It's a question I can't answer. I can't escape it, either.

A Wednesday article on Yahoo.com made me think about it again.

Who is the greatest Gophers men's basketball player of all time?

In 2009, ESPN published its "College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game." When I read the section on Minnesota basketball, I was stunned.

The encyclopedia named Kevin McHale as the greatest player in the program's history. Minnesota's all-time starting five featured Voshon Leonard (1991-95), Whitey Skoog (1948-51), Jim Brewer (1970-73), McHale (1976-80) and Mychal Thompson (1974-78).

I can't believe Lou Hudson didn't make this list. Hudson reached the 1,000-point mark for his career in 65 games. Dick Garmaker is the only player in Gophers history who reached 1,000 points in fewer games (44). And where's Ray Williams? Willie Burton?

And how did McHale earn the greatest of all time tag over Thompson, a two-time All-America?

When I ran into Ray Christensen, the "Voice" of Gophers basketball and football, in 2009, I asked him about ESPN's picks.

The then-85-year-old didn't hesitate. "Lou Hudson was the greatest player in team history."

He was shocked when I told him that Hudson didn't even make ESPN's all-time starting five.

Based on what I've read and heard from longtime supporters of the program, my all-time starting five for the Gophers would probably include:

G Ray Williams

F Lou Hudson

F Kevin McHale

C Jim Brewer

C Mychal Thompson (greatest player in team history)

What do you think?

Who's on your all-time starting five? And who's the greatest player in Gophers history?

Notes

-The Gophers have an eight-seed in Joe Lunardi's first "Bracketology" on ESPN.com.

-Tubby Smith is participating in a free-throw contest for charity this season. Smith is one of 64 coaches who will shoot free throws in November as part of a tournament that will end at the Final Four in Houston. The event, created to raise awareness about heart disease, is sponsored by collegeinsider.com and the American Heart Association.

Smith, like the other 63 coaches, will shoot 25 free throws this month while an athletic department official tallies his total. The event's organizers hope to get local businesses to sponsor each shot. The best shooters move on to subsequent rounds in the coming months.

-Blake Hoffarber is a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. He's the Tim Tebow of this program, I think.