2021 MVP Mobley and USC edge Dayton and 2020 MVP Toppin 79-76 in OT

With Dayton 2020 leading 52-46 with 7:03 to play, Evan Mobley (19 points, 17 rebounds, 10 fouls drawn) drew a 5th foul against Obi Toppin. 

With Toppin in the bench, USC 2021 exploded for a 19-11 run to go up 65-63 with 16 seconds left, but Jalen Crutcher hit a buzzer beater to force overtime. 

USC dominated the boards in OT for a 79-76 road win. The game last 57 minutes from first dice roll.

Pregame write up

In 2020, Obi Toppin was picked as the top player in the country by the Naismith Committee, but Covid kept him from trying to lead Dayton to the national title. In 2021, Evan Mobley was calculated as the top player in the country by www.valueaddbasketball.com. Both are newer teams in our game and won their opener, so we played them against each other to determine which would then play 2-0 Colorado 2021 to see which of the new teams started 3-0.

The following is the line-up rotation we decided to use for each team. You do NOT need to be this precise in playing time - you can just play the bottom five players on the sheet from the 44th to 38th possession and the top row of starters from the 37th possession to the 1st (actually last and final) possession.

Results will be posted later tonight. 

College Hoops 8th Best Conference History - Atlantic 10

The Atlantic 10 ranks 8th of the 8 conferences - no shame at all considering 24 conferences do not feature six all-time great teams. Our ratings are based on how the top 6 teams in each great conference have played against some of the greatest college basketball teams in history in the Value Add College Basketball Game (see details at the bottom). .

The top 6 teams so far have gone 3-12 against the other great all-time teams, and have a combined rating of -6.0. That means those teams average being 6 points worse then the average team IN THE GAME, but the average team in the game is about 21 points better than an average team.

Therefore the Dayton 2020 team's ranking of -1.6 means they are rated about 19 points better than the average team. That is the team that should have had a shot at the national title except for Covid cancelling the tournament.

You can see a couple of other teams who have led magical runs more recently, including Curry and Davidson, and the greatest Final 4 upset of all time in VCU 2011 lead by Richmond, Virginia's Burgess.

 

Great Team	Year	Key Player	W	L	Pts	Allow	Rate
Top 6 A-10 teams			3	12	68.7	74.3	-6.0
Dayton	2020	Obi Toppin	1	0	87.0	82.0	-1.6
St. Joe's	2004	Jameer Nelson	1	2	68.3	75.7	-4.3
St. Bonaventure	1970	Bob Lanier	0	1	64.0	74.0	-5.0
Davidson	2008	Stephen Curry	1	5	66.7	70.8	-6.9
La Salle	1954	Tom Gola	0	1	67.0	76.0	-8.2
George Mason	2006	Jai Lewis	0	3	59.3	67.0	-9.9
Dayton	1967	Don May	0	1	69.0	88.0	-11.0
VCU	2011	Bradford Burgess	0	3	60.3	71.3	-13.3

We invented the Value Add Basketball Game, and since then have grown it to to 135 teams of all-time great teams and players. We have played 188 games to date, and 63,000 unique visitors have clicked on the game. 

Seven current conferences have at least six all-time great teams in the game. We decided to rank those conferences based on the average rating of their top six teams so far in our games against other teams.

Click on the game to play yourself - it contains everything you need to play the Value Add Basketball game, which lets you pit any of 136 great all-time college teams against each other. To pick your two teams it is best to click on this Google doc and print the pages of the teams you want (each team is one page). I track my games on this google sheet, but play your own for free!

POY Toppin Leads Dayton Past Crowder and Butler (updated all-time rankings)

Our mini tournament to get a game played with the final 8 teams (of these 136 great teams or teams with great players) kicked off with the most NBA-laiden team in Marquette history against the National Player of the Year who never played a March Madness game.

Dayton's Obi Toppin was the 2020 National Player of the Year and many thought gave Dayton their best shot at a title. However, that was the year COVID cancelled the tournament.

The Marquette 2011 team shocked all as an 11-seed going to the Sweet 16, the first of three Sweet 16s in a row. After the fact it became clear the team was no fluke as five players went onto the NBA including long, great careers for Jae Crowder and Jimmy Butler.

While Toppin did impress with 20 points inside, it was the 3-pointer that let Dayton pull ahead and hold in. Jalen Crutcher, Ryan Mikesell and backup Ibi Watson combined for 6 three-pointers in 6 minutes for a 22-12 run that put the Flyers up 61-54, and they held on for an 87-82 win.

Trey Landers (19 points, 8 rebounds) and Crowder (21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and a blocked shot) had a great battle at small forward.

As a Marquette fan, we've played 6 games featuring Marquette teams and they are 3-5 against other great teams. This team and Wade's 2003 team lost their opener, but in our league play of a 21st Century Big East went 2-1, while the Meminger-Chones 1971 team and Lucas-Ellis 1977 national champs both won their opener and then lost their 2nd round game in the two other tournaments.

We ran formulas similar to KenPom on games played so far to update the rankings of our teams. Each team starts with their SRS for the year -20 because the average team is the game was 20 points better than the average team in the season they played.

Every time we play a game, we adjust each team based on the margin of victory, who wins the game, and the SRS of the opponent to determine strength of schedule. An SoS of 0.0 means the average opponent has been average for the all-time great teams, but that would be an SoS of +20 if just playing average teams the year of their season instead of all-time greats.

Rnk	Team - year - player	Wins	Losses	SoS	Margin	KenPom
1	Kansas - 2008 - Mario Chalmers	5	1	0.3	18.7	22.3
2	UCLA - 1972 - Bill Walton	6	0	0.5	10	15.5
3	North Carolina - 2005 - Sean May	4	2	2.7	10.5	14.8
4	Virginia - 2019 - Kyle Guy	4	1	3.4	7.2	13.6
5	Duke - 2001 - Shane Battier	1	0	-3.0	11	13
6	Indiana - 1976 - Scott May	3	1	0.3	11.5	12.8
7	Houston - 1968 - Elvin Hayes	3	1	2.3	9.3	12.2
8	North Carolina - 1982 - Michael Jordan	5	1	5.0	3.8	12.2
9	Gonzaga - 2017 - Nigel Williams-Goss	3	2	1.0	9.4	11.4
10	Connecticut - 2004 - Ben Gordon	4	2	0.2	9.5	11.3
11	Duke - 2010 - Jon Scheyer	5	2	1.1	7.3	10.6
12	Villanova - 2018 - Mikal Bridges	6	2	1.8	6	10.3
13	Purdue - 2018 - Carsen Edwards	5	1	3.5	3.3	10.2
14	Louisville - 2013 - Russ Smith	2	1	2.7	7.7	9.2
15	UCLA - 1967 - Lew Alcindor	1	0	-1.0	2	9.2
16	Kentucky - 1996 - Antoine Walker	0	1	-1.0	-3	8.6
17	Baylor - 2021 - Jared Butler	1	0	-6.0	23	8.4
18	Auburn - 2019 - Chuma Okeke	8	1	-1.6	5.7	8
19	Cincinnati - 1960 - Oscar Robertson	1	1	11.0	-4	7
20	Kansas - 1997 - Paul Pierce	1	0	-16.0	16	6.6
21	Michigan St. - 2009 - Draymond Green	6	2	2.8	1.3	6.5
22	Duke - 1992 - Christian Laettner	1	1	1.5	7	6.4
23	NC State - 1989 - David Thompson	1	0	1.0	1	6.2
24	North Carolina - 1998 - Vince Carter	1	0	-8.0	6	6.2
25	Oregon - 2017 - Dillon Brooks	3	2	3.8	1.4	6.2
26	Michigan St. - 1979 - Magic Johnson	2	1	-1.3	7.7	6
27	NC State - 1974 - David Thompson	1	1	7.5	-1.5	6
28	UNLV - 1991 - Larry Johnson	1	1	-4.0	1	6
29	Indiana - 1981 - Isaiah Thomas	1	0	-2.0	18	5.8
30	Illinois - 2005 - Deron Williams	3	2	2.2	2.4	5.6
31	Michigan - 1989 - Glen Rice	0	1	2.0	-1	5.6
32	Wake Forest - 1996 - Tim Duncan	2	1	7.0	1.3	5.6
33	Memphis - 2008 - Derrick Rose	4	2	1.0	2.8	5.5
34	Oklahoma - 1985 - Wayman Tisdale	3	1	2.8	1.5	5.2
35	Houston - 1983 - Hakeem Olajuwon	1	0	-7.0	15	5
36	Illinois - 1989 - Nick Anderson	0	0	-6.0	0	5
37	Syracuse - 2003 - Carmelo Anthony	2	1	4.0	2	4.6
38	Kentucky - 2012 - Anthony Davis	4	2	-3.7	6.5	4.5
39	Michigan - 1965 - Cazzie Russell	1	1	3.0	9.5	4.4
40	Wisconsin - 2015 - Frank Kaminsky	2	2	2.0	1.8	4
41	Michigan St. - 2000 - Mateen Cleaves	1	0	-11.0	4	3.6
42	Connecticut - 1999 - Richard Hamilton	0	1	6.0	-4	3.4
43	Missouri - 1982 - Steve Stipanovich	2	0	0.5	4	3.2
44	Ohio St. - 1960 - Jerry Lucas	0	1	-2.0	-1	3.2
45	Arizona - 2015 - Stanley Johnson	3	1	-5.0	4.8	2.8
46	Jacksonville - 1970 - Artis Gilmore	1	0	-5.0	13	2.6
47	Loyola Marymount - 1990 - Bo Kimble	1	0	-2.0	22	2.6
48	Georgetown - 1984 - Patrick Ewing	2	1	1.0	2	2.4
49	Arkansas - 1994 - Corliss Williamson	0	1	1.0	-1	2.2
50	Michigan - 2013 - Trey Burke	2	3	2.0	1.2	2.2
51	Cincinnati - 2002 - Jason Maxiell	2	2	-0.5	1.3	2
52	Iowa - 2021 - Luka Garza	0	0	-7.0	0	2
53	Syracuse - 1987 - Rony Seikaly	2	1	-1.0	3.7	1.8
54	UTEP (Texas Western) - 1966 - Bobby Joe Hill	2	1	7.7	-2.3	1.8
55	Loyola-Chicago - 1963 - Jerry Harkness	0	1	-1.0	-6	1.6
56	Seton Hall - 1989 - John Morton	1	1	2.5	0	1.6
57	Texas Tech - 2019 - Jarrett Culver	3	2	2.2	-1.6	1.6
58	DePaul - 1980 - Mark Aguirre	1	0	4.0	18	1.4
59	Dayton - 2020 - Obi Toppin	1	0	-5.0	5	1
60	USC - 2021 - Evan Mobley	0	0	-6.0	0	1
61	Arizona - 1997 - Mike Bibby	2	1	0.0	-2.3	0.4
62	Purdue - 1969 - Rick Mount	0	1	-1.0	-1	0.2
63	Duke - 1986 - Johnny Dawkins	0	1	-5.0	-2	0
64	Marquette - 1971 - Jim Chones	1	1	4.5	-1	-0.4
65	Marquette - 2003 - Dwyane Wade	2	2	1.0	-0.8	-0.4
66	Georgetown - 2007 - Roy Hibbert	1	2	-0.7	1.3	-0.6
67	Kansas - 1957 - Wilt Chamberlain	1	1	3.0	-6.5	-0.8
68	Pittsburgh - 2009 - DeJuan Blair	1	3	3.3	-2.3	-0.8
69	Maryland - 1984 - Len Bias	1	0	0.0	10	-1
70	Marquette - 1977 - Butch Lee	1	1	-4.0	4.5	-1.6
71	LSU - 1992 - Shaquille O'Neal	0	1	-5.0	-3	-1.8
72	San Diego St. - 2011 - Kawhi Leonard	2	2	0.8	-2.5	-1.8
73	St. John's - 1985 - Chris Mullin	0	1	1.0	-1	-1.8
74	Colorado - 2021 - McKinley Wright	0	0	5.0	0	-2
75	Creighton - 2020 - Ty-Shon Alexander	1	1	-2.0	0	-2
76	Holy Cross - 1950 - Bob Cousy	1	0	3.0	2	-2
77	Kansas St. - 2008 - Michael Beasley	1	1	1.5	-0.5	-2
78	Kentucky - 1948 - Alex Groza	1	0	1.0	3	-2.2
79	San Francisco - 1956 - Bill Russell	0	1	5.0	-7	-2.2
80	UNLV - 1987 - Armen Gilliam	0	1	-5.0	-18	-2.4
81	South Carolina - 2017 - Sindarius Thornwell	1	2	-1.0	-0.3	-2.6
82	Ohio St. - 2007 - Greg Oden	2	4	1.7	-3	-3
83	Florida - 2006 - Joakim Noah	3	3	-4.0	0.8	-3.2
84	Iowa - 2002 - Reggie Evans	1	2	2.7	-4.3	-4
85	Oklahoma St. - 2004 - John Lucas	1	3	-0.5	-2.3	-4
86	St. Bonaventure - 1970 - Bob Lanier	0	1	-5.0	-10	-4
87	Davidson - 2008 - Stephen Curry	1	3	2.0	-3.3	-4.2
88	DePaul - 1945 - George Mikan	0	1	8.0	-4	-4.2
89	Georgia Tech - 2004 - Jarrett Jack	2	4	5.5	-8	-4.2
90	Virginia - 1981 - Ralph Sampson	0	1	-2.0	-11	-4.4
91	Indiana - 2002 - Jared Jeffries	1	3	2.3	-5.5	-4.6
92	Tennessee - 1977 - Bernard King	1	1	3.0	-7	-4.6
93	California - 1959 - Jack Grout	0	1	-1.0	-2	-4.8
94	St. Joe's - 2004 - Jameer Nelson	1	2	0.0	-7.3	-5
95	Seattle - 1958 - Elgin Baylor	0	1	1.0	-2	-5.2
96	Utah - 1998 - Andre Miller	0	1	-3.0	-10	-5.2
97	Oklahoma - 2016 - Buddy Hield	1	3	2.8	-7	-5.4
98	Alabama - 1977 - Reggie King	0	1	-2.0	-1	-5.6
99	Texas - 2003 - T.J. Ford	1	2	0.7	-7.7	-5.6
100	Wichita St. - 2013 - Fred VanVleet	1	2	2.7	-7	-5.6
101	Georgia Tech - 1990 - Dennis Scott	0	1	2.0	-18	-5.8
102	West Virginia - 2010 - Kevin Jones	1	3	1.0	-5.8	-5.8
103	Brigham Young - 1981 - Danny Ainge	0	0	1.0	0	-6
104	Marquette - 2011 - Jimmy Butler	0	1	0.0	-5	-6
105	UCLA - 2006 - Jordan Farmar	2	3	1.4	-6.4	-6
106	Kansas - 1988 - Danny Manning	0	1	-3.0	-9	-6.6
107	Indiana St. - 1979 - Larry Bird	0	1	-2.0	-7	-6.8
108	LSU - 2006 - Glen Davis	1	2	0.3	-8.7	-6.8
109	Dayton - 1967 - Don May	0	0	2.0	0	-7
110	La Salle - 1954 - Tom Gola	0	1	-2.0	-9	-7.2
111	Maryland - 2002 - Juan Dixon	1	3	1.8	-9.3	-7.2
112	Notre Dame - 1970 - Austin Carr	1	1	2.0	-9.5	-7.2
113	Oklahoma St. - 1946 - Bob Kurland	0	1	-9.0	-2	-7.2
114	South Carolina - 1973 - Mike Dunleavy	0	1	7.0	-6	-7.2
115	Wyoming - 1943 - Ken Sailors	0	1	2.0	-13	-7.2
116	Auburn - 1984 - Charles Barkley	1	1	-2.5	-5.5	-7.4
117	West Virginia - 1959 - Jerry West	0	1	-7.0	-1	-7.4
118	Kentucky - 1970 - Dan Issel	0	1	-3.0	-22	-7.6
119	North Carolina - 1957 - Lennie Rosenbluth	0	1	0.0	-13	-7.6
120	Navy - 1986 - David Robinson	0	1	5.0	-16	-8
121	Villanova - 1985 - Ed Pinckney	0	1	-1.0	-7	-8.2
122	Arkansas - 1978 - Sidney Monfrief	0	1	-1.0	-21	-8.6
123	Georgia - 1982 - Dominique Wilkins	1	1	0.0	-8	-8.6
124	Arizona St. - 1980 - Byron Scott	0	1	3.0	-15	-9
125	Louisville - 1980 - Darrell Griffith	0	1	4.0	-30	-9.4
126	Notre Dame - 1981 - Orlando Woolridge	0	1	5.0	-23	-9.4
127	George Mason - 2006 - Jai Lewis	0	3	1.3	-7.7	-9.6
128	Creighton - 2014 - Doug McDermott	0	3	-0.3	-13.7	-11.8
129	LSU - 1970 - Pete Maravich	0	1	2.0	-1	-12
130	Princeton - 1965 - Bill Bradley	0	1	-2.0	-17	-12
131	Wake Forest - 2005 - Chris Paul	0	3	5.3	-21	-12
132	VCU - 2011 - Bradford Burgess	0	3	2.0	-11	-12.8
133	Miami FL - 1965 - Rick Berry	0	1	-15.0	-4	-13.6
134	Loyola-Chicago - 2018 - Cameron Krutwig	0	3	2.7	-15.7	-13.6
135	Butler - 2010 - Gordon Hayward	0	3	5.3	-21.7	-14.8
136	Niagara - 1970 - Calvin Murphy	0	1	7.0	-16	-15.6

Baylor Replaces Illinois in All-Time Great Tournament

Our first 2021 Value Add Basketball Game player cards will be used in a game. We have substituted the 2021 National Champions from Baylor into our current tournament as the No. 7 seed in place of Nick Anderson's 1989 Illinois team. 

In recent blogs we announced we added four teams from 2021 as well as Obi Toppin's 2000 Dayton squad to bring our total to 134 Great All-Time teams. It turned out Baylor and the 1989 Illinois squad were tied for 34th in our simulated KenPom Ratings, and since Illinois had yet to play their opener against Orlando Woolridge's 1981 Notre Dame team, we discovered that the Challong.com site I use to set up my brackets does allow you to edit teams in a bracket that have yet to play we subbed them in as an equal level replacement.

Below is the new bracket. As the 7-seed, a Baylor win would mean the top seven seeds will all play in Round 2. However, because of many upsets in other games, a Notre Dame win would mean the worse seeds would be 6-5 in the tournament to date. In our original tournament of 96 teams the favorites 63-32.