UConn in the NBA December 2025

[REB1094]

I’ve been slacking on my daily summaries but a few things have stood out this year

Cam Spencer is averaging 10.8 points per game, 3.6 assists per game, 2.0 rebounds per game shooting 47.8% FG and 47.1% from three (!!!). He’s getting 20 minutes per game. Awesome to see

We haven’t talked about Castle for a while because he’s been injured but he was averaging 17.3 points a game, 7.5 APG, 5.8 RPG on 49.7% shooting before the injury

Liam’s minutes have been ramping up over time. 10 minutes per game in October, 13 in November, 19 in 2 December games so far. Just scored a season high 10 points last night

Clingan has up and down performances offensively but overall is averaging a double double (10 and 10) with 1.4 blocks a game in 25 minutes. 35% of his shots are threes and he’s shooting 24% on them, leading to an overall FG% of 48% which is very low for a 7’2 C. But he has had a miraculous turnaround in his FT shooting, at 81%. He shot 60% last season and even lower than that during his two years here

Not going to try to pretend Hawkins isn’t having a really bad year, but has scored double digits in his last two games for the first time this year. With Zion injured again, Hawkins REALLY needs to string together multiple good performances

Newton has been tearing up the G League. 27 points a game, 8.8 assists a game. 48.7% FG, 39.1% from three

 

[knicksin7]

I'm telling you, Cam's brain in an above average NBA body = MVP caliber player.

Sure, but he has 90th percentile NBA hand-eye coordination. I mean the guy would dominate at multiple sports, just not a 90th percentile run-jump athlete.

 

[HailUConn]

absolutely Marveled at what this guy continues to do in NBA.

 

[Griffman]

Cam Spencer and the state of sharpshooters

Great write-up on Cam.

 

[Griffman]

https://subtsakalidis.substack.com/p/cam-spencer-state-of-sharpshooters-memphis-grizzlies-nba?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=

Tremendous write-up on Cam showing his efficiency and high praise from his head coach Tuomas Iisalo. I posted on the NBA thread but it may get buried there.

 

[Mister P]

Great article on Cam.

The mention of UConn, Hurley and his offensive system and then a quick blurb on Mullins makes this article even better.

 

[HailUConn]

I was going to post this but you beat me to it. I cannot like enough about the ending paragraphs about our head coach Danny! This is why we don’t go for the all the glitters, and we pick the guys that fits our system and willing to play in our system.

 

[UCFan1513]

It seems his coach is a good fit for him - no bs, European offense, appreciates hard workers

 

[MexicoHusky]

That's a very nice article. Lots of analysis on Cam. Also interesting how the stats completely back up what is obvious to see visually. He's an extremely well-rounded player who excels in both ball-handling and shooting roles

 

[cwh20]

Great article. Cam’s versatility and IQ as well as the others made running that complex UConn offense click. I’ve never seen any other team get great looks almost every possession.

You need all the players with the ability to process in that offense. One player not moving to the right spot or passing to the right man and it breaks down a lot. So it is rare to have all the players who can work that system together and make it hum so well. That was a major difference between ‘04 and ‘05 in my opinion. In ‘05 it was not uncommon for the offense to not being set up early in the shot clock and then the sets weren’t run smoothly and they ended up with a rushed and contested shots too often. Hence Hurley moving to ‘we need to have individuals just create and make plays on their own more’.

 

[Umami Zen]

Tremendous over-simplification of the contrast between UConn's offensive system and Kansas as described by Bill Self in his post-game presser. "Our guys were not moving the ball-The ball was "sticky". Our guys are facilitating-connecting-moving the ball with BBIQ. and nuanced sets. Tough for D to sustain ball pressure for 40 minutes. Cam was an invaluable piece for the '24 team.

Starting to look like we're going to return to having a regular presence in KenPom's Top 10 offensive/defensive efficiency ratings. A formula for success.

 

[EnochRoot]

56-29 with 9+ minutes remaining in the East Regional final.

😂

 

[Dove]

Okay, I'll ask. What the heck is a "hostile dribble?"

 

[Spaceman213J]

I would make every player watch these videos of Cam. They are a masterclass of getting a defender on your hip and keeping him there. He's able to get a closer shot, but not always going directly to the front of the rim. He's getting to a spot for 'his' shot and keeping the defender in a spot where it will be tough for them to truly challenge the shot. Really impressive with how a guy who doesn't have elite speed gets an advantage and keeps it until he's ready to shoot.

 

[superjohn]

Wish we had a general NBA thread here. It's crazy how Austin Reaves gets better every year and now he's a star.

Another guy who isn't an explosive run and jump athlete carving up the entire league.

 

[superjohn]

Cam with 17/7/5 in the win.

 

[aceboon]

another clean and efficient night from Cam, 17pts, 7assts(only 2 TOs), and 5 rebs, and he closed the game. On a related Grizzlies/CBB note, we should all be thankful that Cedric Coward did not spend this season at Duke and opted to stay in the draft, dude is very legit and the workout hype was warranted

 

[uconnbaseball]

The grizzlies are a really fun bad team and could easily be a very good team a couple years from now with a Ja Morant for assets trade and a couple more hits in the draft. Coward, Spencer, and Edey is a lot of fun.

 

[3rdbass]

Wish we had a general NBA thread here. It's crazy how Austin Reaves gets better every year and now he's a star.

Another guy who isn't an explosive run and jump athlete carving up the entire league.

Maybe not explosive but he has always been a good athlete. Watch some of his highlights when at OU.

 

[HooperScooper]

The grizzlies are a really fun bad team and could easily be a very good team a couple years from now with a Ja Morant for assets trade and a couple more hits in the draft. Coward, Spencer, and Edey is a lot of fun.

Does any team want Morant? He's talented but he's an idiot.

 

[aceboon]

The grizzlies are a really fun bad team and could easily be a very good team a couple years from now with a Ja Morant for assets trade and a couple more hits in the draft. Coward, Spencer, and Edey is a lot of fun.

I honestly think they're comfortably in the playoffs with a full, healthy roster, they're just never healthy.

 

[aceboon]

 

[uconnbaseball]

Does any team want Morant? He's talented but he's an idiot.

Minnesota comes to mind.

They should look into trading him and JJJ for assets. The only problem is that they're too good to tank even without them and don't have a clear cut #1 on a championship team, unless Coward turns into that. Wells is a fun player, too, and they're doing a better job of attracting mid tier free agents than they used to (Jerome). I'll be going to their home game against the blazers and cheering Spencer and Clingan on.

 

[Travelman6]

stat is a week old but Cam was still drilling jumpers off the dribble in the few games he's played since then so he should still be up there

That's mind blowing, ahead of some legends there.

 

[HW611]

Cam helped cash a nice snipe here 😎

Can't believe the books are still giving out odds like this for him to get 15 points.