Shout out to Diarra and Samson
- Thread starter caw
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2011
- Messages
- 23,163
- Reaction Score
- 12,914
Could not agree more. We have had more talented basketball players. Don’t know that we’ve had mentally stronger senior leaders.
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2021
- Messages
- 1,310
- Reaction Score
- 5,281
Great effort by them. It was right there.
Those guys were incredible!
What all time great Huskies!
For me I like both equally but a special shout out to Samson.
Even when it was apparent he was no heir apparent to Clingan, he became the absolute best player he could - in every way.
A lesson to all of us really…. You can only be you, and be the best version of you whatever that is!
He reminds me of Taliek Brown which many on this board don’t remember. The dude took so much flack for parts of his game but decided he would be the best version of himself - shut out the noise.
Taliek and Samson very similar and 2 of my all time favorite Huskies.
Mr. Wonderful
Whistleblower
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 2,875
- Reaction Score
- 9,133
Much love indeed to Diarra and Johnson.
Two Husky warriors for all time.
Two Husky warriors for all time.
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2016
- Messages
- 81
- Reaction Score
- 157
Oh my speak for your self, TB was nails didn't do much with flair but solid hard nosed player. Enjoyed watching him play his @$$ off.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 127
- Reaction Score
- 135
I totally get what you are saying
I think maybe you misread my post - like way misread it
I may be dating myself here but here it goes… Taliek took so much grief early on (Frosh - Jr year) He was a bad FT Shooter, and had a terrible jumper - missed lots and lots of shots. UConn fans were all over him for this…
But Taliek shut out the noise and played harder and harder and became a beast on defense, got better at the FT Line and better finishing around the rim.
He became the absolute best player he could and he is in my top 3 all time Huskies.
Samson too - it became apparent his game has limitations, He wasn’t quite as good as we all thought when he stepped in for Clingan. Too many fouls, limitations on shooting….
But he shut it all out, improved his FT shooting, improved his hustle and nose for the ball and learned to stay in the game longer even as many were calling for Reed.
Samson one of all time favorites as is Taliek!
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 307
- Reaction Score
- 1,630
Both Hass and Samson gave everything. I will miss them. They are both true Huskies!
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 18,022
- Reaction Score
- 30,809
Samson massively improved in his final season. Injuries early career held him back along with limited playing time but with the PT and experience this year we all saw it. If he could actually shoot long range he could have an NBA career in some way.
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2024
- Messages
- 19
- Reaction Score
- 80
His first and second double doubles the last few weeks while he played has absolute best down the stretch. I will miss Samson. Took a lot of crap from fans for not being Donovan like. But an all time great Husky and a warrior
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2016
- Messages
- 2,252
- Reaction Score
- 12,949
Hassan became an excellent floor leader/point guard this season, a real 2-way player. Samson played his heart out for UConn, getting better each season, a unique player, commanding a role only he could play. Blessings to both of them.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2013
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction Score
- 362
Earlier in the season, I felt Diarra was better suited as a 6th man as he showed last year. I thought he made too many mistakes as a starter. But as the season progressed, he grew into the role, became a much better point guard, and was a leader on the court. He showed tremendous grit to play through his injury and pain. He played great in the tournament. True competitor. We'll miss him next year.
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2018
- Messages
- 7,643
- Reaction Score
- 26,935
The Samson we saw the last 6 games will be missed. He went from 2.9 rpg over his first 24 games to 6.1 rpg over his last 6.