I know you can do this for a lot of other schools, but imagine if there was no one and done rule. I think the OSU roster would look like this.....

Starters
G - Mike Conley Jr.
G - Daequon Cook
F - Evan Turner
F - David Lighty
C - Greg Oden

Bench
Kosta Koufos
John Diebler
Dallas Lauderdale
B.J. Mullens
William Buford
Kyle Madsen
Anthony Crater (said he wanted to play with Conley. Probably never transfers if Mike never went pro)

The only team I think that possibly would have been better is North Carolina. I just made this thread for fun

Kyle Madsen, really?

But yes, Matta has done a great job recruiting over the years, and yes, OSU isn't the only school that could make these types of claims.

thedynasty1998 wrote: Kyle Madsen, really?

Yes, because he transfered to Ohio State before the 2006-07 season. He had to sit out that year. So it's not like he got on the roster because of open spots.

To be fair, some of those guys might not come if they see the guys that would be ahead of them in terms of PT. Would Koufos come if he knew Oden was going to be there another three years? Would Mullens come and sit behind those two? Would Buford or Diebler come with the logjam at the 2/3 spots with Lighty, Turner, and Cook? Not saying theat none of them would but you have to think we may have lost out on a couple of those guys.

Problem is OSU doesnt get all these players most likely. I doubt Mullens goes to OSU where he only plays 2 years with Oden still there for 2.

Matta has done a phenomenal job of getting great players to OSU, he just hasnt done it year in year out with enough depth to be on the level of Self, Williams, Calipari, Barnes, etc.

I think if you did this list (without scrapping my brain to hard) these teams would be the best...on talent only:

UNC
Texas
Arizona
UCLA
OSU
Duke
Memphis
Kentucky (this years team alone...lol)
Kansas

I may be missing a few others as well.

Clearly you wouldn't get as many commitments from players if guys had to stay 4 years, but it's fun to look at non-the-less.

Here are some others:

ARIZONA
PG Brandon Jennings, SO
SG Jerryd Bayless, JR
SF Chase Budinger, SR
PF Derrick Williams, FR
C Jordan Hill, SR
PG Nic Wise, SR
SG Kyle Fogg, SO
SF Jamelle Horne, JR
SF Solomon Hill, FR

MEMPHIS (with Calipari, just SICK)
PG John Wall, FR
SG Derrick Rose, JR
SF Xavier Henry, FR
PF Tyreke Evans, SO
C DeMarcus Cousins, FR
PG Willie Kemp, SR
SG Elliot Williams, SO
SG Doneal Mack, SR
SG Roburt Sallie, SR
SF Wesley Witherspoon, JR
SF Darnell Dodson, SO
PF Will Coleman, JR
C Pierre Henderson-Niles, SR

GEORGIA TECH
PG Javaris Crittendon, SR
SG Thaddeus Young, SR
SF Gani Lawal, JR
PF Zach Peacock, SR
C Derrick Favors, FR
PG Maurice Miller, JR
PG Iman Shumpert, SO
SG Glen Rice Jr., FR
SF Mfon Udofia, FR

TEXAS
PG D.J. Augustin, SR
SG Avery Bradley, FR
SF Damion James, SR
PF Kevin Durant, SR
C Dexter Pittman, SR
PG Dogus Balbay, JR
PG Jai Lucas, SO
SG Justin Mason, SR
SG J'Covan Brown, FR
SF Jordan Hamilton, FR
PF Gary Johnson, JR

I don't think anyone could top Memphis. That team, especially with Calipari staying, would be simply unbeatable.

Azubuike24 wrote:

MEMPHIS (with Calipari, just SICK)
PG John Wall, FR
SG Derrick Rose, JR

PF Tyreke Evans, SO


I don't think anyone could top Memphis. That team, especially with Calipari staying, would be simply unbeatable.

lol, Tyreke Evans, leader for ROY in the NBA this year....is your THIRD STRING PG....HAHAHA that is remarkable and just SICK!!!

Also, great call on GT. Clearly they go .500 because Hewitt is their coach, but that guy gets some damn good talent.

Wake Forest is another that has had some early departures recently I think, but Teague may have been the only one.

KENTUCKY
PG John Wall, FR
SG Eric Bledsoe, FR
SF Jodie Meeks, SR
PF Patrick Patterson, JR
C DeMarcus Cousins, C
SG Darnell Dodson, SO
SF Darius Miller, SO
SF DeAndre Liggins, JR
C Daniel Orton, FE

FLORIDA
PG Erving Walker, SO
SG Kenny Boynton, FR
SF Nick Calathes, JR
PF Marreese Speights, SR
C Vernon Macklin, JR
SF Chandler Parsons, JR
SF Ray Shipman, SO
PF Alex Tyus, JR
PF Dan Werner, SR
PF Erik Murphy, FR
C Kenny Kadji, SO

The funniest thing is, all the backups on that listed Memphis team are basically their current roster, which will probably win 25+ games haha.

Can anyone round up a North Carolina, Duke and Connecticut list like that? Thanks

NORTH CAROLINA
PG Ty Lawson, SR
SG Wayne Ellington, SR
SF Brandan Wright, SR
PF Deon Thompson, SR
C Ed Davis, SO
PG Larry Drew, SO
SG Dexter Strickland, FR
SG Leslie McDonald, FR
SF Will Graves, SR
PF John Henson, FR
PF Travis Wear, FR
PF David Wear, FR
C Tyler Zeller, SO

DUKE
PG Nolan Smith, JR
SG Jon Scheyer, SR
SF Gerald Henderson, SR
PF Kyle Singler, JR
C Brian Zoubek, SR
PG Andre Dawkins, FR
SF Lance Thomas, SR
PF Miles Plumlee, SO
PF Mason Plumlee, FR
PF Ryan Kelly, FR

CONNECTICUT
PG Kemba Walker, SO
SG Jerome Dyson, SR
SF Stanley Robinson, SR
PF Gavin Edwards, SR
C Hasheem Thabeet, SR
PG Donnell Beverley, JR
SF Jamal McDaniel, FR
C Ater Major, FR
C Alex Oriakhi, FR

UNC would clearly challenge Memphis for the best IMO.

Kansas would still be good, but last year would've been really strong for them. Their team right now would basically be everyone they currently have + Darrell Arthur.

UCLA
PG Drue Holliday, SO
SG Russell Westbrook, SR
SF Malcolm Lee, SF
PF Kevin Love, JR
C J'Mison Morgan, SO

Very good starting 5, but not a lot of depth on the level of other teams

WAKE FOREST
PG Jeff Teague, JR
SG L.D. Williams, SR
SF Al-Farouq Aminu, SO
PF Chas McFarland, SR
C James Johnson, JR
PG Ishmael Smith, SR
SG C.J. Harris, FR
SG Gary Clark, JR
SF Ari Stewart, FR
C Ty Walker, SO
C Tony Woods, SO

Lighty over Koufus? Umm...may I ask why?

ULbuckeye10 wrote: Lighty over Koufus? Umm...may I ask why?

Matta loves to play four perimeter players and 1 post player. That how it was during their championship game run. People forget that David Lighty was once a starter during his freshman year. It wasn't until Ivan Harris got hot versus North Carolina that Lighty started to come off the bench. So I personally think Lighty would have been back in the starting lineup the next year under Matta style of play. I could be wrong though.

Thanks for the explanation. I was wondering why Light would be the 4 if Koufus had been there but that makes sense. I think that against more post-oriented teams Lighty would come off the bench in favor of either Mullens or Koufus depending on the strength of the opposing frontcourt.

I agree.

i'll take texas with durant. unstoppable in the college game. heck hes unstoppable in the pro game now.

Koufos could have been something playing PF alongside Oden, with Conley driving and dishing.

If players had to play 4 years of College basketball, add LeBron to the mix when Oden, Conley and Cook were in their early years. He has always said if he had to play college ball he would have played for Ohio State.

C - Oden
PF- Koufos
SF - LeBron
SG - Cook
PG - Conley

That imaginable lineup wouldn't have to take a back seat to anyone.

I used to play this game with Duke all the time circa 2001 and 2002.

Duke 2000-01
PG William Avery
SG Jason Williams
SF Shane Battier
PF Corey Maggette
PF Elton Brand

Reserves
PG Chris Duhon
SG Michael Dunleavy
SF Nate James
PF Chris Burgess
C Carlos Boozer

Duke 2002-03
PG Chris Duhon
SG Jason Williams
SG J.J. Redick
SF Mike Dunleavy
C Carlos Boozer

Bench
PG Sean Dockery
SG Daniel Ewing
SF Dahntay Jones
SF Shavlik Randolph
C Shelden Williams

Sick.

Not to mention had Luol stayed all four years .. Duke would have been untouchable in the mid to late 2000s. But that's the price you pay when you travel down memory lane playing the 'if only' game. Sigh.

With LBJ in the mix, give me OSU versus whoever!

Without LBJ in it, UNC versus Memphis is probably the title game.

Would Carmelo still be available for Cuse?

Big Gain wrote: Koufos could have been something playing PF alongside Oden, with Conley driving and dishing.

If players had to play 4 years of College basketball, add LeBron to the mix when Oden, Conley and Cook were in their early years. He has always said if he had to play college ball he would have played for Ohio State. Remember Oden brought his ligament injury with him to OSU. (the wink for in these dreams scenarios everyone should be healthy).

C - Oden
PF- Koufos
SF - LeBron
SG - Cook
PG - Conley

That imaginable lineup wouldn't have to take a back seat to anyone.

03-04, 04-05, 05-06, 06-07
Koufos wouldnt be included in there. LeBron graduated in '03 and would have played 03-04, 04-05, 05-06 and 06-07. Koufos graduated in '07(frosh season of 07-08). Hunter would probably be the PF.

Not sure I can beat that 5 or team but I will try...

North Carolina '02/'03-05/06..or 03/'04-06/'07. I did not see the freshman classes of '01-02 so not sure if you could go earlier, but I built it around Howard.
C-Dwight Howard (recruiting class of '04-05)
PF-Tyler Hansbrough (recruiting class of '05-06)/Sean May ('02-03)
SF-Marvin Williams ('04-05)
SG-Rashad McCants (recruiting class of '02-03)/JR Smith-SG ('04-05),
PG-Raymond Felton (recruiting class of '02-03)

You could take out '02 and add in the '06 class of Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Brandon Wright.

Link about Dwight Howard...http://www.dwighthoward.com/blog/2009/04/06/if-i-had-played-college-basketball/

HiddenGems wrote:Would Carmelo still be available for Cuse?

You're not serious, are you?

Um, Carmelo's freshman year at Syracuse began in the fall of 2002.

Oden would be hurt. I love the guy, but he is one of the more fragile bball players out there.