Perfect Fit: Best NCAA Starting Fives

UCLA | 1971-73 (60-0)

First-year starters Bill Walton, Keith Wilkes, Larry Farmer and Greg Lee cruised under the stewardship of senior Henry Bibby through an undefeated national title campaign in '71-72. The following season, Larry Hollyfield replaced the departed Bibby and UCLA repeated the feat.<br><br>Who would you add to the list? Send comments to siwriters@simail.com

Indiana | 1975-76 (32-0)

Quinn Buckner, Bobby Wilkerson, Tom Abernathy, Scott May and man in the middle Kent Benson spirited the Hoosiers to a national championship -- and became the last team to go through the entire regular season and NCAA tournament without a loss.

North Carolina | 1981-82 (32-2)

Jimmy Black, Matt Doherty, James Worthy, Sam Perkins and some guy named Jordan helped Dean Smith to his first national title.

Houston | 1982-83 (31-3)

Benn Arders, Michael Young, Clyde Drexler, Larry Michaeux and Akeem Olajuwon comprised "Phi Slama Jama" under coach Guy Lewis, reaching three consecutive Final Fours during the early 1980s and making national headlines with their explosive and trendsetting style of play. But "Texas' Tallest Fraternity" was most famous for its shocking upset loss at the hands of N.C. State in the '83 NCAA title game.

Georgetown | 1983-85 (69-6)

Fred Brown, Michael Jackson, David Wingate, Michael Graham and Patrick Ewing intimidated opponents on their way to the Catholic school's first national title in 1984. The next season, Reggie Williams replaced Graham and the Hoyas played even better -- losing just two games all season until their crushing upset loss to Villanova in the national title game on April Fool's Day.

Nevada-Las Vegas | 1989-91 (69-6)

Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt, Stacey Augmon, Larry Johnson and David Butler romped to a national title in 1990, humiliating Duke by 30 points in the most lopsided national championship game in history. They looked even more dangerous the following season until their disappointing defeat against the Blue Devils in the Final Four.

Duke | 1990-92 (66-9)

Bobby Hurley, Bill McCaffrey, Thomas Hill, Grant Hill and Christian Laettner made names for themselves with their massive upset of UNLV in the '91 national semifinals, winning the school's first championship two nights later against Kansas. The next year, Antonio Lang replaced McCaffrey in the backcourt and Duke became the last team to repeat as national champs until Florida in 2007.

Michigan | 1991-93 (56-14)

Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, Ray Jackson, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard: five freshman whose style and verve transcended sports. Coming together as freshmen in Fall 1990, the "Fab Five" played all the way to the national championship game before losing to Duke. They returned to the title game one year later, where Webber's infamous timeout against UNC cost the Wolverines a chance at victory.

Kentucky | 1995-96 (34-2)

Tony Delk, Derek Anderson, Antoine Walker, Ron Mercer and Mark Pope represented the cream of the crop on a roster that included an incredible nine future NBA players. They lost just two games before the NCAA tournament -- against Massachusetts early in the season and against Mississippi State in the SEC title game -- and avenged each of those defeats at the Final Four.

Michigan State | 1998-00 (65-12)

Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, Antonio Smith and Morris Peterson comprises "The Flintstones," a group of players from nearby Flint who played together since elementary school and were bound by a strong loyalty. Alongside A.J. Granger, they advanced to the '99 Final Four but lost to Duke. One year later, Jason Richardson replaced Smith and the Spartans went all the way, defeating Florida in the 2000 national championship game.

Saint Joseph's | 2003-04 (30-2)

The "Jameeracle on 54th Street" grabbed national headlines in '03-04 when a tiny Jesuit school on the outskirts of Philadelphia entered the postseason with a pristine 27-0 record, becoming the last school to finish the regular season undefeated. The starting five of Delonte West, Pat Carroll, John Bryant, Dwayne Jones and consensus national player of the year Jameer Nelson found themselves playing from behind only nine minutes during the entire regular season -- but their national title dreams were dashed on a John Lucas III three-pointer in the Elite Eight.

North Carolina | 2004-05 (33-4)

Longtime bridesmaid Roy Williams finally removed the championship monkey from his back thanks to Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants, Jackie Manuel, Jawad Williams and Sean May, the fast and furious headliners of the nation's highest-scoring team. Just two-and-a-half months later, Felton, May, McCants and sixth man Marvin Williams were selected among the first 14 picks of the 2005 NBA Draft, with Williams getting chosen in the second round.

Florida | 2005-07 (66-11)

Taurean Green, Lee Humphrey, Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah and Al Horford surprised observers by returning to Gainesville after cutting down the nets following the '06 national championship game. Their decisions were validated 12 months later, when Florida became the first team in over a decade to repeat as national champions.<br><br>Who would you add to the list? Send comments to siwriters@simail.com

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