Mailbag day, baby! Keep those questions coming. We had some fun ones this week. Let’s get to it.
Remember: If your question wasn’t answered, or you’re just hearing about this and want to get in on the fun, you can submit your questions here or on Twitter.
TCF (local hero) asks: Who are the top 5 “6th Man” players in UConn history?
- Ray Allen, 1993-94 – Averaged 23.3 points and 8.4 rebound per 40 minutes on 51% shooting, but only played 21.6mpg because of a stacked, veteran team.
- Rashad Anderson, 2005-06 – Actually led this star-studded team in scoring rate at 22.9 points per 40 minutes including a team-leading 88 three-pointers. Split time at the 2 and 3 with Denham Brown and Rudy Gay.
- Ben Gordon, 2001-02 – Playing behind Taliek Brown and Tony Robertson, freshman-year Gordon scored 20.6 points per 40 minutes, just behind team leader Caron Butler. Gordon also added 5 assists per 40 and hit 41% of his three-pointers.
- John Gwynn, 1990-91 – In his most productive season, Gwynn averaged 21.9 points per 40 minutes on 44% shooting, but only played 23.9 mpg so that Steve Pikiel could start 24 games.
- Brian Fair 1994-95 – After losing minutes following the arrivals of Ray Allen and Doron Sheffer, Fair transformed into a dedicated 3-point sniper, hitting 45% of his attempts and averaging 21.5 points per 40 minutes as a senior.
“9904uconn1114” asks: Team Geno or Team Kevin [Friday] night?
Obviously we love both teams equally because they are both filled with Husky greatness. But if you’re asking who’s going to win the scrimmage, it’s probably Team Kevin. What Team Kevin lacks in star power (Team Geno has both Stewie and JCDH), it makes up for in matchups. Rodney Purvis, Moriah Jefferson and Sterling Gibbs make for the best guard trio in the long, storied history of First Night. No one on Team Geno can compare. And inside, count on Shonn Miller and Amida Brimah to get a ton of #rebounds and #blocks. The X-factor? Freshman Katie Lou Samuelson. In high school, she scored at will, hitting 41 percent of her three-point attempts and averaging over 20 points per game. There’s a reason she’s the top freshman in the country. Of course I could be wrong. Briana Pulido could light up Gampel with 35 points and make me look foolish. Make it happen, Polly!
Larry asks: Crystal ball? Who of Hamilton, Brimah & Purvis stays to play another season? As they say, 2 out 3 not bad (except foul shooting).
First, thank you for giving me a crystal ball and not a gun to my head. We get so many questions with theoretical guns to our heads. It’s dark.
Anyway, if I were a gambling man, I’d wager on all three leaving. Hamilton is a star in the making. Not only do I think he declares for the draft, I think he’ll be a lottery pick. Brimah has one tremendous NBA-ready skill right now in his shot-blocking. That, coupled with his height and athleticism, should warrant a team using a first-round draft pick on him.
Purvis is a little different. Remember, he’s an academic senior this season. If he graduates as scheduled, he will have the option of returning for a final year at UConn, taking a shot at the NBA Draft, or potentially transferring (again) if he senses a better opportunity at another school a’la his new teammate Sterling Gibbs (barring a rule change).
Now, I think that third option is incredibly unlikely given Purv’s unabashed love for UConn, but either of the first two avenues are possible. There are factors at play we know — Purv (I’d say unjustly) doesn’t appear to have much NBA buzz at the moment, but a strong season could change that very quickly. And there are factors we don’t — financial security, willingness to play in Europe potentially, and a host of others. Given all of this, I’ll bet on Purv to have a strong, successful season and take a run at the NBA.
