Is Sterling Gibbs the Next GREAT UConn PG?

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

My gut tells me Gibbs is the next great 1 at UConn. Assuming he puts in the grind every day this kid could be very very very special. What do you guys think? Am I to bullish/optimistic? The Miller/Gibbs pickups put us potentially in great position to make a Final4 run. I love this kids toughness and ability to close. He has the ability to be a great leader also. Intelligent & Talented.

http://www.dudesonsports.com/news/2015/5/2/former-seton-hall-guard-sterling-gibbs-transfers-to-uconn

 

[8893]

Yes.

 

[Scot-e]

Summer- I love it.
Not sure we ever had a one year "UCONN great" and Gibbs is not going to be the first one IMHO.
I am looking forward to seeing him play and without him I would be much less optimistic about our season next year. If he wins a NC - I will eat crow with pleasure- but that's what it takes to be a great at UCONN.

 

[David 76]

Can you be the next great in 1 year? I think he will be good and I hope good enough to make the NBA, but not in the Kemba/ Bazz tradition.

 

[Stainmaster]

He's not going to attract the cult of Kemba-Bazz-Boat because he'll be more of a traditional PG than those three were. Not a knock on his offensive skills at all - for example, he'd be very adept at playing "hero ball" if he were surrounded by the cast of characters Boat had last year. But the team he's surrounded with is arguably stronger than any we've had all decade. He'll have more seasoned offensive options and will therefore probably have to shoulder less of the load. We think of '10-11 as "Kemba's team", '13-14 as "Bazz's team", and '14-15 as "Boat's team", but I don't think that this coming season will be "Sterling's team" simply because he shouldn't have to carry them the way those three did at times.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Fair points about him only being here 1 year and categorizing him with the word great. As I just did. I still think he can be the next great regardless.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

He's not going to attract the cult of Kemba-Bazz-Boat because he'll be more of a traditional PG than those three were. Not a knock on his offensive skills at all - for example, he'd be very adept at playing "hero ball" if he were surrounded by the cast of characters Boat had last year. But the team he's surrounded with is arguably stronger than any we've had all decade. He'll have more seasoned offensive options and will therefore probably have to shoulder less of the load. We think of '10-11 as "Kemba's team", '13-14 as "Bazz's team", and '14-15 as "Boat's team", but I don't think that this coming season will be "Sterling's team" simply because he shouldn't have to carry them the way those three did at times.

Good points..

 

[gtcam]

kemba isn't bazz and bazz isn't KEA and KEA isn't Taliek
Gibbs will be who he is and I hope he is a bit of each of these guys
He has shown he has some brass balls and that's a great start
It will be fun to watch

 

[Yankees32123]

@Stairmaster hit it on the head. He won't be "the man" like he was at Seton Hall. He's an extremely important cog on a team that has a LOT of potential but it won't be "Sterling's team", like Stairmaster said. Then again, if D-Ham still turns the ball over and doesn't improve his shooting %, if Rodney still steps on the line when receiving a pass, if Jalen isn't as advertised right away, if Shonn Miller can't adjust to higher quality basketball, etc. then Sterling may need to take on the alpha role. But I don't see that happening.

 

[Chief00]

Quite frankly, I have to respectfully correct you. No disrespect to Gibbs but Adams is the next great PG. Gibbs is very good though.

 

[nomar]

Can you be the next great in 1 year? I think he will be good and I hope good enough to make the NBA, but not in the Kemba/ Bazz tradition.

Nadav is probably the only 1-year "UConn Great." At least I think most UConn fans still think of Dove as a Great.

 

[JimHurley]

Gibbs is going to be the man this year. I think he leads us in scoring this year with 15+PPG and takes on a mentor role with Jalen Adams.

 

[Walker11]

He's not going to attract the cult of Kemba-Bazz-Boat because he'll be more of a traditional PG than those three were. Not a knock on his offensive skills at all - for example, he'd be very adept at playing "hero ball" if he were surrounded by the cast of characters Boat had last year. But the team he's surrounded with is arguably stronger than any we've had all decade. He'll have more seasoned offensive options and will therefore probably have to shoulder less of the load. We think of '10-11 as "Kemba's team", '13-14 as "Bazz's team", and '14-15 as "Boat's team", but I don't think that this coming season will be "Sterling's team" simply because he shouldn't have to carry them the way those three did at times.

Agreed, and Sterling could have a UCONN great year but he has an impossible task in terms of challenging Bazz, Boat and Kemba. There is too much history to make up in one year. Of course, I will remember Bazz crushing Nova, Boat sinking MSU and Kemba destroying McGhee, but equally awesome is remembering a young Bazz pick pocketing Doron Lamb, Boat hitting 3 clutch 3's vs. FSU and Kemba banking in the runner vs. Mizzou. Watching the development of players over time is what really makes me feel fortunate to be a UCONN fan.

 

[mauconnfan]

I will always remember Lasan Kromah for what he brought to the team in regards of need. He was a key piece that year and provided us with much experience off the bench in both the regular season games as well as the champs. If Gibbs and Miller do the same and they go deep they will be remembered as Huskies but I doubt in the way Rip, Emeka, Ben, Bazz and Kemba were. But there is always a first depending on how it goes down right?

 

[djct1999]

The bar is set very high. The prerequisite around here is a national title. If he wins us one of those, he will be remembered and talked about for a long time.

 

[Kembacity]

I think Gibbs is going to be great, but as others have said, not as great as our "greats". So many options on this team, Gibbs shouldn't have to be the man, which to me means he has all the tools to succeed. If DHam/Rodney/Miller/Brimah all bring it from game 1, Gibbs shouldn't have too much trouble putting up gaudy assist numbers, which would make him look great to me. The fact that so many guys should be contributing also means a lot of pressure will be off of him, guys aren't going to be double teaming if everyone on the court has the ability to put the ball in the hole.

I'm just very very excited for this coming season, looking forward to watching every game and soaking up every drop of action. I can't remember the last time we had a starting lineup that was this competent on the basketball court, let alone itching to see Jalen take the court

 

[CL82]

Summer- I love it.
Not sure we ever had a one year "UCONN great" .

 

[HuskyCLT]

I think he is what he is. I think he will be a great player, and treated as such. But in the minds and hearts of fans, seeing players develop over multiple years from an 18 year old kid to an NBA ready prospect gives them a little nostalgia/attachment to the player.

He will get every opportunity to be remembered well, but it's a tall task to compare him to how people are going to feel about guys like Kemba and Bazz. He will gain the most respect and "great status" out of us by showing he is out to PLAY every night and that he wants to win for UConn and his teammates, and not just for himself.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (All)

Some great points. Interesting...

 

[David 76]

I think Gibbs will be great and he was just what the Dr. ordered for UConn. Don't mean this harshly but if he was "all time great category, he would not have come to UConn & gone straight to the NBA.