- Joined
- Sep 13, 2012
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Now that UConn has cut down the nets for the 4th time since 1999 and I have had a couple days to sort of take it all in and reflect on this past season...
I used to be more of a fan of the NBA when I was a kid dating back to the Celtics and Lakers rivalry of the 80's. However, as I have gotten older I find myself not following any specific team, but players that come through the UConn program and their associated teams. I am not sure what changed in how I perceive the NBA. Maybe nothing did. Maybe I just like the college game that much more and feel a certain connection to the players that come through the UConn program. There is a certain joy that I get seeing the growth of the players while in college and I certainly feel more vested in how the team performs. On game days, my mood probably depends more on how the Huskies perform than it should, but what can I say. I have followed Ray Allen's entire career from UConn to Minnesota (however briefly), to Milwaukee, Seattle, Boston and now finally Miami. And yes I cringed when he went to Miami. It did not matter what team he was/is, I was always rooting for his success, along with his team's. In a sense, where Ray went, so did I. He has been such a great ambassador for UConn and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching his career. A while back, I started thinking when he retires, who am I going to follow now? I do follow all of the UConn players in the NBA, but who was going to be the one to really attach to? Well, this season has answered this question and it would have been the same whether UConn won the title or not. Shabazz is in my eyes, the greatest UConn Husky of all time. Sorry Kemba, Ray, Rip, Emeka, and Smitty, but Bazz is all alone at the top. I will be following his career in the NBA just as I followed Ray's. What Bazz has given to this program and what he has accomplished is unparalleled in my eyes. Never mind the two championships, he obviously stuck around when he could have bailed and taken the easy route. The road to success is often the path less traveled and I believe that Bazz is proof positive of that. I could not be more proud as a UConn fan. I dare you to find anyone with more heart and toughness, and he has such a strong ability to lead a team. I wish Bazz a long and prosperous career and I am looking forward to what comes next because if 2013-2014 was any indication...
Niels: He was just what the team needed. Always felt like he could have been more aggressive, but while Boatright dedicated himself to defense, Niels became a rebounding force (while still playing great defense). The aggression that I was looking for was there in how he was attacking the rebounds. He was getting to rebounds at the end of the year that I do not think he would have gotten at the beginning of the year. As many have said, he could have gone back to Germany and gotten paid to play, but he also showed the love he has for UConn and stayed. If he is going back home to play ball then I can only wish him all the best.
Tyler: Always made me nervous whenever he entered the game, but like Bazz and Niels, he stuck around during the hard times. He hung in and gave it his all. For that I say thank you! Thank you for displaying greater maturity while trying to find how to have a positive impact on the team even while your minutes were being diminished.
I do not think you can find any other UConn players, past or present, that bleed blue more than Bazz, Niels and Tyler.
Boatright: He was a thrill to watch this year. I was not sure what we were going to get out of him this year, but he showed a level of maturity that I certainly did not expect. He still has that fire inside that keeps him going, but it was more controlled this year. His defense at the end of the year was Ricky Moore-esque. It was great to watch how he gave all that he could to help the team be successful. Being selfish, I want him to come back for another year after he works on the tear-drop.
It would be great to see him take another step as a senior. But if he decides to make the jump to the NBA (he has earned that right) then I will wish him all the best and look forward to him making believers of all the doubters. We would not have won the championship without him.
I am so proud of each and every member of this team. With all that the program has been through, it was a season that will not be forgotten. 1999 holds a special place with me since it was the program's first. 2004 was just dominant and I did not think it would be possible to top 2011, but 2014 did. We are back on top and it never felt better, but of course, it was all luck...Now if we can only find a coach who knows what he is doing? Is Shaka still available? It appears that JC knew a thing or two about what it would take to the helm of the UConn program moving forward. Kevin Ollie is a perfect fit for UConn basketball and he will be the coach for a long time. Damn, I wish I was younger and had more talent so I could play for him.
And thank you to all of the Boneyarder's for posting pics and videos from the championship!...We got next!
I used to be more of a fan of the NBA when I was a kid dating back to the Celtics and Lakers rivalry of the 80's. However, as I have gotten older I find myself not following any specific team, but players that come through the UConn program and their associated teams. I am not sure what changed in how I perceive the NBA. Maybe nothing did. Maybe I just like the college game that much more and feel a certain connection to the players that come through the UConn program. There is a certain joy that I get seeing the growth of the players while in college and I certainly feel more vested in how the team performs. On game days, my mood probably depends more on how the Huskies perform than it should, but what can I say. I have followed Ray Allen's entire career from UConn to Minnesota (however briefly), to Milwaukee, Seattle, Boston and now finally Miami. And yes I cringed when he went to Miami. It did not matter what team he was/is, I was always rooting for his success, along with his team's. In a sense, where Ray went, so did I. He has been such a great ambassador for UConn and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching his career. A while back, I started thinking when he retires, who am I going to follow now? I do follow all of the UConn players in the NBA, but who was going to be the one to really attach to? Well, this season has answered this question and it would have been the same whether UConn won the title or not. Shabazz is in my eyes, the greatest UConn Husky of all time. Sorry Kemba, Ray, Rip, Emeka, and Smitty, but Bazz is all alone at the top. I will be following his career in the NBA just as I followed Ray's. What Bazz has given to this program and what he has accomplished is unparalleled in my eyes. Never mind the two championships, he obviously stuck around when he could have bailed and taken the easy route. The road to success is often the path less traveled and I believe that Bazz is proof positive of that. I could not be more proud as a UConn fan. I dare you to find anyone with more heart and toughness, and he has such a strong ability to lead a team. I wish Bazz a long and prosperous career and I am looking forward to what comes next because if 2013-2014 was any indication...
Niels: He was just what the team needed. Always felt like he could have been more aggressive, but while Boatright dedicated himself to defense, Niels became a rebounding force (while still playing great defense). The aggression that I was looking for was there in how he was attacking the rebounds. He was getting to rebounds at the end of the year that I do not think he would have gotten at the beginning of the year. As many have said, he could have gone back to Germany and gotten paid to play, but he also showed the love he has for UConn and stayed. If he is going back home to play ball then I can only wish him all the best.
Tyler: Always made me nervous whenever he entered the game, but like Bazz and Niels, he stuck around during the hard times. He hung in and gave it his all. For that I say thank you! Thank you for displaying greater maturity while trying to find how to have a positive impact on the team even while your minutes were being diminished.
I do not think you can find any other UConn players, past or present, that bleed blue more than Bazz, Niels and Tyler.
Boatright: He was a thrill to watch this year. I was not sure what we were going to get out of him this year, but he showed a level of maturity that I certainly did not expect. He still has that fire inside that keeps him going, but it was more controlled this year. His defense at the end of the year was Ricky Moore-esque. It was great to watch how he gave all that he could to help the team be successful. Being selfish, I want him to come back for another year after he works on the tear-drop.
It would be great to see him take another step as a senior. But if he decides to make the jump to the NBA (he has earned that right) then I will wish him all the best and look forward to him making believers of all the doubters. We would not have won the championship without him.I am so proud of each and every member of this team. With all that the program has been through, it was a season that will not be forgotten. 1999 holds a special place with me since it was the program's first. 2004 was just dominant and I did not think it would be possible to top 2011, but 2014 did. We are back on top and it never felt better, but of course, it was all luck...Now if we can only find a coach who knows what he is doing? Is Shaka still available? It appears that JC knew a thing or two about what it would take to the helm of the UConn program moving forward. Kevin Ollie is a perfect fit for UConn basketball and he will be the coach for a long time. Damn, I wish I was younger and had more talent so I could play for him.
And thank you to all of the Boneyarder's for posting pics and videos from the championship!...We got next!
