Hansbrough tops All-Decade Team

We’ll give this weekend a look, but first we’ll take one last look at the last 10 years and our all-decade team:

F – Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina (2005-09) – Psycho T was all about production. He was a National Player of the Year winner who went to three Final Fours and won a national title in his final game of his four-year career. Hansbrough averaged 20.2 points and 8.6 rebounds in his career.

F – Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse (2002-03) – I know it was only one season, but it was one that was as special as any player has enjoyed this decade. ‘Melo averaged 22.1 points and 10 boards for the ‘Cuse and led the Orange to the national title in 2003. He exploded for 33 in a national semifinal win against Texas and had 20 points, 10 boards and 7 assists against Kansas to give Syracuse its first national title.

C – Emeka Okafor, UConn (2001-04) – Was the most dominant defensive player in the nation over his three seasons in Storrs from 2001-04 and also helped the Huskies hang a banner in 2004. Okafor averaged 17.6 points, 11.6 boards and 4.1 blocks as a junior while battling a stress fracture in his back and finished with 24 points and 15 boards in the national title game win against Georgia Tech.

G – Jason Williams, Duke (1999-2002) – Won a national title and also was a National Player of the Year in his three seasons with the Blue Devils. Some forget how dominant he was on the court after a motorcycle accident derailed his NBA career. Williams averaged 19.3 points, 6 assists and 3.7 boards per game in his career.

G – Dwyane Wade, Marquette (2001-03) – He’s become an NBA star, but wasn’t highly regarded coming into college. Wade averaged 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his two seasons in college and led the Golden Eagles to the Final Four in 2003. Had one of the most memorable performances in the decade with a triple-double against Kentucky to put Marquette into the Final Four.

RESERVES

G – Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (2000-04) – He led the Hawks to an undefeated regular season in 2004 and also took Phil Martelli’s team to an Elite Eight with the help of Delonte West. Nelson scored more than 2,000 points in his four-year career and also dished out in excess of 700 assists.

G – J.J. Redick, Duke (2002-06) – Spent four years in Durham and was a scoring machine, but didn’t make my list of starters because he struggled in the NCAA tournament. Redick was the National Player of the Year in 2006.

F – Kevin Durant, Texas (2005-06) – Was the first freshman to win National Player of the Year honors while dominating from the day he stepped onto campus in Austin. Durant only spent one season in college and averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 boards per game.

F – Blake Griffin, Oklahoma (2007-09) – Was the National Player of the Year in 2009 and dominated for the Sooners, averaging 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds per contest.

F – Al Horford, Florida (2004-07) – Many will go with the more vocal and flashy Joakim Noah, but I’m going with the “other” frontcourt stud. Horford’s production was nearly identical as the Gators won two national titles in 2006 and 2007. Horford was also the leader of the Gators.

F – Shane Battier, Duke (1997-2001)– Most of his career was spent in the 1990s, but the versatile forward did win National Player of the Year award honors in 2001 while leading the Blue Devils to the national title.

F – Adam Morrison, Gonzaga (2003-06)– He’s been a flop in the NBA, but he was a big-time scorer in his three seasons in Spokane. Led the country in scoring in 2006 when he led Gonzaga to the Sweet 16.

Player of the Decade – Tyler Hansbrough

Coach of Decade – Roy Williams, North Carolina- Williams edges out Tom Izzo and Billy Donovan with two national titles and four Final Fours – including one while he was at Kansas.

Now it’s time to take a quick look at this weekend’s action.

CAN’T MISS: When Louisville coach Rick Pitino – who was a hero at UK a decade or so ago – returns to Lexington Saturday afternoon and is mercilessly taunted by the Wildcats faithful. Pitino and Calipari don’t like one another, but Kentucky and Louisville take it much further than that.

UNDERCARD: This is one heck of an undercard with two of the half-dozen unbeatens left in the D-1 ranks, West Virginia and Purdue, going at it on New Year’s Day. The Mountaineers, who have squeaked past Seton Hall and Marquette in the last two games, travel to West Lafayette to take on Matt Painter’s Boilermakers.

PRESSURE: UConn faces Notre Dame at home on Saturday at noon. The Huskies are coming off a loss at Cincinnati and haven’t really beaten anyone of note this season. UConn can hardly afford to fall to 0-2 in Big East play since they still have road contests at Villanova, Syracuse and Georgetown this season.

REAL DEAL?: Dayton and New Mexico are both Top 25 teams. The two will play at The Pit on Friday night at 9 p.m. ET in a game that will give the winner a quality resume victory for March.

HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN: Remember the days when Arizona-UCLA was a big-time matchup. Now virtually no one cares nationally. The Wildcats are in major rebuilding mode and Ben Howland’s program is floundering with youth and a lack of talent.

UPSET SPECIAL: My record is a sizzling 5-of-6 thus far this season, so pay attention. I’m taking an 8-5 Penn State team to knock off Wisconsin, which has wins this season against Duke and is coming off a convincing victory over Ohio State.

MID-MAJOR MATCHUP: Southern Illinois at Illinois State on Sunday night. The Salukis struggled last season, but are 8-2 this season and have won five straight. Illinois State is 10-2 and is coming off a victory against Wichita State.

DANGEROUS: I’m not sure how Buzz Williams has done it, but Marquette is 9-4 and nearly knocked off West Virginia on the road. Now Marquette gets Villanova in Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon.

STAYING PERFECT: There are six unbeatens left in the country, but one will go down on Friday when West Virginia plays Purdue. That leaves Kansas, Texas, Kentucky and Syracuse as those without a blemish – for now.

STILL SEARCHING: Just a handful remain without a victory: Penn, Marist, Bryant and a pair out of the SWAC: Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State.