This is what I said about my team for the last matchup:
PG: Marcus Williams (6’3”)
SG: Ray Allen (6’5”)
SF: Nadav Henefeld (6’7”)
PF: Cliff Robinson (6’10”)
C: Josh Boone (6’10”)
Bench: Roscoe Smith (6’8”), Terrence Samuel (6’4”)
My team has a tremendous mix of size, athleticism, skill, versatility, length, and playmaking ability. Nearly every player on my roster can play multiple positions, and, most importantly, can defend at a high level. Below, I’ll analyze my team on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Defense: Over the years, UConn has excelled defensively largely due to their ability to block shots and protect the rim. As more advanced metrics are now showing overwhelmingly, protecting the area around the rim is paramount to a successful defense. With Josh Boone and Cliff Robinson, no other team can match the dual shot-blocking presence my team possesses. Behind Okafor and Thabeet, Josh Boone is statistically the next best shot blocker in UConn history. His post defense, rebounding, and rim protection make him the anchor of this defensive juggernaut. Alongside him in the post, is Cliff Robinson, who at 6’10” adds length to an athletic front line. Uncle Cliffy averaged 1.4 blocks over his last two seasons at UConn along with 1.8 steals from the PF/C spot in his senior campaign; only 9 other Huskies have recorded steal totals that high since Calhoun took over the program.
Speaking of steals, at my small forward position is one of the best defenders in UConn history. Nadav Henefeld still holds the NCAA record for steals in a season by a first year player with 138 (3.7 per game, highest in UConn history); for the sake of comparison, Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright
combined for 134 steals in the 2014 championship season. Let that sink in. Henefeld is a game-changer on the defensive end and adds a lockdown wing defender.
Ray Allen is also one of those rare Huskies to average at least 1.8 steals in a season. In addition to his proclivity for steals, Allen was a great athlete and could keep up with any player on the perimeter with his quickness and length.
My bench was drafted specifically for defense, and both players provide relentless defensive pressure and versatility. Terrence Samuel was huge for UConn’s 2014 championship defense. Samuel provides elite on-ball defense against guards and smaller wing players. At 6’4”, he has the size to give smaller guards issues, while also being equally as quick. Even in his limited minutes throughout the regular season, it was clearly apparent that Samuel was a lockdown defender, and when he finally got his minutes in the NCAA Tournament, he was better than anyone could have expected. UConn won the championship in 2014 due to their plethora of lockdown defenders, and Terrence Samuel was undoubtedly on that list. Roscoe Smith was the key to UConn’s 2011 championship defense; his defensive intensity and ability to shut down players at multiple positions was crucial. And since we’re taking players at their UConn peak, I get black-eye Roscoe; indicative of his gritty play and desire to do whatever it takes to win.
No other team in this field has a collection of rim protectors, rebounders, versatile defenders, and the ability to turn the other team over like my team. It’s truly an elite defense that will make it difficult for any team to score. My team was largely built around defense, because like any championship UConn squad, it all starts on the defensive end.
Offense: In a draft like this, every team is going to have their share of offensive talent. With that in mind, Marcus Williams is what sets my team apart. Williams, far and away the best distributor in UConn history, averaging 7.3 assists per game in his UConn career; an astounding 1.8 assists per game higher than second place. His basketball IQ, and off-the-charts court vision will put my other players in great position to score. Marcus Williams’ passing is an asset no other team has. If that 2006 UConn squad had managed to win just a few more games, I truly believe that Williams would be mentioned amongst the all-time UConn greats.
The best distributor in UConn history also has some tremendous talent to pass to. Ray Allen has unquestionably had the best basketball career of any UConn player. He’s the best shooter in the history of the sport (and for those saying only UConn stats count, he shot 45%(!) from 3 over the course of his college career), can also create his own shot at will, and finish effectively around the rim. Cliff Robinson is one of the most underrated UConn players in the Calhoun era. Outside of perhaps Donyell, no UConn big man has been a threat on the offensive end like Uncle Cliffy. He’s in the top 10 all time in points scored, field goals made, and free throws made. Additionally, his senior season was one of just 20 in UConn history in which a player averaged 20+ points. Robinson’s size, athleticism, and polished offensive skill-set led him to be an eventual NBA All-Star, and last 18 seasons in the NBA. And in this type of survive-and-advance tournament, who better to have on your team than someone who’s been a contestant on the show Survivor?
Nadav Henefeld and Josh Boone are two guys who help offenses run smoothly. Henefeld is one of the most versatile players UConn has ever had, always making the right play while being a good shooter, and shooting efficiently. Boone knew his offensive game and as a result has the fifth best FG% in UConn history (61%).
The best offenses are those that shoot efficiently and move the ball effectively. My team has the best distributor to ever put on a Connecticut uniform, great team shooting and spacing (all but Boone can stretch the floor), efficient scorers, and two guys who can bail you out at the end of a shot clock. There’s not much more an offense can ask for.
