UConnSwag11
Storrs, CT The Mecca
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- Aug 26, 2011
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I'll also post Kornheiser's questions he asked that year, "Is Kemba Walker the best tournament player ever? Look at his stats."
Who the hell else is even in contention for the top spot?
This is not a dis on SN but this board disrespects his teammates too much.Shabazz?
This is not a dis on SN but this board disrespects his teammates too much.
He was clearly the leader and star on what became a great team especially shooting the ball. It was the best UConn 3pt shooting team in the decade and maybe even ever.
Down big against Villanova SN sat and the team fought back without him to even by halftime. They were junior and senior dominated with a lot of confidence in themselves. Maybe even a tad cocky.
Kemba was the heart and soul of the 2011 team
If Kemba sat for 5 minutes that team would have fadded like a cheap suit in the Arizona summer sun. Bazz got him off the ball at times but Kemba rarely sat. JC knew what would happen. They were just kids whose strength came from his presence, which made what he accomplished extremely rare.
A+YES... and it is not even close.
I will ask again - is Kemba's 11-game run through the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament the greatest post season run in NCAA history EVER? I say yes to that, as well.
Yes, Bill Walton's 44 points in the 1973 title game versus Memphis, on 21 of 22 shooting no less, is probably the most impressive single championship game feat. But his team only had to win 4 total games to win the title, and he averaged 16 points per game in the other 3 games. Also 15 rebounds per game... Yes, he was excellent, borderline dominant (obviously dominant in the championship game).
But Kemba was TRANSCENDENT. Not only did he make big play after big play after big play during that stretch, he was also the unquestioned leader of that team. The weight of that team, and our entire fanbase, was on his shoulders. He lifted them and us to a height that only he could have made happen.
5 wins in 5 nights, including back-to-back-to-back wins over ranked Pitt, Syracuse and Louisville? And then following it up with a 6-game run to the National Title? Not even Danny Manning's title run in 1988 with his "Danny and the Miracles" team at Kansas tops it.
The single greatest postseason/tournament run in men's college basketball history happened in 2011, right before our eyes, thanks to Kemba Walker. Period, end of story.
YES... and it is not even close.
I will ask again - is Kemba's 11-game run through the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament the greatest post season run in NCAA history EVER? I say yes to that, as well.
Yes, Bill Walton's 44 points in the 1973 title game versus Memphis, on 21 of 22 shooting no less, is probably the most impressive single championship game feat. But his team only had to win 4 total games to win the title, and he averaged 16 points per game in the other 3 games. Also 15 rebounds per game... Yes, he was excellent, borderline dominant (obviously dominant in the championship game).
But Kemba was TRANSCENDENT. Not only did he make big play after big play after big play during that stretch, he was also the unquestioned leader of that team. The weight of that team, and our entire fanbase, was on his shoulders. He lifted them and us to a height that only he could have made happen.
5 wins in 5 nights, including back-to-back-to-back wins over ranked Pitt, Syracuse and Louisville? And then following it up with a 6-game run to the National Title? Not even Danny Manning's title run in 1988 with his "Danny and the Miracles" team at Kansas tops it.
The single greatest postseason/tournament run in men's college basketball history happened in 2011, right before our eyes, thanks to Kemba Walker. Period, end of story.
Let's not forget about Danny Manning in '88.
Unless he's answering Kornheiser's question. Has there ever been a player that has put up Kemba's numbers in a preseason tournament, conference tournament, and the NCAA tournament and won all three?Considering the OP was asking about the best run of the 2000's, I don't think Manning qualifies.
And put up the numbers he did with that young of a teamHas any other player ever led his team to a 14-0 record in win-or-go-home tourney games in one season?