Bazz best UConn point guard ever!

[Excalibur]

If you are talking about me, I didn't rank him below Sheffer, I said Sheffer's final year was comparable, and it was. Minor statistical differences as pointed out by tzznandrew. Not as good, but not that far off. By the way, I don't think these 26, 27 and 30 point games from Shabazz will continue. He'll be back in the mid-high teens mostly.

I do rank Bazz behind Chris Smith, both as a career (which isn't even close actually), and this season compared to Smith's senior year). Here are the numbers. At the career level, I'd put Smith #1, ahead of Kemba, while Kemba has the best single season, obviously. "Best" is hard to define and means something different to each of us.

Smith was a 2 guard who was made to play point for his last two years (though Pikiell played a bunch of point during his junior year). Not sure he even belongs on the list. He was a superior scorer who was really out of place at the point.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Smith was a 2 guard who was made to play point for his last two years (though Pikiell played a bunch of point during his junior year). Not sure he even belongs on the list. He was a superior scorer who was really out of place at the point.

Disagree, he was a natural PG from the beginning, including out of HS. Best ballhandler of anybody on this list. Passing skill not up with Shabazz. Didn't have the size for SG. But he and Pikiell did begin the two PG system that would become so familiar.

 

[Waquoit]

You guys should take a gander at napiers advanced stats. Specifically win shares per 40 minutes, and offensive rating. At the moment Napier is dominating, he also dominated Florida.

KenPom had UConn ranked 9th in 2011 AFTER winning 11 in a row and the NC. Behind a team they beat twice.

 

[James]

KenPom had UConn ranked 9th in 2011 AFTER winning 11 in a row and the NC. Behind a team they beat twice.

How relevant metrics are is a different argument , but I think it's important for people to not take for granted the level he is playing at. if jeremy lamb replaced boatright this team would be illegal

 

[David 76]

Ah, KEA was brash and cocky and just what we needed.

No UCONN player has ever had the year that Kemba had. Not Donyell or Khalid or even Ray

And Bazz has become so good he can be in the same conversation with them.

I pick Kemba over KEA just because he is so much more athletic and he developed plenty moxie on his own

Who said Chris Smith?? He wasn't a point guard. He is among our best SGs.

 

[RichZ]

Disagree, he was a natural PG from the beginning, including out of HS. Best ballhandler of anybody on this list. Passing skill not up with Shabazz. Didn't have the size for SG. But he and Pikiell did begin the two PG system that would become so familiar.

Being old and a Bridgeport native, I have been a Chris Smith fan for years. But if you're going to call him a point guard you have to deal with a career average of 3.4 assists (3.7 in his BEST season), which makes it real tough to justify calling him out best point guard ever.

 

[Waquoit]

Being old and a Bridgeport native, I have been a Chris Smith fan for years. But if you're going to call him a point guard you have to deal with a career average of 3.4 assists (3.7 in his BEST season), which makes it real tough to justify calling him out best point guard ever.

He was a combo guard. In the Dream Season he played SG with Tate and PG with Gwynn.

 

[David 76]

Sort of like Boat is a point guard now?

 

[DogMania]

Disagree, he was a natural PG from the beginning, including out of HS. Best ballhandler of anybody on this list. Passing skill not up with Shabazz. Didn't have the size for SG. But he and Pikiell did begin the two PG system that would become so familiar.

I disagree. Smitty was a score first, score second, score third, then pass guard. He was not very good at seeing the floor and had much moss 2G game, than PG. Due to his size and lack of led guard skills, his time in the NBA was shot lived. As you pointed out, he had a great handle and was one of the best at dribbling though traffic, and was our best option at the one.

He was an unbelievable scoring guard though. I put him in the same conversation with Kemba and Bazz as far as unstoppable when he went off.

 

[mauconnfan]

Disagree, he was a natural PG from the beginning, including out of HS. Best ballhandler of anybody on this list. Passing skill not up with Shabazz. Didn't have the size for SG. But he and Pikiell did begin the two PG system that would become so familiar.

Excal is right on here……loved Smitty but he wasn't real good at the PG spot but was good enough to pass…….much better off the ball and wasn't at all a bad passer just not good at running the show.

 

[Huskybass]

Smitty could flat out light it up when he got going. However, I don't recall too many noteworthy assists. Definitely was a PG by default, not by skillset.

 

[SubbaBub]

He was better than Sheffer, but let's also not downplay him. He struggled in the NCAAs, which is why we don't rank them as highly as others.

But, he averaged 12 ppg, 4.8 apg, and 3.8 rpg on 50/40/70.5 per cent shooting his freshmen year; 11, 5.5, and 4.7 on 40/36/80 his junior year; and 16, 6, and 5 on 43/40/85 his senior year.

Those are damn good numbers. And he made third team all Big East his freshman year, and second team his sophomore and junior season.

Check the records. Sheffer is comparable in most stats, BE awards/all conference teams, NBA draft slot, and was a better point guard than KEA. Best UConn guard at running the fast break. He also only played three years.

 

[Waquoit]

Sheffer ...was a better point guard than KEA.

I'm usually with ya Sub, but when you're in a hole you got to stop digging.

 

[Waquoit]

Smitty could flat out light it up when he got going. However, I don't recall too many noteworthy assists. Definitely was a PG by default, not by skillset.

Smitty has probably the least celebrated (unfairly) great shot in UConn history. That 3-pointer late to put that Duke game into overtime.

 

[David 76]

nateisgreat just posted that shot against Duke on his thread. Don't know how many younger folks know that or how many older ones remember it
I agree that Chris and that shot are overlooked
But I think he is an overlooked 2 not a 1.

 

[SubbaBub]

I'm usually with ya Sub, but when you're in a hole you got to stop digging.

I guess I'm alone in taking the only guy in school history to rack up over 1000 pts and 500 assists in three years. 3rd in assists all time, which is pretty remarkable since the #2 guy all time played right next to him and won the BE title all three of those years. He was also a much better defender than KEA. Both were BE ROY and three time All-BE so neither is a slouch, but you can't tell me KEA was significantly better than Sheff.

KEA was a terrific husky, not close to the best PG. To me the best PG, (non-kemba division) is KO with SN charging hard down the stretch.

 

[Excalibur]

KEA was a terrific husky, not close to the best PG. To me the best PG, (non-kemba division) is KO with SN charging hard down the stretch.

The fact that you would use statistics to defend your argument re: Sheffer and then ignore them in ranking KO ahead of El Amin is telling. Perhaps you simply have/had an issue with El Amin's style of play?

 

[DogMania]

People forget Kemba was an important part to the 09' Final Four team.

Bazz isn't even in the discussion unless he goes to the Final Four. If he wins it, then the debate should heat up a little.

Another good thread to revisit. IMO there isn't even a debate to be had. Bazz's name belongs right up there on the same line as Kemba.

 

[mauconnfan]

This is a great argument to have but one, just like the all-time team, I will just bow out to and read the interesting thoughts.

I think this year has made me so happy as a Husky fan it has left me with the fewest words after a season and one in which I find it hard to compare teams, players, etc etc…..I'm still too happy to go there and to ruin what was the unthinkable.

Again, I'm so happy to be a UConn fan and while I can't put too much into words on a thread, it's fun to read this stuff from the people I shared so much with during this special year.

 

[CTBasketball]

Another good thread to revisit. IMO there isn't even a debate to be had. Bazz's name belongs right up there on the same line as Kemba.

Nice find. I did a 180 on this view! Shabazz had a better career, hands down. IMO the best Husky to play here.

 

[David 76]

Part of what is so amazing is that we never expected to have another year like 2011, or another player to have the year Kemba did. But in a sort and tomultuos mere 3 tears it kind of happened again. Just so unbelievable. I will simply put Kemba and Shabazz in the same elite strata and leave them there together. With great gratitude to both!

 

[Yonick]

I wonder if there is another school out there that has had as many good guards as UConn. This goes way back too including Wes, Kelley, Weston, etc.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

They also tie in the all important cool middle name category. Kemba Hudley Walker, and Shabazz Bozie Napier. We don't ever want to see KO recruiting a PG with a middle name like John or Mike. The good ones have cool middle names.

I'll have you know that my middle name just happens to be John or Mike and I think that it is a pretty damned cool middle name.

 

[CL82]

I'll go Kemba and Bazz as 1 and 1a. KEA is third for me. I always loved that kid and his swagger was a big part of what elevated UConn to the next level.