Spring Break
Give It Up For The Big Guy: Hasheem Thabeet
Kevin Meacham
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: Sports
Or how ESPN's Jay Bilas infuriatingly refuses to pronounce the 'h' in 'Thabeet.' There's a good chance that 'Ta-beet' is the right way to pronounce his name since Bilas is a Duke graduate, and thus is smarter than us lowly public-school folks. Still, that's not going to catch on, Jay.
Or like how Saturday, Thabeet was the first "Chevrolet Player of the Game" award winner I can remember whose point total was not listed. That sums up the Thabeet era pretty well, no? Seven rebounds, five blocks, irrelevant points.
And finally, how Thabeet can now finish alley-oops, make one or two post moves and contribute to the offense on a quasi-regular basis. Witness in stunning awe his ability to shoot 71 percent from the free-throw line. I don't know how Calhoun and Thabeet worked together to accomplish that, but I would like to subscribe to their newsletter.
That being said, Thabeet is not at all ready for the NBA. He admittedly has very little of an offensive game. Unfortunately, that's not how professional basketball works. Teams look for potential, and the big Tanzanian is projected to be the best NBA center to ever come out of UConn, narrowly edging out Emeka Okafor and making everyone forget about the man, the myth, the Jake Voskuhl.
I know Thabeet's personal situation will be greatly aided by seeking the riches of the NBA and you can't fault him when the inevitable announcement comes in April. The big guy knows what's best for him, even if it's not what's best for UConn - which is a potential Final Four team if Thabeet stays. That's not the issue.
The issue is that UConn fans are witnessing a special talent that comes along once in a generation. I would hope to hear some "Please Don't Go" chants directed at Thabeet over the next months, because he really is a fun (and tall!) player to watch.
Kevin Meacham's column runs every Thursday.
Contact him at Kevin.Meacham@UConn.edu.
Or like how Saturday, Thabeet was the first "Chevrolet Player of the Game" award winner I can remember whose point total was not listed. That sums up the Thabeet era pretty well, no? Seven rebounds, five blocks, irrelevant points.
And finally, how Thabeet can now finish alley-oops, make one or two post moves and contribute to the offense on a quasi-regular basis. Witness in stunning awe his ability to shoot 71 percent from the free-throw line. I don't know how Calhoun and Thabeet worked together to accomplish that, but I would like to subscribe to their newsletter.
That being said, Thabeet is not at all ready for the NBA. He admittedly has very little of an offensive game. Unfortunately, that's not how professional basketball works. Teams look for potential, and the big Tanzanian is projected to be the best NBA center to ever come out of UConn, narrowly edging out Emeka Okafor and making everyone forget about the man, the myth, the Jake Voskuhl.
I know Thabeet's personal situation will be greatly aided by seeking the riches of the NBA and you can't fault him when the inevitable announcement comes in April. The big guy knows what's best for him, even if it's not what's best for UConn - which is a potential Final Four team if Thabeet stays. That's not the issue.
The issue is that UConn fans are witnessing a special talent that comes along once in a generation. I would hope to hear some "Please Don't Go" chants directed at Thabeet over the next months, because he really is a fun (and tall!) player to watch.
Kevin Meacham's column runs every Thursday.
Contact him at Kevin.Meacham@UConn.edu.
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