In the end, how will Bazz stack up against to top lead guards in college?

[DogMania]

The following is what I posted in another thread (a Jeff Goodman one that many will probably avoid), but thought it was worth re-posting. I'm curious how others think Bazz will stack up against the top college PGs, not only this season, but all time. There's still a ton of hoops to be played where Bazz will be able to complete his college resume, stating his case on the court of...well...the court.

Was it Bilas who said that he could not think of a current pair of guards who were better at breaking down the defender(s) and creating their own shots?

I've not watched closely all the lead guards this season, but I can't imagine many having a more complete game than Bazz.

I've only watched a little of OSU and Kraft this season, though his stats do seem to point to not having a good season so far. Some players simply get over-hyped. Sometimes good players have a bad stretch or season. For example, if a sports writer happened to only catch Bazz during the Texas games, he'd come away with an entirely different perspective compared to watching him in those early games and the past two where he put in some ridiculous performances.

Quite frankly some of these talking heads are basing their comments on a limited amount of data and a lot of bias. Keep in mind that many here on the Yard do the same. I'm not watching as much hoops as I used to, so my opinions have their flaws. Since I've seen every Shabazz Napier game and a whole lot of college games over the years, he does stack up as one of the most talented all around lead guards I've seen. He's a plus-performer in just about every category. IMO, his only minuses are his lack of size and athleticism, which doesn't seem to hamper him in most games at this level. It looked like to me, before this last game, that big, long and athletic guards were able to slow him and Boat down a bit, but I'm wondering if it was more some physical and/or health issues that were at work during those bad games. Memphis has some big guards that were supposed to be good defenders and both Bazz and Boat were breaking them down quite effectively and getting off good shots and finding open teammates.

Also keep in mind, the better the supporting cast plays the less teams can throw defensively at Bazz to slow him down. Granted, it sure looked like to me that Bazz and Boat went through a stretch where they were not trusting their teammates. As a whole the team was not committed to running their sets with energy and conviction like they have the past couple games, which is partly to be blamed on the lead guard who needs to get the other 4 to do their job. I think both Bazz and Boat are going to look a lot better if the rest of the team plays like they did last night.

I've always thought Bazz was special. We'll all learn a bit more about where Bazz stacks up as the season goes on. Granted the AAC isn't the old Big East, but there will be more than enough tests along the way for Bazz to make his case as the best or one of the best lead guards in the nation.

 

[breezy]

One of the amazing things about Bazz is that he can still make me, a husky fan who's watched almost every college game he's played and knows how good he can be, say "wow." Those shots down the stretch did it for me last night.

He also had a take to the basket midway through the second half where he left his feet and was looking to throw up a reverse layup. However, he got swarmed by a few Memphis players and was undoubtedly going to get blocked. In the split second where he left his feet I expected a huge block by the defense or a travel call when he came back down with the ball. Instead he fired a bullet of a bounce-pass to the top of the key to DD who knocked it down a three. It was an incredible pass considering he threw it with such precision and pace despite not having his feet beneath him while seemingly looking up at the rim. That was the wow assist for me last night.

Edit: To answer the question I agree with Goodman. I'd take Bazz before I took anyone else. Add his attitude and leadership to his talent and it's only a debate for people who don't know him.

 

[Palatine]

His three point shooting has fallen off. If he starts to hit from behind the arc again, he becomes the best PG in the country.

 

[tykurez]

There's a discernible difference in his play since the UCF game. I'm sure others with more time (and brains) than me could probably break down tape and quantify this, but to me it just seems like there's been an elevation in his game.

He's always been a good passer, but last night his vision and decision making (other than the two passes to the trainer) were outstanding. Not only that, but he made a handful of NBA moves and most notably these two:
- His step back 2-pointer with the game tied
- His subsequent fake step back of the EXACT same play, which allowed him to blow by Goodwin

This makes him a veritable triple-threat. You can't really sag off to let him shoot; he's shown how good he is off the dribble drive and pick and roll; and his passing has been fantastic. Add to that the fact that he's been stellar on the defensive end and is grabbing rebounds at an astounding rate for a PG and you can't really argue that he's not in the discussion for the top PG this year.

 

[ctchamps]

He is the best all around point guard in the country without question imo.

He has to do more than any other point guard in order for UConn to get a win, and has done so. He is clutch, a very good shooter, a team developer, an outstanding passer and rebounder, has great court vision, sees plays developing before they happen, and is an outstanding man to man defender. He is the reach around bandit as we saw in the Memphis game.

He's just not athletic and therefore doesn't dunk or drive to the basket like the athletic point guards are capable of doing.

I honestly feel he can make a career in the league. He makes players better around him. He couldn't stop Chris Paul when he was at Paul's bb camp (how many can) but he was able to hold his own on the offensive end.

 

[imno1]

His three point shooting has fallen off. If he starts to hit from behind the arc again, he becomes the best PG in the country.

He's already there my friend. No one has a better all round game then him or means more to his team

 

[HuskyHawk]

Palatine nailed it I think. That 0-4 to start the game last night, on mostly wide open looks, wasn't great. But he was superb in moving and passing the ball, so it didn't hurt us much. When he is that open, he should hit 2 of those.

I think one challenge looking at college guards is that we tend to think about the next level and success there. Sometimes it translates, sometimes it doesn't. Steve Nash was very good at Santa Clara, very good...but not as good as he was in the NBA. Then you factor in that the very best players don't stay around long very often. All told, he's not among the great PGs all time.

Among UConn PGs, looking back, Shabazz is probably better than Tate, Ollie, Williams or Taliek were. His stats are pretty similar to AJ Price's and their games are similar. Hard to evaluate him compared to Khalid, who had such a great roster around him, and probably better leadership skills. Chris Smith remains the best ball handler I ever saw at UConn, and best PG defender along with Moore. Given he's also our all time scoring leader, I'll definitely put him ahead of Bazz. Kemba is Kemba.

 

[Chin Diesel]

One of the amazing things about Bazz is that he can still make me, a husky fan who's watched almost every college game he's played and knows how good he can be, say "wow." Those shots down the stretch did it for me last night.

He also had a take to the basket midway through the second half where he left his feet and was looking to throw up a reverse layup. However, he got swarmed by a few Memphis players and was undoubtedly going to get blocked. In the split second where he left his feet I expected a huge block by the defense or a travel call when he came back down with the ball. Instead he fired a bullet of a bounce-pass to the top of the key to DD who knocked it down a three. It was an incredible pass considering he threw it with such precision and pace despite not having his feet beneath him while seemingly looking up at the rim. That was the wow assist for me last night.

Edit: To answer the question I agree with Goodman. I'd take Bazz before I took anyone else. Add his attitude and leadership to his talent and it's only a debate for people who don't know him.

Bilas said the same thing.

 

[Inyatkin]

His three-point shooting is regressing to the mean. No one thought he was going to shoot 58 percent or whatever for the year. His last few games are no more indicative of his shooting than any short stretch.

 

[Senore]

He'll face his mirror image in Smith tomorrow. Should be interesting.

 

[tzznandrew]

He'll face his mirror image in Smith tomorrow. Should be interesting.

Two senior guards with National Championships under their belts. Not common anymore in college basketball.

 

[Kurt]

He'll face his mirror image in Smith tomorrow. Should be interesting.

Not really....Smith is a SG in a PG's body..

 

[gorbowski06]

I feel like the past few games Bazz has really stepped up the pressure on the defensive end and everything has kind of come together for the team from there.

 

[BoatShow]

I've seen a bit of Smart, a bit of Craft, a bit of Appling and others this year. None are as good as Bazz is at every facet of the game.

 

[James]

With our second best playmaker likely out, this is has turned into a potential statement game for the club and napier. What's most impressive is how he's adjusted to being game planned for ; he's usually hounded by opposing teams elite perimeter defenders. Memphis was cycling through players in a futile attempt to stop him, and mind you that Johnson G is no joke.

 

[RichZ]

For him to have the stones to take and make those shots in winning time on a night when until then, his shot hadn't been falling, was...
I don't even know how to describe it.
It was certainly Kemba-esque.
Kemba-esque with hot sauce on it.

The guy just flat out wants to win.

The drive through the lane in traffic last night was beyond special. From the real time camera angle it was tough to tell whether he travelled or actually lost control of the ball and benefited from a fortuitous bounce. But from the baseline camera on the replay, it was a thing of absolute beauty.

 

[MrP]

I am curious to see how he fits in at the next level, but for now I am just enjoying the performance he is putting on.

It occurred to me watching the game last night... Shabazz is Steph Curry "lite".

 

[DogMania]

This is good Bazz thread to revisit. Apparently Bazz stood atop the stack when it was all said and done.