Kenny Smith on TBS postgame UCONN love

[formerlurker]

Did anyone else watch this and hear Kenny Smith talk about Kansas not being able to come back on Oregon because they didn't have a guy who could create his own shot?

"Again, I just thought that the size on the perimeter, the ability to make a shot or get a good shot when the shot clock is running down...that's what NCAA basketball has been about. And we been talking about it from the day one when I walked in here and we saw Kemba Walker, we saw Shabazz Napier. Guys who could create their shots in that moment. And make them".

This wasn't some pre-meditated comment, he mentioned two Husky greats because those were the two examples that came to his mind first.

 

[JMick]

Heard it also. The first two names that popped into his head. Love it

 

[BUConn10]

Honestly. Nothing makes me prouder than seeing other fans bringing up Kemba or Shabazz as role models for their teams' respective leaders each March. Teams that aren't talent loaded 1 seeds look up to our guys like gods.

Seeing Roy Williams two years ago in the ACCT saying he "wants to be like Connecticut. 5 games in 5 days..." made me so proud. People took notice when Kemba did it, but when Shabazz did it shortly after too it made it clear something special is happening at UConn. We had the first guy to do something incredible on his own over the most chaotic 6 game tourney known to man. Then when Bazz did it 3 years later, it showed there IS a formula to this madness, and if you want to win you will need to emulate UConn toughness. I'd love to see the video of the clip in question if anyone has it recorded.

 

[methodology]

He's always spoken highly of UConn. Believe he coached Taliek in AAU. Said he would be an NBA great all century team on tbs back in 2001ish

 

[CardiacAndre7]

He's always spoken highly of UConn. Believe he coached Taliek in AAU. Said he would be an NBA great all century team on tbs back in 2001ish

Wow, Taliek was slightly before my time, was he really THAT good in high school?

 

[Robertelamin]

Wow, Taliek was slightly before my time, was he really THAT good in high school?

He was a McDonalds All American. I think there were 3 big time point guards out of NYC that year. UConn got Taliek, St Johns got Omar Cook and Seton Hall got Andre Barrett.

 

[BUConn10]

He was a McDonalds All American. I think there were 3 big time point guards out of NYC that year. UConn got Taliek, St Johns got Omar Cook and Seton Hall got Andre Barrett.

RIP Big East.

ACC worked behind the scenes to make sure this type of stuff never happens again.

 

[Storrs South]

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

Love Kenny Smith. Good dude and always has respect for UConn.
Was a pretty darn good player too.
He was the only one on the set that picked UConn to beat MSU prior to the elite 8 game in 2014 too. I didn't even think we really had much of a shot that game.

 

[BUConn10]

I love your content, keep it up.

 

[champs99and04]

I mean not to be that guy but his comments aren't really accurate. Frank Mason averaged 21 and 5 on 49% from the floor and 48% from three. He was probably the best guard in America. I'm pretty sure he can get his own shot.

Incidentally, he struggled tonight against the match-up zone, the same defense Shabazz struggled against. Oregon made him finish at the rim against their shot blocker and he couldn't do it. Bazz had those same problems. Honestly Mason is pretty much the same player Bazz was.

 

[BUConn10]

I mean not to be that guy but his comments aren't really accurate. Frank Mason averaged 21 and 5 on 49% from the floor and 48% from three. He was probably the best guard in America. I'm pretty sure he can get his own shot.

Incidentally, he struggled tonight against the match-up zone, the same defense Shabazz struggled against. Oregon made him finish at the rim against their shot blocker and he couldn't do it. Bazz had those same problems. Honestly Mason is pretty much the same player Bazz was.

Avering 21-5 doesn't necessarily mean you can get, and make your own shots in single elimination games when it matters most.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Avering 21-5 doesn't necessarily mean you can get, and make your own shots in single elimination games when it matters most.

Frank played great, his teammates let him down.

 

[tcf15]

I remember him giving a similar shoutout during the 2015 tournament too.

 

[Chief00]

I mean not to be that guy but his comments aren't really accurate. Frank Mason averaged 21 and 5 on 49% from the floor and 48% from three. He was probably the best guard in America. I'm pretty sure he can get his own shot.

Incidentally, he struggled tonight against the match-up zone, the same defense Shabazz struggled against. Oregon made him finish at the rim against their shot blocker and he couldn't do it. Bazz had those same problems. Honestly Mason is pretty much the same player Bazz was.

You love your match up zones. I think Miller lost a defender at UConn when he went so heavily that way and against UConn's historic man culture.

 

[dennismenace]

Honestly. Nothing makes me prouder than seeing other fans bringing up Kemba or Shabazz as role models for their teams' respective leaders each March. Teams that aren't talent loaded 1 seeds look up to our guys like gods.

Seeing Roy Williams two years ago in the ACCT saying he "wants to be like Connecticut. 5 games in 5 days..." made me so proud. People took notice when Kemba did it, but when Shabazz did it shortly after too it made it clear something special is happening at UConn. We had the first guy to do something incredible on his own over the most chaotic 6 game tourney known to man. Then when Bazz did it 3 years later, it showed there IS a formula to this madness, and if you want to win you will need to emulate UConn toughness. I'd love to see the video of the clip in question if anyone has it recorded.

Thank you and the operative word in your post is TOUGHNESS!

 

[Chin Diesel]

I remember him giving a similar shoutout during the 2015 tournament too.

Really looking forward to him complimenting UConn's guards performance in 2018.

 

[huskyrob1]

I mean not to be that guy but his comments aren't really accurate. Frank Mason averaged 21 and 5 on 49% from the floor and 48% from three. He was probably the best guard in America. I'm pretty sure he can get his own shot.

Incidentally, he struggled tonight against the match-up zone, the same defense Shabazz struggled against. Oregon made him finish at the rim against their shot blocker and he couldn't do it. Bazz had those same problems. Honestly Mason is pretty much the same player Bazz was.

The difference between Kansas and Mason and UCONN 2014, was UCONN had 2 or 3 players who could create their own shot while Kansas only really had Mason, so it was much easier for the Oregon D to focus on that one player. Also as good as Mason is he was not Shabazz. Shabazz had that quality of making his teammates play that much better, and I don't think Mason, as good as he is, had that quality.

 

[nomar]

You love your match up zones. I think Miller lost a defender at UConn when he went so heavily that way and against UConn's historic man culture.

Miller's gone, so you can stop ragging on him now.

 

[Mr. French]

The difference between Kansas and Mason and UCONN 2014, was UCONN had 2 or 3 players who could create their own shot while Kansas only really had Mason, so it was much easier for the Oregon D to focus on that one player. Also as good as Mason is he was not Shabazz. Shabazz had that quality of making his teammates play that much better, and I don't think Mason, as good as he is, had that quality.

Thank you. Pretty sure he wasn't referring to Mason ... But at the same time, if Mason did his best but still lost bc they didn't score enough, then he ISN'T the same player as Kemba or Shabazz.

This situation, they NEVER lost. Mason's team just did.

Everyone needs to flash their knowledge by arguing some nuanced points that don't even address the overall points. And by everyone I mean this message board.

 

[Kemba'sYogurt]

Add Omar Calhoun to this list as he apparently likes to go off in march:

 

[WrenchFan69]

Add Omar Calhoun to this list as he apparently likes to go off in march:

God I love healthy Omar. That Ohio State game last year was so awesome

 

[champs99and04]

Avering 21-5 doesn't necessarily mean you can get, and make your own shots in single elimination games when it matters most.

He did, though. Mason was great in the NCAA tournament and he was the only one who kept that from being a laugher last night. I haven't watched enough of Mason to know whether he was as special as Shabazz but I wouldn't rule it out based on the fact that his team lost.

FWIW, Shabazz was 13 for 42 against Louisville that season. He wasn't nearly as proficient at getting his own shot as people remember. DeAndre Daniels made his job a lot easier.

 

[Travelman6]

I caught it. Mentioned it last night in another thread. As long as Uconn keeps getting shout outs, they will remain relevant (until they pick it up again, which will be soon). A Junior high school bball player being highly recruited is watching and will hear those shout outs. Every player wants to be mentioned at random times 6 years after the fact or 20+ (like Ray). You can at Uconn.

 

[Kitaman]

The best part is that he doesn't even need to say UConn! They're Legends.