State your case: Which program had a more dominant decade? UCLA MBB or UConn WBB?
UCLA MBB
We’re comparing apples to oranges here.
But despite that, when you win nine national titles in 10 seasons – including seven consecutive – you can’t really argue against a “decade of dominance.”
Include the 88-game winning streak and four undefeated seasons and it is case closed. John Wooden and the Bruins won’t ever be matched again in men’s college basketball.
All due respect to the UConn women; 90-straight wins and three-straight national titles is legit. Nine total titles in 15 years gives you full bragging rights as the greatest women’s college basketball team in history.
Fun fact: Both teams have something in common. They don’t play well against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
UCLA lost to Notre Dame and then went on its win streak before losing to – yep, you guessed it – the Irish. The UConn women have lost seven of their last 10 against Notre Dame.
If we’re going to argue most-dominant combined program, men’s and women’s, UConn will win going away. But when it comes to a 10-year stretch of dominance by a single program, UCLA is unmatched, arguably at any level of sports.
While this year is the year of the Huskie, the late ’60s and early ’70s were the years of the Bruin.
– curtislundstrom@gmail.com
Twitter: @CurtisLundstrom
UConn WBB
The UConn women’s basketball team has put together the most dominant decade in sports. It has managed to put together a team that just keeps winning.
A few days ago, they put a cap on 2013-14 by completing a perfect season for the third time this decade. The UConn women had a 90-game winning streak. That is the longest winning streak in college basketball history, leaving them literally second to none.
Since 2003-04, to go along with their three perfect seasons, they have won five national championships. The Huskies have now won more titles than any other women’s college basketball team.
In the years Connecticut didn’t win the title, which are few and far between, the team has still been competitive. Five championships, three perfect seasons and record 90-win streak. Do we need anything else? Yes. Add in two additional Final Four appearances, two more to the Elite Eight and one Sweet Sixteen.
For 10 years, the UConn Huskies have shown they are the most successful team from any decade. They dismantled Notre Dame, who was also undefeated, to win this year’s NCAA title.
So if a fellow undefeated team couldn’t knock them off, why will anybody else next year? They won’t. UConn will continue to add to its current 46-game winning streak and its decade of dominance.
– kalen.s.taylor@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @kalen_taylor