#1 in Team BPG for the 9th time in the 2000s

[Mike Honcho]

I didn't realize until they mentioned it tonight, but we led the nation in team blocks per game last year with 6.2.

That marks the ninth time we've led the NCAAs in blocks per game over the past quarter century. Pretty cool stat that spans several elite individual shotblockers (Okafor 4.3, Thabeet 4.2, Brimah 2.8, Boone 2.2, Clingan 2.1).

• 2024-25: #1 (6.2bpg)
• 2023-24: #11
• 2022-23: #18
• 2021-22: #2
• 2020-21: #6
• 2019-20: #4
• 2018-19: #47
• 2017-18: #116
• 2016-17: #11
• 2015-16: #24
• 2014-15: #16
• 2013-14: #16
• 2012-13: #55
• 2011-12: #4
• 2010-11: #12
• 2009-10: #2
• 2008-09: #1 (7.8bpg)
• 2007-08: #1 (8.6)
• 2006-07: #1 (8.6)
• 2005-06: #1 (8.8)
• 2004-05: #1 (8.9)
• 2003-04: #1 (8.1)
• 2002-03: #1 (7.5)
• 2001-02: #1 (6.9)
• 2000-01: #100
• 1999-00: #26
• 1998-99: #54
• 1997-98: #49

 

[Kitaman]

In 2001 this All American joined our team and started a block party that hasn't ended.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Post your favorite block photo.

 

[Nameless]

We led the nation in blocks for 8 years in a row, lmao. Domination down low

 

[DogMania]

That run from 2002 though 2009 was remarkable considering a college program is continuously building a new roster each season or two. I remember frequently checking the stats during the end of the 2009-10 season to see if they would continue the streak, but fell just shy, landing at #2.

I must admit that I am surprised that they UConn was back to #1 this past season (2024-25), and don't recall anyone bringing that up until now, but maybe someone did. Also interesting, that blocks per game average (6.2) was lower by a large margin than any of their numbers during that unprecedented streak.

I'm sure who's on the roster has a large part in racking up a lot of blocked shots, but I wonder how much coaching goes into this.

I'm surprised that UConn didn't end up #1 during any of the seasons that Donovan Clingan played at UConn, but reached #2 at the end of the 2021-22 season, which was the season before Donovan arrived.

Lastly, blocking a lot of shots is a nice statistic, but can be detrimental if the bigs put themselves out of rebounding and defensive position going after too many of them, which was the case sometimes with Samson Johnson. Knowing when to sky for the block and when to hold one's defensive positioning is important to learn.

 

[Nameless]

I'm surprised that UConn didn't end up #1 during any of the seasons that Donovan Clingan played at UConn, but reached #2 at the end of the 2021-22 season, which was the season before Donovan arrived.

Lastly, blocking a lot of shots is a nice statistic, but can be detrimental if the bigs put themselves out of rebounding and defensive position going after too many of them, which was the case sometimes with Samson Johnson. Knowing when to sky for the block and when to hold one's defensive positioning is important to learn.

I think the 2nd paragraph quoted kind of explains the first. Clingan wasn't just tall, his defensive positioning was elite. You could probably make a 5-10 minute montage of plays where someone drove to the hoop, saw Clingan, and either threw up an erratic shot or just pulled the ball back out and reset. He likely blocked a lot less shots as a result, but the defensive impact was obviously still there.

 

[GampelGladiator]

 

[HuskyHawk]

That run from 2002 though 2009 was remarkable considering a college program is continuously building a new roster each season or two. I remember frequently checking the stats during the end of the 2009-10 season to see if they would continue the streak, but fell just shy, landing at #2.

I must admit that I am surprised that they UConn was back to #1 this past season (2024-25), and don't recall anyone bringing that up until now, but maybe someone did. Also interesting, that blocks per game average (6.2) was lower by a large margin than any of their numbers during that unprecedented streak.

I'm sure who's on the roster has a large part in racking up a lot of blocked shots, but I wonder how much coaching goes into this.

I'm surprised that UConn didn't end up #1 during any of the seasons that Donovan Clingan played at UConn, but reached #2 at the end of the 2021-22 season, which was the season before Donovan arrived.

Lastly, blocking a lot of shots is a nice statistic, but can be detrimental if the bigs put themselves out of rebounding and defensive position going after too many of them, which was the case sometimes with Samson Johnson. Knowing when to sky for the block and when to hold one's defensive positioning is important to learn.

Dominant centers but also great complementary shot blockers on the wings and even at guard in recent years. Calhoun was influenced by the Celtics "Hey Bill" defense, which played tight outside and funneled players into Russell. Hurley comes about it differently, but he's hyper focused on preventing 3s, which causes our perimeter guys to play tight (and get burned as we saw vs New Haven) which results in quite a few drives and block opportunities...if we have the guys to do it.

So I think Coaching plays a big role. Both coaches emphasized shot blockers to enable their defensive philosophy on the perimeter.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Edit: Whoops, not 2000’s.

 

[boog204]

I think the 2nd paragraph quoted kind of explains the first. Clingan wasn't just tall, his defensive positioning was elite. You could probably make a 5-10 minute montage of plays where someone drove to the hoop, saw Clingan, and either threw up an erratic shot or just pulled the ball back out and reset. He likely blocked a lot less shots as a result, but the defensive impact was obviously still there.

Excellent point and I think this is what was often lost with the dominance of Okafor and Thabeet. Not only were they blocking 4+ shots a game, they had guys just refuse to shoot. There were a couple of games where Thabeet legit blocked 5+ shots, but also had guys just refusing to come anywhere near him or just altering everything. DC didn't block a ton of shots, but he completely dominated the paint to anchor our aggressive on-ball defense. You remove that and guys getting beat off the dribble because a much bigger problem (see 24-25).

 

[Mike Honcho]