Niels

[David 76]

Just because you're not drafted doesn't mean you can't play in the NBA. Just ask Kevin Ollie, Jerome Dyson, Jeff Adrien, etc.

That's what I meant. Would he bother with D league or go make real money in Europe? I think he has a lot of strengths that that are not noticed by the scouts and like Ollie would show his worth to teams.

 

[aceboon]

That's what I meant. Would he bother with D league or go make real money in Europe? I think he has a lot of strengths that that are not noticed by the scouts and like Ollie would show his worth to teams.

can't remember what article I read it in but he said he wanted to give the summer league and the NBA a shot before going over to Europe immediately.

 

[aceboon]

I love Neils but let's be honest he missed a TON of wide open 3's against MSU and UF. He did end up hitting 2 huge shots in the National Championship, but there is no denying he was cold for 2-3 straight games and I haven't seen one person post about that yet

who cares, he still got some baskets on hook shots and in the paint area, and he also still contributed on defense and on the boards, which is why KO kept him out there on the floor. Its not like he missed the shots and then gave the team nothing else. Not sure why you would post this type of stuff in a thread meant to appreciate everything he gave the program for 4 years.

 

[David 76]

So you're goinGiffeyg to argue that Boatright has good range and is a good 3-point shooter? He has a good percentage, not arguing that, but watching every game are you going to say he has good range and shooting is his strength?

What is your point? That Giffey's and Boat's shooting percentage don't matter because you don't think Boat has range and Giff had a 2.5 game slump with his jump shot? We are celebrating a championship and, in this thread, sharing our appreciation of Giffey.
Why are you here?

 

[David 76]

can't remember what article I read it in but he said he wanted to give the summer league and the NBA a shot before going over to Europe immediately.

Thanks

 

[pj]

Niels became a great, great player. I never expected him to grow into such a good player when he first joined us. You could tell he would be a good shooter but it wasn't obvious he would be more than that. He became a do-everything guy. He will be the kind of versatile, hard-working, complementary pro coaches love. He's earned himself a great income playing basketball, either here or in Europe. I hope it's here.

 

[Strummer]

I love Neils but let's be honest he missed a TON of wide open 3's against MSU and UF. . . . there is no denying he was cold for 2-3 straight games and I haven't seen one person post about that yet

Okay - now it's clear on its face that this is a majoroso @$$H0L3 comment. That's indisputable. But I'm going to take it one step further here.

What was your point?

I'm guessing it was this:

1. That the TON of wide open 3s that he missed show that he's not, somehow, icy-veined enough to be in the NBA. Is that right?

Why do a couple of posters on this board have such an obvious dislike of Mr. Giffey?

In one of the earlier games in the tourni - can't remember which one now, the kid hit a late 3 from the left corner that absolutely, positively stopped the bleeding and catapulted us into a position to win. The enemy had closed the gap to about 3 or 4 at that point, and we surged for the win thereafter.

In the final game, against the other hottest team in the tourni, AFTER missing his first shot, the kid drained not ONE, but TWO critical 3s that padded our lead and kept the childcats at arms length so we could power through to the win.

But, notwithstanding his wicked 50% shooting for the year from 3 and his essential and critical shots in winning two games in our final run,

you, cloudy thought man, point to the two or three games that he was cold from 3 and conclude that those exceptions - not the rule shown in his killer plays in the finals - are what best exemplifies him as a player.

I literally would like to smack you.

 

[HomeKing93]

I will miss Niels as well. And I don't know why some people think he couldn't play in the NBA. His talents combined with the experience he has playing here and in Germany will give him a chance to make an NBA roster.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Loved him throughout his time here and like many I wondered why he didn't see more time or take more shots but there's no denying that Giffey played whatever role was needed in order to win.

As big as his 3s were, his toughness and rebounding in the paint vs bigger guys is what I'll likely remember the most.

 

[Gurleyman]

Okay - now it's clear on its face that this is a majoroso @ H0L3 comment. That's indisputable. But I'm going to take it one step further here.

What was your point?

I'm guessing it was this:

1. That the TON of wide open 3s that he missed show that he's not, somehow, icy-veined enough to be in the NBA. Is that right?

Why do a couple of posters on this board have such an obvious dislike of Mr. Giffey?

In one of the earlier games in the tourni - can't remember which one now, the kid hit a late 3 from the left corner that absolutely, positively stopped the bleeding and catapulted us into a position to win. The enemy had closed the gap to about 3 or 4 at that point, and we surged for the win thereafter.

In the final game, against the other hottest team in the tourni, AFTER missing his first shot, the kid drained not ONE, but TWO critical 3s that padded our lead and kept the childcats at arms length so we could power through to the win.

But, notwithstanding his wicked 50% shooting for the year from 3 and his essential and critical shots in winning two games in our final run,

you, cloudy thought man, point to the two or three games that he was cold from 3 and conclude that those exceptions - not the rule shown in his killer plays in the finals - are what best exemplifies him as a player.

I literally would like to smack you.

Can I get in line? We can be like the line of people wanting to smack the hysterical lady in Airplane.

I mean, hell, if you cherry-pick bad moments, Bazz had a couple of really sloppy turnovers over the last six games. Dribbling off his leg with 1:30 to go against St. Joe's when we were down 3. Not knowing there was a guy behind him against Kentucky, the pass through the Kentucky player's legs, etc. But if you take the aggregate performance over that stretch (the forest, not the trees), he was sensational. He did perhaps catch a break that Brimah had the three-point play to bail him out of an off game, but that happens in sports - teammates pick you up sometimes.

In Giffey's case, he missed some shots he had made regularly, yes. But he also guarded both Youngs in the Final Four (Florida's 270 pound center, and Kentucky's NBA 2 guard), as well as Randle. All those guys did most of their damage when other guys had them. And he hit three really big ones - the two late against Kentucky and the ISU one after they cut it to four. So if you see the forest, you realize that he had his thumbprints all over this title run, without his top weapon - surprise. No wait, surprise and fear. His two top weapons are surprise and fear.

And so did Boat, and DD, and Brimah, and Nolan defensively, and Samuel, and Kromah hit two big FTs (Kromah and Samuel were awful at the line early in the year and dead perfect in the NCAA Tournament - how cool is that). That's what made this ride so fun - everyone had their hands in it.

 

[nyc2014]

I am an alumni and HUGE UCONN fan, and love that we won. I thought the point of these message boards was for fans to engage in any interesting discussion or points they are thinking and not just 100% positive and exaggerated statement. First and foremost I am amazed, stunned and beyond proud of everything that is UCONN basketball this year. There is an infinite amount of praise and positive statements to be said about the team as a whole and each individual player and coach who contributed but are you guys kidding me that there is no room for praise. I am a HUGE fan, but also unbiased and some of the stuff I read is so exaggerated. Can Giffey play in the NBA? Like that's a real question. EVERY announcer and analyst said he would have a great career in Europe, no one mentioned the NBA except on these boards. Great contributor for us, but sorry for pointing out he doesn't have a spot in the NBA. Should I run and get off the boards for that?

And Boatright is an incredible athlete and basketball player, but I don't know where you could find anyone saying that this year he is a first round draft pick other than these UCONN message boards.

Sorry for trying to be unbiased, not hating on anyone, just trying to be unbiased and give my opinion.

 

[Scoe]

Niels could be the best glue guy we have ever had, when he lost playing time even as a senior he never lost confidence. Even though his 3 point shot wasn't falling he was still scoring playing solid D often out of position guarding the likes of Payne, Young and Randle, his rebounding was awesome. He was so due to hit a 3 in the championship game and both of them were extremely critical, I'm really gonna miss this kid.

I just can't help but think this kid is a Spur a typical Popovich player. I could see him playing in the NBA in the right system, would love to see him in the 2016 olympics. Maybe Dirk will put a word into Cuban on draft day. I don't see why a team wouldn't take a chance on him in the 2nd round or UDFA, stash him overseas.

 

[7774]

So you're going to argue that Boatright has good range and is a good 3-point shooter? He has a good percentage, not arguing that, but watching every game are you going to say he has good range and shooting is his strength?

No, I don't plan on arguing it, because it is a statistical fact. He shot 40% on 2 pointers and 38% on 3 pointers this year. All other things being equal, it's not even close in terms of what shot we were better off having him take.

 

[Leebo]

*someone makes a topic praising Niels for his career*
"HEY GUYS HE PLAYED BAD IN TWO GAMES WE WON"

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I am an alumni and HUGE UCONN fan, and love that we won. I thought the point of these message boards was for fans to engage in any interesting discussion or points they are thinking and not just 100% positive and exaggerated statement. First and foremost I am amazed, stunned and beyond proud of everything that is UCONN basketball this year. There is an infinite amount of praise and positive statements to be said about the team as a whole and each individual player and coach who contributed but are you guys kidding me that there is no room for praise. I am a HUGE fan, but also unbiased and some of the stuff I read is so exaggerated. Can Giffey play in the NBA? Like that's a real question. EVERY announcer and analyst said he would have a great career in Europe, no one mentioned the NBA except on these boards. Great contributor for us, but sorry for pointing out he doesn't have a spot in the NBA. Should I run and get off the boards for that?

And Boatright is an incredible athlete and basketball player, but I don't know where you could find anyone saying that this year he is a first round draft pick other than these UCONN message boards.

Sorry for trying to be unbiased, not hating on anyone, just trying to be unbiased and give my opinion.

As aceboon pointed out above, you missed the point of this thread, which is to honor and show appreciation of all the things that Niels did to be a great teammate and to contribute to the success of the team. It is not a thread where people are having an honest debate about some point or another. When you dispute some small point that has nothing to do with the main theme, you missed the point and even ruined a "feel good" thread.

 

[Ohio UConn]

Great thread. In tourney game after game and time after time "Griffey" made so many little plays that did not appear in a stat line. Defense, rebounding, movement, stress on opposition.

Niels has incredibly quick gifted hands ----------I thought it was second coming of Caron Butler in that capacity

 

[intlzncster]

Okay - now it's clear on its face that this is a majoroso @ H0L3 comment. That's indisputable. But I'm going to take it one step further here.

I spent more time than I should of looking for the poster named 'H0L3'.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Love you Neil's Giffey. Hope you make it good out there, how many people can say they're a 2 time national champ!?(hint, he can).

 

[intlzncster]

I am an alumni and HUGE UCONN fan, and love that we won. I thought the point of these message boards was for fans to engage in any interesting discussion or points they are thinking and not just 100% positive and exaggerated statement. First and foremost I am amazed, stunned and beyond proud of everything that is UCONN basketball this year. There is an infinite amount of praise and positive statements to be said about the team as a whole and each individual player and coach who contributed but are you guys kidding me that there is no room for praise. I am a HUGE fan, but also unbiased and some of the stuff I read is so exaggerated. Can Giffey play in the NBA? Like that's a real question. EVERY announcer and analyst said he would have a great career in Europe, no one mentioned the NBA except on these boards. Great contributor for us, but sorry for pointing out he doesn't have a spot in the NBA. Should I run and get off the boards for that?

And Boatright is an incredible athlete and basketball player, but I don't know where you could find anyone saying that this year he is a first round draft pick other than these UCONN message boards.

Sorry for trying to be unbiased, not hating on anyone, just trying to be unbiased and give my opinion.

There are times criticism, and there are times for celebration. Now is the time for basking in glory.

 

[PAHusky]

I think what says the most about NG is, like a lot of the guys from this team, he stuck it out when he could have went elsewhere. His decision to stay might have even been the most difficult out of everyone's. He wasn't guaranteed a starting spot or huge minutes coming into the season. The teams chances at winning it all didn't look phenomenal at the begining of the year. He wasn't really playing for NBA scouts. His home was an ocean away. He could have easily gone pro in Germany after his stellar performance this summer and started making loot. He could have bounced back to the motherland with his one title and he'd have been showered in good German beer and bratwurts and beautiful Bavarian women and been paid enough Euros to swim in a la Scrooge McDuck.

Instead he chose to take the stairs, one at a time. He started out as a skinny kid who went out and gave it everything he had every second he was on the court, who was at times timid on the offensive end. He ended his career as a grown man who went out and gave it everything he had every second he was on the court, who knocked down half - half!- of the 3's he took, including some of the biggest of the season, who ripped down rebounds, who guarded multiple positions like a boss. Shabazz might have been the brain of the team, Boatright its heart, Daniels its lanky and devastating limbs and Brimah/Nolan its effervescent smile, but Niels was the backbone.

Niels never bailed. He ended his career as a 2 time NCAA champion and a consummate Husky. Giffey uber alles.

 

[intlzncster]

I think what says the most about NG is, like a lot of the guys from this team, he stuck it out when he could have went elsewhere. His decision to stay might have even been the most difficult out of everyone's. He wasn't guaranteed a starting spot or huge minutes coming into the season. The teams chances at winning it all didn't look phenomenal at the begining of the year. He wasn't really playing for NBA scouts. His home was an ocean away. He could have easily gone pro in Germany after his stellar performance this summer and started making loot. He could have bounced back to the motherland with his one title and he'd have been showered in good German beer and bratwurts and beautiful Bavarian women and been paid enough Euros to swim in a la Scrooge McDuck.

Damn that sounds good. Niels is a stronger man than I.

 

[TheChamps990411]

I love niels. Thats all.

 

[uconndoit]

And he never gave up even though his grandfathers bombed Pearl Harbor!

 

[upstater]

Boatright was grabbing rebounds like crazy, creating space, popping Js, getting under people's shirts. It would be mind boggling to imagine him doing that consistently. But if he could and added assists to his repertoire, then yes he could play in the NBA. He plays much bigger than his size.

As for Giffey, he really played well in the European championships and I could see him as a glue guy who can pop 3s.

 

[David 76]

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for puny little me asking if there was any shot NG could go in the 2nd round or would he go D league and try to make it like Ollie.
Such a ridiculous, biased, question should never have seen the light of day. Especially seeing that NG had a 2 game slump with his jump shot. I will leave now for the remedial BY where a will attempt to learn what "a real question" is

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I love Neils, but if anyone thinks he is getting drafted to the NBA they are just too biased to the huskies. Great piece to our national championship team but he would do nothing in the NBA.

Welcome to the board. You seem great.

 

[CL82]

If you had told me at the start of the season that our championship dream would rely upon an undersized bearded German swing man playing the 5 against some of the toughest big men we faced all year, I would not have been all that confident about our chances. By the championship game, it didn't make me blink.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I am an alumni and HUGE UCONN fan, and love that we won. I thought the point of these message boards was for fans to engage in any interesting discussion or points they are thinking and not just 100% positive and exaggerated statement. First and foremost I am amazed, stunned and beyond proud of everything that is UCONN basketball this year. There is an infinite amount of praise and positive statements to be said about the team as a whole and each individual player and coach who contributed but are you guys kidding me that there is no room for praise. I am a HUGE fan, but also unbiased and some of the stuff I read is so exaggerated. Can Giffey play in the NBA? Like that's a real question. EVERY announcer and analyst said he would have a great career in Europe, no one mentioned the NBA except on these boards. Great contributor for us, but sorry for pointing out he doesn't have a spot in the NBA. Should I run and get off the boards for that?

And Boatright is an incredible athlete and basketball player, but I don't know where you could find anyone saying that this year he is a first round draft pick other than these UCONN message boards.

Sorry for trying to be unbiased, not hating on anyone, just trying to be unbiased and give my opinion.

I figured I'd wait until I'd read all posts before chiming in, and then you came back to defend your stance. Many others have already taken you to task for inserting yourself into a celebratory thread to point out that Niels missed 8 consecutive 3-pointers over the span of the 3 final rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

• First, a fact for someone who above seems to denigrate exaggeration: 8 shots does not equal a TON.

• Second, there actually were some allusive mentions of missed shots, which contradicts your saying that nobody mentioned them.

• Third, nobody has attacked you for your careless error above when you wrote "praise" and likely meant "criticism." Either way, we're neither kidding you nor intending that no criticism is allowed.

• Fourth, Niels's missed 3-pointers during the last 3 games of the season were all part of the mojo.

Most "sports journalism professionals" not only believed that Michigan State, then Florida, then Kentucky would beat UCONN, but also asserted that UCONN could likely only win if they played a 'perfect game.' Niels's missed shots, and other players' imperfections make evident that such was not the case. It also reveals the foolishness of any after-the-fact claims about poor shooting, poor foul shooting, and poor individual performance as a 'reason' why UCONN could prevail over better teams. In other words: WE MADE MISTAKES TOO! I saw so much to commend in Niels's overall play in those last 3 games that I remained confident that he should be in the games even when shots he regularly made throughout the year weren't dropping. I figured that sooner-or-later they would, and they did (YAY).​

Monday may well have been a good day for you to join The Boneyard, and you are always welcome to state opinions, reveal personal idiosyncracies, even make typographical and/or grammar errors. But adding to the conversation at hand is always more appreciated than not.

PS - Even if it is unlikely that Niels will play in the NBA, imagining the possibility is one way that I can cope with the thought f not seeing him play again. I will miss the guys together for certain, but there really is a good chance that I won't see Niels and Lasan play again. Don't even get me started about Tyler and Tor.

 

[Danzz]

Niels is right up there with Rashad.

Giffey is a different player than Rashad. Giffey contributed more than shooting and in the shooting category category Rashad was far superior because he could make his shots under pressure. Rashad was more aggressive and thought shoot first. If Rashad ever got a rebound it was by accident. Giffey developed into an outstanding position rebounder and without his work on the boards we probably don't win a NCC. Except for their ability to make open outside shots, they were really quite different players.

 

[RichZ]

Totally agree....over the course of this year, he came to be able to compete with much bigger offensive players, started securing critical rebounds (no longer tapping them), and still playing tough D outside the paint as well. He was more confident as a ball handler and drove the ball and even made some baby hooks. Add that to shooting about 50% from 3 and Niels was one of the critical pieces of the puzzle that came together as the team moved toward the tournament.

To hit those two critical 3 pointers was just so awesome. His going cold for that stretch would have been a lousy way to end his career. Instead, he was one of the heroes who brought home the championship. It looked like he could not have been a better teammate and representative of the University of Connecticut.

He demonstrated the surest hands rebounding that we've seen in quite some time. If he got 2 hands on the ball, it was his, period.