Best UConn Center of All Time? | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Best UConn Center of All Time?

Who’s the GOAT UConn Center?

  • Okafor

  • Clingan

  • Thabeet

  • Sanogo

  • Other (Post Below)

Results are only viewable after voting.
Lafayette said:
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.
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I hear you, but just to be clear: there very much is a consensus in response to the poll posed by this thread.
 
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Devland said:
Emeka never got out scored by the opposing center 37-11 in a national championship game.
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So Clingan would've been better off scoring 25 and fouling out in a loss instead? So Bill Russell was a bum for being outscored by Wilt, he should've scored more and not won more championships right. Everyone knew the Purdue game was about Clingan not losing the game and the guards having to win the game. Really nitpicking at stats in a 16 pt win to win back to back, Clingan played the smart long game. Edey had 3 years on Clingan.
 
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Devland said:
Emeka never got out scored by the opposing center 37-11 in a national championship game.
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Where are you getting every game log from his time at UConn? I only see his NCAA tournament game logs listed. His junior season he scored 2 points against Bama in the Elite 8.

What does 37-11 in a national championship game mean?
 
Devland said:
Emeka never got out scored by the opposing center 37-11 in a national championship game.
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Scoe said:
So Clingan would've been better off scoring 25 and fouling out in a loss instead? So Bill Russell was a bum for being outscored by Wilt, he should've scored more and not won more championships right. Everyone knew the Purdue game was about Clingan not losing the game and the guards having to win the game. Really nitpicking at stats in a 16 pt win to win back to back, Clingan played the smart long game. Edey had 3 years on Clingan.
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I agree that the NC game really isn’t relevant because of the gameplan. But, voting DC over Okafor for this specific thread also makes literally no sense.

For the other thread I guess I can understand the logic, not this topic at all though.
 
Being biased, here, yes Emeka is ranked as #1, but Toby Kimball has to be 1A. A rebounding machine, averaging over 20 a game. A very good scorer as well. Had a longer pro career than Emeka, when centers were important in the NBA. Toby came to UCONN in the aftermath of the point shaving scandal, when program was in tatters, and helped resurrect it, leading team to multiple Yankee Conference championships, and berths in the NCAA tournament. One has to remember that college basketball was NOTHING like it is today. Toby made Saturday nights, at the old Field House, in Storrs, an event. Nothing against Emeka, he did lead UC to the big dance winners circle, but room at the top should also be reserved for Kimball, for his accomplishments. UCONN did play basketball before the Big East, Jim Calhoun, and all of the other stars. Toby Kimball deserves to be a part of the UCONN big men legacy.
No disrespect, here, but IMHO, the title of the thread should be changed to GOAT center of 21st century. In the long history of Connecticut basketball there's been some truly talented centers, who played at Storrs. To pick 1 as the GOAT disrespects those others who wore the uniform. Leaving out names like Quimby, Kimball, Naugatuck native Ed Slomcinski, John Thomas, Corny Thompson, Cliff Robinson, Chuck Alexsinas, Jake Voshkul, Bruce Kosenski, does a disservice to these players. As I said, just an opinion.
 
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Okafor and it’s not close. Okafor was a national player of the year candidate.

Second, however, we could debate all day. You could make an argument for any of DC, Sanogo or Thabeet. I’m not willing to pick among them until giving it more serious thought.
 
CardiacAndre7 said:
I agree that the NC game really isn’t relevant because of the gameplan. But, voting DC over Okafor for this specific thread also makes literally no sense.

For the other thread I guess I can understand the logic, not this topic at all though.
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Agreed this is why I voted for Okafor in this thread. Just responded to @Devland idiotic comments, it had to be trolling.
 
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Okafor was the better defender, rebounder and had the best season and is the best overall center.

Sanogo was the better offensive player over Clingan, but Clingan was more efficient offensively, but I think that is due to '24 having better guards. Thabeet shows better here than expected.

But the answer is Okafor, unless the gauge is NBA earnings, then it's Drummond.
 
If we get to argue people in their era, and only their era: it’s Okafor. Okafor was NPOY in a post centric era. Hard to be a better center than that.

If we can imagine them crossing eras: I think it’s Clingan. Clingan was the better facilitator and probably the better defender, especially taking into account all the shots opposing teams didn’t take within 10 feet of him.
 
I like when people talk about the guy being less intimidating and less great on D having 2 national defensive player of the year awards, 2 BE DPOY awards and averaging 5 blocks and 11 boards a game.

Then you can throw in a NPOY and MOP on top of his "not that intimidating" defense.
 
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In the Pre-Dee Rowe era, which is a good break in BB history, I like:

Art Quimby

Position: Center 6-5, 195lb

Hometown: New London, CT

Draft: Rochester Royals, 1955 NBA draft

Art Quimby, AVERAGED OVER 20 rebounds per game all three varsity seasons.

G FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% TRB AST PTS
1952-53 21 6.0 14.6 .407 4.8 8.0 .595 20.5 2.4 16.7
1953-54 26 6.1 4.1 22.6 16.3
1954-55 25 9.1 21.8 .416 5.1 9.9 .512 24.4 2.2 23.2

Most Rebounds Single Game
40 Art Quimby vs. Boston University 1/11/55

For reference, last year's 24-25 team total was 35.7 and opponents 29.7. In the pre-shot clock era, 40 in a single game is amazing. And he was only 6'5.

While not known for his scoring, Art Quimby still put up some impressive numbers, averaging over 23 his senior year.



Career Double-Doubles
Art Quimby (1951-55) 65
Toby Kimball (1962-65) 63
Emeka Okafor (2001-04) 53
Corny Thompson (1978-82) 53

Career Double-Double Average
Emeka Okafor (2001-04) 13.8p, 10.6r
Art Quimby (1951-55) 17.5p, 21.5r
Toby Kimball (1962-65) 18.4p, 17.9r
Bill Corley (1965-68) 16.9p, 13.7r

Points in a game
46 Art Quimby at Maine 2/12/55
43 Art Quimby at New Hampshire 2/11/55
 
Jholla2183 said:
Lack of love for Thabeet is crazy. He was dominant as long as he wasn’t playing against Dejuan Blair. Easily the #2 center behind Okafor. Don’t let his NBA career dictate your opinion of him as a Husky
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I’m not sure he’s EASILY 2nd best, but I agree wholeheartedly with the rest. His career and the 2009 team falling short has some people forgetting how great he was too.
 
mauconnfan said:
This guy should be in the conversation:

Bill Corley​

Position: Center
6-7, 190lb (201cm, 86kg)
Hometown: Williston Park, NY
School: Connecticut (Men)
Draft: San Diego Rockets, 19th round (1st pick, 208th overall), 1968 NBA draft
SUMMARY

Career
G

72
PTS

16.9
TRB

13.7
AST
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Saw Corley play in the 60's. Saw his record scoring game at the Field House. He played center, although he was in all honesty a forward.
 
Sea7Eh said:
In the Pre-Dee Rowe era, which is a good break in BB history, I like:

Art Quimby

Position: Center 6-5, 195lb

Hometown: New London, CT

Draft: Rochester Royals, 1955 NBA draft

Art Quimby, AVERAGED OVER 20 rebounds per game all three varsity seasons.

G FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% TRB AST PTS
1952-53 21 6.0 14.6 .407 4.8 8.0 .595 20.5 2.4 16.7
1953-54 26 6.1 4.1 22.6 16.3
1954-55 25 9.1 21.8 .416 5.1 9.9 .512 24.4 2.2 23.2

Most Rebounds Single Game
40 Art Quimby vs. Boston University 1/11/55

For reference, last year's 24-25 team total was 35.7 and opponents 29.7. In the pre-shot clock era, 40 in a single game is amazing. And he was only 6'5.

While not known for his scoring, Art Quimby still put up some impressive numbers, averaging over 23 his senior year.



Career Double-Doubles
Art Quimby (1951-55) 65
Toby Kimball (1962-65) 63
Emeka Okafor (2001-04) 53
Corny Thompson (1978-82) 53

Career Double-Double Average
Emeka Okafor (2001-04) 13.8p, 10.6r
Art Quimby (1951-55) 17.5p, 21.5r
Toby Kimball (1962-65) 18.4p, 17.9r
Bill Corley (1965-68) 16.9p, 13.7r

Points in a game
46 Art Quimby at Maine 2/12/55
43 Art Quimby at New Hampshire 2/11/55
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This is incredible and while his achievements should not be taken lightly we are not talking the same ball park of player a 6 5 wokhorse center is not at the level of the guys we're talking about he deserves credit for what he did but this is not the topic for Art I understand you're trying to do him justice but you're comparing him to legends and if anything devauling him because of it
 
Blue Blood said:
This is incredible and while his achievements should not be taken lightly we are not talking the same ball park of player a 6 5 wokhorse center is not at the level of the guys we're talking about he deserves credit for what he did but this is not the topic for Art I understand you're trying to do him justice but you're comparing him to legends and if anything devauling him because of it
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That depends on what "ballpark". We're discussing. His achievements some 70 years ago, should rank with the achievements of the here and now. A 6-5 workhorse was the BIG MEN of that day. No one is devaluing his achievements, just like no is devaluing the accomplishments of Toby Kimball in the early 60's. Art, and Toby ARE legends of Connecticut basketball, and it's a disservice for current fans to devalue those accomplishments, because ESPN, or other outlets were never around back then.
 
Horsebrnhil said:
Being biased, here, yes Emeka is ranked as #1, but Toby Kimball has to be 1A. A rebounding machine, averaging over 20 a game. A very good scorer as well. Had a longer pro career than Emeka, when centers were important in the NBA. Toby came to UCONN in the aftermath of the point shaving scandal, when program was in tatters, and helped resurrect it, leading team to multiple Yankee Conference championships, and berths in the NCAA tournament. One has to remember that college basketball was NOTHING like it is today. Toby made Saturday nights, at the old Field House, in Storrs, an event. Nothing against Emeka, he did lead UC to the big dance winners circle, but room at the top should also be reserved for Kimball, for his accomplishments. UCONN did play basketball before the Big East, Jim Calhoun, and all of the other stars. Toby Kimball deserves to be a part of the UCONN big men legacy.
No disrespect, here, but IMHO, the title of the thread should be changed to GOAT center of 21st century. In the long history of Connecticut basketball there's been some truly talented centers, who played at Storrs. To pick 1 as the GOAT disrespects those others who wore the uniform. Leaving out names like Quimby, Kimball, Naugatuck native Ed Slomcinski, John Thomas, Corny Thompson, Cliff Robinson, Chuck Alexsinas, Jake Voshkul, Bruce Kosenski, does a disservice to these players. As I said, just an opinion.
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Is there any film of his game available?
 
Okafor was our best center. Period. Not even possible to suggest otherwise.
After that, I'd put Sanogo on the next line, either tied with, or a hair's breadth above Clingan.

We sure have had a bunch of fun-to-watch centers over the years.
 
upstater said:
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.
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Okafor was also one of most academically talented as well. That guy took a tough course load, finance degree, late night hours of study, and 3.70 Grade Point Average. Extremely hard to do that while being one of the greatest Uconn centers ever.
 
Yeah isolating Clingan against Illinois in the Elite 8 you choose him; Tarris vs Providence you choose him.

But it's the body of work, not specifically a game, or games, but we have to remember seeing Okafor play live and on TV for multiple seasons was amazing - Clingan was special mainly for a handful of games and Thabeet had his. Cliffy IMHM played more power forward than C.
 
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