Isaiah "Squirrel" Whaley appreciation thread

[hardcorehusky]

He is proof that if you run to the front of the rim all game, you can get 8 and 4 easily. The part that is even better is they don't really dump the ball into him in the post. He gets all his points off of moving and intelligence.

 

[UconnU]

Teams like UCF that try to play 4 out are asking to get beat by us. The way to beat us is to go big.

 

[joober jones]

I'm surprised being in CT that Whaler never become one of his nicknames.

 

[Get a Job]

Where does the Squirrel nickname come from?

My friends and I have season tickets to the XL Center. We saw him at the exhibition game there his freshman year. He was so active and erratic, and my buddy said he looks like a squirrel. And thus a nickname was born.

 

[navery12]

 

[YoungFree]

He works too hard and wants to win too much to not be successful on the court. Biggest developmkent success story this year imo

Conference MIP!!!

 

[HuskyHawk]

It's almost like Calhoun level player development......


....which is just an amazing thing say about the program.

It’s a bit beyond that. It’s kind of like Steve Rogers going into that tank and coming out Captain America. since the late 70s I have never seen a guy go from what he was to what he’s been lately. It’s pretty unprecedented.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I like "Killer"

Orca. The Big W

 

[vtmikeb]

Hartford Whaleys

 

[LStudfellow]

I like "Killer"

Not bad... but if you are going to go with "Killer" for a guy who was an ultimate underdog but achieved something through hard work and attitude, you need to go with this (from one of the greatest sports movies of all time. Period.)

 

[zls44]

Don't think it's hyperbolic to say that this is a stunning development. Seeing what this staff has done with Whaley makes me wish for a mulligan on every big that played for us 2012-2017.

Imagine Onuorah!

 

[UconnFanNVa]

My friends and I have season tickets to the XL Center. We saw him at the exhibition game there his freshman year. He was so active and erratic, and my buddy said he looks like a squirrel. And thus a nickname was born.

 

[Get a Job]

I don't get the connection. Good movie though

 

[UconnU]

Isaiah and James give me crazy confidence in next year.

 

[auror]

I don't get the connection. Good movie though

The guy defending him is the "Squirrel Master".

 

[Get a Job]

The guy defending him is the "Squirrel Master".

Ah, thank you!

 

[UconnU]

Squirrel is such a good nickname and Isaiah is such a player that should have a nickname. We have to go with it.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Must be the kettlebell swings

 

[Woof 101]

At the game tonight and one of the most impressive / moving moments I have ever seen was post game on the court with the entire team surrounding IW. He in the middle ducking from the slaps and hugs of the entire team. Dan Hurley has not only developed individual players, he has in short time created a true family. This team is a joy to watch.
Leaving the court post game CV was signing autographs for fans leaning over the railing, took a couple of photos for them. Along came Dan and also acknowledged the fans with CV and more photo ops.
I remiss this is a IW thread and will stop here. What a fun team to watch again.

 

[Rocktheworld]

By the way I’m not gonna toot my own horn too hard because I haven’t been right on Josh yet, but I saw the potential

Carlton, Whaley, Vital

Could be a good nucleus going forward. I hope Jalen is gone along with Larrier and Anderson who are both liabilities at this point (the latter much more so). Hand the reins over to AG and Vital, plug in a couple shooters, and we may have something in a couple years Not sure how man more "couple...

the-boneyard.com

 

[NJHoops]

At the game tonight and one of the most impressive / moving moments I have ever seen was post game on the court with the entire team surrounding IW. He in the middle ducking from the slaps and hugs of the entire team. Dan Hurley has not only developed individual players, he has in short time created a true family. This team is a joy to watch.
Leaving the court post game CV was signing autographs for fans leaning over the railing, took a couple of photos for them. Along came Dan and also acknowledged the fans with CV and more photo ops.
I remiss this is a IW thread and will stop here. What a fun team to watch again.

My favorite part of that Whaley thing was Polley walking the line between being a part of it and protecting his torn up knee- happy for his guy, emotionally invested... but from a safe distance.

 

[OldManDoug]

Pork chop = yes
squirrel = doo doo

 

[Kembacity]

For like 5 games now when I'm live texting with my die-hard crew of fans, there are numerous points during each game where all I can say is "F-word Whaley!", so that has become my nickname for him. He just continues to surprise and impress, the teams playing us must be like 'where was this in the game footage!?'.

Every time we need a bucket and the ball just ends up in his hands he somehow finds a way to get it up and in at like a 90% rate. Beyond that, he's making seemingly all of his FTs and of course does it all with a smile on his face and just wants to get out there run around and get to work. I'm so thrilled we get another year of F-word Whaley!

EDIT: is this site for children? the language filter is infuriating...

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

For like 5 games now when I'm live texting with my die-hard crew of fans, there are numerous points during each game where all I can say is "F-word Whaley!", so that has become my nickname for him. He just continues to surprise and impress, the teams playing us must be like 'where was this in the game footage!?'.

Every time we need a bucket and the ball just ends up in his hands he somehow finds a way to get it up and in at like a 90% rate. Beyond that, he's making seemingly all of his FTs and of course does it all with a smile on his face and just wants to get out there run around and get to work. I'm so thrilled we get another year of F-word Whaley!

EDIT: is this site for children? the language filter is infuriating...

It's because we're worse than children that we have the filter.

In my live txting, I'm sending & receiving variations on the whale emoji, which cannot be used in Chat or within BY posts. There's no way that a nickname using any other animal works for me.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Also, just good coaching

 

[imno1]

I just can't wait unless he starts hitting from deep so we can call him 3Pac

 

[CL82]

Kid is becoming a really good baller.

Watching hedge and get back is so entertaining. He's quick, smart and takes pride in his defense. That's tough not to love, even if his offense wasn't clicking.

 

[CL82]

Squirrel is such a good nickname and Isaiah is such a player that should have a nickname. We have to go with it.

Meh. Although he does play he's got a big pair

 

[biggieb1950]

Love Whaley but these nicknames are awful

Jumpin Jack Flash or Hedge Hog

 

[Rocktheworld]

The guy defending him is the "Squirrel Master".

And Hurley is the Squirrel Whisperer