With the second pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Hasheem Thabeet out of UConn. While still a raw prospect, many NBA scouts believe that Thabeet’s 7-foot-3 frame gives him a chance to be a dominant defensive player.
On Sunday, Thabeet signed his rookie contract with the Grizzlies. He’s expected to have signed a contract worth about $7.7 million over two years.
Last year at UConn, Thabeet averaged around thirteen and a half points, almost elevan rebounds and around four blocks per game. The now 22-year-old center was regarded as the best interior defender during his time in college.
Recently, …read more

When it comes to underclassmen in the world of college basketball, some player are forgone conclusions as far as the NBA draft is concerned … others not-so-much.
There was hardly a blink of an eye when Hasheem Thabeet, Ty Lawson and Blake Griffin — for example — announced that they were entering the 2009 NBA Draft.
But players like Eric Devendorf and Roderick Flemings (Hawaii … I know …) make us scratch our heads and say, “Huh?”
The NBA Draft is a tricky thing. It’s like Forrest Gump and his box o’ chocolates — “You never know what you’re gonna get.”
The following …read more

Two Big East teams are still kicking. Gus Johnson would still be yelling if he had been the play-by-play guy for the Nova-Pitt game. My National Champion pick (UNC) is still alive and well despite my utter lack of competence everywhere else on the bracket.
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Forget about Villanova’s impressive run to The Motor City—featuring a ‘why the heck did people pick this team to go to Detroit’ (when they were trailing American by double digits) and ‘this Scottie Reynolds is stinking up the joint’ comments from yours truly—Michigan State takes the cake here. Me hailing from Michigan, what a surprise, huh? Well, …read more

7′3 junior Hasheem Thabeet
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 …read more

Kevin Hunter, and god love him, wrote some stuff in his most recent post that I happen to feel was a bit misleading. Because I’m always the voice of reason in whatever I’m talking about (after all I am a Poli Sci major), uh, you should take solace in the fact I’m here to set things straight.
First off, Mr. Hunter states that UConn, if they can beat Louisville tonight, will stay in the #1 slot for at least a week considering they play “lousy” teams such as Michigan and Syracuse (#20) soon after tonight’s Louisville affair. I’ll give …read more

Let’s backtrack a little and look back on the picks, predictions, prognostications—ah whatever—that I have laid out here so eloquently in the collegefastbreak domain somewhat recently.
In no particular order and in no particular feeling of confidence either:
**** Scoff at it, just get mad at it UofA fans. Your team will lay an egg this year but totally get hot and win the NIT.
^ Addition by subtraction in Texas—ludicrous to say maybe, but D.J. and A.J. were beguiling wonders on the court that irrevocably held back the Longhorns from placing more impactful punches against stronger fighters.
$ The …read more

Hasheem Thabeet is the focus of my fifth prediction.
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 …read more