NCAA Jam: Vote in Sporting News’s version of the popular 1990s NBA video game
“Boom shakalaka!”
That one exclamation triggers a total reminiscence of 1990s nostalgia. Backboard smashing dunks via helicopter or somersault. Goalkeeping was legal and elbows were gratuitous. Everyone knew that three straight baskets meant another game-changing exclamation came: “He’s on fire!”
“NBA Jam” was phenomenal. The 1990’s video game classic made arcade 2v2 basketball unforgettable for gamers and NBA fans alike. Yet during those countless hours of play, the hypothetical question kept popping up, especially in March. “Why don’t they have a college version of this?”
Could you imagine playing an all-time NCAA Jam game with college legends from your favorite school? Sporting News made that possible.
How about an all time 2v2 game where you control Georgetown with Allen Iverson vs Syracuse with Carmelo Anthony? Perhaps Dick Vitale could be the announcer and combine the catchphrases: “Razzle dazzle, ba-beeeee!”
We will find an excuse to bring Michael Jordan into the game once and for all. Only this time we set him up with Vince Carter in North Carolina. We would also play this game for hours. Which team would burn down the nets in “NCAA Jam”?
A Sporting News panel launched an investigation to find out.
We used our own statutes and created a group of 16 teams. Each of these 16 schools had to have at least one national championship, and one of the two players had to be on a national championship team. Then, using the metrics from the video game – remember the only player attributes were speed, 3-points, defense and dunks – we created a Sweet 16 of two-on-two teams.
There were some tough decisions. Some marquee programs didn’t make the list. We’ve also had some tough calls. Christian Laettner is one of the greatest players in college basketball history, but do you want to use him in NCAA Jam over Grant Hill?
‘NCAA Jam’ teams
Here are the 16 two-man teams SN selected for “NCAA Jam.”
Imagine attempting a triple windmill dunk with Zion Williamson over Anthony Davis. A new generation can learn about “Dr. Dunkenstein” and inform the “Plastic Man”. Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain and Lew Alcindor also made this game. There is something for every college basketball fan.
SN Senior Writer Mike DeCourcy – covering his 33rd Final Four this year – has a full breakdown of those teams here.
Choose your ‘NCAA Jam’
This week, Sporting News is hosting a Twitter poll tournament featuring the 16 teams. We seeded these 16 pairings and there are some big first round matchups. After all, we fueled this Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry.
Each day, Sporting News will push the tournament forward until an ultimate NCAA Jam pairing is declared the national champion.