If you could have a 1st team AA at any position, which would you choose?

[Hunt for 7]

The answer is a real good/great guard. The reason because if he is a real good/great guard he makes everyone else on the team better.

10 years ago the answer was probably point guard, but the way the game is played today a great guard does everything score, assist, defend, steal and rebound. While filling the stat sheet he then uses those stats to make every other player better.

Kemba made everyone else better.
Bazz certainly made everyone else better.
We were lucky in 2024 we had three players Cam, TN and Castle that made everyone better.

You always hear the great coaches say you need great guard play to win a national championship.

 

[RuffRuff]

Yes, and I'd argue that the value of the position, especially in modern offenses like ours, is much lower than it was in the ISO era where the PG really ran the offense.

100% - those were also easily our two weakest NC's. Magical runs yes, great teams no.

 

[RuffRuff]

The answer is a real good/great guard. The reason because if he is a real good/great guard he makes everyone else on the team better.

10 years ago the answer was probably point guard, but the way the game is played today a great guard does everything score, assist, defend, steal and rebound. While filling the stat sheet he then uses those stats to make every other player better.

Kemba made everyone else better.
Bazz certainly made everyone else better.
We were lucky in 2024 we had three players Cam, TN and Castle that made everyone better.

You always hear the great coaches say you need great guard play to win a national championship.

3 of our 6 NCs and 4 of our 7 FF's, the best player on the team was the 5. The best of the other 3, it was a SF.

PG's are really really fun though.

 

[uconngb]

Head Coach

 

[JakeTheDog]

3 of our 6 NCs and 4 of our 7 FF's, the best player on the team was the 5. The best of the other 3, it was a SF.

PG's are really really fun though.

99 - Rip
04 - Oak
11 - Kemba
14 - Bazz
23 - Sanogo
24 - Clingan

Who you think was our best player in 2011 and 2014? It has to be the PGs. By my count that’s 3 big men, a wing and two PGs. 23 and 24 we were such a good team it’s hard to single any one player out. And 04 we also had Ben but of course Emeka was on another level.

 

[nomar]

Only two of our national championships was the best player a point guard.

I said you want. I didn't say it was the case in all 6. We did have a sick PG in every title year except 2004. It's a common thread.

 

[nomar]

How many of last year's F4 teams had a true PG?

Auburn - no
Duke - no
Florida - no
Houston - maybe you can call Uzan that at 4 assists a game.

Between Broome, Florida(multiple bigs), Houston(Roberts/Tugler), Duke (Flagg/Maluach), the bigs are kinda of what made them different. Welcome to 2025. Our two NC's, biggest advantage was at the 5 both years.

Was TNewt truly a PG or more of a CG playing PG? Is Demary the same?

Give me a darned good 5 that can control the glass, rim protect and/or be an efficient bucket when you need one. We love calling it a PG because we are Uconn fans and in love with the 2011/2014 teams and because we're myopic, but neither of those teams were all that talented. The guards going on a bender approach if fun, but not really the realistic way to win consistently.

Let's see if Braden Smith wins the gold this year, as he is as pure a PG as it gets.

It's a matter of semantics, but Walter Clayton was the guy with the ball in his hands and he averaged 2 more APG than anyone else on UF.

I suppose I answered this question before the tournament when I predicted Florida to win it all because of Clayton.

All things equal, you want the best player on the court to be the guy with the ball in his hands the most. I know our offense doesn't necessarily need a single true PG but I still think that’s the case.

 

[navery12]

The answer is PG. Even when we had an elite big man in Donovan Clingan for the 2023 and 2024 championships our AA was still our PG in Tristen Newton

 

[superjohn]

The answer is PG. Even when we had an elite big man in Donovan Clingan for the 2023 and 2024 championships our AA was still our PG in Tristen Newton

Tristen wasn't the best player on either team and arguments can be made there were several players better than him. Viewing things through who got the individual awards is kind of silly IMO.

Clingan didn't get any individual awards and everyone knew he was our best player.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

Would have to come down to PG or C.

But use 2024 as an example. That team was so good 1-5 of course, but when it came down to it, Purdue had Edey and we had Tristen Newton.

 

[auror]

Tristen wasn't the best player on either team and arguments can be made there were several players better than him. Viewing things through who got the individual awards is kind of silly IMO.

Clingan didn't get any individual awards and everyone knew he was our best player.

We're creeping into retroactively changing the narrative. I specifically polled the forum at the time because I knew this would happen lol. For the record I voted for Clingan and I know you argued in that thread Clingan as well, but the plurality of people (more than #2 and #3 combined) picked Newton. So I would definitely not say "everyone knew".

A

Thread 'Best Player on The Team Poll'

Apr 9, 2024

We had discussions before and during the year. So now that the season is over... who was our best player?

• auror
• Replies: 28
• Forum: UConn Men's Basketball Forum

• 

 

[RuffRuff]

We're creeping into retroactively changing the narrative. I specifically polled the forum at the time because I knew this would happen lol. For the record I voted for Clingan and I know you argued in that thread Clingan as well, but the plurality of people (more than #2 and #3 combined) picked Newton. So I would definitely not say "everyone knew".

A

Thread 'Best Player on The Team Poll'

Apr 9, 2024

We had discussions before and during the year. So now that the season is over... who was our best player?

• auror
• Replies: 28
• Forum: UConn Men's Basketball Forum

• 

You could perhaps call Newton our best player, based on stats. But if you don't think Clingan wasn't our most valuable player and easily the biggest difference maker on the floor, not sure what you were watching - because it was clear as day. You could swap Newton out with 50 other players across hoops and likely get a similarly good product. He wasn't a unique talent. I would challenge anyone to find another Clingan - he was one of a kind in how he impacted both ends of the floor.

Let's put it this way, if you gave me AK/Cam/Steph, and then asked me if I would then take Newton or Clingan as a next choice, having to opt off Uconn with that fifth pick, you take Clignan 100% of the time.

 

[Kolumbo]

I want Stephon Castle, no matter where he starts

UConn won with Taliek at PG. of course the rest of the line-up was stacked with NBA players and feeding Gordon and Okafor a steady diet of dimes works too

 

[caw]

The way the game is played today, 4 out, you might say that the one position that is unique to that is the 5. We've seen how a great 5 works in Hurley's system.

I just want to bash one AA center in Dickinson. That dude was not winning anything. Not all AAs are built the same. I don't think he would have done well (in terms of actually winning anything) even under Hurley.

 

[Lafayette]

Doesn't really matter as it's a 5 person team.

The salty answer is any 2 of the 5

 

[Tyler2Rings]

You can argue about 2024 best player all day, but for this question it should be noted that the '24 team had 3 point guard-capable starters (Tristen Cam and Steph) and we stomped everyone.

My vote is PG

 

[RuffRuff]

I just want to bash one AA center in Dickinson. That dude was not winning anything. Not all AAs are built the same. I don't think he would have done well (in terms of actually winning anything) even under Hurley.

Agree with you there - Dickinson was an illusion. Great offensive skills for a 7'1" guy, but so immobile and soft in so many of the areas you count on for a 5 of that size. Gonna be fun to see how they shift with Bidunga there, who is a very mobile high energy 5. I'm actually expecting Kansas to surprise this year.

 

[Inyatkin]

Give me a darned good 5 that can control the glass, rim protect and/or be an efficient bucket when you need one. We love calling it a PG because we are Uconn fans and in love with the 2011/2014 teams and because we're myopic, but neither of those teams were all that talented. The guards going on a bender approach if fun, but not really the realistic way to win consistently.

Let's see if Braden Smith wins the gold this year, as he is as pure a PG as it gets.

2011 had the best player in America in Kemba, a future lottery pick in Lamb, a future first team all American in Shabazz, a guy who nearly led the nation in rebounding in Roscoe Smith, a former McDonald's all American in Oriakhi. All that and Charles Okwandu.

If that's not "all that talented," I don't know what is.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

But if you don't think Clingan wasn't our most valuable player and easily the biggest difference maker on the floor, not sure what you were watching - because it was clear as day.

Ahem.

But seriously, kudos @Jaydumo20 for a well-timed post: great question/thread/answers, even enhanced by its pivot to using our glorious history & individual player examples to buttress the initial wave of direct responses to the more general query.

What a blessing it is to be a Husky fan. Thank you all.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I think it is so tough just to generically say the one guy is an AA. Castle was great defensively, but Clingan's presence on the floor just made everybody better defensively. It lessens the burden.
Also, the way the game is being is called makes a difference. The NCAA with their 'points of emphasis' are constantly changing the way the game is called. If it's physical, rough and tumble, then the center gets a little more influence there. If it is tight reffing with no hand-checking at all, then a PG like Kemba who can shift gears and directions with the best of them, he has a big advantage, but it could also backfire because he could be pretty physical with other guards.
Of the guys that have gone through Storrs in the past few decades, I'd start with Clingan (not even an AA) and build around him. The guy just ate up so much space and made the defensive end of the floor much easier for everyone else and he was an underrated passer by many.

 

[nomar]

You could perhaps call Newton our best player, based on stats. But if you don't think Clingan wasn't our most valuable player and easily the biggest difference maker on the floor, not sure what you were watching - because it was clear as day. You could swap Newton out with 50 other players across hoops and likely get a similarly good product. He wasn't a unique talent. I would challenge anyone to find another Clingan - he was one of a kind in how he impacted both ends of the floor.

Let's put it this way, if you gave me AK/Cam/Steph, and then asked me if I would then take Newton or Clingan as a next choice, having to opt off Uconn with that fifth pick, you take Clignan 100% of the time.

I don't disagree with this but Clingan was a unicorn. We've been lucky to have some great bigs but he and Okafor stand out for the way they neutralized the other team. (Then again, we didn't win a title with Thabeet, who was also dominant defensively.)

My point is that for every Clingan, you can have give five 1st Team AA bigs who are compilers that can get contained in the Tournament. A great lead guard usually creates his own destiny.

Would I rather have Newtown than DC? No. Would I rather have Sanogo than Kemba? Also no.

 

[Rocktheworld]

I would actually love to see someone do a deep dive of “when a player in x position won NPoY, how often do they win the championship?”

The first thought is center because of how dominant centers can be at the college level but who knows

 

[RuffRuff]

I would actually love to see someone do a deep dive of “when a player in x position won NPoY, how often do they win the championship?”

The first thought is center because of how dominant centers can be at the college level but who knows

If ever the question for ChatGBT:

Year	Champion	Best player (Final Four MOP)	Position
2025	Florida	Walter Clayton Jr.	Guard Sports Reference+1
2024	UConn	Tristen Newton	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2023	UConn	Adama Sanogo	Power forward / center NCAA.com+1
2022	Kansas	Ochai Agbaji	Shooting guard CBSSports.com+1
2021	Baylor	Jared Butler	Guard (point guard) SI
2019	Virginia	Kyle Guy	Shooting guard NCAA.com+1
2018	Villanova	Donte DiVincenzo	Guard (shooting guard) NCAA.com+2Sports Reference+2
2017	North Carolina	Joel Berry II	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2016	Villanova	Ryan Arcidiacono	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2015	Duke	Tyus Jones	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2014	UConn	Shabazz Napier	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2013	Louisville (vacated)	Luke Hancock	Small forward NCAA.com+1
2012	Kentucky	Anthony Davis	Power forward / center NCAA.com+2Sports Reference+2
2011	UConn	Kemba Walker	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2010	Duke	Kyle Singler	Small forward NCAA.com+1
2009	North Carolina	Wayne Ellington	Shooting guard NCAA.com+1
2008	Kansas	Mario Chalmers	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2007	Florida	Corey Brewer	Small forward NCAA.com+1
2006	Florida	Joakim Noah	Center NCAA.com+1
2005	North Carolina	Sean May	Power forward

 

[bjc42]

Considering that the rest of the team is a normal mix of non-AA but capable guys, no glaring weaknesses.

Where do you want your superstar and why?

PG 100%

 

[Rocktheworld]

If ever the question for ChatGBT:

Year	Champion	Best player (Final Four MOP)	Position
2025	Florida	Walter Clayton Jr.	Guard Sports Reference+1
2024	UConn	Tristen Newton	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2023	UConn	Adama Sanogo	Power forward / center NCAA.com+1
2022	Kansas	Ochai Agbaji	Shooting guard CBSSports.com+1
2021	Baylor	Jared Butler	Guard (point guard) SI
2019	Virginia	Kyle Guy	Shooting guard NCAA.com+1
2018	Villanova	Donte DiVincenzo	Guard (shooting guard) NCAA.com+2Sports Reference+2
2017	North Carolina	Joel Berry II	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2016	Villanova	Ryan Arcidiacono	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2015	Duke	Tyus Jones	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2014	UConn	Shabazz Napier	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2013	Louisville (vacated)	Luke Hancock	Small forward NCAA.com+1
2012	Kentucky	Anthony Davis	Power forward / center NCAA.com+2Sports Reference+2
2011	UConn	Kemba Walker	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2010	Duke	Kyle Singler	Small forward NCAA.com+1
2009	North Carolina	Wayne Ellington	Shooting guard NCAA.com+1
2008	Kansas	Mario Chalmers	Point guard NCAA.com+1
2007	Florida	Corey Brewer	Small forward NCAA.com+1
2006	Florida	Joakim Noah	Center NCAA.com+1
2005	North Carolina	Sean May	Power forward

I had to literally convince Chat GPT it had the capacity to search through all NPoY winners lol, this is the best I could make from what it spat out. NPoYs who won the NC that year, and their positions:

Jalen Brunson, PG
Anthony Davis, C/PF (but pretty strictly C in college from what I recall)
Tyler Hansborough, PF/C (more so PF)
Shane Battier, SF
Christian Laetner, PF
Danny Manning, PF/C
Michael Jordan, SG
Marques Johnson, SF
Scott May, SF
David Thompson, SG
Bill Walton, C
Bill Walton, C
Kareem, C