Bazz best UConn point guard ever!

[ConnHuskBask]

Bazz is absolutely tremendous and not that he wasn't a big part of 2011, but that run goes down as legendary in not only UConn basketball lore but in all of college basketball.

Kemba based on the fact he did what nobody else had ever done and likely will ever do again.

 

[aceboon]

Sort of a side note here, but I'm reminded of our tournament games in 2011 when the national commentators would say something to the effect of "Good move by Jim Calhoun here bringing in Shabazz Napier and letting Walker work without the ball." As if that wasn't what happened in every single game the entire year.

Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley, lol, clearly no homework was done. I remember during the halftimes of both the SDSU and Zona games the both of them applauding JC for his "adjustments", when like you said it would be almost like clockwork that the offense would start to run smoother once Bazz came in and Kemba went off the ball.

 

[James]

To say kea was more important is not valid. I mean , not only did Napier play a key role in a ring ; he's been steering us through these trecherous waters of realignment and irrelevance. He is also playing at the same level that walker was in 2011, we'll see if it ends that well though.

 

[Waquoit]

To say kea was more important is not valid. I mean , not only did Napier play a key role in a ring ; he's been steering us through these trecherous waters of realignment and irrelevance. He is also playing at the same level that walker was in 2011, we'll see if it ends that well though.

Not valid? If Napier played a "key role" in a ring (which he did), how can you describe KEA's role? Key times three? I don't think "steering us through these trecherous waters of realignment and irrelevance" remotely compares to what Khalid accomplished. He moved this program from good to great. That's a huge leap. He was the leader of the teams he was on from his first school visit. He accomplished things that Ray Allen and Donyell Marshall couldn't do with more talented squads. Before KEA, UConn was a trivia question - "What team has been to the most NCAA's without making the Final Four?" He moved JC from a respected program builder that couldn't win the big one to Hall of Fame coach. As a freshman, he led a team that went toe-to-toe with a Vince Carter-Antione Jamison team coming up a bit short. As a sophmore, his team wins it all against Elton Brand and Shane Battier. UConn made it to the promised land on his shoulders. Of course he had plenty of help, but he was the straw that stirred the drink. That matters. He belongs on the Wall.

 

[champs99and04]

I guess I'm coming from the place that thinks KEA was better than Napier. Anyone who thinks that's denigrating Napier forgets how good El-Amin was. His last year they beat 2 teams that ended up as 1 seeds in the Big Dance. He outplayed Gibert Arenas head-to-head. He put the team on his shoulders like Bazz is doing and they were on the way to an FF before he got hurt.

KEA was obviously a great player, but Napier is just better than he was. He scores more efficiently, he's a better passer, he's a better rebounder, and just a better overall player. As far as intangibles/leadership is concerned, it's probably a draw - as much as Khalid showed up for big games, Bazz does the same. 27 against Indiana, 26 against Florida, 17 and 10 @ Memphis, 30 against Louisville. We're watching one of the best of all-time this season, regardless of what the team ends up accomplishing.

 

[tzznandrew]

Not valid? If Napier played a "key role" in a ring (which he did), how can you describe KEA's role? Key times three? I don't think "steering us through these trecherous waters of realignment and irrelevance" remotely compares to what Khalid accomplished. He moved this program from good to great. That's a huge leap. He was the leader of the teams he was on from his first school visit. He accomplished things that Ray Allen and Donyell Marshall couldn't do with more talented squads. Before KEA, UConn was a trivia question - "What team has been to the most NCAA's without making the Final Four?" He moved JC from a respected program builder that couldn't win the big one to Hall of Fame coach. As a freshman, he led a team that went toe-to-toe with a Vince Carter-Antione Jamison team coming up a bit short. As a sophmore, his team wins it all against Elton Brand and Shane Battier. UConn made it to the promised land on his shoulders. Of course he had plenty of help, but he was the straw that stirred the drink. That matters. He belongs on the Wall.

People underestimate him. That team the year before he showed up was a third-placed NIT team. Now, there would obviously be some improvement because their best players were freshmen and sophomores, but let's not kid ourselves. As much as we love Ricky Moore, he wasn't a great primary point guard or vocal leader. El-Amin showed up, ran the show, and the team went 32-4 after going 18-15...and let's be honest, a 14-14 team doesn't make the NIT anymore, and certainly doesn't start with 3 home games (two against mid-majors) like that team did.

El-Amin's three UConn teams won 2 BET titles and made the championship game of another. And they had an E8 and Championship run in the two tournaments he was healthy.

I think Napier's having a better year this year than KEA had, but I'm hesistant to put him above KEA overall right now.

 

[8893]

I'm with Waquoit re KEA vs. Bazz. Bazz's numbers are going to be insane, but unless he leads us to another FF I can't see putting him above KEA.

KEA knew how to flip the switch. Sure, he had a better supporting cast; all I know is that there were a lot of better players and teams to come through campus before him, but no one who had what he had. I've said it before, but I knew as soon as I saw him that he was the difference maker for us--exactly what we needed to get over the hump and to the promised land.

Kemba is obviously tops for what he did, but I still have KEA next in my book. Nothing was ever the same after he came, and that matters in my book, whether you can measure it with stats or not.

 

[SubbaBub]

This debate has me wondering if age of the posters has anything to do with their preferences. I think KEA was an important player, but best PG???? He and Ricky complimented each other nicely, had a good jump shot, was pretty clutch, had a winning attitude and bigger testiculos than most any other player in UConn history. But, as a PG, I have him behind, Kemba, Bazz, Price, Williams, Ollie, Sheffer, and Chris Smith in some order.

Plus I still blame him for that silly shock the world comment. Uconn was ranked #1 for more weeks than Duke in 99. I'm not sure how beating them was shocking to anyone paying attention. An upset, sure they're Duke, but it was hardly shocking.

 

[aceboon]

This debate has me wondering if age of the posters has anything to do with their preferences. I think KEA was an important player, but best PG???? He and Ricky complimented each other nicely, had a good jump shot, was pretty clutch, had a winning attitude and bigger testiculos than most any other player in UConn history. But, as a PG, I have him behind, Kemba, Bazz, Price, Williams, Ollie, Sheffer, and Chris Smith in some order.

Plus I still blame him for that silly shock the world comment. Uconn was ranked #1 for more weeks than Duke in 99. I'm not sure how beating them was shocking to anyone paying attention. An upset, sure they're Duke, but it was hardly shocking.

Wow...I can't go with that order at all

 

[James]

Napier is as good as it gets. Despite a drop in talent the last two years, he has become the unquestioned alpha dog while producing career years. His efficiency is other worldly (somehow still on the rise), but most important his growth as a leader is remarkable. The team thrives off his energy. talent level is just higher than KEA.

 

[8893]

This debate has me wondering if age of the posters has anything to do with their preferences. I think KEA was an important player, but best PG???? He and Ricky complimented each other nicely, had a good jump shot, was pretty clutch, had a winning attitude and bigger testiculos than most any other player in UConn history. But, as a PG, I have him behind, Kemba, Bazz, Price, Williams, Ollie, Sheffer, and Chris Smith in some order.

Plus I still blame him for that silly shock the world comment. Uconn was ranked #1 for more weeks than Duke in 99. I'm not sure how beating them was shocking to anyone paying attention. An upset, sure they're Duke, but it was hardly shocking.

We were 9-point underdogs in that game.

Don't agree with your rankings at all and I don't think it has anything to do with age, as I saw all of them play a ton.

 

[Inyatkin]

This debate has me wondering if age of the posters has anything to do with their preferences. I think KEA was an important player, but best PG???? He and Ricky complimented each other nicely, had a good jump shot, was pretty clutch, had a winning attitude and bigger testiculos than most any other player in UConn history. But, as a PG, I have him behind, Kemba, Bazz, Price, Williams, Ollie, Sheffer, and Chris Smith in some order.

Plus I still blame him for that silly shock the world comment. Uconn was ranked #1 for more weeks than Duke in 99. I'm not sure how beating them was shocking to anyone paying attention. An upset, sure they're Duke, but it was hardly shocking.

Someone is mad at El-Amin for saying we're going to shock the world and then backing it up? That's one of the great moments in UConn history.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'd take Walker in this debate.

The thing I don't get is how Price
ended up mentioned with KEA, Walker and Napier.

Because Price's numbers and game lines up pretty closely with Napier's. We forget how good a shooter he was, and how his career was affected by injuries and other things. If he doesn't tear his ACL, our #4 seed team beats San Diego and goes who know how far?

Shabazz isn't at Kemba's level, and the guy everyone has forgotten is Chris Smith, who definitely rates ahead of Shabazz in my view.

 

[aceboon]

At this point Bazz has surpassed AJP, and I'm a known AJP stan, but its wild to me how easily his career is dismissed on here. I remember when Duffy ranked the top UConn players of the 00s and he had AJP over Rudy and there was an uproar, AJ was easily better imo. People kind of forget how he pulled that group together once he finally got his legs and his health back after his poor year in 06-07. That team was scuffling, had been blown out by Providence in Hartford and AJP called the team out for quitting, and then they won 10 in a row with some great wins with AJP clearly the best player on the team. He was first team All BE back to back years and was named MOP of the West Region leading the team to a FF, he definitely belongs in the convo of our best PGs.

 

[Waquoit]

talent level is just higher than KEA.

Just plain not true. I know people's memory fades over time, but for instance Bazz never broke ankles the way KEA did. And Bazz is pretty crafty. Also, KEA was doing it against better players night in and night out. Not just because of the better league he was in, but because the one-and-done thing hadn't taken hold yet. The good players stayed longer back then.

 

[RichZ]

This thread could end in bloodshed.

 

[8893]

This thread could end in bloodshed.

Then I'll take Earl Kelly on my team.

 

[aceboon]

Just plain not true. I know people's memory fades over time, but for instance Bazz never broke ankles the way KEA did. And Bazz is pretty crafty. Also, KEA was doing it against better players night in and night out. Not just because of the better league he was in, but because the one-and-done thing hadn't taken hold yet. The good players stayed longer back then.

Bazz's one on one moves in isolation situations are better than KEA's...and that's not meant to downplay KEA, but as far as crossovers, in and out dribbles, step backs, hesitation moves, etc, Bazz has every tool you could ask for to get separation and a good shot whenever he wants it.

 

[Waquoit]

Someone is mad at El-Amin for saying we're going to shock the world and then backing it up? That's one of the great moments in UConn history.

I cut out the prediction box they had in the Tampa Tribune that day. Out of 47 media members, only 8 picked UConn. I tried to post it but I can't get the scan to look readable. Any suggestions on setting and format out there?

 

[Gurleyman]

To me, it's Kemba then everyone else for 2 reasons. Unlike everyone else on this list, Kemba didn't get to build up to his apex with the same core nucleus for 2 or 3 years. He took pretty much an entirely new roster to a title. Secondly, I would want the ball in the hands of any of those guys with the game on the line. But if we needed a stop against another top scoring point guard, Kemba is easily the one I'd most want guarding him.

 

[Rico444]

Bazz isn't better than KEA. Not even close.

Not even close? Come on. Shabazz is in the national POY discussion, and is almost a lock to be a first team all-american, something KEA never accomplished (in fact, he never made any of the three all-american teams). You can argue that El-Amin is better, but saying it's not even close is just knocking one of the greatest huskies ever for absolutely no reason.

 

[champs99and04]

To me, it's Kemba then everyone else for 2 reasons. Unlike everyone else on this list, Kemba didn't get to build up to his apex with the same core nucleus for 2 or 3 years. He took pretty much an entirely new roster to a title. Secondly, I would want the ball in the hands of any of those guys with the game on the line. But if we needed a stop against another top scoring point guard, Kemba is easily the one I'd most want guarding him.

That last part is what is most significant to me. People overlook how good Kemba was on defense his junior year.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Bazz's one on one moves in isolation situations are better than KEA's...and that's not meant to downplay KEA, but as far as crossovers, in and out dribbles, step backs, hesitation moves, etc, Bazz has every tool you could ask for to get separation and a good shot whenever he wants it.

Perhaps as good...better? Either way, that's not the only tool in the box. KEA had a superior midrange game (as did Kemba). And Chris Smith could out dribble any of them.

Shabazz is a hell of a player, but we've had a lot of those. There is a tendancy for everybody to overrate the guy that is on the team now and making the plays a few days ago, rather than 5, 10, 20 or more years ago. There is no real point to these comparisons, except to remind us how blessed and spoiled we are for the ability to watch and cheer for so many great players at UConn. Shabazz is clearly the best player on this team, this year. That may not sound like much, but go back through history with UConn teams and see who you could say that about, and that is some very good company.

 

[James]

Perhaps as good...better? Either way, that's not the only tool in the box. KEA had a superior midrange game (as did Kemba). And Chris Smith could out dribble any of them.

Shabazz is a hell of a player, but we've had a lot of those. There is a tendancy for everybody to overrate the guy that is on the team now and making the plays a few days ago, rather than 5, 10, 20 or more years ago. There is no real point to these comparisons, except to remind us how blessed and spoiled we are for the ability to watch and cheer for so many great players at UConn. Shabazz is clearly the best player on this team, this year. That may not sound like much, but go back through history with UConn teams and see who you could say that about, and that is some very good company.

No we have not had a lot of guys play like junior / senior bazz. He will likely be an All American. It is also rare to see a guy progress in each catagory every year.

 

[Rico444]

There is a tendancy for everybody to overrate the guy that is on the team now and making the plays a few days ago, rather than 5, 10, 20 or more years ago.

And there's a tendency for others to overrate the guy from 5, 10, 20 or more years ago. Look at waquiot; he said that Shabazz isn't even close to as good as KEA was. That's an absurd statement.