25 points, 20 boards, and 9 swats in Saturday’s win over Seton Hall. Though Connecticut could be in trouble further down the road (actually as soon as Monday vs. Pitt) with Jerome Dyson out for the season. A.J. Price and Craig Austrie (Dyson’s replacement) were a combined 4-20 from the field. If UConn is to stay on top, Thabeet, along with Jeff Adrien (14 points and 15 boards on Saturday), are going to need to be sensational in every way imaginable. Losing Dyson is bigger than pundits seem to be leading on.

6′10 sophomore Blake Griffin

In 31 minutes against Texas Tech on Saturday scored 40 (16-23 fg), grabbed 23 boards, and basically had a whole segment of Sportscenter all to himself. Is it just me or is he the next Amar’e Stoudemire?

6′4 junior Jodie Meeks

Against Arkansas on Saturday poured in 45 (17-24 fg), hauled in 7 boards, and swiped 3, all without the services of Patrick Patterson (sprained ankle). Averaging over 25 ppg while being the number one target on opponent’s scouting reports. Made a disgustingly difficult shot to beat Florida on Tuesday. Do you believe the hype?

6′5 junior Joseph Harris

In a 3 point win over VMI on Saturday, the Coastal Carolina forward notched 33, grabbed 22 boards, and chipped in with 6 feeds. The win propelled the Chanticleers to 5-9 in the Big South while dropping VMI to 2nd place at 11-3.

Post from: EveryJoe

Players to keep away from small children and animals

(Freshmen are not eligible for the preseason list)

My ingenious comments in italics.

A.J. Abrams, G, Sr., Texas- No more D.J
Wink Adams, G, Sr., UNLV- Anybody gonna cover Jo’Van?
DeJuan Blair, F, Soph., Pittsburgh- Skilled big
Jon Brockman, F, Sr., Washington- Rebounding machine
Derrick Brown, F, Jr., Xavier- Trenton Hassell 2.0
Chase Budinger, F, Jr., Arizona- Style over substance?
Nick Calathes, G/F. Soph., Florida- Multidimensional
Dionte Christmas, G, Sr., Temple- It won’t come early
Earl Clark, F, Jr., Louisville- Upside city
Sherron Collins, G, Jr., Kansas- Stocky playmaker
Darren Collison, Sr., UCLA- All around fundamental
Lee Cummard, G-F, Sr., BYU- Mormons think he’s crazy good
Stephen Curry, G, Jr., Davidson- Baby faced assassin
Devan Downey, G, Jr., South Carolina- 5′9 scorer
Robert Dozier, F, Sr., Memphis- 104 and counting
Wayne Ellington, G, Jr., North Carolina- Can he step it up?
Jonny Flynn, G, Soph., Syracuse- E.X.C.I.T.I.N.G.
Taj Gibson, F, Jr., USC- Leaper
Blake Griffin, F-C, Soph., Oklahoma- Scary
Tyler Hansbrough, F-C, Sr., North Carolina- Quit reading this and vote in the poll!
Luke Harangody, F-C, Jr., Notre Dame- Power Forward.
James Harden, G, Soph., Arizona State- Can he carry the team?
Gerald Henderson, G/F, Jr., Duke- Jerome McKinley thank you very much
Lester Hudson, G, Sr., UT Martin- Mid-major delight
Robbie Hummel, F, Soph., Purdue- Keith Van Horn, or Larry Bird?
Stefon Jackson, G, Sr., UTEP- Drains jumpers
Dominic James, G, Sr., Marquette- Free fallin
Damion James, F, Jr., Texas- Man among boys
Curtis Jerrells, G, Sr., Baylor- Streaky
James Johnson, F, Soph., Wake Forest- Under the radar
Marcus Landry, F, Sr., Wisconsin- Gritty
Ty Lawson, G, Jr., North Carolina- Little engine that could
Eric Maynor, G, Sr., VCU- The Show…

Jack McClinton, G, Sr., Miami- Sweet string music
Jerel McNeal, G, Sr., Marquette- Competitor
Patrick Mills, G, Soph., St. Mary’s- Boomer!
Raymar Morgan, F, Jr., Michigan State- Teaser
A.J. Ogilvy, F-C, Soph., Vanderbilt- Easy goin
Jeremy Pargo, G, Sr., Gonzaga- Explosive
Patrick Patterson, F, Soph., Kentucky- High goal setter, real high.
A.J. Price, G, Sr., UConn- The missing link?
Scottie Reynolds, G, Jr., Villanova- Allen Iverson fan
Tyrese Rice, G, Sr., Boston College- A team kinda guy
Kyle Singler, F, Soph., Duke- Smooth
Tyler Smith, F, Jr., Tennessee- Dude has 3 arms!
DaJuan Summers, F, Jr., Georgetown- It’s his now
Hasheem Thabeet, C, Jr., UConn- Imposing
Robert Vaden, G/F, Sr., UAB- Don’t throw it away
Terrence Williams, F, Sr., Louisville- Solid
Sam Young, F, Jr., Pittsburgh- Creative muscle

Post from: EveryJoe

Wooden Preseason Top 50…

After this last season ended in depressing fashion for the Huskies, Hasheem knew he wasn’t ready to contribute at the next level and knew he still eagerly wanted to conquer a NCAA championship, so instead of making a few million bucks while playing sparingly for an NBA team, he decided to hop on board the college scene once again.

UCONN is talented, well represented from a point source position, has a good mix of veterans and young-uns, and most importantly, is coached by Jim Calhoun.

Not only does the team boast good guard play, they also get offensive and defensive help from the bigs.

Thabeet can take care of the paint by himself, but he does have help.

Usually unheralded Jeff Adrien was the leading scorer for UCONN last year. And not only does Jeff know how to score, he rebounds and even blocks shots too.

An efficient complimentary talent to lessen the load off of Thabeet, don’t ya think?

The Stanley Robinson situation now needs to be resolved.

Will he return in December?

2nd semester?

Having a double digit scorer who can knock down a three, block shots (1.3blk) and rebound consistently (6.5reb) will dramatically help out Thabeet, not to mention the team’s efforts to advance deep into the tourney.

But, again, defense isn’t really a concern for UCONN.

The concern is more aimed at making Thabeet into a full-fledged star.

Thabeet’s game is highly flawed, but not so demented that he will be unable to vastly expand upon his sophomore year’s accomplishments.

He started to develop a jump hook toward the end of the season, but still lacks a comfortable and dependable go-to move in the paint. Finishing at the basket is at times awkward, yet so many times he seems totally unfazed as his long arms often receive no resistance from defenders.

An area I really could see him improving in would be the free throw line percentage. He made a giant leap from the first to second year, so why not a nice little jump to about a mid 70’s ft %?

Blocks will ultimately be his ticket to the big show, however in terms of raw stat meddling, the per game blocks will not increase much, if at all, this next season. The load will continue to be helped by Adrien and Robinson, along with any contribution coming from 6’10 Frosh Ater Majok.

We all know what Thabeet’s strengths are. He won’t lose his defensive presence or his classic rebounding habits just like that.

Thabeet will do a lot of this to opposing victims, yet he needs to do more on the other end of the court to separate himself from the others.

But hopefully he knows there’s more in it for him.

His maturity and ability, and maybe patience as well, to stay in school, could symbolize his desires to aspire to that next level and put the team on his back.

God knows he could do it.

So. 10.5ppg 69.8 ft% 7.9 reb 4.5 blk

Fr. 6.2ppg 51.3 ft% 6.4 reb 3.8 blk

Hasheem’s bare minimum averages in 08/09-

14.5ppg, 74 ft%, 9 reb and 4.2 blk ????

photo credit: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Could’ve been riding the pine in Toronto or Charlotte

UConn coach Jim Calhoun just said that Memphis is the most athletic team in the country. Memphis coach John Calipari called the Tigers offense “Princeton on steroids”…they are always attacking the basket, always pushing the ball, lots of motion. The Huskies are going to have their hands full tonight.

1st half

• One minute into the game, and we’ve already seen 4-5 trips down the floor on each end – you can turn the shot clock off for this game. UConn takes a 30 second timeout at 18:37 to calm his troops down a bit, as they are down early 4-0.
• UConn has missed 5 shots from inside 4 feet already. They can’t buy a bucket right now.
• Memphis’s guards are easily penetrating into the key and kicking the ball back out for open threes. Memphis 10, UConn 0 at 17:30 of the half.
• After a made basket, Memphis comes out in a full court press and forces another Huskie turnover.
• UConn is 1-9 from the field with 3 turnovers in its first 12 possessions.
• TV timeout at 15:45 – Memphis 14, UConn 3. Memphis looks as athletic as advertised.
• Memphis’ Dozier just stuffed a dunk attempt which led to easy bucket. Memphis 18, UConn 3. Memphis is 8-13 from the field in the early going.
• Memphis’ front line is doing a great job at collapsing on the ball in the lane and helping out on defense. Their frontcourt is extremely long and athletic. When a UConn player tried a layup, 2-3 guys are always challenging the shot.
• Chris Douglas-Roberts is on fire for Memphis: 5-6 from the field and 12 points in the first 10 minutes.
• With all their blown layups and shots that have been blocked, UConn’s frontline guys are playing very tentative with their backs to the basket. It seems like they are all waiting for one of the Tigers to come out of nowhere and block their shot. Very tentative. Memphis up 22-10 with 10:48 to go.
• Memphis guard Andre Allen is super quick. He just blew by the UConn guards for an easy layup.
• Memphis’ Joey Dorsey is on the bench with two fouls, but they aren’t even phased. Memphis rotates in players by the dozen, it seems. Very deep team.
• Stanley Robinson just roofed the freshman phenom Rose on a drive to the basket. Welcome to the NCAAs Mr. Rose.
• UConn guard AJ Price is starting to assert himself into this game, which is good news for Huskies fans. Memphis up 31-20.
• Price with a pretty rainbow floater along the baseline. The kid can get a shot off from anywhere.
• Memphis 32, UConn 23 with 6:00 to go in the half.
• Rose just put up a couple of ridiculous circus shots. Ahhh…freshmen.
• After starting out 1 for its first 12 from the field, UConn has shot 9-13 since.
• Memphis34, UConn 27 with 3:49 left. Memphis is starting to force a few shots, and UConn is playing with more poise and control. If their 7′3″ center Hasheem Thabeet could finish around the basket, UConn could easily have the lead. He’s had numerous chances to dunk the ball, but isn’t strong enough to go up and finish.
• Calipari was whistled for a technical foul after contesting an offensive goaltending call. Let’s remember the new bench decorum policy, people…
• Memphis up 38-32 with 2:29 to go.
• Price drives into the lane again for an easy layup. Memphis is really missing Dorsey’s presence in the key, as he is still on the bench with his 2 fouls.
• Memphis’ Taggart gets whistled for a technical (which also counts as a personal foul) after slamming the ball on the floor. Decorum people…decorum.
• UConn has trimmed the lead to one with one minute to go. Stanley Robinson gets called for the charge trying to push the Huskies into the lead.
• UConn pulls the ball back to milk the clock a bit before taking their last shot. UConn takes a 41-40 lead on two foul shots. Rose can’t get a shot off, and UConn goes into the locker room with the lead. Unbelievable.

2nd half

• Rose has 12 points for Memphis, but is only 5-13 from the field. He is showing glimpses of brilliance, but is also taking some stupid shots. He needs to make better decisions, but that will come with time.
• Rose with two straight buckets to put Memphis back in front 47-46. Memphis has gone on a 9-2 run with AJ Price on the bench for UConn.
• Memphis up 51-46 with 16:07 to go, and Calhoun puts AJ Price back into the game for the Huskies.
• Price with another slicing layup in the lane – UConn needs him on the floor if they have any shot at winning this game.
• Memphis up 51-50 with 14:40 to go. Pace of play has slowed considerably.
• UConn is really good at reaching in on players driving in the lane and stripping the ball. The Huskies have stolen the ball on the last three possessions.
• UConn’s 6′3″ Jerome Dyson just went coast to coast and skied over 6′9″ Joey Dorsey to slam the ball home, which drew the first oohs and ahhs from Dick Vitale. Jam City baby! Up, up and away!
• Douglas-Roberts is still on fire for Memphis- 22 points on 10-14 shooting. Memphis up 58-57 with 10:57 to go.
• Memphis is having a tough time finishing around the hoop. They are missing easy layups and easy putbacks, and are committing some cheap fouls in the process.
• Rose with an awesome shake-and-bake drive to the hoop for the basket and one. Memphis up 5. It is moves like that which will bring Rose a lot of cash in the NBA. Rose with 21 points on 8-16 shooting thus far.
• Dozier with a solid put back for Memphis, putting the Tigers up by 6.
• Memphis has stretched the lead to 11, 74-63 with 4:52 to go. The Tiger guards are putting more pressure on the Huskie backcourt, and it is paying dividends.
• Douglas-Roberts now has 31 for Memphis – definitely the game MVP.
• UConn going to a half court trap to try and get back into the game. Memphis up 76-67 with 3:19 to go.
• Memphis is now milking the clock making the Huskies chase the ball around the perimeter.
• Memphis up 79-69 with 44.5 seconds left. I’m very surprised that UConn hasn’t started fouling Memphis, as they only shoot 58% from the line.  After Memphis broke the Huskies full court press, there was no effort to foul. I don’t get it. Interesting strategy by Calhoun.

Memphis is extremely athletic, but they play too much one-on-one for me. With that much athleticism and talent, there is no reason why they can’t run some very effective motion-offense sets with back picks and lots of ball movement. They rely too much on isolation plays, which will ultimately hurt them against good defensive squads.

After a down year last season, UConn could surprise a lot of folks this season. Price has a ton of talent, and Calhoun isn’t afraid to play 8-9 guys in a game. That depth will definitely help them in the Big East wars.

Post from: EveryJoe

UConn vs. Memphis…as it happens