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Top 5 Huskies of All Time

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Mr. French said:
That's interesting, and I think because he checked off all the boxes (individual accomplishments, championship, clutch, NBA success, etc) but to me it's ironic in that it encapsulates this entire argument: The definition of "best" is so vital, Rip is almost universally accepted but to me he's the least "outstanding" or I don't know, "spectacular" or simply, he'd NEVER be considered #1 by any standard, but he's top 5 by almost any standard.



I don't think that's fair...he wasn't bad for 2 years then have one good 6 games, which you didn't SAY but sort of imply.

And bottom line, this is the argument of "best" definition, because you use 2 guys you feel should be obviously unanimous, yet Kemba destroys them in team accomplishments. He has 2 , 1 ring, 1 MOP, etc they both have nothing.

Not trying to rip them, obv, Ray is probably my favorite player, but your reasoning and player analogies are really unfair to Kemba's career.
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Fair enough. Only thing with Kemba for me is he was very inconsistent as a freshman, took half a year as a soph to become the player we expected but still struggled a bit. Had what was a miraculous Jr year and won a title which will never be forgotten. When you talk about PG's and accomplishments you also can't leave KEA to far out of the equation. I mean we have so many great Huskies not worth arguing over each person's definition of UConn greats. Fact is we should be in the Shabel, Roweand even Dim Porno era with some names too but most here haven't a clue.

All good, your assessment is spot on.
 
This thread is blowing my mind. Other schools would have built shrines, cathedrals even for two players like Kemba and Shabazz. I won't argue who the best of all of the huskies was, but I think leaving out two players who led teams no one believed in to titles in spectacular fashion. I think nostalgia and some odd sort of reverse recency bias means we're actually undervaluing how amazing those two championships were in this discussion. Kemba and Bazz should be in the top five for sure. With that said, in no particular order:

Kemba
Bazz
KEA
Rip
Ray
 
Bazz seems to be getting the short shrift here but I'm pretty sure the respect for his accomplishments will grow over time. I find myself doing it.
 
Emeka and Kemba (2011) would start on any of our championship teams and every Uconn mens teams .

Shabazz is debatable only because of Smitty.
Ray is debatable because of Rip.
Donyell may be undatable at his position.
Some might argue that Caron could've replaced Rip or Donyell ,etc , etc , etc.

Our list of elite players is too good for just five guys. It's got to be 7-8 guys
 
My own personal "best" top 5 UConn players has to be:
Kemba
Shabazz
Ray
Rip
Emeka

2nd team:
Marshall
Gordon
Butler
El-Amin
Price/Thabeet - - I'm finding it really hard to finish my top 10 and pick a 10th, if I was to cut it off at 10. And Donyell just missing top 5 for me was difficult, but I think that shows the ridiculous level of players we've had over the last 25 years (I don't know much before 1994, admittedly, so this is clearly a subjective list).

I don't think I could number them unless the criteria was more strictly defined, I literally would have a different answer for almost every iteration of "best" in my own mind. But I know that Marshall being outside the top 5 is the toughest one I struggled with.

I take lists like this too seriously (in my mind as far as analyzing) but I find it so satisfying as a fan of a program that we've had so much success, I can have a different, ridiculously great top 5 for so many different categories. Favorites, most accomplished, most pure talent, most impactful, best NBA career, best game lineup, most clutch ... look at the list of players we have to choose from and then compile those top 5s, and sit and recognize how lucky we are as a fanbase.
 
It seems like some people are forgetting the magic Kemba brought to this program in 2011. If you don't think Kemba is ATLEAST top 5 in school history I don't know what you have been watching. Best UCONN season by a player I have seen hands down.
 
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Waquoit said:
Bazz seems to be getting the short shrift here but I'm pretty sure the respect for his accomplishments will grow over time. I find myself doing it.
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He's the only player in UConn's history to have been a major contributor on two National Championship teams (no, I'm not counting Olander).

When you factor in his loyalty to the program after the ban, Calhoun retiring, etc., it's baffling how many people are leaving him outside of the top 5.
 
UConn990411 said:
He's the only player in UConn's history to have been a major contributor on two National Championship teams (no, I'm not counting Olander).

When you factor in his loyalty to the program after the ban, Calhoun retiring, etc., it's baffling how many people are leaving him outside of the top 5.
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Would it not be baffling leaving out Caron, Donyell, Ray, Rip, Emeka, Ben or even Hasheem? Nothing is baffling, it's all in how you feel about the "Top 5"...it's opinion.
 
mauconnfan said:
Would it not be baffling leaving out Caron, Donyell, Ray, Rip, Emeka, Ben or even Hasheem? Nothing is baffling, it's all in how you feel about the "Top 5"...it's opinion.
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I'm well aware that it's opinion, and I respect that everyone has a different definition when coming up with their lists. But for a school with 4 titles and 5 Final Fours, you'd think people would value those things more when trying to decide the best players in school history.

You can make top 5 cases for a long list of people, but there are certain players (namely Kemba) who should be on anyone's list.
 
UConn990411 said:
I'm well aware that it's opinion, and I respect that everyone has a different definition when coming up with their lists. But for a school with 4 titles and 5 Final Fours, you'd think people would value those things more when trying to decide the best players in school history.

You can make top 5 cases for a long list of people, but there are certain players (namely Kemba) who should be on anyone's list.
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Mostly agree but there's some players who fell 2-3 games short who did some amazing things for a year or even 3 years too. A bounce here a bounce there, a FT here, no injury there and there could very well be 6 titles and 7 FF's. I get it, both Kemba and Shabazz deserve to be amongst the top players but it's up to those who watched a lot of games as to where. No one is automatic because we've had so many great players.

Seems everyone has Emeka in there but without Ben Gordon while he was hurt and others does he get a title. If Ricky Moore doesn't go down as a freshman vs Colgate could he have stopped on of the guards who went off at Miss State and Ray gets a FF/title? KEA has the first one against a great Duke team why not him instead of Kemba or Bazz? If Yell makes his own FT's he probably gets at least a FF. Caron put his team on his back and almost singlehandedly go them to the FF he was amazing. Again knocking on the door is sometimes as impressive as a single player.

You have a point and a solid one, just saying the good news is we've had a lot of great players and memories to choose from.
 
Agree with all the back and forth points.

I think obviously some people feel that the individual greatness of a player like Donyell or Ray overcomes what Kemba/Bazz/whoever did.

I def respect that, and that's along the lines of "who's the best 5 players we've had, bottom line" maybe Bazz or Kemba don't get in, but imo their accomplishments are such that they HAVE to be in the top 5.

It's sort of how I am with Rip...love him, he's accomplished and individually great, so he's a no brainer top 5, but based on "greatness" or other criteria, he'd be the first Top 5 guy to be discussed about being replaced, because I don't think he was singularly as spectacular as Ray or others...but even that, my own opinion, gives me pause and internal debate.

I love this topic and the varying opinions that can be had. Carmelo basically pulled a Kemba, but do u think there's a Cuse fan alive that wouldn't have him top 2 in program history?
 
Mr. French said:
Agree with all the back and forth points.

I think obviously some people feel that the individual greatness of a player like Donyell or Ray overcomes what Kemba/Bazz/whoever did.

I def respect that, and that's along the lines of "who's the best 5 players we've had, bottom line" maybe Bazz or Kemba don't get in, but imo their accomplishments are such that they HAVE to be in the top 5.

It's sort of how I am with Rip...love him, he's accomplished and individually great, so he's a no brainer top 5, but based on "greatness" or other criteria, he'd be the first Top 5 guy to be discussed about being replaced, because I don't think he was singularly as spectacular as Ray or others...but even that, my own opinion, gives me pause and internal debate.

I love this topic and the varying opinions that can be had. Carmelo basically pulled a Kemba, but do u think there's a Cuse fan alive that wouldn't have him top 2 in program history?
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Top 12 Syracuse basketball players of all time

;)
 
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Ray Allen
Donyell Marshall
Kemba Walker
Tony Hanson
Emeka Okafor

Many folks on this board may never have had the opportunity to see Tony Hanson play. He could flat out do everything and had a big heart and great work ethic!
 
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