I'm comparing skill sets, not careers. Castle's ability to stay in front of opposing teams best guards and wings and impact their ability to score is at an incredible level. Every bit as good as what Ricky did but with the ability to do it against multiple positions.
Okay. Fair.
You can count on whoever Castle is guarding is going to have a long day. So strong. Can guard 1-4. Never makes unnecessary reach fouls. Seldom in foul trouble.
Castle is stronger than Ricky for sure, how much stronger? I don't know, because Ricky was strong as an ox. You never saw Ricky get pushed around in the games. I know from playing pickup games in the Gampel-adjacent Field House in 1996 I tried bull my way to the basket when he was guarding me and it was like hitting a brick wall. Mind you, I am only 170 pounds, but still.Until Stephon causes a travel on the last play of a natty game to win it for UConn, I am a Ricky man.
Ricky was quicker but Castle is stronger and more suited to the NBA.
The Harrison twins would like a word with you.
Andre has to be mentioned here
Andre would get beat a lot because he had a habit of standing straight up but his recovery ability was insane.
the only downside is; you have to listen to Packer again.
I didnt say it was just them.
Think junior year Dyson was a really good defender and locked in.
Castle has the ability to do something special Sunday shutting down kadary. He is bigger and stronger than all the great guard defenders the boneyard is fighting about. Just be glad we have him. His defense will be the difference against seton hall. Feel free to chastise me if i am wrong.
Different type of defender. Same reason not to include Amidah’s weak side blocking that was an incredible defensive asset in that championship run or Dove’s ability to intercept passes in the dream season. We’re comparing face guarding guards and wings from being able to drive to the basket.
Agree but it is funny that there has been little or no mention of Thabeet. I think he was the best shot blocker we ever had.
He was only four or five games from his surgery and layoff first time we played Seton Hall. I’m not sure he was the primary defender of Kadary back then. It will be a great test for him.
Funnier in that I almost was going to include him but decided I already made my point.
Seton Hall was Castle's final game not in the starting line-up, and still on limited minutes (20). I wished for him to go up against and shut down Kadary, but that was not the game plan. I surmised that it was seen as asking too much too soon.
Same here. And hopefully Donovan and Stephon stay out of foul so both are available the entire game.
Blocks
| 1. | Emeka Okafor, 2002-03 | 156 |
| 2. | Hasheem Thabeet, 2008-09 | 152 |
| 3. | Emeka Okafor, 2003-04 | 147 |
| Hasheem Thabeet, 2007-08 | 147 | |
| 5. | Emeka Okafor, 2001-02 | 138 |
| 6. | Amida Brimah, 2014-15 | 121 |
| 7. | Hasheem Thabeet, 2006-07 | 118 |
| 8. | Donyell Marshall, 1993-94 | 111 |
| 9. | Hilton Armstrong, 2005-06 | 107 |
| 10. | Andre Drummond, 2011-12 | 92 |
| Amida Brimah, 2013-14 | 92 |
It’s close between Thabeet and Mek. It would be nice to see what the average was per game. Nothing against Mek he was/is an all time great. And to do what he did being at least 6” shorter than Thabeet is amazing. I just remember that when Thabeet was in the game the other team just said uncle and stopped taking the ball to the basket. Either way they are both all time great defensive players while at UConn.