Great Shabazz Video

[3uconn]

Another great video by UConn. This time it's on Shabazz:

 

[UConn17]

Love it!

 

[Edge2017]

Awesome video, gonna miss him

 

[UChusky916]

He's a loyal, transcendent leader who is also a remarkable ambassador for UConn. He bridged the gap during our program's toughest times, keeping us on the national radar. True blue.
It won't be til next year that we realize how much he meant to this team and program. Everyone better enjoy the last few games of him wearing the UConn uniform while we can. What a stud, I'm gonna miss him.

 

[ctchamps]

Terrific player who wants to make his team mates better. Special person, special player. Gonna miss all the seniors next year but will especially miss the Reach Around Bandit.

 

[superjohn]

Rank him wherever you want on the all-time Husky list but there is no denying he's one of the few most important players in our history.

 

[UConn76]

Terrific player who wants to make his team mates better. Special person, special player. Gonna miss all the seniors next year but will especially miss the Reach Around Bandit.

Funny how no guards try and pull that spin move on Shabazz anymore!

 

[art4life]

Great video for a great player.
Tomorrow's gonna be an emotional night...

 

[Kitaman]

OK I said he was the best point guard and sure there were some good arguments about our other greats. I'll revise it to say:

"Shabazz Napier is the greatest pure point guard ever to play at UConn"

In other words he can do it all when the ball is in his hands and out of his hands (i.e. rebounding and defense). He is a pass first point guard transforming into a shooter because no one else can consistently put up points (except Boat). If Lamb had stayed Bazz would have made him a lottery pick. Giffey is so much better because Bazz gave him the ball where and when he needed it. Boat benefits from the defensive attention Bazz gets which helped Boat improve so much. Brimah is not the same player as the beginning of the season, because Bazz did not give up on dumping the ball down low to him. Kromah is fortunate to have an unselfish point guard on the floor who gives him the looks he needs. Samuel without Bazz would be on the bench, but watching how Bazz plays and practices puts him in the game. As for DD well he will miss not taking full advantage of playing with Bazz next year. From Bazz statements he tries hard to build DD's confidence and is cheerleading his manifestation of cheerleading. As for all the other players I would have to imagine that they are blessed to be learning, watching and playing with a first team AA, who shows every day what needs to be done to excel and get into the NBA.

And finally, Ollie is coaching so well so early, not just on knowledge but having Coach Bazz on the floor and locker room. Without Bazz Ollie's coaching beginnings could have been tragic. I believe he knows that he is fortunate to have a 4 year player coach at his side to execute his offense, defense and player positioning.

I don't know one other UConn point guard who compares to all of that. Kemba was as important then as Bazz is now, however without Bazz this team does not make the Tourney, including the NIT. Both have championship rings but even with Kemba, no Bazz no ring that year. I hope we say the same thing this year when all is said and done. Batman Kemba had a 'Robin' as many used to say but Bazz is the real deal Superman.

It will be a long time until the next Bazz arrives at UConn, similar to awaiting our next Emeka. Bazz has become my favorite Husky of all time, and all that's left is to fill that space in the rafters with number 13 regardless of our 2014 Tourney results!

 

[Excalibur]

If UConn remains relevant nationally in the coming years, it will be because of Napier, and you could make the case that he's the second or third most important player in the history of the program (behind only Chris Smith and maybe Khalid)

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

I just might cry tonight, that's how much I'm gunna miss this kid.

 

[Gringo]

If Lamb had stayed Bazz would have made him a lottery pick.

Lamb was a lottery pick. He was taken 12th. Lottery goes to number 14.

Overall I agree with your message. Bazz has been really important to the program. If he had left in 2012 like many others did the program would be in bad shape. UConn's had some great pg's and Bazz is definitely on the list as one of the best ever at UConn.

 

[Husky25]

If UConn remains relevant nationally in the coming years, it will be because of Napier, and you could make the case that he's the second or third most important player in the history of the program (behind only Chris Smith and maybe Khalid)

UConn will remain nationally relevant in the coming years because kids go to the NBA from UConn. Napier should be one of those players, but the flow much continue with Boatright and Daniels, Terrance Samuel (and if Calhoun can get untracked...), followed by the incoming freshmen and the 2015 recruits.

I don't want to tear down your opinion either, but in terms of history of the program, Cliff Robinson, Donyell Marshall, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Rudy Gay, and Emeka Okafor all say hi (and probably lay at least partial claim to a spot ahead of Smith and El Amin). Don't get me wrong. Napier has been amazing to watch over the last two years. I think he deserves to be a first team All American and a spot in the Ring of Honor, but he needs to do a little more in my mind's eye.

 

[Excalibur]

I don't want to tear down your opinion either, but in terms of history of the program, Cliff Robinson, Donyell Marshall, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Rudy Gay, and Emeka Okafor all say hi (and probably lay at least partial claim to a spot ahead of Smith and El Amin). Don't get me wrong. Napier has been amazing to watch over the last two years. I think he deserves to be a first team All American and a spot in the Ring of Honor, but he needs to do a little more in my mind's eye.

Don't confuse "most important" with "best" . . .

 

[ctchamps]

If UConn remains relevant nationally in the coming years, it will be because of Napier, and you could make the case that he's the second or third most important player in the history of the program (behind only Chris Smith and maybe Khalid)

I might put Nadav somewhere in the mix as well. There still is bb remaining and like it or not many people use the NCAA tournament as the measuring stick for evaluating success. But up to this point SN has almost single handedly kept UConn in the discussion as a top program during this turbulent period of time (APR, post season ban and coaching transition). I'm a believer that KO would have righted the ship no matter what. But with Shabazz staying at UConn, KO got the luxury of hitting the ground running. There really was a minimal down time for the program.

 

[Husky25]

Don't confuse "most important" with "best" . . .

I'm not. (Again this is my opinion):

• Cliff was more important because he was the first Husky of note to play meaningful minutes/seasons in the NBA in the modern era. He began the pipeline to the NBA that UConn eventually became.
• Smith and George were the team leaders of the Dream Season, which most agree is the season that generally put UConn on the national map.
• Donyell: Calhoun's first early entrant.
• Ray...well...self explanatory, but there is no way a South Carolina kid comes to school in Northeast CT cow country without those who preceded him. Which brings us to...
• Rip. UConn's first McD's AA. No way he comes to CT without first seeing Ray do it.
• El Amin is obviously in the conversation of importance because he broke his verbal to Minnesota (that he make to Clem Haskins as a 14 year old), and was the final piece of the 1999 puzzle, gaining valuable experience in the 1998 Elite 8.
• That brings us through Butler and Gay, who paved the way for Emeka Okafor, a relatively lightly recruited Texan who revolutionized the way a Big plays in Storrs.
• Finally Kemba Walker: 2010-2011. Nothing more needs to be said.

As great as Shabazz Napier has played, all of the above are more important to the program to this point. It's been roughly a quarter century of growth and excellence out of this program and Napier's importance will be judged on its continuation. That may be deemed unfair because Napier has no control over the process once the tassel moves from right to left, but thems the breaks.

 

[Excalibur]

It's been roughly a quarter century of growth and excellence out of this program and Napier's importance will be judged on its continuation. T

I agree and thought I had put that qualifier in my original post . . . I probably did so poorly.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I'm not. (Again this is my opinion):

• 
  [ ]Cliff was more important because he was the first Husky of note to play meaningful minutes/seasons in the NBA in the modern era. He began the pipeline to the NBA that UConn eventually became.
  [ ]Smith and George were the team leaders of the Dream Season, which most agree is the season that generally put UConn on the national map.
  [ ]Donyell: Calhoun's first early entrant.
  [ ]Ray...well...self explanatory, but there is no way a South Carolina kid comes to school in Northeast CT cow country without those who preceded him. Which brings us to...
  [ ]Rip. UConn's first McD's AA. No way he comes to CT without first seeing Ray do it.
  [ ]El Amin is obviously in the conversation of importance because he broke his verbal to Minnesota (that he make to Clem Haskins as a 14 year old), and was the final piece of the 1999 puzzle, gaining valuable experience in the 1998 Elite 8.
  [ ]That brings us through Butler and Gay, who paved the way for Emeka Okafor, a relatively lightly recruited Texan who revolutionized the way a Big plays in Storrs.
  [ ]Finally Kemba Walker: 2010-2011. Nothing more needs to be said.

As great as Shabazz Napier has played, all of the above are more important to the program to this point. It's been roughly a quarter century of growth and excellence out of this program and Napier's importance will be judged on its continuation. That may be deemed unfair because Napier has no control over the process once the tassel moves from right to left, but thems the breaks.

I gotta take issue with some of these. Rudy paved the way for Okafor? How do you figure? Rudy didn't even get to UConn until Emeka was gone.

Donyell is more important because he was Calhoun's first early entrant? Why? Spliffy didn't create any pipeline, guys went to the NBA because they were good.

Finally, Rip wasn't UConn's first McDonald's All-American.

Other than that, spot on.

 

[aceboon]

everyone's entitled to their opinion, but Rudy more important to the program than Bazz? NAH

 

[Inyatkin]

UConn will remain nationally relevant in the coming years because kids go to the NBA from UConn. Napier should be one of those players, but the flow much continue with Boatright and Daniels, Terrance Samuel (and if Calhoun can get untracked...), followed by the incoming freshmen and the 2015 recruits.

I don't want to tear down your opinion either, but in terms of history of the program, Cliff Robinson, Donyell Marshall, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Rudy Gay, and Emeka Okafor all say hi (and probably lay at least partial claim to a spot ahead of Smith and El Amin). Don't get me wrong. Napier has been amazing to watch over the last two years. I think he deserves to be a first team All American and a spot in the Ring of Honor, but he needs to do a little more in my mind's eye.

Chris Smith showed we were at the highest level, El-Amin got us over the hump. I think that's where he's going. And Napier got us through the dark times. (At UConn, "dark times" means back-to-back 20-win seasons.)

 

[Husky25]

I agree and thought I had put that qualifier in my original post . . . I probably did so poorly.

I hear ya. I focused on the here and now though. Shabazz isn't even a Husky without those guys though. By many accounts he was lightly recruited and probably ends up at BU or something. I agree with fleud. If Napier had transferred with Smith, I absolutely agree that Ollie would have righted the ship. It just would take a tad longer. As it turned out, Ollie can lay claim that Napier improved enough under him to go from a possible 2nd rounder to getting a guaranteed NBA contract and Ollie can immediately continue that pipeline.

 

[Husky25]

everyone's entitled to their opinion, but Rudy more important to the program than Bazz? NAH

Rudy continued the march from Storrs to the NBA, but as you say it's all opinion.

 

[NYC_HUSKY22]

Onions!

 

[Husky25]

I gotta take issue with some of these. Rudy paved the way for Okafor? How do you figure? Rudy didn't even get to UConn until Emeka was gone.

You're right. I wasn't really looking at a timeline. I don't exactly consider Caron and Rudy to be as important as the rest only that they continued the march from Storrs to the NBA. Thank you for the correction.

Donyell is more important because he was Calhoun's first early entrant? Why? Spliffy didn't create any pipeline, guys went to the NBA because they were good.

Calhoun stated on CenterStage with Michael Kay that the biggest single recruiting angle for a top high school player is the opportunity to play in the NBA. Once Donyell left and was selected in the lottery, Calhoun could put UConn on the map as a path to get kids to the NBA quickly and succeed. There are tons of good players who never develop into NBA talent. Not so at UConn. I think it was in the late 00's where there were enough players with UConn in their background to court an entire NBA roster (not 5, but upwards of 14). Not many other schools can say that.

Finally, Rip wasn't UConn's first McDonald's All-American.

Other than that, spot on.

Okay, Donyell was...which make him all that much more important.[/quote]