Jake Voskuhl

[superjohn]

Voskuhl never scored 20 points in a game and never exactly filled up a stat line but he would absolutely destroy our current stable of big men. The man knew how to set a screen, lay a body on someone and outlet pass. Facey, Brimah and Enoch should be so incredibly embarrassed by this performance. This is a veteran frontcourt and they now actually look the part with added muscle. Never seen a group of 6'10 athletes play so soft and uninspired in my basketball watching life. It's to the point where we should never expect a successful post move outside of an Enoch hook shot every once in a blue moon but for godsakes box somebody out, set a screen, don't get outworked by 6'6 guys with half your athleticism. We've never exactly had superstar big men outside of a few but guys like Voskuhl, Sellers, Donny Marshall and Selvie would lay waste to these guys. Have a little pride in the UConn jersey, stop getting punked and get a rebound. Calhoun would never let this happen.

 

[Huskybass]

Jake was absolutely essential to that first championship. Not a huge stat guy, but a key ingredient on a great team.

 

[ucp990411]

Jake was beautiful. Watch games from 1999 and you will see that he was just what this team needs. One tough dude, got it from the head coach. Calhoun must have loved him. I am sick of these soft players we have. KO needs to coach more toughness. And being tough is just as much mental as it is physical.

 

[mauconnfan]

Jake was beautiful. Watch games from 1999 and you will see that he was just what this team needs. One tough dude, got it from the head coach. Calhoun must have loved him. I am sick of these soft players we have. KO needs to coach more toughness. And being tough is just as much mental as it is physical.

He was always looking for contact, thrived in a physical game. We've never had anyone set a pick like Jake and anyone who stood their ground so well on the low block. Not a lot of points, not a ton of boards (mainly because he was the one boxing out keeping people from the ball allowing others to grab the rebound) but absolutely 100X better than anything we have. Loved Jake's game. plus you could give him the ball at the top and he could pass it and find people. Underrated Husky

 

[Chin Diesel]

Travis Knight was about the same size as Brimah and wasn't the strongest dude.

But he rebounded and attacked.

 

[mauconnfan]

Travis Knight was about the same size as Brimah and wasn't the strongest dude.

But he rebounded and attacked.

Another guy who was twice the player at least, man we could use a Travis or Jake, it would change the whole face of this team.

 

[Robertelamin]

Give me Marcus White please

 

[UConnNick]

In a blowout win vs Georgetown at the MCI Center in DC during Jake's senior season (99-2000), early second half, Jake set a pick in the backcourt behind the play which pancaked an unfortunate Hoya player. He flattened the kid. It was so dramatic the entire crowd collectively gasped. The kid got up real slowly. His brains were scrambled. It's probably the best backcourt behind the ball pick I've ever seen in my life.

 

[jibsey]

How bad is our current big man situation? I remember being in the seats screaming to get Travis off the court and he's light years ahead of what we have, but I really haven't given up on Enoch. I say give him 6 games of 25 minutes and let's find out one way or the other.

 

[David 76]

When I think of who Sellers had to compete against.
A warrior!

 

[Dove]

Jake Voskuhl ain't walking through that door, @superjohn .

 

[Dogbreath2U]

In a blowout win vs Georgetown at the MCI Center in DC during Jake's senior season (99-2000), early second half, Jake set a pick in the backcourt behind the play which pancaked an unfortunate Hoya player. He flattened the kid. It was so dramatic the entire crowd collectively gasped. The kid got up real slowly. His brains were scrambled. It's probably the best backcourt behind the ball pick I've ever seen in my life.

For someone 6'11" and what, 245 lbs? Jake was a strong, powerful player. When he set picks and the defender ran into him, he never moved. BAM!!! I swear he seemed to have this increased connection to gravity because he did not move when set. He struggled with fouls his first two years, but was so smart with the rest of that '99 team. When I watch those games (thanks @tcf15) , I am struck by how smart they were individually and as a group. That was one hell of a team, and Jake was better than he ever got credit for being. Same with Kevin Freeman.

Ours teams of late just don't seem to be very smart or sophisticated in terms of basketball IQ. I would guess that you can't have more than 1 project/new to the game prospect at a time. In 2014, Bazz and company came together after 3 to 4 years for the key players. Brimah could do well while in the game because the others knew how to play great defense as a team. Giffey, Daniels, and Kromah were so good down the stretch for that team it was amazing. These guys today will need some time together. I do think that Gilbert has "it" and I am going to sit back and watch Durham with great patience because if he can get stronger, more confident, and just feeling normal, I think he could be a revelation. Jackson looks like a smart, savvy player. Vital has shown some toughness and intensity. I think that KO is struggling some with not having the players who can really play the way he wants them too.

 

[Dove]

Reminiscin'

 

[Jaker]

The other front court players playing with Jake were pretty good too. Our front court was loaded in 99,

 

[UConnSwag11]

we need bullies... guys who aren't afraid to scrap for rebounds, want to do the dirty work, and who wont get punked... we've had 3 guards with that mentality especially the attitude, that needs to change... we havent had all that since '09 ( I'll make an exception for AO)

 

[UConnNick]

The other front court players playing with Jake were pretty good too. Our front court was loaded in 99,

Yep. Kevin Freeman, Edmund Saunders and Souleymane Wane! Even Antric Klaiber could deliver an elbow to the gut when he wasn't languishing in Calhoun's canine condo. Those were the days, and they had to do it vs the bruising Big East.

 

[Robertelamin]

How about 2004? 3 bigs were eventual lottery picks and a 4th was a 1st rounder, sigh.

 

[Scoe]

How about 2004? 3 bigs were eventual lottery picks and a 4th was a 1st rounder, sigh.

You had Shamon Tooles, Marcus White and Ed Nelson in his transfer year my god we were loaded in the front court.

 

[SirHypeAlot]

Jake is obvious...i would take gavin edwards on this squad to fill alot of the boards and tougness

 

[Scottzer]

Jake was beautiful. Watch games from 1999 and you will see that he was just what this team needs. One tough dude, got it from the head coach. Calhoun must have loved him. I am sick of these soft players we have. KO needs to coach more toughness. And being tough is just as much mental as it is physical.

In "Born to Lead", Calhoun talked about Jake (taking an elbow from Freeman or Kirk King?) in practice, and a fight breaking out. Coach didn't break it up; he wanted his players tough. The fight also relieved tensions and helped solidify the team.
I had a (Korean War Veteran) junior high teacher who, maybe 8-10 years earlier would give kids boxing gloves if they wanted to fight. He was a tough son of a gun, but we all loved him. I know parents don't put up with that kind of thing anymore, but, that toughness has been lost for a long time in this country.

 

[mauconnfan]

Funny thing is if you throw all of the guys we talk about above - Jake, Gavin, Boone, Freeman, Travis, etc etc you have one common theme they were very smart basketball players, learned and grew. They knew their role, you didn't require a "big mans coach' they just required a coach like JC. Jake wasn't getting lost during a play or wandering where he can't make an impact, leaving his guy to block a shot which he can't get to. These guys played their roles according to their strengths. They had the balls to rebound the ball in traffic,didn't need to be taught, the brains to read a rebound off the rim or actually off the opposing players hands. Jake was never a whiz with the basketball with his back to it, Travis would prefer making a jump shot from 12-15. Add Thabeet to the list, his numbers continued to get better and better for 3 years. Actually don't remember the years Clyde coached so not sure which one's he had. He was a fantastic coach and wished he hadn't screwed up, but again he didn't coach long so he didn't have all of these guys and may others who impacted our front lines. And in many these years I don't recall hearing "man so and so is such a great big man's coach" I just saw kids getting better because they were at UConn playing for Jim Calhoun and his staff.

Again, overrated! Just play basketball and learn.

 

[Chief00]

He was always looking for contact, thrived in a physical game. We've never had anyone set a pick like Jake and anyone who stood their ground so well on the low block. Not a lot of points, not a ton of boards (mainly because he was the one boxing out keeping people from the ball allowing others to grab the rebound) but absolutely 100X better than anything we have. Loved Jake's game. plus you could give him the ball at the top and he could pass it and find people. Underrated Husky

I would have made some of the same observations - well done.
Now all we need to do is bring back Tim Higgins to ref these games - cuz he would let Jake play physical.

Howie in his day knew how to coach rebounding, Clyde has always been my guy for Bigs but let's give George some credit as well.

 

[mauconnfan]

I would have made some of the same observations - well done.
Now all we need to do is bring back Tim Higgins to ref these games - cuz he would let Jake play physical.

Howie in his day knew how to coach rebounding, Clyde has always been my guy for Bigs but let's give George some credit as well.

No doubt Howie himself knew what it took as he was a tremendous rebounder during his playing days and certainly could teach that. But he had the sponges and kids who could bring it to the court. Not fair to compare the bigs which Glen M has had as of late, not at all. Glen also coached with JC who had some real good front court players and he was part of their transition over their careers. Just crazy Chief to think anyone can make a couple of these guys any better, they're just not that good and Pete Newell couldn't help us! KO needs to get better players, so a lot is on him and the staff to make that happen.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Brimah and Facey both need to learn how to use their hips.

Proper technique with both boxing out and posting up requires that you stick your ass to the other player, so you can take advantage of the biggest bones and muscles in your body, around your hips. No matter how big or strong, if you don't use your hips properly (by standing too erect, like Brimah), smaller players who do will move you around at will.

I seriously don't think the coaching staff teaches this.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Just got done rewatching the first half of the last game. We legitimately set two effective ball screens in the whole half, and would you believe it, scored off both.

 

[ucp990411]

I don't get the love for Gavin Edwards.

 

[8893]

Good to see you back, @superjohn .

 

[Hugo]

Funny thing is if you throw all of the guys we talk about above - Jake, Gavin, Boone, Freeman, Travis, etc etc you have one common theme they were very smart basketball players, learned and grew. They knew their role, you didn't require a "big mans coach' they just required a coach like JC. Jake wasn't getting lost during a play or wandering where he can't make an impact, leaving his guy to block a shot which he can't get to. These guys played their roles according to their strengths. They had the balls to rebound the ball in traffic,didn't need to be taught, the brains to read a rebound off the rim or actually off the opposing players hands. Jake was never a whiz with the basketball with his back to it, Travis would prefer making a jump shot from 12-15. Add Thabeet to the list, his numbers continued to get better and better for 3 years. Actually don't remember the years Clyde coached so not sure which one's he had. He was a fantastic coach and wished he hadn't screwed up, but again he didn't coach long so he didn't have all of these guys and may others who impacted our front lines. And in many these years I don't recall hearing "man so and so is such a great big man's coach" I just saw kids getting better because they were at UConn playing for Jim Calhoun and his staff.

Again, overrated! Just play basketball and learn.

Great post, you nailed it !!!

 

[Hugo]

Brimah and Facey both need to learn how to use their hips.

Proper technique with both boxing out and posting up requires that you stick your ass to the other player, so you can take advantage of the biggest bones and muscles in your body, around your hips. No matter how big or strong, if you don't use your hips properly (by standing too erect, like Brimah), smaller players who do will move you around at will.

I seriously don't think the coaching staff teaches this.

Both are seniors and if they don't get it now, they never will.

 

[mauconnfan]

I don't get the love for Gavin Edwards.

Gavin turned himself into a solid basketball player, would be starting and helping this team without a doubt. Better than any big man we have now was the pint, and by his senior year, a commendable job by an unheralded skinny recruit coming in from AZ.. Wish we had others that grew!