UConn Bench Players Shoutouts

[Kitaman]

Who are some of your most favorite UConn bench players. Doesn't have to be production but should be in-game changers (meaning presence felt). Also should include a player you were anxious to see get on the court. Please only include their bench seasons.

Here's a couple I'll name.

Ray Allen (not sure if he can be included). I'm foggy on when he replaced Brian Fair, he was too good to sit.
Shabazz (freshman with swag)
John Gywnn (my favorite)
Marcus White (honorable mention)

 

[Moose1979]

It was before we were good, but I loved when Jeff King came into the game. He instantly changed things ( mostly with those incredbly long arms).

 

[HW611]

Check the avatar. Man was cold blooded and instant offense.

 

[HooperScooper]

Easy recent one. The OP description screams Clingan 2022-2023.

 

[Waquoit]

I'll go back to the beginning, JC's first recruit Lyman De Priest. He guarded everyone well, from Dana Barrows to Shaq. He also had one of my all-time favorite player quotes. I forget against who, but he had a strong game off the bench to beat a tough team right after a DNP-CD the game before. When asked about that he said, "I knew Coach would get back to me."

 

[Deepster]

Ray Allen?

 

[RuffRuff]

Where the BY loves to spend their time

 

[CL82]

Where the BY loves to spend their time
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During the off-season? Why not? We have one hell of a legacy and it is fun to go back and take a look at it.

 

[geordi]

Antric Klaiber. 1999. NCAA championship. Late in the first half, we were on a run. Calhoun put Anric Klaiber in for just a minute or so. He was telling K and the rest of the Pukies," We're not only going to beat you, we're going to beat you using our bench players." 77-74.

 

[Waquoit]

Where the BY loves to spend their time
View attachment 112111

Is this supposed to be snark? All sports fans talk about past favorites,

 

[StllH8L8ner]

John Gwynn, our microwave.

 

[Jumpman62114]

Terrance Samuel and Lasan Kromah in 2014. Both played their roles really well: Kromah was a do it all lite glue guy, and Samuel got the rim consistently. Samuel didn't do much after 2014 and transferred but both did their part to contribute to the natty run.

 

[Tenspro2002]

2009 Kemba

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Was always a big Gavin Edwards fan

 

[UCFan1513]

Niels Giffey

 

[Waquoit]

Was always a big Gavin Edwards fan

I’ll never forget reading that his high school coach said he couldn’t make it in the Big East. Thanks, Coach! Of course I couldn’t have hurt if he stuck around to graduate.

 

[Ricker]

It sounds like a bench player is anybody who didn't start on day 1. In that case I'll take Donovan Clingan coming off the bench in 2023.

 

[boog204]

I was a huge Tony Robertson fan. He was basically the 6th/7th man for three of his four years. Always thought he'd take the next step and be a star, but it never happened.

 

[Kitaman]

Ray Allen?

He didn't start freshman year. I believe Fair started the season, but didn't end the season starting. Ray was just that good. Again I'm fuzzy about the details but not fuzzy about how exciting it was when Calhoun called his number from the bench.

 

[Kitaman]

Where the BY loves to spend their time
View attachment 112111

You want us to be like Syracuse in the off season?

 

[RuffRuff]

You want us to be like Syracuse in the off season?

View attachment 112123

Lol - these types of threads feel like a memory challenge for all yeah geezers.

 

[NewBlood]

Edmund Saunders (99)
Charlie V (03)
Kemba (09)
Shabazz (11)
Samuel (14)
Joey C (23)
Donovan (23)

 

[GampelGladiator]

Craig Austrie

though I will admit that I didn't realize he started 69 games out of 131.

Craig Austrie College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

 

[GampelGladiator]

I nominate the 1999 National Champions as our best bench...

minutes per game...

Albert Mouring (18.9)
Edmund Saunders (17.7)
Rashamel Jones (10.1)
Souleymane Wane (10.1)

 

[Deepster]

He didn't start freshman year. I believe Fair started the season, but didn't end the season starting. Ray was just that good. Again I'm fuzzy about the details but not fuzzy about how exciting it was when Calhoun called his number from the bench.

I guess I define bench guy differently.