Best Defensive Center of All Time

[Blue Blood]

Jumping off previous post

 

[Deepster]

I think the years are going to sway this vote. Okafor was better than Clingan.

 

[B1GEast]

Thabeet was imposing.

 

[Horatio]

Thabeet
Brimah
Clingan
Okafor

 

[Chin Diesel]

Thabeet was imposing.

For pure defense I won't argue anyone putting Thabeet first.

He was as big as Clingan, shut down the lane and could rebound.

 

[BuffaloHusky]

Not voting for Okafor would be a crime. Not only was he one of the great shot blockers of all time, he would be incredibly switchable in the modern game. Clingan and Thabeet were awesome in drop coverage but Okafor would be able to high hedge as well as rotate better than almost any center in today's defenses.

 

[businesslawyer]

This is where you have to differentiate between most impactful versus best, which to me deals with skills. Okafor was the best — the most skilled. But in terms of impact, DC was more impactful. Thabeet was behind the two of them by a good deal (although Thabeet by the time he was done was much more impactful than DC on the other end of the floor).

Brimah is not on a list with the first three.

 

[mauconnfan]

It’s Thabeet and I don’t think it’s all that close. He not only blocked a ton of shots he created a situation that was laughable on the inside. Between people driving to the basket and kicking out because they see Hasheem to guys getting offensive rebounds and dribbling it out without going back up with it, he created havoc. Dominating in the interior. DC and Emeka were also really good but not HT like.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

This is where you have to differentiate between most impactful versus best, which to me deals with skills. Okafor was the best — the most skilled. But in terms of impact, DC was more impactful. Thabeet was behind the two of them by a good deal (although Thabeet by the time he was done was much more impactful than DC on the other end of the floor).

Brimah is not on a list with the first three.

I think this is a reasonable take here. They’re very different styles of defense. In the modern game, I’m probably taking Clingan’s ability to play all-world drop coverage and all at once cut off the lob, drive, , pick and pop, and passing lanes. He was just so impactful off the pick and roll (Illinois being his Mona Lisa). If I’m picking a guy to play against more traditional big lineups, it’s Okafor to me and I don’t think there’s too much debate. That’s not to say either wouldn’t be elite defenders in any generation, we’re splitting hairs here.

 

[TheRealKBuks]

It’s Thabeet and I don’t think it’s all that close. He not only blocked a ton of shots he created a situation that was laughable on the inside. Between people driving to the basket and kicking out because they see Hasheem to guys getting offensive rebounds and dribbling it out without going back up with it, he created havoc. Dominating in the interior. DC and Emeka were also really good but not HT like.

The 09 team's Achille's heel was a lack of depth, but they made it work because the perimeter defenders wouldn't foul because if they got beat, Thabeet was right there to clean up the mess. Since this poll is referencing defense only, I agree and think its Thabeet and not its not even close

 

[TroyHall98]

Okafor without question. As great as Thabeet was in shot blocking, he had problems with bigger guys (see DeJuan Blair).

For what it’s worth, I think Voskuhl leads the second tier of UConn defensive centers and may even deserve an honorable mention amongst the top group.

 

[c29328]

How lucky are we as fans? This is an absurd history of defensive impact players.

 

[Deepster]

And a long time ago, we were known as a school that couldn't recruit or develop big men.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

And a long time ago, we were known as a school that couldn't recruit or develop big men.

It’s pretty wild. Thabeet would be the unquestioned #1 at the vast majority of high major programs and he’s a bit of an afterthought in this discussion.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I still think one of the craziest stats i’ve ever seen is that UConn led the country in team blocks average from the 2001/2002 season every year through 2009/2010. 9 years in a row is insane.

 

[B1GEast]

And a long time ago, we were known as a school that couldn't recruit or develop big men.

I don't know about that I mean we had Clyde Vaughn had a reputation for developing big men before his departure in 04.

 

[Deepster]

I don't know about that I mean we had Clyde Vaughn had a reputation for developing big men before his departure in 04.

Calhoun came on board in 1986 and before Travis Knight and Jake Voskuhl, we had no big men of note. You would have to go back to the Art Quimby and Walt Dropo days.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Calhoun came on board in 1986 and before Travis Knight and Jake Voskuhl, we had no big men of note. You would have to go back to the Art Quimby and Walt Dropo days.

Even up to when when Travis was here the book on us was that we had everything but a center. The derogatory term was donut because we had a hole in the middle.

 

[Jaydumo20]

Although not a real 5, Whaley, if he had better development and more chances may have been one of the best defensive bigs we've ever had. Towards the end his shot blocking timing was impeccable.

 

[Ricker]

Pretty tough call
Okafor National Defensive Player of the Year in 2002-03 AND 2003-04
Thabeet National Defensive Player of the Year 2007-08 AND 2008-09
Clingan 2x National Champion & dominant
The only way I parse this defensively to pick one guy is based on Thabeet's imposing size

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

Okafor had that uncanny ability to not just block shots but recover the same blocked shot as a turnover. He alone gave us 4-5 extra possessions every game.

 

[superjohn]

Pretty tough call
Okafor National Defensive Player of the Year in 2002-03 AND 2003-04
Thabeet National Defensive Player of the Year 2007-08 AND 2008-09
Clingan 2x National Champion & dominant
The only way I parse this defensively to pick one guy is based on Thabeet's imposing size

Clingan is even bigger than Thabeet.

 

[Umami Zen]

Calhoun came on board in 1986 and before Travis Knight and Jake Voskuhl, we had no big men of note. You would have to go back to the Art Quimby and Walt Dropo days.

Toby Kimball wasn't too shabby. Led the nation in rebounds at 21.0/game his senior year. !7.9 rebs/game career. Red Auerbach thought he was worth drafting.

 

[HooperScooper]

Clingan is even bigger than Thabeet.

Thabeet was listed at 7-3 and Clingan at 7-2. Clingan definitely had a little more girth to him although they were only 15 pounds apart on the rosters (280 to 265).

 

[superjohn]

Thabeet was listed at 7-3 and Clingan at 7-2. Clingan definitely had a little more girth to him although they were only 15 pounds apart on the rosters (280 to 265).

Thabeet at the draft combine- 22 years old, 7'1.25 barefoot, 267 lbs, 7'6.25 wingspan, 9'5 standing reach

Clingan at the draft combine- 20 years old, 7'1.75 barefoot, 282 lbs, 7'7 wingspan, 9'7 standing reach