The BIAH Advent Calendar: Day 20

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. 6:


2006: UConn vs. George Mason: This has to be considered the greatest upset of all-time. Tiny George Mason, a school out of the CAA, barely gets into the tournament as an at-large bid, then proceeds to beat Michigan State and UNC on the way to the Elite 8 where they face the mighty Huskies. UConn would send six players off of this team to the NBA, five of them getting drafted in the 2006 draft, and four of those picks going in the first round.

UConn made a little run late in the first half to open up a 12 point lead, but the Patriots, who outrebounded the much bigger Huskies 37-34, would respond early in the second half with six straight three pointers. Mason would eventually open a 67-63 lead at the end of regulation, but missed free throws and timely buckets gave Denham Brown a chance to tie the game, and he did with a tough reverse lay-up at the buzzer, setting up a fantastic OT.



UConn, as talented as they were, never put together a complete game in the 2006 tournament, and it finally came back to bite them against Mason.


Emeka Okafor, UConn: Okafor came to UConn as an impressive defender. Standing just 6'9", Okafor had long arms, great timing, and incredible discipline when it came to blocking shots. But as a freshman, he wasn't much on the offensive side of the ball, averaging just 7.9 ppg - compared to 9.0 rpg and 4.0 bpg.

Okafor led the Huskies to the 2004 national title.
(photo credit: SI)

As a sophomore, however, Okafor started to break out of his shell offensively, and as a junior, his last season in Storrs, he became unstoppable on the block. He averaged 17.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg, and 3.9 bpg while earning first team all america honors (and player of the year honors according to some publications) and winning the Big East player of the year award. Okafor battled back problems all season long, missing a lot of time towards the end of the season. The selection committee thought enough of Okafor in 2004 to give UConn a #2 seed as a result of the big fella being questionable on Selection Sunday. But UConn would go on to win the title, and Okafor won the 2004 Tournament's MOP.

Okafor wasn't just known for his excellence on the court, he was also an outstanding student. Okafor graduated from UConn in three years with a finance degree while sporting a 3.8 GPA.


2005 Illinois Fighiting Illini: Illinois had one of the most dominating seasons in recent memory as they won their first 29 games before losing to Ohio State in the regular season finale. The Illini then rolled through the Big Ten tournament before receiving a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois survived an exciting overtime game against Arizona in the Elite 8, eventually making it all the way to the title game before losing to UNC.

Illinois won both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, before losing in the 2005 title game.
(photo credit: Illinois Loyalty)

Illinois was loaded in 2005, especially in the back court. Deron Williams, Luther Head, and Dee Brown were all named first or second team all-american, while center James Augustine eventually ended up being a draft pick of the Orlando Magic.


No. 7: Oklahoma State v. Texas, Carmelo Anthony, Michigan State's 2000 team
No. 8: UCLA v. Gonzaga, Jameer Nelson, Maryland's 2002 team
No. 9: Barton v. Winona State, Blake Griffin, St. Joseph's 2004 team
No. 10: West Virginia v. Wake Forest, Juan Dixon, Kansas's 2008 team
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.