Colorado remains unbeaten as one of 5 surprising all-time greats

McKinley Wright answered Kevin McHale's late "and-one fast break" to improve Colorado to 3-0 with a 72-70 win in Minnesota. (Colorado is now ranked 36th of our 137 teams - complete rankings at the bottom).

Colorado has been one of the five big surprise teams in our 137-team all-time great Value Add Basketball Game. We had Colorado ranked 92nd of 137 teams based on their cards. However, as sown on the game tracker of our 205 games played since the game's invention in 2019, Colorado upset Illinois' 1989 team 86-82, then won two road games at Missouri 1982 (89-82) and now at Minnesota 1977 (72-70).

The latest scoresheet appears at the bottom of the blog. Colorado is one of only three remaining undefeated teams. Bill Walton's UCLA team won our first tournament, then Paul Pierce Kansas won our second tournament - but Colorado was one of several teams added later in the game who have played only non-tournament games.

The other surprise teams so far in our play are listed below, with the first column representing where we rank them today and the far right column showing where we ranked them based on their cards before playing any games.

Rnk	Team and Player	Rating	W	L	Pts	Allow	SOS	Pre-Sea
26	Auburn - 2019 - Chuma Okeke	4.2	8	1	71.0	65.3	-2.6	70
29	DePaul - 1980 - Mark Aguirre	4	3	1	76.8	68.8	3.5	102
36	Colorado - 2021 - McKinley Wright	2.7	3	0	82.3	78.0	-0.3	92
46	Loyola Marymount - 1990 - Bo Kimble	1.4	1	2	112.0	108.3	2.3	73
53	Michigan St. - 2009 - Draymond Green	0.9	6	3	71.3	71.9	1.6	83

Auburn and Michigan State made Elite 8 runs in our first 96-team tournament. DePaul had the biggest upset in our game so far, beating Kareem's UCLA team and winning two other games in our 2nd tournament of the second batch of teams we created.

The highest scoring team of all-time, Loyola Marymount, has averaged an incredible 112 points per game despite a very tough schedule to move up from 73rd to 46th despite losing close games to fall to 1-2.

The following is the scoresheet from Colorado's win at Minnesota.

Rnk	team - key player	Rating	W	L	Pts	Allow	SOS	Pre-Sea
1	UCLA - 1972 - Bill Walton	15.5	6	0	72	62.0	-0.5	2
2	Kansas - 2008 - Mario Chalmers	15.2	5	1	74.7	56.0	-0.7	14
3	Kansas - 1997 - Paul Pierce	13.8	5	0	76.8	62.4	-1.0	8
4	Kentucky - 1996 - Antoine Walker	13.6	2	1	72	69.3	3.3	1
5	Duke - 2001 - Shane Battier	12.5	3	1	78.3	72.5	4.8	5
6	Villanova - 2018 - Mikal Bridges	10.8	7	2	79.4	70.3	0.1	9
7	Indiana - 1976 - Scott May	9.6	3	1	71.3	59.8	-0.8	15
8	North Carolina - 2005 - Sean May	9.6	3	2	72.2	64.4	2.0	10
9	Ohio St. - 1960 - Jerry Lucas	8.9	2	1	84	76.3	4.7	18
10	Gonzaga - 2017 - Nigel Williams-Goss	8.7	3	3	69.8	63.0	3.0	12
11	Houston - 1968 - Elvin Hayes	8.5	3	1	73	63.8	1.3	22
12	Virginia - 2019 - Kyle Guy	8.3	4	1	72.6	65.4	2.4	32
13	Connecticut - 2004 - Ben gordon	8.1	5	2	74.7	66.0	0.7	37
14	Duke - 2010 - Jon Scheyer	7.9	5	2	74	66.7	0.1	19
15	Arkansas - 1994 - Corliss Williamson	7.7	1	2	75.3	70.3	8.0	20
16	Baylor - 2021 - Jared Butler	7.1	2	2	86	78.5	4.8	38
17	Louisville - 2013 - Russ Smith	7	2	1	74	66.3	1.7	23
18	Duke - 1992 - Christian Laettner	6.9	1	2	73.7	70.3	1.0	6
19	North Carolina - 1982 - Michael Jordan	6.7	5	1	68.8	65.0	4.0	50
20	Cincinnati - 1960 - Oscar Robertson	6.1	1	2	72.3	78.0	8.3	7
21	UCLA - 1967 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	5.6	2	1	83	87.0	-2.0	3
22	UNLV - 1991 - Larry Johnson	5.4	1	2	72.7	76.3	0.7	4
23	NC State - 1974 - David Thompson	5.1	2	1	72	72.7	4.3	21
24	Purdue - 2018 - Carsen Edwards	5	4	1	71.2	68.8	2.8	44
25	Illinois - 2005 - Deron Williams	4.3	3	2	72	69.6	1.2	24
26	Auburn - 2019 - Chuma Okeke	4.2	8	1	71	65.3	-2.6	70
27	Houston - 1983 - Hakeem Olajuwon	4.1	2	1	70.7	65.0	-0.3	39
28	Michigan St. - 1979 - Magic Johnson	4.1	2	1	70.3	62.7	-2.3	40
29	DePaul - 1980 - Mark Aguirre	4	3	1	76.8	68.8	3.5	102
30	Memphis - 2008 - Derrick Rose	3.9	4	2	68.7	65.8	0.0	33
31	Michigan St. - 2000 - Mateen Cleaves	3.9	4	1	79.6	77.2	-1.6	25
32	Wake Forest - 1996 - Tim Duncan	3.9	2	1	66	64.7	6.0	51
33	Kentucky - 2012 - Anthony Davis	3.7	4	2	72.2	65.7	-4.7	26
34	Wisconsin - 2015 - Frank Kaminsky	3.4	2	2	65	63.3	1.0	27
35	Oregon - 2017 - Dillon Brooks	2.7	4	3	71.9	69.9	1.6	52
36	Colorado - 2021 - McKinley Wright	2.7	3	0	82.3	78.0	-0.3	92
37	North Carolina - 1998 - Vince Carter	2.7	2	1	80.7	83.7	-3.0	11
38	Arizona - 2015 - Stanley Johnson	2.6	3	1	75.3	70.5	-6.0	28
39	Michigan - 1965 - Cazzie Russell	2.6	2	1	85.7	79.0	-1.0	71
40	Michigan - 1989 - Glen Rice	2.4	0	2	70.5	78.5	3.0	13
41	Loyola-Chicago - 1963 - Jerry Harkness	2.3	0	1	62	68.0	-2.0	29
42	Syracuse - 2003 - Carmelo Anthony	2.3	2	1	76	74.0	3.0	60
43	Oklahoma - 1985 - Wayman Tisdale	1.9	3	1	75.3	73.8	1.8	72
44	Cincinnati - 2002 - Jason Maxiell	1.9	2	2	72.8	71.5	-1.5	30
45	Illinois - 1989 - Nick Anderson	1.4	2	1	87	84.0	-5.3	31
46	Loyola Marymount - 1990 - Bo Kimble	1.4	1	2	112	108.3	2.3	73
47	Indiana - 1981 - Isaiah Thomas	1.3	2	1	72.7	72.3	0.0	45
48	Connecticut - 1999 - Richard Hamilton	1.2	0	2	60.5	73.0	5.0	16
49	Iowa - 2021 - Luka Garza	1.1	1	1	79.5	70.5	-3.5	61
50	Florida - 2006 - Joakim Noah	1.1	5	3	74.4	72.0	-4.6	17
51	San Francisco - 1956 - Bill Russell	1.1	0	1	67	74.0	4.0	41
52	Arizona - 1997 - Mike Bibby	1	2	1	68.7	71.0	-1.0	34
53	Michigan St. - 2009 - Draymond Green	0.9	6	3	71.3	71.9	1.6	83
54	LSU - 1992 - Shaquille O'Neal	0.6	1	1	82.5	81.0	-5.0	42
55	Seton Hall - 1989 - John Morton	0.5	1	1	78	78.0	1.5	53
56	Georgetown - 1984 - Patrick Ewing	0.4	2	1	67.3	65.3	0.0	74
57	Texas Tech - 2019 - Jarrett Culver	0.3	3	2	65.6	67.2	1.2	54
58	Michigan - 2013 - Trey Burke	0.3	1	2	70.3	69.7	0.3	46
59	Purdue - 1969 - Rick Mount	0.3	0	1	86	87.0	-2.0	47
60	USC - 2021 - Evan Mobley	0.1	2	1	73.7	70.7	-4.3	75
61	Syracuse - 1987 - Rony Seikaly	-0.3	2	1	72.3	68.7	-2.0	84
62	Ohio St. - 2007 - Greg Oden	-0.4	2	3	70.2	71.4	0.6	48
63	Jacksonville - 1970 - Artis Gilmore	-0.4	1	1	78	75.0	-2.0	62
64	Pittsburgh - 2009 - DeJuan Blair	-0.8	1	3	60	62.3	2.3	49
65	Kansas - 1957 - Wilt Chamberlain	-1	1	1	67.5	74.0	2.0	55
66	Duke - 1986 - Johnny Dawkins	-1	0	1	106	108.0	-6.0	43
67	Georgia Tech - 2004 - Jarrett Jack	-1.1	2	3	62.6	67.4	3.8	56
68	UTEP (Texas Western) - 1966 - Bobby Joe Hill	-1.4	2	1	63.7	66.0	6.7	117
69	Georgetown - 2007 - Roy Hibbert	-1.4	1	2	76.7	75.3	-1.7	63
70	Missouri - 1982 - Steve Stipanovich	-1.6	2	1	73.7	73.3	-1.7	76
71	St. John's - 1985 - Chris Mullin	-2	0	1	75	76.0	0.0	77
72	Marquette - 2003 - Dwyane Wade	-2.4	2	2	73.3	74.0	0.0	93
73	Marquette - 1977 - Butch Lee	-2.8	1	1	66	61.5	-5.0	94
74	Marquette - 1971 - Jim Chones	-2.9	1	2	70	72.7	3.0	95
75	San Diego St. - 2011 - Kawhi Leonard	-2.9	2	2	69.3	71.8	-0.3	85
76	Georgia Tech - 1990 - Dennis Scott	-3	0	1	64	82.0	1.0	64
77	Oklahoma St. - 2004 - John Lucas	-3.1	1	3	68.8	71.0	-1.5	57
78	Maryland - 1984 - Len Bias	-3.2	1	1	69.5	68.5	1.5	103
79	Kansas St. - 2008 - Michael Beasley	-3.3	1	1	75	75.5	0.5	96
80	UNLV - 1987 - Armen Gilliam	-3.4	0	1	64	82.0	-6.0	35
81	South Carolina - 2017 - Sindarius Thornwell	-3.4	1	2	65.3	65.7	-2.0	86
82	Dayton - 2020 - Obi Toppin	-3.7	1	1	81.5	80.5	-4.0	87
83	Kentucky - 1948 - Alex Groza	-3.8	1	1	71	81.5	3.0	78
84	Indiana - 2002 - Jared Jeffries	-3.9	1	3	67.3	72.8	1.3	65
85	Maryland - 2002 - Juan Dixon	-4	1	3	67	76.3	0.8	36
86	Minnesota - 1977 - Kevin McHale	-4	1	1	69.5	68.5	-3.0	88
87	St. Joe's - 2004 - Jameer Nelson	-4.3	1	2	68.3	75.7	-1.0	58
88	Oklahoma - 2016 - Buddy Hield	-4.4	1	3	60.3	67.3	1.8	66
89	Utah - 1998 - Andre Miller	-4.6	0	1	69	79.0	-4.0	67
90	West Virginia - 2010 - Kevin Jones	-4.6	1	3	70.3	76.0	0.0	68
91	Oklahoma St. - 1946 - Bob Kurland	-5	0	1	80	82.0	-10.0	79
92	St. Bonaventure - 1970 - Bob Lanier	-5	0	1	64	74.0	-6.0	69
93	Holy Cross - 1950 - Bob Cousy	-5.2	1	1	88	89.5	-2.0	104
94	DePaul - 1945 - George Mikan	-5.2	0	1	51	55.0	7.0	105
95	UCLA - 2006 - Jordan Farmar	-5.2	2	3	66	72.4	0.4	89
96	Texas - 2003 - T.J. Ford	-5.3	1	2	68.7	76.3	-0.3	80
97	Iowa - 2002 - Reggie Evans	-5.3	1	2	71	75.3	1.7	106
98	Virginia - 1981 - Ralph Sampson	-5.4	0	1	61	72.0	-3.0	81
99	Tennessee - 1977 - Bernard King	-5.7	1	1	76	83.0	2.0	107
100	California - 1959 - Jack Grout	-5.8	0	1	69	71.0	-2.0	97
101	Marquette - 2011 - Jimmy Butler	-5.9	0	1	82	87.0	-1.0	108
102	Seattle - 1958 - Elgin Baylor	-6.2	0	1	62	64.0	0.0	109
103	LSU - 2006 - Glen Davis	-6.4	1	2	66.3	75.0	-0.7	90
104	Wichita St. - 2013 - Fred VanVleet	-6.4	1	2	64.3	71.3	1.7	110
105	Alabama - 1977 - Reggie King	-6.6	0	1	70	71.0	-3.0	111
106	Davidson - 2008 - Stephen Curry	-6.9	1	5	66.7	70.8	0.7	118
107	Notre Dame - 1981 - Orlando Woolridge	-7	0	1	68	74.0	4.0	119
108	Kansas - 1988 - Danny Manning	-7.6	0	1	58	67.0	-4.0	98
109	Indiana St. - 1979 - Larry Bird	-7.8	0	1	69	76.0	-3.0	112
110	Stephen f austin - 2016 - Thomas Walkup	-8	0	1	94	95.0	-2.0	120
111	Notre Dame - 1970 - Austin Carr	-8.2	1	1	67	76.5	1.0	124
112	La Salle - 1954 - Tom Gola	-8.2	0	1	67	76.0	-3.0	113
113	South Carolina - 1973 - Mike Dunleavy	-8.2	0	1	66	72.0	6.0	130
114	Wyoming - 1943 - Ken Sailors	-8.2	0	1	60	73.0	1.0	114
115	Auburn - 1984 - Charles Barkley	-8.3	1	1	71.5	77.0	-3.5	125
116	West Virginia - 1959 - Jerry West	-8.4	0	1	68	69.0	-8.0	121
117	Brigham Young - 1981 - Danny Ainge	-8.6	0	1	67	77.0	0.0	122
118	Kentucky - 1970 - Dan Issel	-8.6	0	1	116	138.0	-4.0	91
119	North Carolina - 1957 - Lennie Rosenbluth	-8.6	0	1	76	89.0	-1.0	115
120	Navy - 1986 - David Robinson	-9	0	1	61	77.0	4.0	123
121	Villanova - 1985 - Ed Pinckney	-9.2	0	1	65	72.0	-2.0	126
122	Wake Forest - 2005 - Chris Paul	-9.3	0	3	64.3	85.3	4.3	59
123	Arkansas - 1978 - Sidney Moncrief	-9.6	0	1	58	79.0	-2.0	99
124	Georgia - 1982 - Dominique Wilkins	-9.7	1	1	70	78.0	-1.0	131
125	Creighton - 2014 - Doug McDermott	-9.7	0	3	66.3	80.0	-1.3	82
126	George Mason - 2006 - Jai Lewis	-9.9	0	3	59.3	67.0	0.3	127
127	Arizona St. - 1980 - Byron Scott	-10	0	1	64	79.0	2.0	128
128	Creighton - 2020 - Ty-Shon Alexander	-10.2	0	1	72	106.0	8.0	100
129	Louisville - 1980 - Darrell Griffith	-10.4	0	1	52	82.0	3.0	101
130	Dayton - 1967 - Don May	-11	0	1	69	88.0	1.0	129
131	Butler - 2010 - Gordon Hayward	-13	0	3	54.7	76.3	4.3	116
132	LSU - 1970 - Pete Maravich	-13	0	1	66	67.0	1.0	136
133	Princeton - 1965 - Bill Bradley	-13	0	1	62	79.0	-3.0	132
134	VCU - 2011 - Bradford Burgess	-13.3	0	3	60.3	71.3	1.0	134
135	Loyola-Chicago - 2018 - Cameron Krutwig	-13.9	0	3	59.3	75.0	1.7	133
136	Miami FL - 1965 - Rick Berry	-14.6	0	1	104	108.0	-16.0	135
137	Niagara - 1970 - Calvin Murphy	-16.6	0	1	68	84	6	137