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

[willie99]

Ben and Sanogo

MSG is Madison Square Gordon

I suppose you can argue Sanogo belongs among the all-time greats, I love his development and work ethic. It's an impossible task, you will never get a unanimous consensus on 10 or 20 or 30 players. Nor should we

 

[CONN78SEJ]

You’re high (which I’m not against). I was at every game in that tournament from Sweet 16 on and he willed them to victory against Michigan St (with a strong assist from DD) and made every big shot when they needed it in the Final Four. Even as a freshman you could see he had “it”. He was Kemba-lite in that championship run his senior year

He was the best defender in the backcourt that UConn ever had, and it’s not even close, and maybe the best I’ve ever seen anywhere in college basketball. He seemed to have a 5th gear that we usually saw in OT or in games going down to the wire. Sadly, while in the NBA, his hernia that was surgically repaired, seemed to slow him down just enough to get him traded multiple times.

 

[uconnyankee]

Agree. I would personally move Emeka to 1 that said. Who had a better junior year? Title, 1st team AA, DPOY (2 years running), 2nd pick in the NBA draft, academic AA, was a hoops cover boy that year. Was there a more decorated player?

Blue Blood issues, trying to get a consensus top 10…. Not gonna happen.

 

[UCan3]

MSG is Madison Square Gordon

I suppose you can argue Sanogo belongs among the all-time greats, I love his development and work ethic. It's an impossible task, you will never get a unanimous consensus on 10 or 20 or 30 players. Nor should we

I think underrated players - a top 10 would be more interesting…

Sanogo
Boatright
Taliek Brown
Niels Giffey
Khalid El-Amin
Ricky Moore

All these players in my opinion top notch. I especially like Brown because he took so much flack for shooting and FT and all he did was work in his game every year and become the best player he could be - a model for any BB player IMO.

Giffey was incredibly good - like a strep above everyone with BB IQ and clutch.

We also had a some great players on non-championship teams that get overlooked as well.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Has anyone even mentioned Cliff Robinson?

Bialosuknia played one season in the ABA where he finished second in the league in three point shooting. In one stretch he made 9 consecutive three pointers. At UConn in 66-67 he average 28 points a game -- with no three point line.

Or shot clock

 

[Duncan Idaho]

My intent on posting about Tony Hanson, Tony Kimball and Art Quimby was to give some recognition to players from earlier eras. I did not try to fit them into a all-time top ten list. I think if i ever put together a top ten list the next time I looked at it I would probably want to change my mind.

Don't apologize. They are among the greatest players the program has produced. They played at different time under different rules, tournament format and criteria and never had had the luxury of a like quality player on their teams that are populated on this si list.

 

[Waquoit]

Love the list and I know bazz won 2 but have a hard time putting him ahead of rip and ray and prolly emeka ben and khaled as well. Bazz just outside of top 5 imo

I know because he's not as handsome as those guys. But he was a Top 5 player in college as a junior playing for a team on probation. Kevin Ollie owes Bazz half his salary.

 

[Waquoit]

Has anyone even mentioned Cliff Robinson?

I don't think so. Probably because if you just consider his UConn career, he doesn't make the Top 20. We had players carry us to titles. Cliff couldn't even carry us to the Dance.

 

[CT2SC]

The criteria is based solely off of college career but Newton who is a 2-time champion and first team AA is listed below those without two rings.

Because he happened to be on two great teams does not make him a better player. Ray, Rip, Shabazz, Kemba carried their teams. Tristen didn’t carry Uconn.

 

[Spaceman213J]

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.

I don't even think another NC is necessary for AK to make the list. If stays healthy and finished the year more consistent which I think he will, he deserves to be up there. I love the little guy, but I think it's Khalid that comes off the list. He had RIP. Remember, Donyell was one of 8 freshman when he joined the team and was he headliner. He was every bit as good as advertised when he stepped on the floor. If he had hit one of those 2 free throws against Florida, I wonder how much differently some of the younger guys would look back at his career.

 

[jleves]

He was the best defender in the backcourt that UConn ever had, and it’s not even close, and maybe the best I’ve ever seen anywhere in college basketball. He seemed to have a 5th gear that we usually saw in OT or in games going down to the wire. Sadly, while in the NBA, his hernia that was surgically repaired, seemed to slow him down just enough to get him traded multiple times.

Ricky Moore would like a word with you.

 

[IndyLives]

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

Don't forget Earl Kelley. He put UConn on the map during the Big East Hey Days. Still near the Top 10 in UConn all-time scoring, assists, FTs. I believe.

 

[ctbro1999]

No matter how many times I make a list, I leave off Huskies that deserve to be in on. A top 25 would be easier to make.

Here's my stab in no particular order:

• Rip Hamilton
• Donyell Marshall
• Ray Allen
• Emeka Okafor
• Ben Gordon
• Kemba Walker
• Shabazz Napier
• Tristan Newton
• Donovan Clingan
• Khalid El-Amin

If I could list 5 alternates, they would be:

• Rudy Gay
• Caron Butler
• Cliff Robinson
• Chris Smith
• Doron Sheffer

Damn, forgot Rip on my initial list! Edited now. Sorry Ricky Moore, you got cut from my alternates.

 

[AllHusky]

I don't think so. Probably because if you just consider his UConn career, he doesn't make the Top 20. We had players carry us to titles. Cliff couldn't even carry us to the Dance.

Cliff was indifferent at times when I watched him play. Was declared ineligible with Gamble his soph year I believe(Calhouns first). Calhoun got more out of him in his last 2 years, but I remember a somewhat stormy relationship at times.

 

[storrsroars]

I'll be turning 69 is less than 100 days from now. This thread makes me hate old people.

 

[Beak7774]

He was the best defender in the backcourt that UConn ever had, and it’s not even close, and maybe the best I’ve ever seen anywhere in college basketball. He seemed to have a 5th gear that we usually saw in OT or in games going down to the wire. Sadly, while in the NBA, his hernia that was surgically repaired, seemed to slow him down just enough to get him traded multiple times.

Love Bazz, he’s definitely top 5 and my favorite UConn player ever. He was good defensively and got steals but overall imo not special/elite. Perimeter defense only I take Moore, Castle, Boat and probably a few others ahead of him.

 

[bendm]

if we 3peat then Karaban replaces Donyell.

all but Ray and Donyell were either the best player or 1a/1b on a chip team so cant really argue.

but i think boatright is underrated. he's 10 top all time in points, assists, and steals at UConn. him and shabazz are the only guys in the top 10 in 3 different categories. he was also 1b on the 2014 team to shabazz so i might replace KEA w/ boat.

Rip it too low and ben is too high

1. Kemba
2. RIP
3. Bazz
4. Okafor
5. Ray
6. Newton
7. Clingan
8. Gordon
9. Boatright
10. Karaban*

 

[Captbluefin]

Obviously there are a substantial amount of posters under 40 commenting…


If Calhoun doesn’t land Chris Smith 90% of the players on everyone’s list don’t play here.


Oh by the way Smith is also the all time scorer in the program..

And in my opinion Bazz is not even a top 5 UConn guard.
He came off the bench in 2011 and was saved by Briamah in 2014. No Brimah free throws vs Nova he would be a also ran

 

[SubbaBub]

Can't be done. Is this list based on individual achievement, stats, eye-ball test, dominance against their competition, championships or importance to those championships? How does longevity count?

You get a different list every time.

Are Bazz, Kemba and Newton really in a league with Huskies than Chris Smith, Ray, Rip because they have rings?

Are you really separating Okafor, Sanogo, Clingan based on their non-dominant seasons? Oak was the best center in 2004 they others played against some.guy named Edey.

Are we going to ignore how big deals Ben Gordon, Donyell, Caron, Clifford Robinson were?

While I'm not the fan of the pre-Calhoun players in these rankings, you can't just ignore them either.

I think best is top broad a category for UConn. I think there is a bar and once cleared you are just a Husky Great, no need to further define or condition it. If your name is or will be on the wall at Gampel, your in.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Huskies' Top 10? If so, then please do not worry about their pro careers. Any such list must include the point guard that led us to 2 rings. I loved Ben. But he cannot be on this list if Tristen Newton exists. Cam Spencer should be on this list over Ray. Sorry, Ray was amazing. I love Ray. But if I only have 10 spots I have to prioritize rings. And we do not win last year w/out Cam.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

This is not a serious response

that's putting it nicely....this dude must have lost a girl to Bazz....

 

[DblCrossbar]

KEA earned his spot with clutch free throws to seal the deal vs Dook for Natty #1 and in Feb of 1999 led Rip-less team vs #4 Stamford and blew them out on national TV in a marquee away game. If KEA hadn’t twisted his ankle in the 2000 NCAA tournament they could have gone at least to the SS if not the EE.

Since he be mentioned, I’ll move RIP up too because of his chill inspiring half court swish in front of a taunting Jay Williams on ESPN’s game day last year. Hey he did it at Gampel as a Husky of honor so I’ll give him due props there to further cement his all time greatness as a true blue blood!

 

[DogMania]

There's always a strong element of subjectivity when it comes to top 10 lists for a top program like UConn.

What would make this more interesting is making it a top 15 or 20.

Going with the eye test...note I started following our Huskies in 1989 shortly after I moved to Connecticut...Bazz is clearly top 5. He always seemed to make winning time plays willing his team to victory. Kemba was similar in that respect. Caron was dominrnt the 2nd half of his final season with little help to get them further in the tournament.

Rip and KEA put us on the Championship map with Ricky Moore earning honorable mention. Do we win their championship without Emeka or Ben? Would we be who we are now without Chris Smith? I could go on and on listing at least 15 or more talented impactful players who left their mark.

Many arguments for inclusion and order that points to a embarrassment of riches!

 

[Waquoit]

No KEA, no 1st title. Maybe no titles. He was the difference maker from the minute he stepped on campus. He belongs ahead of all that came before for starters.

 

[HuskyFich]

Not trying to be dismissive of anyone here, especially the old heads....but anyone before 1999 shouldn't even be considered for top 10 lists of all time besides Ray Allen & Donyell Marshall.

Our success nationwide is viewed post-1999, and over the past 25 years, it's the most dominant run since UCLA...this is where the majority of our all time players will end up.

Personally, Tristen Newton would be a top 5 UConn player all time if he had his entire career at UConn.
Adama Sanogo and Clingan are 2 of the 3 best big men we've ever had.
Andre Jackson is as much a cornerstone to this program as KEA is.

I just try to take into account the rejection of recency bias when doing these type of lists.....Donovan may end up being #2 10 years from now...jussss sayin....