The BIAH Advent Calendar: Day 21

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. 5:


2005: Michigan State vs. Kentucky: It was only fitting that arguably the greatest Elite 8 of all-time was capped off by a 2OT thriller from two of the best programs in recent history. The Spartans opened up an eight point lead with just under six minutes left in this game, but UK caught fire from three, coming back and cutting the lead to 75-72 with 12.6 seconds left and setting up this final possession:



It took suspenseful five minutes, but the refs eventually determined that the toe of Patrick Sparks was behind the three point line and the game was, in fact, tied.

Kentucky scored the first four points of the first overtime, but Michigan State scored five straight. After a Kentucky basket, the Spartans tied the game with a minute left. Kentucky would control the ball for the last 1:03 of the first overtime, but only managed to get one shot off as Kelvin Torbert forced Kelenna Azubuike to dribble out the clock. The second overtime saw MSU take an early lead, then hit 11 straight foul shots to clinch the win.


Jay Williams, Duke: Williams was a star from the minute he set foot on Duke's campus, averaging 14.2 ppg, 6.5 apg, and 4.2 rpg as he as named ACC freshman of the year and, by some outlets, the national freshman of the year. As a sophomore, Williams was named a first team all-american as he averaged 21.6 ppg and 6.1 apg, which is all the more impressive considering he played on a team with Shane Battier (the 2001 national player of the year), Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy, and Chris Duhon. Duke went on to win the 2001 national title.

The Blue Devils were a favorite to repeat in 2002 as Williams averaged 21.3 ppg and 5.3 apg en route to winning both the Wooden and Naismith awards for national player of the year. Duke would end up losing in the second round of the tournament to Indiana but Williams, who graduated from Duke in three years with a degree is sociology, ended up being the second pick in the NBA Draft.

Perhaps what Williams will be best remembered for is leading Duke back against Maryland in 2001.




2004 UConn Huskies: The 2004 version of the UConn Huskies was led by Emeka Okafor, who lost out on the national player of the year awards due to a balky back that kept him out of the first two rounds of the Big East tournament. That balky back also kept the Huskies from receiving a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

But Okafor's missed time actually ended up being a blessing in disguise for the Huskies. It allowed Ben Gordon, who was affectionately known as "Gentle Ben" due to his laid back attitude, to showcase his talents. Gordon went for 29 points in each of the two Big East Tournament games that Okafor missed, then teamed with Mek to knock off Pitt in the tournament final. It also allowed role playing big men Josh Boone and Charlie Villanueva to figure out that they, too, were pretty talented basketball players. Throw in sophomores Rashad Anderson, Denham Brown, and Hilton Armstrong and senior leader Taliek Brown running the show, and Calhoun had arguably his most talented team in 2004.

Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor led the Huskies to the 2004 national title before becoming the first and second picks in the 2004 draft.
(photo credit SI)

The Huskies would prove that as they won the 2004 national title, coming back from eight down in the final three minutes to beat Duke in the national semifinals before blowing out Georgia Tech in the finals.


No. 6: UConn v. George Mason, Emeka Okafor, Illinois's 2005 team
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.