The UConn Fast Break - Clifford Robinson Tribute

All the UConn sports news you need to know. Not affiliated with the University of Connecticut.

Aug 31, 2020

A combined feeling of shock, sadness, and deja vu struck the UConn family this weekend as word spread of Clifford Robinson’s passing. Only a few weeks after the sudden death of fan-favorite, Stanley Robinson, followers of the Huskies are forced to say goodbye to yet another beloved former UConn star who had so much more to give to the world. To honor his incredible life, this edition of The UConn Fast Break includes many of Cliff’s brightest UConn moments and is dedicated to his memory.

Weekly Rewind

The latest UConn athletics news

UConn men’s basketball loses a legend with the passing of Clifford Robinson
Find out where UConn women’s basketball target Azzi Fudd stands on her recruitment decision and who could replace Geno whenever he decides to hang up his clipboard
Rahsool Diggins is stuffing the stat sheet during summer ball:

CJ Scott @1NEHOOPDREAM

UCONN Commit, Rahsool Diggins Jr. proving why he is one of the best lead guards in the country. #DAY1NE #1NEHD

UConn football adds five-star kicker Joseph McFadden to 2021 class
Jon Rothstein previews the upcoming Big East men’s basketball season and shares some news about a conference bubble potentially landing at one of CT’s favorite casinos:

Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein

Sources: In addition to Orlando, Mohegan Sun has emerged as a prime location to host multiple early season college basketball tournaments in a bubble type setting.

Class of 2022 C Donovan Clingan continues to crush the competition
First baseman Maddix Dalena commits to UConn baseball
UConn remembers Kobe and Gianna Bryant on first-ever Mamba Day:

UConn Women's Basketball @UConnWBB

Mambas Forever. 💜💛🤍

Geno’s veterans have sights set on bounce-back seasons
Fifty-seven years after MLK Jr.’s famous speech, Kevon Jones and fellow UConn athletes reflect on what work still needs to be done to fulfill his dream:

Big news, UConn fans: Homefield launched a line of retro Huskies gear!

CLICK HERE to preview the apparel and get a promo code for 20% OFF!!!

U Gotta See This

Video recommendations

It’s been a tough week. Raise your spirits with this preview of what we can expect from Coach Hurley’s ultra-hyped squad whenever the 2020 season tips off:

UConn, Great Pic

Photos of UConn’s finest

Forget a room, Cliff’s smile could light up all of Gampel Pavilion:

Coach’s Corner

Find out what the UConn coaches are up to on and off the court

Uncle Cliffy’s contributions as a Husky are not lost on his Hall of Fame coach:

David Borges @DaveBorges

Jim Calhoun on Cliff Robinson: “He was our first great player... he came from a difficult background in Buffalo, I watched him evolve as a man ... he was a good man, had a great career, and was instrumental in a lot of the great things that happened at UConn.”

Kimani Young reflects on UConn men’s basketball’s recent recruiting run:

Zach “🅂🄲🄷🅄🅉” Schumaker @_SchuZ_

UCONN Assisstant Coach Kimani Young (@CoachKimani) breaks down why guys want to come to UCONN and how Coach Hurley has rebuilt UCONN. Full interview: youtu.be/oqtLZbaid5E @dhurley15 @UConnMBB @Cue_the_Music @RahsoolDiggins3 @kdroos_13 @andrejackson111 @lanxxjay @DaveBorges

Speaking of Coach Hurley’s assistants:

Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria

Penn State’s Kevin Freeman and Virginia Tech’s Christian Webster are among the options being considered to replace Kenya Hunter at @UConnMBB, per sources. Hunter replaced Bruiser Flint at Indiana Who replaced Kenny Payne at UK.

This gem was one of many UConn-related mementos from Mamba Day:

Big League Buzz

Catch up on former UConn players working across the sports world

Plenty of familiar faces on WNBA front lines in the fight for social justice:

UConn Women's Basketball @UConnWBB

Thankful to the @WNBA players for being leaders. Change can’t wait. We won’t let it. #BlackLivesMatter

Darius Butler drops by Pat McAfee show to breakdown NBA boycott
Renee Montgomery interview focuses on WNBA protests of the past
Diana Taurasi scores 34 while wearing honorary Kobe jersey
It appears Tuff Juice helped fuel the fire that inspired the Bucks’ historic boycott:

Caron Butler @realtuffjuice

Last December when we took the #Bucks to the Correctional facility I knew the stories they heard impacted them. ACTION!!

Memory Lane

Revisiting the history of UConn sports

UConn men’s basketball would not be what it is today without Clifford Robinson:

UConn Men's Basketball @UConnMBB

Rest easy, Cliff. A Husky forever. 💔

These all-time talents have a lot of hardware between them:

UConn Women's Basketball @UConnWBB

🐐 x 🐐 x 🐐 x 🐐 x 🐐 x 🐐 Four years ago these Huskies won Olympic gold with @usabasketball!

Chris Smith provided a heavy dose of nostalgia during a recent podcast:

UConn Insider @UConn_Insider

On our latest podcast, former @UConnMBB star Chris Smith (@huskiesalltime1) discussed his scoring record, his memories of the 1989-90 season, choosing to stay home in Connecticut and play for Jim Calhoun and more Listen: trib.al/bwTdWbd Subscribe: trib.al/e4hY91e

Weekly Fancast

Once UConn sports return, we’ll provide info for the week’s upcoming games in this space. Until then, enjoy some classic recommendations from the vault.

After an impressive sophomore campaign, Cliff remained focused on honing his craft and developed into a talented big man who could drain it from deep. He averaged twenty points and seven rebounds per game his senior season before the Portland Trailblazers drafted him in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft. Here are the best plays from his last two years in Storrs:

In Memoriam:

Celebrating the life of a beloved Husky gone too soon

Once the tragic news of Cliff Robinson’s death emerged, social media was flooded with posts about his instrumental time at UConn, successful seasons in the NBA, and positive effect on those around him. These heartfelt reactions illustrate the honorable way he carried himself and celebrate the fulfilling life he lived.