon overcame a lot in his life as he became a top 10 player of the decade.
(photo credit: SI)

Dixon was named ACC Player of the Year as a senior and had his number retired by the Terps. Rightfully so, as he is their career leader in points scored, threes, and steals.


2008 Kansas Jayhawks: If you want an idea about how good Kansas was during the 2007-2008 season, think about this - Sherron Collins came off the bench and Cole Aldrich barely played. With that kind of talent buried on the bench, you would figure the Jayhawks top six players would be pretty good; and they were. Five players - Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Sasha Kaun, Darnell Jackson, and Darrell Arthur - would be picked in the 2008 NBA Draft.


More impressive than the talent on this team was their ability to play together. As the 2006 UConn Huskies taught us, talent doesn't always blend. Here, it did. The Jayhawks went 37-3 on the season, winning a share of the Big XII regular season crown, the Big XII tournament, and eventually the 2008 national title.


No. 11: Kansas v. Memphis, TJ Ford, Syracuse's 2003 team
No. 12: West Virginia v. Louisville, Stephen Curry, and UCLA's 2008 team
No. 13: Gonzaga v. Arizona, Kevin Durant, and Florida's 2006 Team
No. 14: UConn v. Duke, Joakim Noah, and Duke's 2002 team
No. 15: Oklahoma State v. St. Joe's, Chris Paul, and UConn's 2006 team
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.