Today’s win against DePaul was UConn’s 6th consecutive Big East Tournament win. It was not, however, particularly memorable. In honor of UConn’s historical ass-kickery (trademark pending), below are some classic BET moments found on youtube. Unfortunately, no clips were uncovered from UConn’s first Big East championship in the Chris Smith led 1990 season. Nor from the wondrous 1999 victory featuring MVP Rip Hamilton Khalid El-Amin Kevin Freeman! With any luck, by the end of the week we’ll be able to add some more to the collection.
In 1996, Ray Allen made one of the most famous shots in UConn history by rattling in a runner against Allen Iverson & Georgetown, leading the Huskies to the Big East title.
UConn won the Big East title in 1998 and the aforementioned 1999 but no video evidence can be found. Feel free to use this ’98 Rip Hamilton clip to ease your disappointment.
In 2002, an improbable hero emerged for the Huskies. Taliek Brown, who if memory serves was 0-246 on 3 point attempts that season, crushes Pittsburgh with a desperation heave with under a minute remaining. The best part about this clip? The other players on the court for UConn were Tony Robertson, Ben Gordon, Emeka Okafor and Caron Butler…but it’s Taliek Brown who made history.
In 2004, Okafor was sidelined with injury as an immensely talented Husky team rolled into Madison Square Garden. This clip isn’t particularly interesting but it serves as a reminder as to how dominant Ben Gordon was in Okafor’s absence. Gordon scored a (then) record 81 points in the tournament propelling UConn on a run that would lead to their 2nd National Championship.
*Note: I really hope Shamon Tooles doesn’t still have that ball.
The first of these clips to not happen in the actual Championship game, it belongs here for obvious reasons. Heading into last year’s Big East Tournament, the Huskies had been inconsistant and fallen to the 9 seed. With no days off, UConn went on a magical run, winning 5 games in 5 days – and not losing for the rest of the year. Here’s what happened on Day 4…
Of all the clips, for some reason I really love the BG one since he honestly looks like he doesn’t care if either of those foul shots go in. Literally ice cold on the line…