Odds that shabazz returns?

[Hi-Low]

When Bazz turns it on, he's amazing, but there were moments last night where he was hurting the team. I wanted KO to give him the hook. He still has these wtf stretches that he needs to work on. Iron those out next year and he'll be in the POY conversation. And please, no more of those fake head jerks, you'll get fined in the NBA for that.

Sorry, couldn't disagree more. Bazz has bad possessions (and games) but never hurts the team....ofcourse there are things he can work on. He is in the POY conversation this year, next year he would be among the favorites. That said it's probably best for him to go this year if he gets indications will be late 1st round pick...if not then it's a question of how much he can improve his stock if he plays another year of college....close call. I'm sure JC and KO will help guide him to best decision. Since KO played on practically every team in NBA I'm sure he has some folks to contact to get some feedback for Bazz.

 

[GlastonTim]

Sorry, couldn't disagree more. Bazz has bad possessions (and games) but never hurts the team....ofcourse there are things he can work on. He is in the POY conversation this year, next year he would be among the favorites. That said it's probably best for him to go this year if he gets indications will be late 1st round pick.

We must not be watching the same games, or else you're going to the fridge and toilet all game.

 

[hasheemthedream]

It wouldn't be a very smart decision for Bazz to leave this year. Jeremy Lamb has twice the talent and can't even crack some minutes. Granted he is on a very stacked team. I think AJ Price, Marcus Williams, and El-Amin were all better guards out of college compared to what Bazz has shown and look how far they got. Ya AJ is still in the league but he was on thin ice his first couple years.

Hopefully Ollie can convince him it would be in his best interest to spend another year in Sunny Storrs!!!

 

[James]

Until he learns to play defense , he will not play in the NBA.
Where was all this talk after the Villanova game? He is just as nerveracking (sp) as he is brilliant. Fickle is as fickle does.

Now I've heard it all apparently bazz knows nothing about d. Sure he gets lost on screens at time but when he is focused he is an elite DEFENDER. In hoops you can't go 100 if you carry the teams offense. did you not see him lock up triche ? Triche sucks I guess

 

[JSB60]

I think he's gone. He's had a strong season and it's a weak draft, so his chances of sticking and contributing in the NBA are as high this year as they'll ever be. Noel doesn't help the chances of his staying. I really hope I'm wrong.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Odds that shabazz returns? Any thoughts?

Taboo

 

[aceboon]

We must not be watching the same games, or else you're going to the fridge and toilet all game.

I think you're watching something entirely different than everyone else, Bazz is not always 100% ON, but to say he's hurting the team is bogus.

 

[buckley503]

Now I've heard it all apparently bazz knows nothing about d. Sure he gets lost on screens at time but when he is focused he is an elite DEFENDER. In hoops you can't go 100 if you carry the teams offense. did you not see him lock up triche ? Triche sucks I guess

Oh my bad, I didn't realize he locked down Triche. What a huge body of evidence that makes him an elite defender. So when the "ole''' style he was employing on the Cincy guards who easily got to the lane he was focused on his O. Gotcha. I sure hope he has some offensive help at the next level so he can "lock" down Rose, Paul, et al.

 

[superjohn]

Very good chance he would not make an NBA roster if he left after this year. Some of you guys are nuts saying he's in the player of the year conversation and his stock is soaring, WTF are you guys talking about? Get out of your UConn bubble.

 

[James]

WHAT? Triche not good enough for ya ? What about grant from nd? Garry Harris? He's guarding 2 guards... Remarkably well...how about an nba player ? Brandon knight? Should I keep going? lmao he won't be asked to lock up the two of the best pgs in the league. Point is the guy still has some lapses, but he has an excuse.

 

[storrsroars]

Mock drafts are what they are - guesses, and moving ones at that based on who's actually making the jump - but I haven't seen Bazz's name come up on any 2013 mocks I've looked at. I have seen him as a 2nd rounder on some 2014 mocks.

Based on that, I see Bazz coming back.

FWIW, I think KO needs him to come back. For all the good that KO's done so far, he's still facing an uphill battle for recruiting and IMO could need more than a Sweet 16 next year to prove that UConn is indeed still relevant.

 

[buckley503]

WHAT? Triche not good enough for ya ? What about grant from nd? Garry Harris? He's guarding 2 guards... Remarkably well...how about an nba player ? Brandon knight? Should I keep going? lmao he won't be asked to lock up the two of the best pgs in the league. Point is the guy still has some lapses, but he has an excuse.

He's guarding college guards like he is supposed to. And are you referring to Knight in the Final Four?? Bazz locked him down or Knight couldn't hit water if he fell out of boat that night. I'm thinking the latter.
And one last question on the matter: last week, Villanova, Arcidiacono is hitting everything, why didn't our coach say Bazz you're a lockdown defender go stop him or Bazz say, hey i'm a lockdown defender let me have him?
You give a million names to me just don't think defense when i hear Napier. Sorry.

 

[CL82]

Sorry, couldn't disagree more. Bazz has bad possessions (and games) but never hurts the team....ofcourse there are things he can work on. He is in the POY conversation this year, next year he would be among the favorites. That said it's probably best for him to go this year if he gets indications will be late 1st round pick....

That's the big if, isn't it. If he was and left, I'd be happy for him. I'm not confident that he'll go that high.

 

[James]

He's guarding college guards like he is supposed to. And are you referring to Knight in the Final Four?? Bazz locked him down or Knight couldn't hit water if he fell out of boat that night. I'm thinking the latter.
And one last question on the matter: last week, Villanova, Arcidiacono is hitting everything, why didn't our coach say Bazz you're a lockdown defender go stop him or Bazz say, hey i'm a lockdown defender let me have him?
You give a million names to me just don't think defense when i hear Napier. Sorry.

Okay so. According to you both times bazz played knight, he got lucky because knight was cold and it had nothing to do with his defender. How about his defensive rebounding? the difference between you and I is that I see his whole body of work. You fall into the 'what have you done for me lately' catagory of posters.

 

[sparky]

He's won a NC and has led this team that has only their pride to play for to a decent record. They could have folded, but the COACH and the BAZZ wouldn't let them. I hope he returns, but his handlers will influence his choice. This team has been fun to follow and Bazz has alot to do with it. I don't see him as a first rounder, so there is no guaranteed $. I would advise to stay and improve his off the ball defense and lead this team into the tourney again.

 

[GlastonTim]

I think you're watching something entirely different than everyone else, Bazz is not always 100% ON, but to say he's hurting the team is bogus.

There was a stretch last nite during the scoreless 9 minutes that I thought KO should of sat him down and talked to him. He was clearly making some bad choices.

 

[PacificStorm]

Seems like a toss up. Any thoughts?

Yes, there is absolutely no guarantee he goes in the first round. AJ Price was a very late (#52th?) pick despite the UConn being in the Final Four. So Bazz may not even get in the 2nd round. The other reason is that he will be competing against at least 10-20 very good European players. This means he has to be a top 20 US player in 2103, which maybe he is not yet, in order to get guaranteed money in the first round. In order to get into either 1st or 2nd round in 2013, he has to have a monster last five games like averaging 25-30 and getting double-double, low turnovers, and lots of steals. The other way is for him to return and lead the Huskies on to a 2014 FF or even win the championship. It's somewhat more doable - with new good players coming in - than having 5 monster games strung together. Even then, in either scenario, his best chances are in 2nd round. Uconn could win the 2014 title and he might still get only in the 2nd round (Remember AJ Price?). But he would enjoy the great glory of a precious title that lasts forever and the honor of being one of the greatest Huskies of all time - linked forever with Kemba, and a FAT, oh, FAT European contract. I'd take that FAT contract in a jiffy.

My final guess? He should return and help the Huskies win a championship, highly enhancing his NBA and European money possibilities. He can definitely make low millions in Europe like El Amin, Trajan Langdon and Rashad Anderson. In European league, the contracts are getting fatter, the season is much shorter, the food is great, the girls are hotter, you experience multicultural exchanges, and get less body wear. Way much better than playing in the D-league for $30-35 a year.

 

[Inyatkin]

Andy Katz addressed Bazz and Boatright today: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebask...6976/3-point-shot-uconn-players-decision-easy Here is a quote from it. "I have no vested interest here but just an observation: Wouldn't they want to return so they could play in the NCAAs in 2014 and challenge for the Big East regular-season title? That's a sure thing. The draft, collecting money and actually contributing in the NBA next season is not."

Much as I'd like to agree, it's just not a sure thing. We would have thought preseason we'd be contenders in 2010 and 2012, and we weren't. So playing in the NCAAs and challenging for a Big East title seems likely, but it's far from a sure thing.

 

[Offhegoes]

I hate to sound bias here, but looking at the 2014 mock draft...some of the gaurds listed in the first round are not better than Napier. Myck Kabango? DeOnte Burton? Jahil Carson? Gary harris... purvis, hollins...all these guys are really solid and have pro potential, but even if they are better, i feel that Napier coming back with more national spotlight on a quality team will narrow the gap(if any) between him and these players. Theres no definite he wont be a first round pick next year.

 

[Hi-Low]

We must not be watching the same games, or else you're going to the fridge and toilet all game.

You are a moron regardless....but if you think Bazz ever hurts the team by being on the floor you need a new TV. You can't pick and choose bad moments and say he hurts the team when at anytime he can go off and pull a freaking victory out of nowhere.

 

[coachRD]

Yeah my heart says yes, but you never know.

One thing is sure, there is really no one better than kevin ollie to advise on this decision for a player who is likely a career nba backup at best

He has nba moxie, but his stature and athleticism are probably not quite there to be a starter... I think he would be excellent in euro leagues

I agree. At his small size, he needs to be BLAZING fast, or have a RIDICULOUS outside shot to make it in the NBA, IMO. He doesn't pass that test in either category. He is a GREAT college player who will go down as one of my all-time favorite Huskies, but I don't think he has the athleticism to stick in the NBA. I agree he will be making 6 figures overseas for a long time.

An NBA team that is well stocked with young talent that can afford to "waste" a pick may take him in the 2nd round because he clearly has shown he has "it" when it comes to crunch time, and that is obviously an important trait that doesn't show up on a tape measure. I think that's his only chance, and I think it's slim.

I just hope he is part of a great team in his Senior year next year so he can finish out his UCONN career in a manner that matches what he has given to this program!

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

It wouldn't be a very smart decision for Bazz to leave this year. Jeremy Lamb has twice the talent and can't even crack some minutes. !!!

Lamb is half a foot taller and has much longer arms. He in no way has "twice the talent."

 

[boog204]

I love Bazz, but I just can't imagine him having any future in the NBA. As has been stated, if you are as small as he is you better be a great athlete or shoot it really well. Bazz does neither. He is very streaky and gets by on moxie and balls, not athleticism. That doesn't really fly at the next level. AJ was a better athlete and in my opinion better player and he's struggling to get meaningful minutes. Also, Bazz is not a typical point guard in the sense of being someone who sets people up. In my opinion, he'd be nuts to come out unless he'd be a first round pick which I really, really don't see. If he does leave (and it seems like he may), I hope I'm wrong.

 

[jorge34]

I love Bazz, but there is NO CHANCE he is a first round pick in 2013. I do think he has a chance to carve out a bench role in the NBA at some point.

If would make most sense to come back for a senior year, and see if he could sneak into the late first round with a highly successful run in next year's tournament, but even at that, chances of landing in the first round are suspect.

The kid is gonna make money overseas; IMO, his most likely route to the NBA starts overseas for a year or couple. So, again, to me, it becomes a question of whether an additional year in college and a degree out ways making $$$ on another continent, not so much the possiblity as a first rounder in the 2013 nba draft.

 

[SJ]

I think he wants to come back and win a second championship.

I sure as heck hope so!