Huskies on SI.com 10 Greatest Huskies of All-Time Ranking

[MilliniumPrince]

10 Greatest Huskies of All-Time

 

[storrsroars]

Their ranking:
1. Kemba
2. Bazz
3. Emeka
4. Rip
5. Ray
6. Ben
7. Newt
8. Donovan
9. KEA
10. Donyell

I'm good with those 10. I might have Newt & Clingan above Ben just because two NCs , but not going to argue those specific players.

 

[ucp990411]

They say it is based entirely their collegiate career. We have Tristen Newton who was The Bob Cousy award winner, first team all American, final 4 mvp, never lost a tournament game , Husky for 2 years and won championships both years. How the heck can he be 7th? In my opinion he should be first. I think the only one who might be above him is RIP.

 

[Waquoit]

Great list. Treats Bazz with the proper respect.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Their ranking:
1. Kemba
2. Bazz
3. Emeka
4. Rip
5. Ray
6. Ben
7. Newt
8. Donovan
9. KEA
10. Donyell

I'm good with those 10. I might have Newt & Clingan above Ben just because two NCs , but not going to argue those specific players.

Good list but it bothers me that Tony Hansen or Wes didn’t even get an honorable mention. I know it’s years before Calhoun ever stepped on campus and made the program what it is today, but still.

 

[Pmurph678]

It’s an impossible task, but they did a surprisingly good job.

 

[Sonova]

Good list but it bothers me that Tony Hansen or Wes didn’t even get an honorable mention. I know it’s years before Calhoun ever stepped on campus and made the program what it is today, but still.

Not really in the same league as those guys tbh. 7 of the 10 were 1st team AP All Americans. And the other three are Ben Gordon, Clingan and KEA…

 

[gtcam]

Good list but it bothers me that Tony Hansen or Wes didn’t even get an honorable mention. I know it’s years before Calhoun ever stepped on campus and made the program what it is today, but still.

Corny Thompson

 

[TheHorde]

Corny Thompson

Toby Kimball among the next group under consideration too, I think.

 

[UConn77]

Good list but it bothers me that Tony Hansen or Wes didn’t even get an honorable mention. I know it’s years before Calhoun ever stepped on campus and made the program what it is today, but still.

Agree regarding Tony Hanson and Bialosuknia. Also, Toby Kimball.

 

[formerlurker]

We're gonna need a bigger list.

 

[UConnRock]

Agree that this is a strong list. Can debate the order, but not really the players on the list. The 10-20 list would be interesting. Names mentioned above plus where do Rudy, Caron, Smith, Burrell, Castle, Giffey, Boatright, Charlie V and others fit

 

[50cPitchers]

Bazz is not top 5

 

[storrsroars]

Not really in the same league as those guys tbh. 7 of the 10 were 1st team AP All Americans. And the other three are Ben Gordon, Clingan and KEA…

If UConn wins a 3rd straight, I'd think AK has to make the list. And either Donyell or KEA comes off, which really makes the whole idea of a "top 10" an exercise in futility. Truly an embarrassment of riches.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Bazz is not top 5

He won two titles, the second as the leader of an underdog team. There aren't 5 better resumes than his.

The task is near impossible. Kemba's run in '11 may be the greatest ever. Only Danny Manning and the Miracles is close. But he only won one. I think I would have Tristen at 1, Bazz at 2, Kemba at 3, Rip at 4.

Ask me again in a week and it wil probably be a different list. Also, AJax and Adama need top 10 status, but I am not sure who I would remove to put them on.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Bazz is not top 5

If he’s guarding someone in the backcourt he is.

 

[huskyjawz]

I

Agree that this is a strong list. Can debate the order, but not really the players on the list. The 10-20 list would be interesting. Names mentioned above plus where do Rudy, Caron, Smith, Burrell, Castle, Giffey, Boatright, Charlie V and others fit

I thought of Caron first, but yeah Smitty too.

 

[storrsroars]

Bazz is not top 5

He won an NC on an empty stomach, with arguably the least talented and undersized team to win an NC this century. Give the man his props.

 

[ucp990411]

Corny Thompson

Did Corny win a tournament game?

 

[Kembafan]

They say it is based entirely their collegiate career. We have Tristen Newton who was The Bob Cousy award winner, first team all American, final 4 mvp, never lost a tournament game , Husky for 2 years and won championships both years. How the heck can he be 7th? In my opinion he should be first. I think the only one who might be above him is RIP.

Love newton but Kemba put a team on his back and carried them to a natty. This list got #1 right. The rest are debatable.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Their ranking:
1. Kemba
2. Bazz
3. Emeka
4. Rip
5. Ray
6. Ben
7. Newt
8. Donovan
9. KEA
10. Donyell

I'm good with those 10. I might have Newt & Clingan above Ben just because two NCs , but not going to argue those specific players.

A case could be made that the 1999 and 2023 and 2024 championships are the most impressive from a talent standpoint because the overall talent level had been declining through the 90's into the 2000's, and then has been increasing again in the NIL era. A lot of the top talent in the late 2000's and through the 2010's was one-and-done or straight from high school, and a lot of the older players that would have headed to Europe 10 or 20 years ago are staying in college to play hoops for money. I think the talent level in basketball is as high now as it has ever been, which makes the last two back to back titles even more impressive.

 

[willie99]

Not possible to agree on the top 10, too many players over several generations. And for as much as I love and appreciate Bazz, no way he's "my" number 2. Players to consider, and that list will probably omit someone

Wes Bialosuknia
Toby Kimball
Tony Hanson
Corny Thompson
Chris Smith
Scott Burrell
Donyell Marshal
Ray Ray
Special K
RIP
Caron Butler
Meka
MSG
Rudy
Marcus Williams
AJ Price
Thabeet
Kemba
Bazz
Giffey
Newton
Karaban
Clingan
Chaz

One hit wonders
Castle
Cam

Some combination of success, stats, longevity, game changers.... just impossible to measure really

 

[Scoe]

Arguing a top 10 list is for nerds but it does make for good conversation.