Best UConn Center of All Time?

[2014DualCs]

There’s a clear consensus here, but even just the first two minutes of this could help those who didn’t vote Okafor:

If you watch this video and still answer Clingan either in this thread or the other, I’ve lost hope. Someone had the balls to mention ‘nostalgia bias’

 

[CL82]

He was not only a lottery pick but won Rookie of the Rear

 

[superjohn]

There’s a clear consensus here, but even just the first two minutes of this could help those who didn’t vote Okafor:

People seem to be sleeping on Clingan's offense because he didn't have a refined post game. Sophomore Clingan doesn't have the post polish junior Okafor had but Okafor also wasn't dictating offense at the top of the key, throwing dimes, handing off setting screens and rolling to the hoop. Clingan is an excellent passer and sets monster screens. So much of what we did on offense when he was on the court flowed through him.

So if we're comparing junior Okafor who was 1.5 years older than sophomore Clingan Okafor gets a clear nod as post scorer, Clingan gets a clear nod as facilitator. They were both unbelievable defensively and two of the three best college defenders I've ever seen I just think Clingan blew up even more of the opponents game plan than Okafor did.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

People seem to be sleeping on Clingan's offense because he didn't have a refined post game. Sophomore Clingan doesn't have the post polish junior Okafor had but Okafor also wasn't dictating offense at the top of the key, throwing dimes, handing off setting screens and rolling to the hoop. Clingan is an excellent passer and sets monster screens. So much of what we did on offense when he was on the court flowed through him.

So if we're comparing junior Okafor who was 1.5 years older than sophomore Clingan Okafor gets a clear nod as post scorer, Clingan gets a clear nod as facilitator. They were both unbelievable defensively and two of the three best college defenders I've ever seen I just think Clingan blew up even more of the opponents game plan than Okafor did.

That also wasn’t part of our offense back then while it is a huge part now. Not saying Okafor would be the same facilitator, but he really wasn’t asked to be at all.

Okafor had incredible touch offensively and his drop step/post game off both shoulders was pretty significantly clear of DC. DC has good touch but his base is flawed and doesn’t move guys nearly as well as Emeka did.

 

[superjohn]

That also wasn’t part of our offense back then while it is a huge part now. Not saying Okafor would be the same facilitator, but he really wasn’t asked to be at all.

Okafor had incredible touch offensively and his drop step/post game off both shoulders was pretty significantly clear of DC. DC has good touch but his base is flawed and doesn’t move guys nearly as well as Emeka did.

Agree with the first paragraph and that's one of the major reasons why Clingan is such a no brainer for me if we could add any former player to this team. It's a huge maybe for Okafor considering we never saw it from him and he had a horrible assist to turnover ratio.

Agree with the second paragraph, Okafor clearly had a better more refined low post game even though Clingan was more efficient putting the ball in the basket.

 

[Mr. French]

If you watch this video and still answer Clingan either in this thread or the other, I’ve lost hope. Someone had the balls to mention ‘nostalgia bias’

Nostalgia bias with the best player in the country, best player in big east (a MUCH more competitive league) and best defensive player in the country for 2 straight years. And the 2nd pick in the draft. Oh yeah, and MOP with a natty.

Just some good ol’ nostalgia propping him up!

 

[uconnfan68]

Okafor was both a defensive and offensive force, so it's got to be him. Thabeet was purely defensive. Clingan was 80% a defensive force. Sanogo was more offense.

1. Emeka Okafor
2A. Donovan Clingan
2B. Hasheem Thabeet
4. Cliff Robinson
5A. Adama Sanogo
5B. Corny Thompson (if you consider him a center, which he played before Aleksinas's arrival)
7. Jake Voskuhl

I never saw Toby Kimball play. But based on his stats and NBA career, he's probably up there with Thabeet and Clingan.

Kimball was a 4. Slomcenski was the 5.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Jonathan Mandeldove

Nantambu Willingham

 

[John]

Nantambu Willingham

Bristol's own Bruce Kuczenski

 

[IndyLives]

Rod Sellers gets my vote for his beatdown of Christian Laettner...

 

[TheRealKBuks]

If you could put Clingan on last years squad and this years team, he'd leave college with 4 rings.

 

[Pete78626]

Rod Sellers.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Okafor dominating the polls, just as the screen same foretold.

 

[upstater]

If Clingan played at UConn as long as Okafor, he’d likely be number one answer, and with less debate. Okafor really honed his skills at UConn with those extra games. He’s the guy.

Okafor had 3 years. So it would've been one more year for Clingan. Is Clingan NPOY last year?

 

[IndyLives]

Andrew Bynum. McDonalds All American. Instrumental in helping Kobe get 2 Rings.

 

[thekollieman]

Okafor had 3 years. So it would've been one more year for Clingan. Is Clingan NPOY last year?

He very well could have been, in my opinion, but that’s still not what happened.

 

[Excalibur]

That also wasn’t part of our offense back then while it is a huge part now. Not saying Okafor would be the same facilitator, but he really wasn’t asked to be at all.

Okafor had incredible touch offensively and his drop step/post game off both shoulders was pretty significantly clear of DC. DC has good touch but his base is flawed and doesn’t move guys nearly as well as Emeka did.

And post-up offense isn't the emphasis now that it was then. It's unfair to compare eras in only one direction. Okafor was a better post player, Clingan a better passer/facilitator.

Okafor was better, but the question is closer than most here think.

 

[Devland]

If you could put Clingan on last years squad and this years team, he'd leave college with 4 rings.

That doesn't solve last years guard issue. If you put Newton on last years team, they had a shot at a title.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Kwintin Williams

 

[Lefty2one]

If Clingan played at UConn as long as Okafor, he’d likely be number one answer, and with less debate. Okafor really honed his skills at UConn with those extra games. He’s the guy.

Okafor averaged 16 & 11 his sophomore year. He refined his offensive game a bit for his final season, but he was an incredible player as a sophomore too.

Okafor was simply a better scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker.

This thread should be titled "After Okafor, who was our best center?".

 

[Iluvsuebird]

This is Emeka vs. Clingan. That's the argument. Emeka was better offensively. But could he get his buckets with Clingan on him? I am gonna go with no on that. But Clingan ain't scoring on Emeka either. So maybe this is a tie. And we all should be grateful that both these kids went to the Basketball capital of the world.

 

[TheRealKBuks]

That doesn't solve last years guard issue. If you put Newton on last years team, they had a shot at a title.

I agree and still stand by what I said, that’s how good Clingan is

 

[TheChamps990411]

If Clingan played at UConn as long as Okafor, he’d likely be number one answer, and with less debate. Okafor really honed his skills at UConn with those extra games. He’s the guy.

When DC got healthy and then got in shape he just dominated defensively like we have not seen on the college level in a long time for a big. Had he stayed another season with his offensive game steadilly coming along he probably wins NPOY and carries us to at least the F4. As a rookie in the NBA as the season progressed he really impacted games with his defense. Opposing players wanted no parts of him in the lane. He wouldve destroyed college.

 

[uconnfan68]

Okafor had 3 years. So it would've been one more year for Clingan. Is Clingan NPOY last year?

Not NPOY, but the biggest difference. Just a game-changer.

 

[Lafayette]

This is Emeka vs. Clingan. That's the argument. Emeka was better offensively. But could he get his buckets with Clingan on him? I am gonna go with no on that. But Clingan ain't scoring on Emeka either. So maybe this is a tie. And we all should be grateful that both these kids went to the Basketball capital of the world.

Emeka had good enough moves to get fouls on opposing Cs. Clingan definitely would pick up a few.

IDK, SMH and it's one or the other really - a problem of first world team for sure. DC and Oak are 1-2, 2-1, whatever there is no consensus so to each their own.