1972 United States 4

This team was by no means the best team the US could field in 1972, with the most notable exclusion being Bill Walton of UCLA who declined to particpate in the Olympics. But it was still a good team and which entered the gold medal game with a perfect 7-0 record against the Soviet Union. Henry Iba used a very slow methodical offensive system and most of the players on the team averaged just six to eight points per game (which Iba was criticized later for). In the gold medal game the US trailed for most of the game and it appared the Soviets were on their way to victory but Doug Collins hit two free throws with three seconds remaining to give the US a lead. It could and should have won the gold medal but lost 51-50 as the final three seconds of the game wsa played three different times. It was not just one of the most controversial moments in Olympic history but in sports history. The US squad understandably refused to accept their Silver Medals and will never do so and will not allow their family mebers to do so. But even if this team had won the gold medal game, again this was not one of the best teams that the US has fielded and had they played the 72 Soviet Union squad ten times, my guess is they would have only won 5 times at most.