Allen, Lobo to have Nos. retired by UConn
Hall of Famers become first players to have uniforms retired by university in March
Hall of Famers Ray Allen and Rebecca Lobo will be the first players ever to have their uniforms retired by the University of Connecticut.
Allen’s No. 34 and Lobo’s No. 50 will be formally retired during the first weekend of March, the school announced on Friday. Allen became the first UConn men’s alum inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September, while Lobo was enshrined in 2017.
“Rebecca and Ray are two UConn Basketball icons who were integral to the success and growth of both programs and I am thrilled that we will be able to recognize them in this special way,” director of athletics David Benedict said in a statement. “Rebecca and Ray continue to be tremendous ambassadors for UConn and we are proud of all their accomplishments and grateful for their continued support of the University community.”
Allen and Lobo are both members of the Huskies of Honor inaugural class in 2006. Numerous former Huskies’ jerseys are retired in the Huskies of Honor, but No. 34 and No. 50 will become unavailable in perpetuity after this year — an honor that will only be bestowed upon Hall of Famers.
The retirements will be held in separate ceremonies. Lobo’s will be on Saturday, March 2, when UConn hosts Houston at 1 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion. Allen’s will be on Sunday, March 3, when the Huskies host USF at Gampel at noon. UConn isn’t sure yet whether the ceremonies will be held pregame, postgame or at halftime.
Over the summer, former UConn coach (and Hall of Famer) Jim Calhoun suggested that Allen and Lobo should have their numbers retired, and that plans were in the works to do so. Allen said at the time he would be honored, but the decision was up to UConn.
Lobo finished her career with 2,133 points, 1,268 rebounds, and 396 blocked shots in 126 games. The Southwick, Mass. native was the unanimous National Player of the Year in 1995 and a two-time First Team All-American in addition to being honored as the Big East Player of the Year twice.
Lobo also was selected as the Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year twice in addition to earning First Team Academic All-Amer-
ica status in 1994 and 1995. She was the recipient of the 1995 NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship and earned recognition as the NCAA Woman of the Year in 1995.
Following her career at UConn, Lobo was named to the United States national team and won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta prior to beginning her professional career with the New York Liberty when the WNBA formed in 1997. Lobo was named to the WNBA AllStar Team during her rookie season.
“I spent four amazing years wearing the No. 50 on my UConn jersey and am honored and thrilled that it will have a permanent home in the rafters of Gampel Pavilion,” Lobo said. “We all know that before long there will be plenty of other UConn women’s jerseys hanging next to mine. I am forever grateful to Coach Auriemma and CD for the impact they had on my life and would like to pass along congratulations to Ray as well.”
She retired in 2003 as a member of the Connecticut Sun and joined the women’s basketball talent team at ESPN.
“I’m not surprised. If you’re going to do it, those are the two you have to do. It’s a pretty big deal to get in the Hall of Fame, right? I think it’s a big deal at this school to be the only two players that are in the Hall of Fame,” UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma said. “I don’t think they’ll be the only two, but it’s pretty special. It’s appropriate to retire their numbers.”
Allen was a two-time All-American and the USA Basketball Athlete of the Year (1995), he was the Big East Conference Player of the Year in 1995-96 and a two-time First Team AllConference selection.
His 1,922-career point total still ranks fifth alltime at UConn, while his 19.0 career average is fourth, his 44.8 three-point field goal percentage is first, as are his 67 straight games in double figures. The 818 points he scored as a junior is the third-highest season total in UConn history. He made too many memorable shots to count, including the one that beat Georgetown for the 1996 Big East Tournament championship that has been replayed about a million times.
UConn’s record during Allen’s three years was 89-13 (.873), and in the Big East it was an even better 49-5 (.907), and included three Big East regularseason titles, a Big East Tournament championship, two trips to the NCAA Sweet 16 and a one to the NCAA Elite Eight.
“It’s truly a great honor,” Allen said. “I know in the history of the program, nobody has had their num- ber retired and to be the first is really unfathomable to me.
“I haven’t had my number retired anywhere I’ve played and to have UConn think that highly of me … I am just honored and humbled.
“I also want to congratulate Rebecca and I hope this can set a precedent going forward as a way to honor men and women who have had exceptional careers in college and afterward. If this can usher in a new era as to how we proceed as we move forward, I am happy and proud to be captain of that ship.
“I would like to thank everybody at UConn who was involved and the UConn fans for their tremendous support. My family and I are very much looking forward to the first weekend in March.”
Allen had an 18-year NBA career with four teams - Milwaukee, Seattle, Boston and Miami, including two NBA Championships. He was a 10-time All-Star, scored 24,505 points, among the top 25 all-time, and his 2,973 three-pointers are the most of all time.