Where Will Huskies Begin Pro Careers? … Where Do UConn Title Teams Rank All-Time?

Collier, Samuelson Ready for WNBA Draft

The Story: Even though the NCAA tournament just ended, it’s time for Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson to begin the next phase of their careers. The former UConn players are expected to be chosen in the first round of the WNBA Draft, which takes place today in New York.

FIRST PICK IN PLAY? Although a number of WNBA analysts and coaches suggested last week that Collier is in play to go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Aces, it seems more than likely that someone else will hear her name called first. Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu was considered the heavy favorite to be the top pick, but she said earlier this week that she will return for her senior season with the hopes of winning a national championship.

That leaves Louisville guard Asia Durr, Mississippi State center Teaira McCowan and Notre Dame guard Jackie Young, who will forego her final year of eligibility, as the candidates to be the top pick.

WHERE WILL COLLIER GO? It’s likely that Collier will be the fourth or fifth player selected, once Durr, McCowan and Young are off the board. The Chicago Sky hold the No. 4 pick and they desperately need a reliable rebounder, though it’s uncertain if Collier, despite her presence on the boards in college, will be that player professionally. That could force the Sky to take someone like Baylor center Kalani Brown or California forward Kristine Anigwe, who, at 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-4, respectively, provide a bit more of an imposing figure inside than the 6-foot-1 Collier.

If Chicago passes on Collier, she’s virtually a lock to go No. 5 to the Dallas Wings, who are likely to face a rebuilding year with Liz Cambage wanting out and Skylar Diggins-Smith missing some time because of her pregnancy. There, Collier could settle into a very similar role like she had with the Huskies as a solid contributor on both ends.

WHERE WILL SAMUELSON GO? Aside from being an absolute first-round lock, it’s a bit more difficult to project where Samuelson will end up. She won’t be drafted before Collier, and she’ll likely slot in as a pure shooter at the professional level. She and Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale have similar skill sets, so it’s a toss-up as to which of the two goes first; the Minnesota Lynx, who draft sixth, will be without Maya Moore this season and could use someone like Ogunbowale who can realiably create her own shot, but Samuelson is a better rebounder.

If Samuelson doesn’t go to the Lynx, the next three teams drafting are the Los Angeles Sparks, the Phoenix Mercury and the Connecticut Sun. She won’t fall past the Sun at No. 9. All three could use a reliable shooter, especially someone so skilled from deep, and all three would be a win-win for Samuelson: A return home to the West Coast, a chance to play alongside Diana Taurasi or the ability to stay in Connecticut in front of a crowd she has dazzled for four years.

ABOUT THE DRAFT: The three-round extravaganza will be held at Nike’s headquarters in New York and begin at 7 p.m. The Aces, who finished with the second-worst record last season, won the lottery in August and will pick first for the second consecutive year. Here’s the full draft order:

First Round: 1. Las Vegas; 2. New York; 3. Indiana; 4. Chicago; 5. Dallas; 6. Minnesota; 7. Los Angeles; 8. Phoenix; 9. Connecticut; 10. Washington; 11. Atlanta; 12. Seattle.

Second Round: 13. Phoenix; 14. New York; 15. Chicago; 16. Minnesota; 17. Dallas; 18. Minnesota; 19. Los Angeles; 20. Minnesota; 21. Connecticut; 22. Dallas; 23. Atlanta; 24. Seattle.

Third Round: 25. Indiana; 26. New York; 27. Chicago; 28. Indiana; 29. Dallas; 30. Minnesota; 31. Los Angeles; 32. Phoenix; 33. Connecticut; 34. Washington; 35. Atlanta; 36. Seattle.

And, if you missed it, the WNBA unveiled a new logo yesterday for the second time in seven years. Snazzy.

Where Do the Huskies’ Title Teams Rank?

The Story: Virginia’s run to the NCAA men’s basketball title was one to behold and now the arguments can begin — where does it rank? Well, our buddies at ESPN ranked all 81 title teams to start the argument, including UConn’s four. Yes. Just in case you didn’t know, UConn has won four men’s national titles.

WHERE ARE THE HUSKIES RANKED? Let’s get down to what you care about: UConn. The ’99 team, which celebrated its 20th anniversary, is finally starting to get respect. It was ranked No. 21 all-time and is the highest Huskies team ranked, with Rip Hamilton now officially a college hoops legend. The 2004 Emeka Okafor champs were ranked No. 51, which to us seems low considering the talent on that team. There were six eventual first-round picks on that UConn team led By Okafor, Ben Gordon, Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, Hilton Armstrong, and Charlie Villanueva. Another player, Denham Brown, was a second-round pick and Rashad Anderson was a terrific college player. In other words: loaded. Virginia was ranked No. 34. I’d take the 2004 team in a heartbeat over anything in college basketball the last decade outside of the Anthony Davis-led Kentucky title team.

As far as the 2011 and 2014 editions? They were ranked No. 59 and No. 60. The Kemba Walker team is underrated. To go on that kind of run in the postseason is one of the greatest performances in NCAA history. The talent on that team, too — Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier — is also underrated. Too many players and the team performed at an elite level whenever required. Ignore the 9-9 record in conference. They ended up being a 30-plus-win team.

The 2014 squad? It is beloved in our opinion but doesn’t go near the 2011 team. That team could have easily been bounced out in the first round of that tournament before it caught fire. The destruction in the AAC title game that year — in fact several times — leads us to feel there should be more separation between ’11 and ’14. That said, ’14 may be the most beloved UConn team of all-time since it was really just a surprise. We knew they had a chance, but only crazy Kevin Ollie predicted it. And who didn’t love Shabazz?

Morning Reads

NO UCONN, NO PROBLEM: Connecticut is home to basketball fans. The Baylor-Notre Dame game drew a 9.5 rating in the Hartford/New Haven market on Sunday night. That is the highest rating in any market in the nation. Mind you, that is with no UConn, though we do wonder if people turned in just because they planned ahead to do so out of habit. (ESPN Media)

EARLY START: Incoming men’s basketball recruit Jalen Gaffney wrote on Twitter that he and James Bouknight will enroll in summer classes beginning on June 3. (Jalen Gaffney on Twitter)

BACK AMONG THE BEST: With the NCAA men’s basketball tournament over, a number of outlets are rushing to put together their way-too-early top 25s. UConn made it on one of them. (NBC Sports)

IT’S TIME FOR BRACKETOLOGY: We’re serious. Next year’s prediction of the NCAA tourney is here. No UConn. So no good. (ESPN)

BASEBALL’S BRYANT BEATDOWN: UConn beat Bryant 11-6 in a shortened game in Storrs. (UConnHuskies.com)

EAGLES SOAR: The softball team lost 5-4 to Boston College yesterday on an RBI double in the eighth inning. (UConnHuskies.com)

NEED A WIN: The women’s lacrosse team will play its final nonconference game of the season this afternoon when it faces Yale on the road. (UConnHuskies.com)

CRONIN HEADS WEST: UCLA hired Cincinnati’s Mick Cronin as its men’s basketball coach yesterday, ending a search that began 100 days ago. (Los Angeles Times)

MULLIN STEPS DOWN: St. John’s men’s basketball coach Chris Mullin resigned yesterday, citing his desire to spend more time with his family after the death of his brother last month. (Newsday)