The BIAH Advent Calendar: Day 23

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. 3:


2005: Gonzaga vs. Michigan State, Gonzaga vs. UConn: Gonzaga participated in two classics in the 2005 Maui Invitational, so we figured we would just throw them both in there.

In the semifinals, Gonzaga played a three OT classic with the Spartans. There were too many big shots to mention, but we will summarize. The final 7:30 of regulation saw 13 lead changes, four in the last 1:14 alone. The game was sent to OT when Maurice Ager hit his fifth three in the final 7:30. The Bulldogs had a chance to win it in the last nine seconds of overtime, but missed three shots in that span. The second OT ended when a Spartan turnover resulted in 0.9 seconds being put back on the clock, but Gonzaga was unable to capitalize. In the third and final OT, Adam Morrison gave Gonzaga the lead with 19 seconds left on two free throws. After a miss by MSU, Derek Raivio made two more free throws. Shannon Brown tried to get off a three as time expired, but lost the handle. Tom Izzo argued for a foul against Jeremy Pargo, but none was to be called as th Zags won this one 109-106.

The following night against UConn, the Huskies took a 63-57 lead with just 37 seconds left on the clock, but Gonzaga would stage a comeback. Two free throws from Raivio cut the lead to 63-61, and after Rudy Gay missed the front end of a 1-and-1, Morrison had two shots blocked by Hilton Armstrong before JP Batista was fouled by Gay. Batista would hit both free throws with 6.6 seconds left on the clock, but the game was not over. Denham Brown hit a tough turn-around jumper from the baseline with 1.1 seconds left on the clock, and Gonzga was unable to score.

If anyone has video of either of these game, please send it along.


Adam Morrison, Gonzaga: Morrison was not the most liked player in his time at Gonzaga. He was a lanky white kid with a mop top haircut and the mustache of a low-budget porn star that plays with excessive emotion. Does it surprise you he wasn't liked nationally? By the time Morrison arrived in Spokane in 2003, Gonzaga had already firmly entrenched themselves as a national power. As a freshman, Morrison was a role player, averaging 11.0 ppg, on a Gonzaga team that went 27-2 and earned a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament before being knocked out in the second round.

With Blake Stepp and Cory Violette graduating, Morrison's role expanded as a sophomore. He averaged 19.0 ppg and was named first team all-WCC as the Zags again had an impressive regular season, going 25-4 before being upset by Bobby Knight's Texas Tech team in the second round of the 2005 tournament.

But it was Morrison's junior season that put him on the map historically. The Zags were a spectacle throughout the season, as they participated in four games that made out top 25 games of the decade. Morrison dueled all season long with JJ Redick for the national scoring title and the player of the year awards. He finished the season averaging 28.1 ppg, 28.5 ppg against major conference teams, and Gonzaga once again went 27-3, winning both the WCC regular season and tournament titles (they accomplished that feat all three years Morrison was there). The Zags would earn a #3 seed in the dance, and looked destined to make the Elite 8 as they were up 17 on UCLA. But the Bruins would come back, and the lasting image most will have of Morrison is of him in tears, inconsolable while laying on the court.

The lasting image most have of Adam Morrison's collegiate career.
(photo credit: Photobucket)

2007 Florida Gators: In 2006, the Florida Gators came out of nowhere to make a run to the national title. As a result, the stars of that team (Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer) shot up the NBA Draft boards. But in a surprise move, every one of the Gators underclassmen made the decision to return to school, making Florida the consensus #1 team in the preseason.

Despite stumbling down the stretch of the regular season, Florida still won both the SEC regular season and tournament. As was the case in 2006, they rolled through the NCAA Tournament en route to their second straight title.

Corey Brewer was a large part of Florida's back-to-back titles.
(photo credit: SI)

This Gators squad was loaded with NBA talent. Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Corey Brewer would all go on to be drafted in the lottery. Taurean Green and Chris Richard, who came off the bench, were both picked in the second round. And Mareesse Speights was selected in the first round the next season.


No. 4: Duke v. Maryland, Shane Battier, UNC's 2005 team
No. 5: Michigan State v. Kentucky, Jay Williams, UConn's 2004 team
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.