UConn Basketball Social Media Week in Review: Valentine’s Day Edition

As it will lead us into Valentine’s day, this week’s UConn Basketball Social Media Week in Review is all about the love…

NBA

Just when you think no one cares…

Jeremy Lamb cannot control his excitement https://t.co/ymfyJKgvG6

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 5, 2015

Someone cares too much…

Do not leave Russ hanging. Do not EVER leave Russ hanging: http://t.co/Imf7aZe8ws http://t.co/JOv1OJYmoA via @royceyoung

— SB Nation (@SBNation) February 4, 2015

Westbrook should really show some of that love to Kemba…

WE LOVE YOU, KEMBA! Join us by posting your get well wishes to @KembaWalker using the hashtag #GetWellKemba! Watch: http://t.co/loAGA86Jj5

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) February 2, 2015

or maybe James Ennis, not sure who needs it more…

Good things happen when you run the floor like @AndreDrummond https://t.co/1ldY46AQ9k

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 4, 2015

Definitely not Ray though, he’s got em lined up.

Ray Allen to pick next destination soon, say league executives. (FOX Sports)

— NBA Bulletin (@TheNBABulletin) February 9, 2015

UConn

Patriot fans mistakenly show love for Darius Butler…

Word. Thats BS RT @mermaidsbisshh: "@RapSheet: Tom Brady is the Super Bowl XLIX MVP" sorry but @DariusJButler is.

— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) February 2, 2015

Butler shows he loves to troll… (UConn football is funny off the field too?)

Nah we shoulda let Indy win RT @orlbmun: @DariusJButler Hey man, Isn't it good to see that lombardi trophy making it's way towards ya?

— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) February 2, 2015

Doug Gottlieb will never love UConn…

UConn, we have a problem… It is #Houston

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) February 1, 2015

but UConn loves NOLA.

FINAL – #UConn 62, Tulane 53. Purvis (17), Boatright (16) and Hamilton (11) all reach double-figures in the win. pic.twitter.com/9E6GGUtGQG

— UConn Men's Hoops (@UConnMBB) February 8, 2015

Recruits

Jalen Adams kisses his teammate off the backboard…

Brewster guards @JalenAdams25 & @simon_Says_so link up for the between the legs off the backboard oop! #ballervisions http://t.co/ZbJ8U3kbOi

— BallerVisions (@BallerVisions) February 5, 2015

next year, it’s to this guy.

Future Husky Steve Enoch had 11 points and 10 rebounds for St. Thomas More in an 89-77 loss at Brewster Academy

— Gavin Keefe (@GavinKeefe) February 4, 2015

International

7’4 Boban Marjanovic did not expect this early gift from Marcus Williams (#9)…

Take a look at the best ten plays of the @Euroleague Top 16 Round 6! https://t.co/MI2ohOXZhU …

— EuroleagueBasketball (@Euroleague) February 7, 2015

the Germans still love Niels Giffey…

91:60 vs Bayreuth. Sasa fliegt aus der Halle, aber seine Jungs geben danach erst recht Gas für ihn! Giffey 14pt 6rb pic.twitter.com/g4RMy1g2TJ

— ALBA BERLIN (@albaberlin) January 31, 2015

Jerome Dyson has always loved to score (@sliceanddice)…

#SerieABeko Points Per Game Leaders: @tmitch_5 22.3 Sam Young 21.9 @qross2011 18.6 @slicenanddice 17.8 @ARayfor3 17.8

— LegaBasket (@LegaBasketA) February 4, 2015

…but most importantly, shows he can give too.

#SerieABeko Assists Per Game Leaders: @cincia20 6.3 @LucaVitali10 6.1 @slicenanddice 4.8 @RdotMoore25 4.7 @Wan5Rob 4.4

— LegaBasket (@LegaBasketA) February 4, 2015

Andre Drummond’s first career game-winner for Pistons (video)

Andre Drummond made two huge plays in the waning seconds of Friday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers. First, deadlocked at 96-96 with :24 seconds remaining, Drummond coaxed Pacers All-Star big man Roy Hibbert into an offensive foul. Then, on the ensuing possession, Drummond followed a Brandon Jennings’ miss for his 16 point on his 16 rebound, giving the Pistons 10 wins in their last 12 games.

Crazy feeling, first NBA game winner! Hell of s game guys detroitpistons http://t.co/tUt7HgF513

— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummondd) January 17, 2015

I have not been shy in proclaiming Drummond a Hall of Famer, barring injury. His athleticism is so freakish, he could completely redefine the center position in the NBA, similarly to how LeBron James redefined the small forward. In just his third season, at a mere 21 years old, Drummond is averaging roughly 12 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. To average these numbers, with a game so raw he barely has a viable post move or sense of defensive positioning, is a scary thought for Eastern Conference opponents.

Though impossible to imagine at this point in time, Drummond’s athleticism will eventually fade. His ultimate reputation will be decided by technique, development and execution. As SI.com’s Rob Mahoney puts it in his article linked below: “He will always appear capable of more, because in some sense he’s capable of almost anything.”

Ladies and gentlemen, watch out for Andre Drummond.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/01/13/andre-drummond-pistons-the-craft

Vote Kemba Walker to the 2015 All Star Game

It’s impossible to repay Kemba Walker for what he gave UConn fans in the Spring of 2011. However, voting him into his first All Star game (a NYC homecoming at that) is a great way to start. Walker is averaging 30+ points in the midst of a 5 game win streak, including 28 points in just 28 minutes during last night’s blowout of the New York Knicks. In addition, Cardiac Kemba ALREADY has three game-winning buzzer-beaters on the young season. Kemba Walker deserves to be an All Star, here are the many ways to vote him in:

Twitter

Tweet “Kemba Walker” with the hashtag #NBABallot, or, simply RT my tweet below. Might as well RT for Andre Drummond too while you are at it…

Kemba Walker #NBABallot

— Matt Ouimette (@mattwemet) January 11, 2015

Andre Drummond #NBABallot

— Matt Ouimette (@mattwemet) January 12, 2015

Facebook

Post “Kemba Walker” with the hashtag #NBABallot:

Instagram

Post an original photo with “Kemba Walker” and the hashtag #NBABallot.

Online

Create an account and vote online here.

Texting

Vote by texting “Walker” to 69622 (MYNBA). Message and data rates apply.

Fans can cast up to 10 votes per day on each voting medium, but only one per player. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter posts must include the player’s first/last name AND the hashtag #NBABallot. Voting ends January 19, 2015 so let’s get to it…

Rudy Gay replaces Kevin Durant on Team USA Roster

Getty Images

Over the weekend it was announced Rudy Gay will replace Kevin Durant as the 16^th member on the 2014 USA National Team roster. Gay will compete against Chandler Parsons, Gordon Hayward, Kyle Korver and Demar DeRozan for a chance to represent Team USA at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain later this month. Gay’s addition gives UConn two players vying for a chance to represent our country, with Andre Drummond as the second. UConn joins Duke (Kyrie Irving, Mason Plumlee) and Kentucky (DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis) as the only college programs with two potential representatives. This is not Gay’s first stint with Team USA- he averaged 7 points off the bench for the 2010 World Championship team and was one of the last cuts made off the 2012 Olympic team. Team USA will have a training camp in Chicago August 14-16 to determine which 12 players make the final roster. Here is a look at the statistics of Gay compared to his competitors:

Player	G	MPG	PPG	FG%	3P%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
Gay	73	34.7	20	.46	.33	6	2.9	1.3	0.8
Parsons	74	37.6	16.6	.47	.37	5.5	4.0	1.2	0.4
Hayward	77	36.4	16.2	.41	.30	5.1	5.2	1.4	0.5
Korver	71	33.9	12.0	.48	.47	4.0	2.9	1.0	0.3
DeRozan	79	38.2	22.7	.43	.31	4.3	4.0	1.1	0.4

UConn stars return for 2014 Jim Calhoun Celebrity Classic

7,000+ crowded Mohegan Sun Arena Friday night for the 2014 Jim Calhoun Celebrity Classic. Featuring heroes of UConn past, the game is more than just a UConn All-Star game, but raises money and awareness for the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center at the UConn Health Center. According to their website, the charity is dedicated to “research on new non-invasive techniques to diagnose and treat patients at risk for heart disease and also endows a cardiology research fellowship.” Since 1999 the Celebrity Classic has raised over $6.5 million for cardiology research. You can learn more here and like the event on Facebook.

Jim Calhoun watches his charity game.

Friday’s game featured current NBA players Andre Drummond, Ray Allen, Kemba Walker, Jeff Adrien, Ben Gordon, Jeremy Lamb and Charlie Villanueva as well as former stars Taliek Brown, Khalid El-Amin and Donyell Marshall. The White Team came away with a dramatic 114-112 victory on an all-but-too-familiar game winner from ’99 Champ El-Amin. Drummond led a stacked White Team with 24 points/12 rebounds while Walker (21 points), DeAndre Daniels (18), Allen (15) and El-Amin (13) all scored in double figures. Villanueva led the Blue Team dropping 24 points with Rashad Anderson (22), Lamb (21 points/8 rebounds) providing help in the scoring department and Jeff Adrien (12/13) handling the dirty work as usual. Lamb was originally on the White Team roster but crossed sides after Rudy Gay was was deemed ineligible due to language in his contract with the Sacramento Kings. It should be noted that although Gay was unable to participate in the game, he is rumored to have dropped $80,000 on a private plane to sit on the bench and support the cause. Caron Butler and Shabazz Napier were not in attendance due to prior commitments.

Pictures below:

Ray Allen Pregame

Tip off at the 2014 Jim Calhoun Celebrity Classic.

Andre Drummond rises for a dunk at the 2014 Jim Calhoun Charity Classic.

Andre Drummond rises for a dunk at the 2014 Jim Calhoun Celebrity Classic.

Rudy Gay poses for a selfie with Jeremy Lamb.

After party with Kemba Walker

UCONN 2011 First Night Dunk Contest

I recently found videos I took from quite possibly the most epic dunk contest in the history of UCONN First Night (more commonly known as Midnight Madness). This particular contest featured a semifinal matchup between hyper-athletic big man Andre Drummond and bouncy guard Ryan Boatright. Both Drummond and Boatright made it difficult for the judges- consisting of Kemba Walker, Hasheem Thabeet, Ray Allen and ESPN’s Doris Burke- to announce a winner with a flurry of impressive dunks that I was lucky enough to catch on camera directly behind the basket.