I think 2013 was his best team. Talent-wise for sure, but they also came the closest to the national championship. This team seems right about even with last years team and the 2014 team. They were more accomplished than those teams in the end, but I also think we over-achieved more this year than any other Beilein team, although the 2012 team winning a share of the regular season Big Ten title can certainly make an argument as well. Interested to hear others thoughts.
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I would put this group at the top.
Just the combination of talent and coaching (not too mention two new assistants, and another assistant only in second year).
- 2013
- 2014
- 2018
2014 team was better and overcame the McGary injury. They also won at MSU. Faced a tougher path. I think the 2014 team wins it all if they swapped spots.
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Agree with you for the most part, but not so sure the 2014 team would have beat Nova. If I had the rank his best teams, top 5 would be:
2013
2014
2018
2017
2012
It is actually pretty awesome we have had so many special teams recently, even though we haven’t reached the ultimate goal yet. I think we will soon.
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If the 2014 team played this Villanova the combined eFG% would be 75%.
- 2013
- 2018
3.2014
- 2012-13
- 2013-14
- 2017-18
If we played better defense, it’s scary how good the 12-13/13-14 teams would have been. But even without defense, I think those teams would beat our current team.
As far as which teams were the best at the end of the year, I would rank
- 2013 / 2018 in a tie
- 2017
- 2014
As far as which teams played the best over the whole season
- 2013
- 2018
- 2014
- 2017
As far as which teams had the “best season” and which season I had the most fun with
- 2018
- 2014
- 2013
- 2017
Depends if we’re talking accomplishments, talent, who I’d pick in a 7 game series?
Accomplishments:
2018
2014
2013
2017
Talent/7 game series:
2013
2014
Tossup between 2017 and 2018
I more had the idea of who I would take in a 7 game series.
Maybe not the best team basketball-wise, but the one I loved the most.
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In terms of simply being the best team:
2013
2018
2014 (though with a healthy McGary, who knows…)
2017
2012
2011
In terms of maximizing its potential:
2018 (no question here)
2014 (outright Big Ten champs and Elite Eight without Mitch, remarkable)
2012 (won a share of a loaded Big Ten)
2009 (made the tourney with a lot of spare parts)
2011 (super-young team that made an incredible midseason turnaround)
2013 (this may be a little harsh but that 6-6 stretch late in the regular season was hard to understand)
2017 (took awhile to get going but was a machine late on)
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I almost want to put the 2012 team first in your second list. I forgot how ridiculous it was to see that team win a share of that Big Ten.
2012 would have been first on that list in my book, but I think this team passed them in terms of “maximizing potential”.
It’s a tough one. I dinged the '12 team just a hair for losing to Ohio in the first round but up until that game, they couldn’t have done more that season.
'14 is also a big favorite in my book. They had to replace Trey, THJ and Mitch and still ran away with the Big Ten and were an inch away from the Final Four. Great years, both of them.
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All fair points.