ESPN's 50 in 50: UConn's starting five (1962-present)

[Huskies4ever]

Sorry Dan, no it's not easy to argue about Donyell Marshall......of all of them he had the absolute best COLLEGE year/years while there in JC's tenure......his Jr. year he was arguably the best player in the country and on both ends!

The rest is a crap shoot but if it's college career-based my team would be:

Kemba
Rip
Ray
Yell
Emeka

One guy all you youngsters leave out is Tony Hanson who averaged about 28 points a game his senior year and was a great college player/scorer.

So many good teams after I couldn't begin to put together a 2nd, 3rd or 4th team......we're lucky that way!!

Imagine Ray raining threes, Rip everything mid-range and runners, Kemba killing off the dribble, and Mek and Yell tearing down every rebound and swatting every shot! Freakin' scary!

 

[mauconnfan]

Imagine Ray raining threes, Rip everything mid-range and runners, Kemba killing off the dribble, and Mek and Yell tearing down every rebound and swatting every shot! Freakin' scary!

For sure but imagine having KEA, Caron, Rudy, Cliffy and Madison Square Gordon coming off the bench?? Yikes

 

[Huskies4ever]

For sure but imagine having KEA, Caron, Rudy, Cliffy and Madison Square Gordon coming off the bench?? Yikes

Sometimes we take things for granted, but as a Husky fan there sure is a lot to feel good about!

 

[Husk-E]

Walker
Hamilton
Rudy
Cliff
Emeka

I think that Rip could play shooting guard in this scenario.

 

[Waquoit]

Tough one but Ray instead of Rip. Actually Ray before anyone on the list.

Nope, and it's not even close. Ray didn't get it done in the big spot, losing to Miss. State. Rip scored 20 in six straight NCAA games on the way to a brilliant perfromance in the biggest game in UConn history.

 

[Waquoit]

I missed it, you're right. But what about Khalid El-Amin? He needs to be somewhere on the bench!

KEA was the starting PG until the year of Kemba.

 

[JaYnYcE]

Felt this deserved another thread as ESPN is also selecting a starting 5 inside their 50 in 50 teams. I can't go back to the 60s and I hope some old timers can weigh in here, NBA draft/performance/career I hope is excluded in the selection. Therefore let's just talk college career.

PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Ben Gordon
SF: Rip
PF: Corny Thompson
C: Emeka

Note: I didn't list the 'top options off the bench' per ESPN, I mean how could you? Whoever is not selected from one list will make another. The depth is off the charts.

I'm not swapping Ray Allen with Rip or Gordon. Those two won championships here.


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[mauconnfan]

I'm not swapping Ray Allen with Rip or Gordon. Those two won championships here.


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The argument is Ray's 95 team may have been as good as either of those teams minus a real good UCLA squad.......and he laid 36 on them in the Elite 8.........it could be argued forever and I'd be happy with any of them though......can't lose this one no matter who you like as a Husky fan

 

[UConn990411]

In all seriousness:
Kemba
Ray
Rip
Emeka

You can debate who gets the fifth spot (personally, I think it's Donyell Marshall), but how can anyone debate those four?

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Kemba (just over KEA)
Rip
Ray
Cliff (just over Yell)
Mek

 

[mauconnfan]

Kemba (just over KEA)
Rip
Ray
Cliff (just over Yell)
Mek

Love Cliff and if he had JC for 4 years he may have been the best player ever in a Husky uni, his potential was huge and held back by Dim Porno.........but out of everyone Donyell (pure college results) cannot be left off of these 1st teams......hope the 2 FT's vs Florida don't hurt too much but he was something beyond special his Jr year.........

 

[diggerfoot]

Sorry Dan, no it's not easy to argue about Donyell Marshall......of all of them he had the absolute best COLLEGE year/years while there in JC's tenure......his Jr. year he was arguably the best player in the country and on both ends!

The rest is a crap shoot but if it's college career-based my team would be:

Kemba
Rip
Ray
Yell
Emeka

One guy all you youngsters leave out is Tony Hanson who averaged about 28 points a game his senior year and was a great college player/scorer.

So many good teams after I couldn't begin to put together a 2nd, 3rd or 4th team......we're lucky that way!!

I agree with your starting five (obviously) and am also glad you brought up Hanson for point of discussion. Another one to mention is Toby Kimball. If the "clock" on this starts in the fall of '62 maybe he doesn't qualify, this was back when I first started following the UConn and I don't remember which seasons were which, but there was one season where Kimball was the best center in the country averaging over 20 rebounds a game.

 

[Waquoit]

Love Cliff and if he had JC for 4 years he may have been the best player ever in a Husky uni, his potential was huge and held back by Dim Porno.........but out of everyone Donyell (pure college results) cannot be left off of these 1st teams......hope the 2 FT's vs Florida don't hurt too much but he was something beyond special his Jr year.........

I agree. The sad fact is, for all his ability, Cliff wasn't all that great at UConn. He was a contributor on that NIT team, he wasn't the leader. Jeff King was bigger in the VCU game. The next year, UConn had aspirations of getting into the Big Dance with almost everyone back but they didn't get it done. That's why Cliff fell so far in the draft. Major respect for him for putting it togther in the pros and becoming an All-Star, but didn't help UConn any. Marshall kicks his ass in everyway possible as far as a college player goes.

 

[mauconnfan]

I agree with your starting five (obviously) and am also glad you brought up Hanson for point of discussion. Another one to mention is Toby Kimball. If the "clock" on this starts in the fall of '62 maybe he doesn't qualify, this was back when I first started following the UConn and I don't remember which seasons were which, but there was one season where Kimball was the best center in the country averaging over 20 rebounds a game.

Digger, no doubt about Kimball and Wes...........not sure where the clock was either but Toby may be a 1st 2nd team tweener if he fits in........good call!!

Waq.....yep onCliff too.....saw him come in his frosh year vs St Johns and get minutes for the 1st time all year because of stiffs in front of him in foul trouble.......got 17 points and 9 boards and we walked out saying "Man does Dom per no suck" if this kid is not getting minutes......we were right in so many ways!! Your analysis of his career was spot on....and it's too bad but like you I'm glad he found his way in the NBA.....great story!!

 

[ShocktheWorld]

Walker
Allen
Hamilton
Marshall
Okafor

Really surprised I'm the first to bring up Donyell Marshall.

Swap Butler for Hamilton, MVP of our first championship, do we still win it? Maybe, but we know for sure that happens with Hamilton so have to give the edge there.

On the other hand, switching Allen for Gordon and I definitely do think we still win it in 2004. Allen was the man for his teams; Gordon was second fiddle to Okafor.

In my forthcoming book, Shock the World: UConn Basketball in the Calhoun Era, I includes lots of lists -- best games, best regular-season games, most under-rated playes, most under-rated wins ... I also include a first- and second-team all-Calhoun era.

I had the same starting five as you.

Ray
Rip
Kemba
Emeka
Donyell

Donyell was a great defender -- all Big East defensive player of the year. He had the single best season until Kemba came around.

Ray is Ray.
Emeka is Emeka.
Rip had a better career than Caron and he was dominant in the biggest win in program history.

Caron is tough to keep off the team though. He is UConn basketball and was a one-man team in 2002.