Saying Goodbye: Stanley Robinson

In this world of NBA Draft early entry and one-and-done freshman, it is difficult to become attached to a college star. They simply don't hang around long enough. But when they do, there is an attachment to that player that is difficult to explain. For me, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for guys like Kirk King and Khalid El-Amin, as I'm sure there is for any fan of any team.

We reached out to some of the blogosphere's best, and over the next couple of weeks we will be running a series of posts saying goodbye to some of the country's best seniors.

Today, TheUConnBlog says goodbye to Stanley Robinson.

Stanley Robinson is one of my favorite players to don a UConn jersey in the past decade. He’s also one of my least favorite.

Robinson, or “Sticks” as we so lovingly call him, was part of one of the best teams in program history, helping the Huskies come just two wins away from cashing in on a Coach Cal five-year plan in 2009.

But he also played big roles on two of the most frustrating sports seasons I’ve ever had to endure.

Sticks was good for about two of these a game.
(photo credit: Hartford Courant)

The first of which was a bit understandable. When Rudy Gay, Josh Boone, et al. bolted to the pros following the 2005-06 season, purging the roster of virtually all of its talent, Robinson and seven other freshmen were forced to immediately fill the void. And, as you may expect, things didn’t go so well. The Huskies were painful to watch, and although Sticks was the highest-rated recruit in the bunch, he would average just 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game for a team that couldn’t make the NCAA tournament.

But despite being labeled a disappointment early on – earning the title of the world’s most consistently inconsistent player in the process – Sticks would eventually start to live up to his immense talent. After spending the first half of his junior season toiling away in a factory, picking up scraps instead of rebounds, Robinson gave the Huskies the spark they lost after Jerome Dyson’s injury; the then-junior averaged almost 15 points and eight boards in five NCAA tournament games.

But once Jeff Adrien, A.J. Price, and Hasheem Thabeet left the team, the spotlight was put squarely on Robison (and Dyson) again to be a go-to player. And once again, he simply couldn’t do it.

Sticks had by far his best season in 2009-10, averaging 14 points, eight rebounds and a block per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and yelling really, really loudly on monster jams. His play even catapulted him into the lottery on some draft boards. But the one thing – perhaps the only thing – he couldn’t and didn’t do was one of the big reasons UConn’s season ended in the NIT rather the NCAAs: lead.

No matter how good he was or will be, Robinson will never be the leader. And because of that, he’ll always have a bit of a black mark on his career, at least for me.

But the stuff he did do –- Shawn Kemp-like alley-oop dunks, getting tough rebounds, growing chinstraps, melting faces with his unnatural athleticism, impregnation -– he did better, and more impressively, than almost every UConn player that came before him.

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Who is the Midseason Dunker of the Year?

Prior to the season's first tip-off, we provided you with our projections as to who we thought were the top high-flyers in college hoops. After nearly three months of action, it seem like a fitting time to make midseason picks as dunker of the year.

In November we believed that Dayton's Chris "top Flight" Wright would be the most electrifying dunker of the 2009-2010 season. Well, as of now, Wright has yet to really get off the tarmac, but with another two months of hoops left, anything can happen. At this point in the season, it is looking like a two-horse race between UConn's Stanley Robinson and Georgia's Travis Leslie. There is one sleeper that we should keep a watch out for in the last two months: Cal State Fullerton's Gerard Anderson.


Stanley "Sticks" Robinson - UConn

Best dunker of the year, and it's not even close. Seriously, it is hard for me to put in words right now just how ridiculous Robinson is at dunking. I have not seen a player with this type of leaping ability since Deron Washington of Virginia Tech. Yes, we knew this prior to the season, but watching him dunk this season still boggles my mind. The majority of Robinson's highlight reel dunks have come off of tip-ins and alley-oops. He might not be the most technical dunker, but he sure is the flashiest and the most acrobatic.
















Travis Leslie - Georgia

I would like to apologize to Mr. Leslie for failing to recognize him in the preseason for his dunking abilities. The argument could be made that Leslie is the top dunker of the season. After all, through nearly three months of play, he is in sole possession of Dunk of the Year. Robinson might be the most acrobatic dunker in the country, but it could be contested that Leslie is the best technical rim-rocker. Barring a miracle which sends Georgia to the Final Four, it's nearly a guarantee that Leslie will be showcased in the NCAA slam dunk competition in Indianapolis.




The rest of his stuff ain't bad either. Here is Leslie's stellar resume:








Gerard Anderson - Cal State Fullerton

Anderson was one of our sleeper picks in our Dunker of the Year projections back in November. He has more than earned a spot as contender for Dunker of the Year. This kid can throw down from anywhere. He has an unusually long reach and uses it, along with his freakish hops to soar high above the rim.








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Why is UConn struggling?

UConn was a top 15 team in the preseason, and rightfully so.

On paper, this team looked, and still does look, pretty good.

Kemba Walker was supposed to be a breakout performer at the point. Jerome Dyson, without AJ Price, Jeff Adrien, and Hasheem Thabeet to steal the lime light, was expected to develop into a star. Stanley Robinson is arguably the best athlete in the country, and there may not be a player more adept at creating points off of broken plays. Gavin Edwards has developed into a stabilizing force in the paint, rebounding the ball and scoring in the post with enough efficiency to garner some interest from the NBA.

Gavin Edwards has been a pleasant surprise this season.
(photo credit: Hartford Courant)

And the Huskies added a talented group of newcomers, with freshmen Alex Oriakhi, Jamal Trice, Jamaal Coombs-McDaniels, and Darius Smith teaming with semester addition Ater Majok, that were to be counted on to provide the Huskies with the depth and versatility we've come to expect from a Jim Calhoun coached team.

But the Huskies have been far from dominant this season, and perhaps the most disappointing team in the country.

That's what an 11-6 start will do to a team with a first round lock (Robinson) and four more potential pros (Dyson, Walker, Edwards, Oriakhi) on their roster.

Currently, UConn is on a three game losing streak, and after Sunday's loss at Michigan most pundits are placing this team firmly on the bubble.

It begs the question: what's wrong with the Huskies?

The biggest issue is their half court offense. Simply put, UConn cannot score against a set defense. Walker has not developed into the facilitator that many believed he would. Few in the country are better than Walker at leading a fast break, but there are few point guards in the country as inept as the NYC native is when it comes to running a system and controlling an offense.

Beyond that, outside of Dyson, UConn doesn't have anyone that can create for themselves in the half court. Even Dyson, who averages 18.4 ppg and 5.1 apg, is far from what you would call an efficient player. He ranks 12th in the country in possessions used and 44th in percentage of shots taken, but he isn't even in the top 400 in offensive efficiency. He turns the ball over too much, he takes (and misses) too many tough shots, and he doesn't hit threes.

In fact, as a team, UConn is on the verge of being historically inept at shooting from deep. They are dead last in the country when in comes to three pointers attempted (19.1% of their shot attempt are threes, and no major conference school has ever finished a season below 20%) and, as you could imagine, dead last in the country in the number of points they get off of threes.

What does all those numbers mean?

In basketball terms, the only way UConn can effectively score is in transition. For all of their shortcomings, there may not be a team in the country better in the open court than the Huskies. Walker is as fast as anyone with the ball in his hands, Dyson is unstoppable with a head of steam and a defender backpedaling, and if all else fails, just get the ball in the vicinity of the rim and Robinson will take care of the rest.

The problem with depending on transition to score is that it is totally reliant upon your opponent making a mistake. I don't think I need a scatterplot to prove that the number of mistakes a team makes is negatively correlated with that team's success.

Thus, the best times to run and attack in transition are off of a live-ball turnover (a steal) or off of a defensive rebound, preferably long jumpers, because they result in long rebounds and give the defense a running start heading the other way. Sure, it is possible to run off of a made basket, but it is much more difficult, and the Huskies are not Magic Johnson's Lakers.

UConn is doing neither well this season.

They rank 305th in the country at forcing turnovers and 191st defensive rebounding percentage.

So why is UConn struggling to win games?

Its simple.

The Huskies haven't been good enough at putting themselves in a position to succeed. Until this team gets better at rebounding the ball on the defensive end and forcing turnovers, they are going to struggle.

Having said that, it is more than just numbers with UConn.

Of their six losses, only one has been by double digits, and that was a 10 point defeat to Pitt in a game that was much closer than the final score indicates. None of those six losses should be classified as a terrible loss, either. Georgetown, Pitt, Duke, and Kentucky all look like Sweet 16, if not Final Four, teams this season. The other two came at Cincinnati and at Michigan, two teams that have spent time in the top 25 this year.

We've seen this look quite a bit from the Huskies this season.
(photo credit: Hartford Courant)

UConn had a chance to win all six of these games, but failed to make the big play or hit the big shot in all six:

• Against Duke, UConn was down 58-38 with 12:25 left in the game, but held the Blue Devils to just one field goal over the next 11+ minutes, cutting the lead to 62-54 with 52 seconds left. In that span, the Huskies missed six layups and made just 6-13 from the line.


• Against Kentucky, Walker went 2-4 from the line in a 40 second span with under three minutes left, and the Huskies missed four shots in the final 27 seconds that could have tied the game or taken the lead.


• Against Cincinnati, UConn finally made some clutch plays offensively, as Walker tied the game with a three at the 10 second mark, but Gavin Edwards fouled Lance Stephenson with 0.7 seconds left, and Stephenson hit both for the win.


• Against Georgetown, UConn blew a 19 point lead, but had the ball down 70-69 in the final 30 seconds, missing two shots before Walker finally turned it over.

It was more of the same against Pitt and Michigan, as the Panthers and the Wolverines were the ones that made the big shots and the big plays down the stretch.

Does UConn have that player?

Do they have a guy that can replace AJ Price, a kid that made so many clutch plays in his four years at UConn?

If they don't, than UConn may end up being nothing more than a competitive also-ran.
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It's all about the flow: A season worth of ridiculous hairdos

The golden rule of athletic competition is as follows: "To play good, you have to look good." Everything from color coordination of your shoes and socks, to how many buttons you snap up on your warm-up pants. Being a male-dominated sport, you would think that hair care would be one of the appearances that isn't strongly taken care of by guys running up and down a court for 40 minutes. Needless to say, hoops players are expressing themselves more than ever via the hairdo.

In the 1970s, hoops was dominated by black players with afros and white players with crew cuts and flowing locks. The 1980s saw the rise (and subsequent fall) of the fade, the mustache and afro. The 1990s were an era of change. The early part of the decade was dominated by the gheri-curl and high top fades. But sometime exactly after Allen Iverson entered the NBA, cornrows became the hairdo rage throughout the Association. I'm not going to say A.I was the developer of the cornrow, but he definitely was a pioneer. Yeah that's right, Allen Iverson was a pioneer of athletic hairstyle.

But Something happened in the new millennium. Players started to not give a damn, and thus, we were given some of the most bizarre hairdos we had ever seen. Maryland's Bambale Osby and Illinois State's Osiris Eldridge immediately come to mind. This season has been no different. Players from across the country are spending time off the court preparing their domes for game day. Some of the hairdos are cool, some intriguing, and others are down-right hilarious.

We here at BIAH pride ourselves on researching the unnecessary or unimportant. That is why it gives me great honor to present you with our list of the most ridiculous and intriguing hairdos of the 2009-2010 season. If you find any hairdos that you think deserve recognition, email contactBIAH@gmail.com or hit us up on Twitter.


Alex Richman - Prairie View A&M

Alex Richman has the most ridiculous hairdo in college basketball. End of story. Take a look at this guy, and come back to this post and convince me that you didn't fall over laughing when looking at this guys picture. I mean no disrespect to Mr. Richman whatsoever, but this is just ridiculously absurd. What are those? dreadlocks? cornrows? extensions? If Alex Richman wasn't born in a hippie commune, then we have some serious questions that need to be answered.


I mean first of all, he's white. Now, not that white athletes cannot sport cornrows/dreadlocks/extensions, but if you are going to go that route, you have to be damn sure you can pull it off, and unfortunately, I don't think our friend here can. Second of all, even if he were not white, this hairdo would still look ridiculous. It looks like he has beads woven in at the bottom of each dread a la the Williams sisters in the late 90s. But despite what we think about Alex Richmond's hairdo we must be able to recognize that his is the best in all of college basketball. It doesn't matter if he got it braided on a spring break cruise to the Bahamas or not. It's just ridiculous.

But in all fairness, Richman should get some recognition for his basketball skills. He hit eight 3-pointers in a game last year against, wait for it, Southwestern Assemblies of God University. I'm not sure if he takes that as a compliment or an insult.


Sean Atupem - Mt. St. Marys

Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor, nay a privilege, to introduce you to Sean Atupem. If you are unfamiliar with Atupem's work, don't be discouraged because, as the fourth leading scorer (which actually doesn't make you a leading scorer at all) for Mt. St. Mary’s his game doesn't exactly get him nationwide recognition. However, Atupem is the owner of the one of the best heads of hair in the entire college hoops world. A cross between Nino Brown from New Jack City and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Atupem's hair is single-handily bringing the mid-80's signature hairdo back in style. I had a chance to see Atupem live in action, and I spent 40 minutes staring at nothing but his awe-inspiring hairdo. Seriously people, it's a sight to see. Somewhere in the world Wesley Snipes is shedding a single tear.


The hairdo phenomenon that swept through college basketball last year was that ridiculously stupid fo-hawk that everybody and their mothers had. But this year, we are seeing a surprising amount of flat-tops, a much more appropriate hairdo selection for college hoops, hearkening back to the age of hi-socks, hi-tops, and booty shorts. Sean Atupem could never score another basket for the rest of his career and I would be totally satisfied with the contribution he made to college basketball.


Stanley Robinson - UConn

If it not for our previous two entries, "Sticks" would be in total control of "Best Head of Hair". He has a combination of creativity and style. He likes to mix up his hairdo, sometimes rocking long cornrows that run down his neck, the "Allen Iverson" cornrow swirl, and even his current concoction, "the thoroughbred". Seriously, I saw Robinson up close earlier this month and his head looks like a manicured mane of a race horse. But "Sticks" does just about whatever he wants on the court, so I won't further question his style.



Steven Gray - Gonzaga

Often confused for Lionel Ritchie, Gray has one of the more impressive heads of hair in the country. At the beginning of the season, he chose to wear his hair out, in a lightly-picked afro/beard combination that got two thumbs up from yours truly and made some question how long he's been secretly starring in the Geico caveman commercials. Currently, Gray is experimenting with some sort of LeVance Fields-esque cornrowed dreadlocks. Nonetheless BIAH supports all decisions made concerning hair follicles of Steven Gray.


Gary McGhee - Pittsburgh

When the Panther's big man stands on the court, people notice him. Not because of his boxed 6'10, 250lb frame, but because he has the same head of hair that made Medusa famous. Seriously it looks like he has garter snakes coming out of his head. One would think a hairdo like this would become troublesome trying to control it on the court, but McGhee seems to be doing just fine. He does keep his tuft of hair wrapped up pretty tight, and it almost looks like a big broccoli stalk you get at the grocery store. I like McGhee's 'do because he keeps it under control. If the braids were any longer, they would sway back and forth and get in peoples eyes and other not-very-fun aspects of playing sports against people with long hair.


Take a good look at McGhee, and tell me you don't immediately think of the "predator".


Kenneth Faried - Morehead State

Kenny Faried has more hair per volume than anyone in the country. I used to confused him with Whoopi Goldberg. From a far it might look like Faried has the full "Steven Segal" jet-black pony-tail. But up close, his head of hair looks like it belongs on a Marley.


Matt Bouldin - Gonzaga

Steven Gray's partner-in-crime is also the owner of the trademark Gonzaga shag. If you are white, a good shooter, and play at Gonzaga, you are responsible to carry on the tradition that is the Gonzaga shag. Dan Dickau had it, Adam Morrison had it, and for what seems like 7 years, Matt Bouldin has had it. The hairdo is about as much of a staple of the Gonzaga program as winning the WCC is. Bouldin's hairdo is somewhere to the right of the lacrosse flow and to the left of the Frodo Baggins bowl cut.


My problem with his hairdo is that it always looks like a wet mop. I mean, I sweat a lot, but I swear, Bouldin's hair is soaking wet well before tip-off every game. But I don't know, maybe he's just a sweaty guy. As somebody who perspires just waiting for take-out food, I can tell you, some people don't need a reason to sweat. It just happens. There is no answer for the question "why do you sweat so much?" I don't know, can you direct that question towards my endocrine system? My personality isn't in control of that function. This seems to be the same case with Bouldin, I think. But I digress. No more lecturing on perspiration. I swear.


Edgar Sosa - Louisville

The senior guard at Louisville makes this list for one reason: his shape-up. Over the years I have become enamored with Edgar Sosa's head. I kid you not, every time Sosa steps on the floor, he has a brand new, freshly-cut shape-up. Sosa's guard play has been shaky at times, but we cannot question his loyalty and commitment to making sure he looks fresh-to-death when he steps on the court. Often confused for hip-hop sensation Drake, Sosa is "last name ever, first name greatest" when it comes to looking fresh on the hardwood.



Brock Young - East Carolina

I'm not going to lie to you. I don't know that much about Brock Young. I stumbled across his name doing some research and I was pleasantly surprised. Young has a lot of hair, like some of previous entries. What makes Young different is that he decided to not really do anything special with it. Young is clearly being economic. He knows it costs money and time to have his hair done, so he instead slicks it back, tightly supports it and goes to work. I like this guy's style.


Greivis Vasquez - Maryland

Vasquez just recently re-adjusted his hairdo so he is some-what of a late addition. It appears that he is now rocking some sort of reverse mullet/mohawk. Perhaps it was the change in hairdos that has sparked Vasquez's resurgence as one of the best guards in the country. I've never been a fan of Greivis, but this new hairdo of his gets two thumbs up from yours truly. Now I won't be as hesitant to change channels when the Terps are on. Plus, Cristiano Renaldo would be very jealous.


Michael Dixon Jr. - Missouri

Here we have a more controlled version of Alex Richman's disaster. Mr. Dixon sports nine thick cornrows that run from forehead all the way to his neck. I've never been a fan of these type of cornrows, as I would prefer a picked-out afro instead. But whatever, it's not my decision. If Michael Dixon wants to look like Da Brat, that’s fine with me.


Alex Tyus - Florida

I imagine this is what Gary McGhee's hair would look like if he didn't keep it under control. Tyus makes the list because he has added a nice goatee to go along with his wildman hairdo. I would not want to have to fight for a rebound with this guy, for fear of getting whipped in the face by 20 pairs of shoelaces. But the best part about the Tyus mane is his receding hairline. Seriously, at some point, some has to sit down with this young man, and explain to him that he is losing his hair. I find myself wondering if they fall out one braid at a time.


Marquis Navarre - Montana State

Oh man is this an awesome hairdo. It slightly resembles Sean Atupem's but clearly, Mr. Navarre's hairdo is much taller and more extravagant than Atupem's. I mean, this guy has the gusto to use this haircut as his everyday hairdo, and I commend him for that. I imagine that Kid n' Play do as well. Anyone up for a House Party?


I mean, Sean Atupem's hairdo is awesome, but Marquis' might actually be better. It's got to be at least five inches in height, but it stays the same thickness the whole way, plus he's got the solid delineation between scalp and hair line. I didn't go to barber college, but in my best guesstimation, I'd say that Marquis Navarre has terrific hair.


Doneal Mack - Memphis

Mack has become the NCAA poster boy for shaved head designs. It is very hard to keep up with Mack, because it seems like every game he has a new portrait etched onto the back of his skull. If anyone has insight as to what exactly is on the side/back of Doneal Mack's head please let us now, as it is likely to change soon.


Ater Majok - UConn

In his second year as a member of the Huskies (first as a contributor), Majok decided to step his game up. Not only on the court, but in the presentation department. He got rid of his tight afro in favor of a cornrow style once supported by Stanley Robinson. But Majok's dome is much larger than Robinson's so the hairdo looks completely different.


At a first glance, my initial reaction was that Majok played the alien alongside Sigourney Weaver (which made his matchup with Gary McGhee last week Alien vs. Predator, how did ESPN not market this?!?), but after watching Majok play more often, I have determined that he best resembles another killing machine: DeeJay from Street Fight II. Then again, DeeJay hails from Jamaica, and Majok is from Australia via Sudan. So once again my reference is not at all close. Oh well, I tried.


Derrick Caracter - UTEP

By no means is Caracter the only player in the country sporting this hairdo. In fact, too many players are sporting this hairdo. Caracter makes the list because his mohawk is more defined than any other in the country (of course, I challenge you to prove me wrong). I hate these "fo-hawk" hairdos. If you are going to rock the mohawk, you have to give it 100%. Great Americans like Mr. T represented the mohawk with dignity and class. You wouldn't want to piss off Mr. T, would you?


Derrick Caracter pities all you fools for doubting his comeback.


Devin Booker - Clemson

The younger brother of power forward Trevor Booker, Devin has done a tremendous job stepping out from behind big brother's shadow. How you ask? By sporting one of the coolest hairdos of the season.



(I couldn't find a better picture, but either trust me or watch a Clemson game, because the party is definitely in the back.)

Like I mentioned early, fo-hawks are pretty lame, but properly done mohawks can be spectacular. What Devin has created on his dome-piece is of spectacular design and quality. B.A Baracus would be very very proud of what Devin has done to his head. I'm a big fan of eccentric mohawks having tried one myself during my sophomore season in college. In Fact, Booker's haircut is probably the closet thing I've seen that resembles the mohawk I created. The one knock on Booker's hairdo is that the actual 'hawk on the top isn't that defined. Regardless, I commend Devin for even attempting something this bold, so I will look past the meager 4 ppg that he's averaging and just applaude him for his rediculously awesome haircut.


Renaldo Woolridge - Tennessee

The man they call "Swiperboy" has been playing tremendous basketball as of late, not to mention laying down some pretty popular tracks. But it wasn't his lines or his jumper that caught my eye. I'm not sure exactly how Woolridge got his dreads so small yet compact, but I imagine it took a considerable ammount of work.



I have so far been unable to think of anyone who has ever had a hairdo like this. Maybe Hasheem Thabeet? Baylor's Tweety Carter had small dreads, but they were a still allot longer than Woolridge's. Well regardless of it's originality, Renaldo's hairdo is pretty dope, to go along with his rising popularity and court pressence. I'd say that it's pretty good to be "Swiperboy" the past week or so.
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POSTERIZED Pick 'em: Stanley Robinson vs. Travis Leslie

Which was better?





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Ladies and Gentlemen, your '09-'10 UConn Huskies

For the first time this season, the college basketball world saw what the UConn Huskies can be this season.

After struggling through three games where they played mediocre basketball, the Huskies exploded tonight, jumping on a depleted LSU team early.

"We've been waiting since the exhibition season for us to have a breakout a little bit," Huskies head coach Jim Calhoun said after the game. "And quite frankly, it was a different kind of breakout.

"The breakout for us was playing with energy [and] getting back to rebounding."

And defending.

The Huskies this season are going to rely on the defensive pressure they can put on the ball. Playing their typical 2-2-1 press, Kemba Walker and Jerome Dyson hounded the Tiger back court, and in the process made getting the ball over the timeline a struggle.

There may not be a better on-the-ball defender in the country than Kemba Walker. He is as quick as a waterbug, hounding opposing ball handlers into taking tough shots off the dribble.

Kemba Walker set the tone for the Huskies defensively tonight.
(photo credit: SI)

See Bo Spencer as a perfect example. Coming into the game, Spencer was averaging over 20 ppg, but the Tiger point guard managed just five points tonight as Walker forced into 2-15 shooting before Spencer came out of the game with an ankle injury.

"He was really good on defense," Calhoun said. "He started putting pressure on [Chris Bass], who was penetrating in the first half, did a great job of adjusting to him."

Walker, who finished the game with 20 points and 3 assists, also was instrumental in leading the UConn break. While he can still stand to improve at running the Huskies half court offense, Walker's end-to-end speed with the ball in his hands and his vision leading the break make him the perfect point guard for Jim Calhoun.

"We love him," Calhoun said, "he has to work on making plays in the half court set. He has to identify open people, but we're not going to trade him."

But it was more than just Walker.

For the first time this season, Calhoun brought Gavin Edwards off the bench, and Edwards responded with 15 points, 7 boards, and 3 blocks, his best game of the season.

Stanley Robinson had a typical Stanley Robinson game, going for 14 points, 11 boards, and two highlight reel blocks. When "Sticks", as he is known to Husky fans, is playing with the kind of energy and aggressiveness he showed tonight, he brings a dimension to this UConn squad that few teams in the country can counter.

The star of this team, however, is Jerome Dyson.

He showed it in the second half.

After a quiet first 20 minutes in which he had just three points and struggled shooting the ball, Dyson took over in the second half, scoring 17 of his 20 points. Most of those points came as he attacked the basket in transition.

Transition basketball has been Jim Calhoun's bread and butter for years. With the athletes he has on this team, especially in the back court, that is where UConn must excel if they want to compete in the Big East.

And it is where they excelled tonight.

Calhoun agrees.

"[Tonight] was the first time that I saw Connecticut play this year."

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Best Dunkers

There aren't too many things that will fire up a crowd more than an electrifying dunk. The momentum of a game can change on just one outlet pass that turns into a thunderous slam. There won't be a shortage of rim-rockers this year, and there are plenty of guys out there with the hops capable of putting on a show for the fans.

With the season tip-off being literally hours away, what better way to get back into the spirit of the game than by going over the biggest high-flyers of the upcoming season.

As we have certified ourselves as the preeminent dunk experts on the intrawebs, here is out list of the top 10 dunkers this season. Don't be surprised if these guys make quite a few Sportscenter top 10's.

Chris "Top Flight" Wright - 6'8" forward, Dayton

I can make this short, because, well, his nickname is "Top Flight". Wright is by far the most talked-about dunker entering this season, and with the high expectations that have been set for Dayton, we could be seeing a lot of the this high-flyer on weekly top tens throughout the year. There are more than a handful of dunks you could pick as being Wright's most memorable. When he dunked over Marquette's Maurice Acker, I was pretty sure he left the atmosphere (seriously, look at where he catches the ball, then think about the fact that he doesn't use a dribble to get to the rim). Not only is Wright one of the best dunkers in the country, he is also one of the most athletic players out there. With Blake Griffin and Gerald Henderson, arguably two of the best dunkers last year, leaving for the NBA, "Top Flight" has become the premiere rim-rocker at the college level.









Trevor Booker - 6'7" forward, Clemson

He's your prototypical power-dunker. The true definition of a rim-rocker. The bulk of his highlight reel dunks come on tip-ins and follow-up slams. Clemson is a widely known as a "push-the-pace" team, and Booker has become an expert at trailing the break and following up on the glass. He's also a beast on the offensive rebounds. His physical strength can get him over, around, or through any defender in his way.









Paul George - 6'8" forward, Fresno State

A lot of people across the country didn't get to see a single Fresno State game on the television last season. They missed out on one of the most entertaining players in the entire country. But George's popularity has soared because of his highlight reel videos across the internet and youtube. He made his case for last season's "Dunk of the Year" with a monstrous one-handed slam from just inside the foul line against St. Marys. Did I mention that he did this in only his second game in his college career? Entering his sophomore season, George will undoubtedly capture the spotlight in the Mountain West Conference. He's long and lanky and is still some-what raw, but he has smooth transitions and can get up off the ground in a hurry.









Stanley "Stix" Robinson - 6'9" forward, UConn

The man known as "Stix" has been soaring across the sky in Storrs for the past two seasons. He had to leave the team to tend to personal issues a year ago, but came back to the team for the second part of last season. Since then, he has been the Huskies resident skywalker. His dunking ability is a combination of great athleticism and entertaining excitement. With the Husky's style of play lending to outside jumpers, "Stix" has a great presence of mind to get to the basket after the shot. However, having said all that, we must remember that he does have a tendency to be on the wrong end of posterizations. See Summers-comma-Durrell or Anderson-comma-Joe for more details.

(first highlight here)









Durrell Summers - 6'4" guard, Michigan State

Mr. Summers makes the list for his ability to be in the right place at the right time along with feeling at home soaring above the rim. A long and athletic wing with a wiry frame, Durrell was MSU’s most dynamic big-play threat last season. His knack for making a big shot, or finishing off a nice transition has made him a star among the East Lansing faithful. He is an integral part of the Spartans transitional play and press-break, usually starring as finishing touch. Spartan fans were acustomed to nightly viewings of Durrell Summers finishing off a Michigan State possesion with a fierce slam. Summers is forever linked to Robinson because of the monumental posterization that Summers laid down during the Final Four.









The best of the rest

Willie Warren - 6'4" guard, Oklahoma





Gerard Anderson - 6'6" forward, Cal State-Fullerton



Will Coleman - 6'9" forward, Memphis





John Wall - 6'4" guard, Kentucky





Carlon Brown - 6'3" guard, Utah





Who did we miss?
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No. 17: 2009-2010 Team Preview: UConn Huskies

2008-2009 Record: 31-5, 15-3 Big East (t-2nd)

Key Losses: AJ Price (14.7 ppg, 4.7 apg), Hasheem Thabeet (13.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 4.2 bpg), Jeff Adrien (13.6 ppg, 9.9 rpg)

Key Returners: Kemba Walker (8.9 ppg, 2.9 apg) Jerome Dyson (13.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Stanley Robinson (8.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

Newcomers: Alex Oriakhi, Ater Majok, Jamaal Trice, Darius Smith, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel

Stanley Robinson returns to the Huskies as arguably the best athlete in the country.
(photo credit: Inside Hoops)

UConn loses may lose more key pieces from last year's squad than any team in the country. Gone are AJ Price, Jeff Adrien, and Hasheem Thabeet, the Huskies three leading scorers from a year ago. But that doesn't meant the Huskies don't return any talent. With guys like Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, and Stanley Robinson deciding to come back to school, UConn is going to look like the Huskies of old this season.

Jim Calhoun's teams used to be known for their athleticism, their defensive pressure, and a helter-skelter style of play that resulted in a fast-paced game. The last couple of season's, Calhoun has veered away from that style as Price, Adrien, and Thabeet were all better suited to a slow, grind-it-out pace that allowed the Huskies to take advantage of their size on the interior. The Huskies won't have that size advantage this season, but what they will have is an athleticism advantage.

Kemba Walker will be the engine to this year's team. Walker is as quick and athletic as any point guard in the country. He is a terror defensively, utilizing those quicks to harass opposing ball-handlers. On the offensive end, Walker is going to be counted on to lead quite a few fast breaks. He has the speed and the ball-handling ability to get into the lane whenever he pleases, but last season he was a bit inconsistent once he got there - he forced some tough shots and committed a few too many turnovers. With a year of experience under his belt, Walker should be able to improve on that. This is going to be his UConn team to run, and how well he develops as a player will go a long way in determining the Huskie's success this season.

Joining Walker in the back court will be Jerome Dyson, another terrific athlete. Dyson is a bigger guard (6'4", 190 lb) that is the most dangerous in the open floor. A decent shooter when he has time, Dyson's strength is in his ability to get to the rim. He is explosive and a powerful finisher once he gets there. But like Walker, Dyson had a tendency to overpenetrate last season, resulting in a lot of tough shots. Defensively, Dyson is just as dangerous as Walker. He is a great athlete, and his length and anticipation make him a terror in the passing lanes. He and Walker will make life very tough on opposing back courts this season.

Beyond those two, UConn's back court will be very inexperienced. Two freshmen will be counted on heavily to provide back court depth - Darius Smith and Jamaal Trice. Smith and Trice are both exceptional athletes, and have been lauded by recruiting services for their defensive ability. Given the style that Calhoun will want to play this season, both Smith and Trice should be expected to be major contributors. At 6'5", Trice is a bit bigger than Smith, who is 6'1". Trice has big time athleticism, and has developed a knock-down jump shot. Smith is more of a combo-guard, and while his jump shot is not as developed as Calhoun would like, Smith has shown the ability to get into the paint at the high school level. Junior Donnell Beverly should also be expected to contribute some minutes.

But the back court isn't where the issues will be for the 2009-2010 Huskies. With Adrien graduating and Thabeet heading to the NBA Draft, a huge void is opened up in the middle. Senior Gavin Edwards will be back, but Edwards is not a guy that will be a star. An excellent role playing big man, Edwards is not a great offensive option in the post, but is a solid defender and rebounder. Freshman Alex Oriakhi will be counted on for major minutes, perhaps even stepping into a starting role off the bat. At 6'8", Oriakhi is closer to Jeff Adrien than a Josh Boone or Emeka Okafor. Strong in the paint, Oriakhi will provide the Huskies with some scoring, some defense, and a lot of rebounding and hustle inside.

Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Huskies will be 6'10" Sudanese refugee Ater Majok. Majok will become eligible after the first semester, but his impact on the court is still a question mark. Majok is long and athletic, and while his frame is a bit on the skinny side, Majok is still expected to be a big-time contributor for Calhoun. He is a defensive presence in the paint, but he also has enough skills on the perimeter that a defender is going to have to respect him. While Majok could end up being a star, UConn fans should be wary of the second coming of Ajou Ajou Deng.

The x-factors on this team are going to be Stanley Robinson and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel. Robinson might be the best athlete in the country. He is long (6'9") with crazy athleticism, and he plays with a ton of energy. It is widely known that he missed the beginning of last season while trying to prove to Calhoun he wanted to be a Husky, but when he returned, he was as good as he has been in his career. In fact, in postseason play, Robinson was absolutely dominant, averaging 17 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and over 2 bpg. Playing in the open court system that the Huskies will utilize this season, expect Robinson's athleticism and energy to take over at times.

Coombs-McDaniel is a bit different as a player. Another guy that's a tweener (at 6'7", he plays almost a point-forward kind of role), Coombs-McDaniel is knows for his versatility. He can penetrate, he is an excellent passer, and he is a smart, vocal leader, especially on the defensive end. He is not the overwhelming athlete that many Huskies are, but he is good enough defensively that there will be no drop off when he is in the game. Expect him to flourish as a Husky, and possibly slide into a starting spot by seasons end.

Two seven footers - Jonathon Mandeldove and Charles Okwandu - may also contribute some minutes up front.

Outlook: This is going to be an athletic team. The Huskies are going to have to press, to run the floor, and to crash the defensive glass. They don't have the shot-blockers that Husky fans have become accustomed too, but that shouldn't be a huge issue. Playing more of a full court style than they have the past two or three seasons, expect the Huskies to rely heavily on their athleticism to win games. If Kemba Walker and Stanley Robinson both develop into stars, UConn's fall should not be that tremendous and they could end up a top four team in the conference.
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