FINAL UPDATE: Congrats to our champions, the 2005-06 George Mason Patriots, and thanks for voting!
As March Madness nears, we ask you: What is the greatest local college basketball team of all time?
Now, we always get into debates about what “local” means, so for the purposes of this vote, we selected 16 Division I schools from D.C., Maryland and Virginia. In order to be eligible, the team in question must have qualified for the NCAA Tournament. And each school is represented just once, with our crack staff picking the particular squad that had the most March success.
With that said, now the decision is yours. Click though our matchups below to vote to see which teams should move on to our Elite Eight. Voting for this round will close at noon Wednesday, Feb. 28, and we’ll open up the next round of voting shortly after that.
#1 Georgetown 1983-84
The Hoyas had strong teams throughout the 80s and 90s, but the 1983-84 team was a true powerhouse. Setting a school record with 34 wins, the Hoyas were led by Patrick Ewing and David Wingate, sitting in the top five in the polls all season. They beat rival Syracuse in OT to win the Big East Tournament, then knocked off Kentucky and Houston in the Final Four to win the national title.
#3 George Mason 2005-06
After finishing second in the CAA and failing to win the conference tournament, Mason snuck in as an 11 seed, then promptly put together one of the most memorable runs in tournament history. The Patriots took down blue bloods Michigan State and North Carolina, then toppled top seed UConn in overtime to make the Final Four.
(AP Photos)
