Jim Calhoun didn’t hesitate when asked to build his best UConn starting five. The Hall of Fame coach leaned hard into versatility, scoring punch and guys who could fit just about any style, and the result was a lineup loaded with talent from top to bottom.
At center, Calhoun went with Emeka Okafor. The 6-foot-11 Houston native averaged 4.3 blocks per game at UConn and got the nod over Hasheem Thabeet and Charlie Villanueva. Calhoun pointed to Okafor’s ability to adapt as the reason he landed at the top of the list.
"Emeka Okafor, on any kind of team," Calhoun said. "If you wanted to run, if you wanted to go slow, if you wanted zone or man, he could do anything, because he'd figure it out. I've got to start him."
Calhoun then filled out the rest of the lineup with Caron Butler, Kemba Walker, Ben Gordon and Ray Allen. Butler spent two seasons in Storrs and averaged 20 points per game as a sophomore before becoming a first-round pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Calhoun valued Butler’s ability to stretch the floor as a 40% 3-point shooter while still being able to attack the rim with force.
In the backcourt, Calhoun chose Walker as the lead guard and paired him with Gordon, who Calhoun said "doesn't get as much recognition as he should." Gordon went on to average nearly 15 points per game in the NBA. Calhoun finished the five with Allen, calling on the player who is likely the most decorated NBA name to come out of Storrs.
For his first man off the bench, Calhoun turned to Richard "Rip" Hamilton.
In Other News...
UConn Has One Starting Battle That Could Shape Everything
Jayden Ross has spent the summer in the middle of one of UConns more consequential conversations, and it is the kind that can end up shaping a season before it really starts. Dan Hurley has been discussing Rosss development and where he fits, with the senior wing emerging as a real candidate to open the year in the lineup for a team that is expected to lean young from the outset.
The competition around that spot is what makes it so interesting. Colben Landrew brings the profile of a highly regarded freshman and gives Hurley a different option on the wing, while Ross has steadily grown across his time in Storrs and gives UConn a veteran presence in a group short on it. The decision is still unresolved, and for a roster with so many new pieces, the answer there could say a lot about how Hurley wants this team to look when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Former UConn Stars Suddenly Have A Real NFL Roster Opening
Former UConn standouts Joe Fagnano and Skyler Bell have spent much of this season on the inactive list, but the NFL landscape around them has suddenly created a little more room to breathe. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson and Buffalo wide receiver D.J. Moore both came out of their games banged up, which is the kind of injury ripple that can quickly turn a developmental situation into a real game-day opportunity for a rookie trying to stick.
Fagnano and Bell are still waiting for their first meaningful crack, yet the timing is now at least worth watching from Storrs circles and beyond. If either team needs extra depth because of those injuries, the former Huskies could be in line for playing time sooner than expected, which is exactly the sort of opening young players spend months hoping will eventually come. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Has A Chance To Stop The Slide Before The Bye
UConn heads to Lincoln Financial Field this week with a chance to steady itself before the bye and halt a two-game skid, and the timing is important. The Huskies and Temple will meet for the 22nd time, a familiar matchup that now carries a little extra weight for a UConn team still trying to find its footing after a rough stretch.
There were encouraging signs in the loss to Syracuse, even if the result never changed. Running back Cyncir Bowers and quarterback Kalieb Osborne both turned in career-best performances, giving UConn some real offensive fuel to carry into a game that could shape the mood around the program going into the break. Temple brings its own set of challenges, but for UConn this is as much about finishing a winnable week as it is about anything on the other sideline. [Read more 🡒]