It’s certainly an unusual circumstance to see a reigning NCAA National Champion return the following season with a more talented roster than the previous season. But that is precisely the case of the 2011 University of Connecticut Huskies as they bring back virtually everyone besides NBA Lottery pick Kemba Walker, in addition to a star-studded recruiting class in an attempt to be repeat champions.
As the college basketball season officially got underway Friday evening with numerous teams hosting their annual version of Midnight Madness, the Huskies introduced their fanbase to potentially coach Calhoun’s most talented squad on paper in years. Odds are that sophomore Jeremy Lamb will ascend to super-stardom in just his 2nd year. On a side note, Lamb got the festivities started on a rather humerous note by teaching university President Susan Herbst his now trademark “Lamb Shake.”
Even though they lost All American leading scorer Walker to the NBA, they return a bevy of talented veterans including Lamb, Alex Oriakhi, Shabazz Napier, and Roscoe Smith. Adding to their prowess in an amazingly talented incoming freshman class led by future NBA Lottery pick Andre Drummond, high scoring SF DeAndre Daniels, and highlight reel PG Ryan Boatright.
This year’s squad is filled with a number of above the rim type players and many of them were on display in the 2011 Moonlight Madness Dunk Contest. The field included Jeremy Lamb, Alex Oriakhi, Roscoe Smith, Andre Drummond, and Ryan Boatright with former UConn great Ray Allen as a celebrity judge.
The event had an upset winner in Boatright, who used his Spudd Webb/ Nate Robinson style to take home the crown over Drummond in the Finals. Even though he lost, check out the amazing ups and flexibility of the 6’11 and 270 lbs Drummond in pulling off the Iguodala off the side of the board jam from the Dunk Contest a few years back.
Check out the 2011 UConn Moonlight Madness Dunk Contest:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
