The Big Post

"It's not all about talent." You hear that all the time about sports teams. "You can have all the talent in the world, but that doesn't mean anything." You hear that too. "A great coach is worth more than a few great players." That may ring a bell as well.

Next time somebody tells you any of that, just tell them they're lying, because they are, even if they don't know it yet.

Time for bold so you don't miss this. 19 of the past 20 national champion teams in college basketball have had at least three players go on to play in the NBA, and all 20 have had two. Now, I recognize there's a difference between playing in the NBA and actually being good in the NBA. I get all that. I also get that you have to have some talent to get there in the first place.

Don't believe me? See for yourself. The following is the list of teams and the players for those teams who have gone on to play at least one minute in the NBA. Bear in mind that the Gators of 2005-07 and Jayhawks of 07-08 could still send people to the NBA. 

1989 Michigan Wolverines (4): Loy Vaught, 10 years; Glen Rice, 15 years; Terry Mills, 11 years; Rumeal Robinson, 7 years

1990 UNLV Runnin' Rebels (3): Greg Anthony, 11 years; Stacey Augmon, 17 years; Larry Johnson, 10 years

1991 Duke Blue Devils (5): Bobby Hurley, 6 years; Antonio Lang, 6 years; Brian Davis, 1 year; Christian Laettner, 13 years; Grant Hill, 15+ years
1992 Duke Blue Devils (6): Bobby Hurley, 6 years; Antonio Lang, 6 years; Brian Davis, 1 year; Christian Laettner, 13 years; Grant Hill, 15+ years; Cherokee Parks, 10 years

1993 North Carolina Tar Heels (6): Eric Montross, 9 years; Jeff McInnis, 13+ years; Derrick Phelps, 1 year; Rasheed Wallace, 14+ years; Kevin Salvadori, 2 years; Jerry Stackhouse, 14+ years

1994 Arkansas Razorbacks (3): Corliss Williamson, 12 years; Corey Beck, 3 years; Clint McDaniel, 1 year

1995 UCLA Bruins (5): Tyus Edney, 4 years; Toby Bailey, 1 year; Charles O'Bannon, 2 years; George Zidek, 3 years; Ed O'Bannon 3 years

1996 Kentucky Wildcats (9): Tony Delk, 10 years; Antoine Walker, 13 years; Walter McCarty, 10 years; Derek Anderson, 11 years; Ron Mercer, 8 year; Mark Pope, 6 years; Jeff Sheppard, 1 year; Wayne Turner, 1 year; Nazr Mohammed, 10+ years

1997 Arizona Wildcats (4): Mike Bibby, 11+ years; Michael Dickerson, 4 years; A.J. Bramlett, 1 year; Jason Terry, 10+ years

1998 Kentucky Wildcats (5): Scott Padgett, 7 years; Nazr Mohammed, 10+ years; Jeff Sheppard, 1 year, Wayne Turner, 1 year; Jamaal Magloire, 8+ years

1999 Connecticut Huskies (3): Richard Hamilton, 10+ years; Jake Voskuhl, 10+ years; Khalid El-Amin, 1 year

2000 Michigan State Spartans (4): Charlie Bell, 2 years; Mateen Cleaves, 6 years; Morris Peterson, 9+ years; Jason Richardson, 8+ years

2001 Duke Blue Devils (6): Carlos Boozer, 7+ years; Chris Duhon, 5+ years; Jay Williams, 1 year; Dahntay Jones, 6+ years; Shane Battier, 8+ years; Mike Dunleavy, 7+ years

2002 Maryland Terrapins (4): Lonny Baxter, 3 years; Steve Blake, 6+ years; Juan Dixon, 7+ years; Chris Wilcox, 7+ years

2003 Syracuse Orangemen (2): Carmelo Anthony, 6+ years; Hakim Warrick, 4+ years

2004 Connecticut Huskies (6): Hilton Armstrong, 3+ years; Josh Boone, 3+ years; Ben Gordon, 5+ years; Emeka Okafor, 5+ years; Charlie Villanueva, 4+ years; Marcus Williams, 3+ years

2005 North Carolina Tar Heels (6): Raymond Felton, 4+ years; Sean May, 4+ years; Rashad McCants, 4+ years; David Noel, 1 year; Jawad Williams, 1 year; Marvin Williams, 4+ years

2006 Florida Gators (5): Corey Brewer, 2+ years; Taurean Green, 1 year; Al Horford, 2+ years; Joakim Noah, 2+ years; Chris Richard, 1 year

2007 Florida Gators (6): Corey Brewer, 2+ years; Taurean Green, 1 year; Joakim Noah, 2+ years; Marreese Speights, 1+ year; Al Horford, 2+ years; Chris Richard, 1 year

2008 Kansas Jayhawks (4): Darrell Arthur, 1+ year; Mario Chalmers, 1+ year; Darnell Jackson, 1+ year; Brandon Rush, 1+ year

... So why did I just spend the past few days of my life compiling this? A couple of reasons. First, when you make your bracket this coming week, make sure your national champion team has three potential NBA players on it (or two + Carmelo Anthony). Second, I wanted to make a point about Maryland. 

Do you know how many players since the national championship team have played a game in the NBA? One. DJ Strawberry. Maybe Vasquez will get in, maybe he won't. My point is that sure, the 2002 national champion team has been heralded as the team of non-stars. Steve Blake is starting for a playoff team right now, though. Chris Wilcox has been a productive sixth man for his entire career. Juan Dixon has been bounced around from team to team, but always ends up on a team. If Lonny Baxter didn't fire a gun in front of the White House, who knows where he would be. That team had talent.

This team? Well besides Vasquez, who's going to go pro? Milbourne? He may get a few looks but there's no way he's tough enough defensively. Before the season, people were touting Mosley as that guy, and he could develop into a great player still, but first I want to see him make a layup. 

Next year, though ... say Lance Stephenson decides that Maryland is the school for him (he will make his decision on April 15). If he comes, Vasquez has already announced that he will come back. That's two probable NBA players right there. I'm not saying Maryland has a chance to win the national championship because they don't. They could at least give it a fighting shot, though, because, if Stephenson comes, they will have some talent. I think this post has proven above everything that on national championship teams, NBA talent is the common denominator.