Spring Break
Fantasy sports, UConn style
Kevin Duffy
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Sports
Just when you thought UConn sports couldn't get any more exciting, we invented UConn Fantasy Sports - a campus-wide competition complete with a scoring system (left) that encompasses all fall sports. Now, when you are at a football game and everyone but a group of freshmen is enraged after a Tyler Lorenzen touchdown pass, you'll know why. North Campus, my home for the last two years, was awarded the top pick after a "random" lottery. Here are the draft results:
First Round
1. North - O'Brian White, senior, men's soccer
2007 rank: 1 (204 points)
White is the LaDanian Tomlinson of UConn fantasy sports. He led the nation in goals scored (23) last year and should hover around that mark again this year. Not much of a decision for North campus.
2. Hilltop - Lauren Aird, senior, field hockey
2007 rank: 8 (130 points)
Aird figures to take over for Lizzy Peijs, UConn's No. 2 fantasy player last season, as field hockey's go-to option on offense. She could match Peijs' 16 goals from 2007.
3. Northwest - Tyler Lorenzen, senior, football
2007 rank: 4 (154 points)
The transfer of wide receiver Terrence Jeffers may hurt Lorenzen's numbers, but the scoring system is quarterback-heavy and Lorenzen's ability to scramble adds another dimension to his fantasy value.
4. Shippee - Annie Luhrsen, freshman, volleyball
2007 rank: NR
Shippee goes out on a limb in picking a freshman so high, but as always, it did its homework. Luhrsen takes over at setter for Bridget Denson-Dorman (No. 3 fantasy player last season), who transferred to South Carolina. She is sure to rack up the assists for Shippee as she did for the U.S. Junior National team this summer.
5. Charter Oak - Lindsey Leck, senior, field hockey
2007 rank: 5 (142 points)
Like Aird, Leck will enjoy a bigger role this year and her numbers should reflect that. Solid pick here for CO.
6. West - Donald Brown, junior, football
2007 rank: 7 (132 points)
Brown displayed an extra gear in spring ball that he had not previously shown in his career. He is in somewhat of a timeshare with Andre Dixon, but if he stays healthy, it's safe to assume he will get two-thirds of the carries and the bulk of the goal-line touches as well.
7. South - Darius Butler, senior, football
2007 rank: NR
Butler is slated to play cornerback and wide receiver, as well as to return kicks this fall. His big-play capability and the lack of other proven wide receivers give the electric Butler a chance to post big-time numbers on both sides of the ball.
8. Towers - Melissa Gonzalez, sophomore, field hockey
2007 rank: 12 (102 points)
Great value here. Gonzalez, a second-team All-Big East performer as a freshman, has the potential to put up better numbers than Aird and Leck.
9. Buckley - Rebecca Murray, sophomore, volleyball
2007 rank: 19 (88 points)
Murray is in a league of her own athletically. She has the length, explosiveness and talent to make Buckley residents forget they passed on Andre Dixon.
10. East - Will Sanders, senior, cross country
2007 rank: 11 (105 points)
Sanders, the top distance runner at UConn, is the first of back-to-back picks for East campus, who pushed hard for the serpentine draft format.
Check Thursday's paper for the second and third rounds.
Kevin.R.Duffy@UConn.edu
First Round
1. North - O'Brian White, senior, men's soccer
2007 rank: 1 (204 points)
White is the LaDanian Tomlinson of UConn fantasy sports. He led the nation in goals scored (23) last year and should hover around that mark again this year. Not much of a decision for North campus.
2. Hilltop - Lauren Aird, senior, field hockey
2007 rank: 8 (130 points)
Aird figures to take over for Lizzy Peijs, UConn's No. 2 fantasy player last season, as field hockey's go-to option on offense. She could match Peijs' 16 goals from 2007.
3. Northwest - Tyler Lorenzen, senior, football
2007 rank: 4 (154 points)
The transfer of wide receiver Terrence Jeffers may hurt Lorenzen's numbers, but the scoring system is quarterback-heavy and Lorenzen's ability to scramble adds another dimension to his fantasy value.
4. Shippee - Annie Luhrsen, freshman, volleyball
2007 rank: NR
Shippee goes out on a limb in picking a freshman so high, but as always, it did its homework. Luhrsen takes over at setter for Bridget Denson-Dorman (No. 3 fantasy player last season), who transferred to South Carolina. She is sure to rack up the assists for Shippee as she did for the U.S. Junior National team this summer.
5. Charter Oak - Lindsey Leck, senior, field hockey
2007 rank: 5 (142 points)
Like Aird, Leck will enjoy a bigger role this year and her numbers should reflect that. Solid pick here for CO.
6. West - Donald Brown, junior, football
2007 rank: 7 (132 points)
Brown displayed an extra gear in spring ball that he had not previously shown in his career. He is in somewhat of a timeshare with Andre Dixon, but if he stays healthy, it's safe to assume he will get two-thirds of the carries and the bulk of the goal-line touches as well.
7. South - Darius Butler, senior, football
2007 rank: NR
Butler is slated to play cornerback and wide receiver, as well as to return kicks this fall. His big-play capability and the lack of other proven wide receivers give the electric Butler a chance to post big-time numbers on both sides of the ball.
8. Towers - Melissa Gonzalez, sophomore, field hockey
2007 rank: 12 (102 points)
Great value here. Gonzalez, a second-team All-Big East performer as a freshman, has the potential to put up better numbers than Aird and Leck.
9. Buckley - Rebecca Murray, sophomore, volleyball
2007 rank: 19 (88 points)
Murray is in a league of her own athletically. She has the length, explosiveness and talent to make Buckley residents forget they passed on Andre Dixon.
10. East - Will Sanders, senior, cross country
2007 rank: 11 (105 points)
Sanders, the top distance runner at UConn, is the first of back-to-back picks for East campus, who pushed hard for the serpentine draft format.
Check Thursday's paper for the second and third rounds.
Kevin.R.Duffy@UConn.edu
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