UChusky916
Making the board a little less insufferable
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2011
- Messages
- 3,286
- Reaction Score
- 17,166
Guys, this year is going to be special. Why?
Shabazz Napier.
I just rewatched both games. Shabazz just looks ridiculously good out there. I mean, REALLY good. All-American good. He's in a class all his own. He looks noticeably QUICKER than last year. His ability to change direction/speed, accelerate, then stop on a dime and pull up has been very impressive. He's clearly over his foot injuries from last year and he looks primed to explode.
His court vision is unparalleled. He sees plays develop 2 or 3 steps ahead of the average player. He exudes confidence and has just the right amount of cockiness. I feel like any time in any game he can take over, and he knows it.
If I can pick one player in the country to take and make a shot, it's Bazz. If we need to get a shot for someone else on offense, Bazz will find him. And that's the difference in Shabazz's game now: He's mature. He is a leader. And he will do whatever it takes to win. Either he'll get someone else an easy bucket or he'll hit a tough shot in someone's face regardless of how well he's defended.
In the first half today, Bazz knew Giffey was feeling it and he kept running pick and roll with him and manipulating the defense to get him great looks (including a luscious behind-the-back pass). Bazz makes everyone else on the team that much better. He's smart enough to know that he won't win on his own and he's experienced enough to know how to get his teammates going so that he doesn't HAVE to take over a game.
But if he has to, he can.
When Yale cut the lead to 11 today, on 2 straight possessions he just took the game over with a pull-up 3 and a ridiculous and-1 to extend the lead back to 17.
He had a triple double today and he made it look easy. I feel like he's just scratching the surface on this year.
I know, it's early in the season.
I know, we haven't really gone up against great competition yet.
I know, he fouled out vs MD when we needed him most (that tech call was BS), what kind of a senior PG leader does that?
I know, Bazz can't do EVERYTHING all on his own...
But this kid is special. I honestly don't doubt that he can't and won't do ANYTHING to help this team win. I knew he was going to be good after his OT heroics last year, but not this good. He's a certified leader. He's got loads of post-season experience and he knows what it takes to be a champion. He is seasoned and has watched greatness happen right before his eyes. He couldn't have been tutored by a better leader than Kemba.
I'm so happy and excited to watch this kid finish out his career here this season. Bazz's game is definitely well-suited to the NBA. His game will certainly translate to the next level, but for now, I wish him nothing but the best this year and I'm going to love watching him each game. He deserves the world for what he's given to this program. He's gone through a roller-coaster of a ride during his 4 years here:
-BE and National championship out of no where freshman year.
-Disappointing sophomore year filled with chemistry/leadership issues on a disjointed team. Lots of guys transfer, forcing him to re-develop chemistry with new players.
-A coaching change, an injury, and a post-season ban his junior year. A conference change in the off-season.
Yet, after all of that, here he is in his senior year. He stuck with the program through thick and thin. And he's going to be the one largely responsible for keeping UConn basketball in national prominence.
Shabazz Napier.
I just rewatched both games. Shabazz just looks ridiculously good out there. I mean, REALLY good. All-American good. He's in a class all his own. He looks noticeably QUICKER than last year. His ability to change direction/speed, accelerate, then stop on a dime and pull up has been very impressive. He's clearly over his foot injuries from last year and he looks primed to explode.
His court vision is unparalleled. He sees plays develop 2 or 3 steps ahead of the average player. He exudes confidence and has just the right amount of cockiness. I feel like any time in any game he can take over, and he knows it.
If I can pick one player in the country to take and make a shot, it's Bazz. If we need to get a shot for someone else on offense, Bazz will find him. And that's the difference in Shabazz's game now: He's mature. He is a leader. And he will do whatever it takes to win. Either he'll get someone else an easy bucket or he'll hit a tough shot in someone's face regardless of how well he's defended.
In the first half today, Bazz knew Giffey was feeling it and he kept running pick and roll with him and manipulating the defense to get him great looks (including a luscious behind-the-back pass). Bazz makes everyone else on the team that much better. He's smart enough to know that he won't win on his own and he's experienced enough to know how to get his teammates going so that he doesn't HAVE to take over a game.
But if he has to, he can.
When Yale cut the lead to 11 today, on 2 straight possessions he just took the game over with a pull-up 3 and a ridiculous and-1 to extend the lead back to 17.
He had a triple double today and he made it look easy. I feel like he's just scratching the surface on this year.
I know, it's early in the season.
I know, we haven't really gone up against great competition yet.
I know, he fouled out vs MD when we needed him most (that tech call was BS), what kind of a senior PG leader does that?
I know, Bazz can't do EVERYTHING all on his own...
But this kid is special. I honestly don't doubt that he can't and won't do ANYTHING to help this team win. I knew he was going to be good after his OT heroics last year, but not this good. He's a certified leader. He's got loads of post-season experience and he knows what it takes to be a champion. He is seasoned and has watched greatness happen right before his eyes. He couldn't have been tutored by a better leader than Kemba.
I'm so happy and excited to watch this kid finish out his career here this season. Bazz's game is definitely well-suited to the NBA. His game will certainly translate to the next level, but for now, I wish him nothing but the best this year and I'm going to love watching him each game. He deserves the world for what he's given to this program. He's gone through a roller-coaster of a ride during his 4 years here:
-BE and National championship out of no where freshman year.
-Disappointing sophomore year filled with chemistry/leadership issues on a disjointed team. Lots of guys transfer, forcing him to re-develop chemistry with new players.
-A coaching change, an injury, and a post-season ban his junior year. A conference change in the off-season.
Yet, after all of that, here he is in his senior year. He stuck with the program through thick and thin. And he's going to be the one largely responsible for keeping UConn basketball in national prominence.
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