(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
The NBA has historically been dominated by Big Threes. The Bulls had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman. The Spurs had Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginolbi. The latest tremendous trio dominated in 2008, when Celtics Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce all finally won a title two seasons ago.
College basketball recently hasn't been subject to as many unbeatable terrific threesomes as the pro game, but three-headed monsters have penetrated late into the tournament.
Pittsburgh was one of the best teams in the country behind Sam Young, DeJuan Blair, and Levance Fields. In 2008, UCLA rode Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, and Darren Collison to the Final Four. Georgetown relied heavily upon Roy Hibbert, Jeff Green, and Jonathan Wallace in 2007.
Three-headed monsters must stand out from the rest of the team as a squad's top contributors. Ideally, a school's point guard, top rebounder and scorer would make up the trio, but as you'll see some schools have two or three players that stand out in one particular area.
Three-headed monsters listed in alphabetical order.
Boston University's John Holland, Corey Lowe, and Jake O'Brien
The Terriers' trio may all play different positions, but each is deadly at the same thing. John Holland, Corey Lowe, and Jake O'Brien are all snipers from beyond the arc. You won't find the threesome in the backcourt together, as Lowe is the only true guard of the three.
Holland spends a lot his time on the wing, while O'Brien—at 6'8"—should be near the basket. But with his shooting prowess, he's better suited to be near the perimeter when point guard Corey Lowe is slashing to the basket.
Together, the three players combine for 47 points per game and will be the reason Boston University has a great chance to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2010.
Connecticut's Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, and Stanley Robinson
Jim Calhoun has a history of turning freakish athletes into winners and NBA stars. He's got the same formula brewing with Connecticut's only three returning impact players.
Few point guards are as quick as Kemba Walker. And when I say few, I mean you can really only make the case that Devan Downey is faster than Walker, now that Ty Lawson and Jonny Flynn are gone to the NBA.
Watching Stanley Robinson jump is like a thing of beauty. To truly appreciate Robinson's leaping ability, just watch Robinson in the first round against Chattanooga or any part of the Huskies' 6-OT game against Syracuse.
Jerome Dyson won't blow anyone away with his athleticism, but he's a great scorer who fits in nicely between point guard Kemba Walker and power forward Stanley Robinson.
Georgetown's Greg Monroe, Austin Freeman, and Chris Wright
Jessie Sapp? Gone. DaJuan Summers? Gone.
But still in Washington, DC, is one of the nation's top triumvirates. Greg Monroe will be a Big East Player of the Year candidate in his sophomore season. Monroe won't have much help in the frontcourt, but two guards will be his supporting cast.
Chris Wright is developing into an outstanding point guard, while Austin Freeman has the makings of being one of the nation's top breakout players.
The three players gives John Thompson III an excellent floor general, scorer, and big man.
Illinois's Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, and Mike Tisdale
Few point guards have the luxury of passing to one almost-seven footer, let alone two. Mike Tisdale towers at a lofty 7'1" and his frontcourt partner Mike Davis is close to seven feet even.
When point guard Demetri McCamey gets in a bind, he always has the option to dump the ball into the post to a big man with excellent post moves. McCamey has developed into a solid point guard during his first two seasons in Champaign.
Davis and Tisdale can at times be unstoppable. Few teams have the size to stop both at the same time.
The Illini do have two top freshmen coming in, which should take the pressure of the Illini threesome to carry the team.
Kansas State's Denis Clemente, Jacob Pullen, and Wallace Judge
Georgetown could have a fantastic foursome, but the Hoyas let Wally Judge get away to Manhattan, Kan. The power forward signed on to play for the Wildcats and will combine with a couple upperclassmen to form a tough triad.
Judge is a skinny post player with fat moves who should have a similar impact to former K-State stud freshman Michael Beasley. Judge will have two guards to compliment his inside game.
Clemente has shown a knack for knocking down the big shot after transferring from Miami. He won the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award after he averaged 15 points per game for the Wildcats.
Clemente's partner in crime, Jacob Pullen, averaged almost 14 points per game last season, and the two together make up one of the best backcourts in the conference.
23 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete