You know him. You love him. The face of UConn men’s basketball – Shabazz Napier.
In case you have been living under a rock (or spending way to much time in Homer Babs), he hit the game winning shot as the buzzer went off last Monday, pushing our 12th ranked boys past the 15th seeded Florida gators and preserving their current undefeated season.
For the unfortunate souls that could not attend, I’ll provide a quick recap of the game: The lead switched frequently throughout the game, and the Huskies struggled with turnovers and fouls (Tyler Olander and Phil Nolan both fouled out).
Fast-forward to about 1 minute left in the fourth quarter, with Florida up by three. Shabazz hit a shot and was fouled, and it appeared that he hurt his ankle in the process. After several near-heart attacks by a few members of the crowd, Shabazz returned to his feet and sunk his free throw, giving the Huskies a one-point lead with 33 seconds remaining. The crowd held their breath as UConn tried to fend off the Gators for the rest of the game. Then Florida scored, leaving the Huskies trailing by one point with only 17 seconds left. Winning this game would be a challenge, but the fans put their trust in Shabazz to guide the Huskies to victory (after all, he had already scored 24 points that game).
The ball ended up in Shabazz’s hands yet again as it entered the Huskies’ side of the court. As the seconds ticked down, he almost lost the ball for a second (cue more heart attacks) then chucked up a shot in a last ditch effort to score.
But it didn’t go in. Fans hung their heads, assuming all hope was lost – but Shabazz didn’t. Deandre Daniels amazingly tipped the rebound back to him (a play that should be equally as recognized) and as the buzzer went off, Shabazz threw up a shot that swished right into the basket.
It was insanity. People cheered and people cried. I probably hugged at least 12 strangers. In a rush of adrenaline, Shabazz ran off the court and into the hallway, followed by his teammates.
Finishing the night with 26 points and the game-winning shot, Shabazz was a hero. He made clutch shots throughout the game and his energy carried his team to victory. But the thing about Shabazz that makes him so great is that he isn’t defined by this one game. He has been performing amazing all season so far. He had a 27-point game against Indiana, another close win that earned UConn the 2K Sports title at Madison Square Garden two weeks ago. His superb command of the court has helped UConn’s backcourt of Shabazz and Ryan Boatright be perceived as amongst the best in the nation.
But it isn’t just his stats that are impressive. Shabazz’s energy and leadership are undeniable, a truth one can only get from watching him on the court. The senior guard from Roxbury, Massachusetts knows how to inspire and lead his team. His dependability on the court is unmatched, as coaches, players, and fans alike know they can trust the ball in Shabazz’s hands.
His stunning performance this season is garnering him national attention. This week, ESPN named him amongst ten other all-star players like Russ Smith (of Louisville, last year’s national champions) and Jabari Parker (Duke) as a potential contender for the Wooden Award, a prestigious honor given to outstanding college basketball players. Said Bruce Pearl, ESPN analyst, of Shabazz, “[he] controls the game. He empowers his teammates. He makes everybody else better.”
As UConn students who have watched Shabazz improve throughout his years here, we could not agree more. After a somewhat frustrating season last year as the Huskies underwent many challenges with the retirement of Jim Calhoun and their post-season ban, this 8-0 start is a breath of fresh air to fans everywhere. Shabazz’s performance has helped the Huskies get this far, but it remains to be seen if this will continue throughout the rest of the season. Shabazz’s performance has been compared to that of Kemba Walker’s when the Huskies took home the national championship in 2011. While it may be a little too soon to make the comparison between Shabazz and Walker, a near-immortal in the eyes of UConn fans, there is no doubt that Shabazz’s energy, dependability, and skill will help the Huskies make a huge impact as they approach the post season.