The late GREAT Wes Bialosuknia. Five Wes-es? They'd never miss.
The name of the game is to put the ball in the hole - something that's forgotten in this era of 'athleticism above everything else,' hyper coaching control, specialized skills & limited roles. Wes Bialosuknia was UConn's best of all time in that department, by far, and he created his own shots. He was not a catch & shoot guy. He was unconscious from everywhere on the court & never had an off-night. Wes was also wicked smart - UConn's first First Team Academic All-American.
Wes was also great off the backboard from long-distance or off the move as a very fast & quick ball-handler. Wes averaged the all-time UConn best 28 ppg. (season) & 23.6 ppg. (career), - mostly from way outside - ten years BEFORE the three-point circle, & shot clock arrived on the college court. He also made a record 43 free-throws in a row & neared that several times. UConn was 56-18 during Wes' three years w/ two NCAA trips.
The Huskies haven't had a truly great shooter since Wes graduated in '67. Excellent shooter Ray Allen became great when he got to the pro's. IMO, UConn hasn't had a consistent, lights out distance shooter in decades (Cliff Robinson, Chris Smith, Ray Allen, Rashad Anderson), especially the last two decades. Remember, scoring is not shooting. A team needs consistent, outside shooters, not just streaky guys who might hit two three's in a row. Wes put fear in the eyes of the opponent & opened up the paint with his distance shooting.
NOTE: When a shooter gets hot, coaches need to keep calling plays for them & get them the ball, something that UConn coaches Calhoun, Ollie & Hurley have not done (even w/ Chris, Ray, Kemba & Shabazz). Maybe that's why they haven't been able to consistently recruit the best outside shooters to Storrs, especially of late. They could not have done that with an unusual, shooting talent like Wes Bialosuknia. Fred Shabel gave Wes the rock.
Five Wes-es? That would be fun to watch.
Kemba Walker would be my runner-up choice. He's a winner on any court & the quickest player & scorer of any Huskie. Kemba's healthy confidence would make his four other Kemba teammates much better players in any game - unlike some of the others mentioned like Donyell, Caron or even a Corny Thompson who never passed the ball.
alohachris
PS: I once saw Wes Bialosuknia hit a record 9 three-pointers in a row, in overtime, while playing for the Oakland Oaks of the old ABA - all from Curry distance. He was 2nd in ABA 3-point percentage & free-throws. -alohachris-
