Spring Break
Thabeet has to deal with clogged USF 'D'
Marc Gauthier
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: Sports
HARTFORD - In the sixth game of the season, Hasheem Thabeet had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the men's basketball team's win over Bryant on Nov. 29. All of Thabeet's points were scored either on dunks or free throws.
Six dunks in all, to go along with four free throws.
"It's good for Hasheem to get double-doubles," said coach Jim Calhoun after the Bryant game. "It'll be important for us further on down the line when he has to compete. Yeah it's an unusual stat, but when you're that big or strong you should get those buckets."
Saturday, against South Florida, Thabeet scored 21 points to go along with nine rebounds. The Bulls tallest player is Augustus Gilchrist who is listed at 6-foot-10-inches and still gave up three inches to Thabeet.
But nonetheless, Thabeet didn't get a double-double. He also didn't have a single dunk.
"They were clogging up on me," Thabeet said. "Every time I would get the ball they would double-team, triple-team me. Again, we always find ways to win the game and today we just picked it up on defense and we were able to get the win."
Throughout the course of his three-year career at UConn, Thabeet has been criticized for his lack of offensive ability. Scouts claimed he wasn't strong enough to battle down low, and despite his defensive skill-set, Thabeet would never become an offensive threat.
Saturday's performance showed just how far Thabeet has come in three years.
"It shows how well [Thabeet] has expanded his game; adding versatility like the jump hook - he's really gotten that down pat and it's become a go-to move for him," said A.J. Price. "South Florida did a great job of not giving us easy baskets and trying to take away all the dunks, so I have to give them a lot of credit."
But the transformation from a 7-foot-3-inch defensive specialist to 7-foot-3-inch basketball player hasn't come overnight. Thabeet credits his success to the time and effort he's put in at practice. But more importantly, he credits his teammates.
Six dunks in all, to go along with four free throws.
"It's good for Hasheem to get double-doubles," said coach Jim Calhoun after the Bryant game. "It'll be important for us further on down the line when he has to compete. Yeah it's an unusual stat, but when you're that big or strong you should get those buckets."
Saturday, against South Florida, Thabeet scored 21 points to go along with nine rebounds. The Bulls tallest player is Augustus Gilchrist who is listed at 6-foot-10-inches and still gave up three inches to Thabeet.
But nonetheless, Thabeet didn't get a double-double. He also didn't have a single dunk.
"They were clogging up on me," Thabeet said. "Every time I would get the ball they would double-team, triple-team me. Again, we always find ways to win the game and today we just picked it up on defense and we were able to get the win."
Throughout the course of his three-year career at UConn, Thabeet has been criticized for his lack of offensive ability. Scouts claimed he wasn't strong enough to battle down low, and despite his defensive skill-set, Thabeet would never become an offensive threat.
Saturday's performance showed just how far Thabeet has come in three years.
"It shows how well [Thabeet] has expanded his game; adding versatility like the jump hook - he's really gotten that down pat and it's become a go-to move for him," said A.J. Price. "South Florida did a great job of not giving us easy baskets and trying to take away all the dunks, so I have to give them a lot of credit."
But the transformation from a 7-foot-3-inch defensive specialist to 7-foot-3-inch basketball player hasn't come overnight. Thabeet credits his success to the time and effort he's put in at practice. But more importantly, he credits his teammates.
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