2020 Starting 5 & Bench

[JB75]

Polley is going to have to earn his minutes back. He has a lot to improve on. If doesn’t, he’s a great shooter off the bench

Yeah. Polley is not starting. Technically you can make the case he’s our fourth 4 man off the bench. Behind whalley, Martin, akok. He’ll be a nice shooter off the bench for us though

 

[Deuce]

Yea I'm sorry this team is going to be insane. We have so much flexibility now lineup wise. You know how we were a good second half team last year? Ya imagine with these horses just absolutely running teams into the ground for 40 minutes. There are just so many choices, but here is my guess what the lineup will be next March, when we are a 3 seed in the NCAAs that absolutely no one wants to play.

STARTERS

PG RJ Cole 30 mpg 15ppg, 7 assists

Comment: People do not understand how good this kid is offensively. He's basically going to be what if Marcus Williams were a smaller but also a better scorer and in shape. He wont score as much as he needed to at Howard but he's going to be super efficient and just.. I'm so excited I love lefty PGs.

G Bounight 30 mpg 18 ppg, 5 reb 1 WTFs

Comment: Maybe Big East POY is his ceiling. Im envisioning a Ben Gordon like sophomore year. Times where he just looks like its too easy. Will have some 30 pt games.

F Jackson 25 mpg 10pt 5 reb 2 WTFs

Comment: Some people are saying he wont start. On what planet? Just his raw athleticism will scare other teams, and just on dunks he's good for 8 ppg. He's going to start, he's going to play a lot, and he's going to be the most fun player on the team by the end of the year. He has a very, very unique skill set in that he has multiple superior skills. His passing/vision and ballhandling at his size, combined with his athleticism, are just a very rare commodity. Better pro prospect than Bouk if he figures his shot out.

F Pork Chop - 20 mpg, 8 ppg 7 rpg 2 bpg

Comment: On a team of absolute thoroughbreds, you need a plow horse or two. He's proven himself, and he'll play a pivotal role doing the dirty work.

C Sanogo - 20 mpg 7ppg 6 rpg 1 bpg

Comment: who knows with young guys. I did think it was funny though that Sanogo commitment and Jackson highlight video hit on the same day. Are there more two opposite players? Sanogo just kinda banging people on the block, soft touch, eating glass.. Jackson flying all over the place.

BENCH

Backup PG - Gaffney 15 mpg, 5 ppg 2 assists

Comment: Gaffney is a good program player. He will play a great backup steadying guard off the bench. I kinda think that is also his best case scenario but will be great program player.

Backup G - Brendan Adams 15 mpg 8ppg no other stats

Comment: I like Adams as a microwave shooter off the bench. 15mpg of 100% Adams as a 4th guard means your team is very good. Adams is a good player

Shooter: Polley

Comment - He'll shoot and make a lot of shots

2nd Center - Carlton

Comment: There are so many players

Backup Wing - The kid from URI

Comment: I really liked him a week ago. How does he play any minutes? Redshirt?

Backup F - Springs

Comment: I heard good things. How is he going to play? Can you redshirt twice?

Backup Backup F but only cuz he's hurt Akok Akok

Comment: Wait how is Akok like the 3rd forward. When he comes back how does he crack that lineup??

Backup Backup C - javonte Brown Ferguson

Comment: How do we have a 3rd string center prospect this good? A month ago I was convinced he was starting over Carlton what is going on?!?!?!??!?

This is pretty solid but I think Gaffney is better and will have a bigger role than you predict. Also MWill imo was the best pure passer in program history and other then being lefty and a pg I don’t see similar skill sets. Nice job tho man I especially liked the projected ‘WTFs’

 

[CallMeBruce]

I like that 5. Until I remind myself that Martin and Polley will be very important as scorers. Especially against zones.
It looks like a front court logjam. But then I remember the 2nd championship team, where 5 front court guys 6'8" or better (Mek, CharlieV, JoshB, Hilton & Marcus White) coexisted quite nicely, all contributed and 4 went in the first round of their respective drafts.

Marcus White played 27 minutes for that team, 0 in the postseason.

 

[CallMeBruce]

So if giving a guy 10 minutes is burying him, I must be burying Adams, Polley, Springs, and Carlton too. And we must all be burying Javonte Brown Ferguson because I don’t see any minute projections over 10 for him. Just because I don’t have a guy playing major minutes doesn’t mean I’m burying him dude. This is simply how I expect the depth chart to play out. Martin happens to play the 2/3 with some stretch 4 which Bouknight, Jackson, Whaley, and Akok will be playing major minutes at.

You consistently choose the absolute dumbest hills to die on.

 

[ZenConn]

You won't see the same Carlton as last year. He admittedly bulked up a bit too much which led to him losing some of his (lack of) foot speed. We'll see when practice time rolls around. I just wish he'd start dunking everything instead of trying to lay stuff up off the backboard.

This is a great dilemma to have with this roster. Everyone's going to have to earn their minutes and we don't have to end up playing guys because we have no one else.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Josh Carlton gonna punk all of you. 81 starts into his UConn career, and somehow he is now magically not going to be the starting center on opening day. yeah, right...

 

[dannyHAM]

I didn’t think we could find someone higher on Cole than me but here we are! My prediction is more along the lines of 14.5ppg and 5.5apg. I do love the Marcus Williams comparison.

From what I am hearing from people Cole is unbelievable. In regards to Martin he won’t get the waiver and will sit this year. Not a terrible thing to have him come in and play once bouknight leaves for the NBA. Exciting stuff for the program!

 

[dannyHAM]

You won't see the same Carlton as last year. He admittedly bulked up a bit too much which led to him losing some of his (lack of) foot speed. We'll see when practice time rolls around. I just wish he'd start dunking everything instead of trying to lay stuff up off the backboard.

This is a great dilemma to have with this roster. Everyone's going to have to earn their minutes and we don't have to end up playing guys because we have no one else.

I agree with this. To me it’s pretty simple. He either comes back heavy like this past year and is a non factor OR (and what I am leaning towards) he loses weight and builds on an impressive sophomore year. Regardless, having the depth and competition will do wonders for our team.

 

[JB75]

I got Gaffney, Bouk, BA, Whaley, Carleton starting the first game. It will look VERY different throughout the season though. I see many starting 5’s. Has chief chimed in?

Gaff, BA and Carlton starting? That lineup doesn’t exactly have me jumping out of my seat Hopefully that lineup only lasts till thxsgiving. Carlton better go back to sophomore Carlton or he’s not seeing anywhere near double digit minutes

 

[caw]

Either way this is has the potential to be the deepest team UConn has had in a long time.

Guards: Gaffney, Cole

Wings: Bouknight, Jackson, Martin, Adams

Stretch Bigs: Akok, Polley

Bigs: Whaley, Carlton, Springs, Sanogo, Ferguson

Maybe a bit heavy on non-stretch bigs, but better than not having anyone in case of foul trouble. Honestly if no one redshirts and everyone comes back healthy, minute battles are going to be fierce.

Right now though, lots of question marks concerning new players to UConn (Cole, Springs, Jackson, Ferguson, Sanogo and Martin), injury recovery (Akok and Polley) and potential redshirts (Martin, Ferguson?). However, the talent upgrade from two years ago is impressive.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

There are 4 players with uncertain status for next season:

I think Akok is redshirting next season. That was a brutal injury and there is no reason to race back.

Polley should come close to 100% during the season, which will be great.

While I would red shirt if I was Martin, I have no insight into his thought process or if playing is even an option.

Based on reports, redshirting would be a smart move for Ferguson, but who knows?

Odds are that 2 of those 4 do not play next season.

 

[Tenspro2002]

That's why we have an incredibly deep team that will be able to beat you in a lot of ways.

Don't remember that, AJ has always been a wing/guard. Now that Hurley has brought in all the necessary pieces we won't have to play guys out of position anymore.

GSW's best lineup was with Draymond Green at center. Having a 6'7 guy who can dribble and shoot at the 4 isn't out of position anymore.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I really think it makes a ton of sense for Martin to redshirt next season then come in and replace Bouk, similar to Cole’s situation. He didn’t transfer here to play 10-15 minutes in 1 of his 2 remaining seasons of eligibility.

Martin also didn't come here to sit out a year unless the NCAA forces him to.

Our best lineup is one with a credible outside shooter at the 4. Polley and Akok will be working their way back from injury. There will be plenty of minutes for Martin.

 

[lange10]

Martin also didn't come here to sit out a year unless the NCAA forces him to.

Our best lineup is one with a credible outside shooter at the 4. Polley and Akok will be working their way back from injury. There will be plenty of minutes for Martin.

Well, credible sources say that Martin redshirting is the plan as of now.

 

[Umami Zen]

Well, credible sources say that Martin redshirting is the plan as of now.

If it plays out that way..It would certainly make DH's player rotations less complicated.. With a Martin redshirt..Do you think it makes it less likely that Javonte Brown Ferguson would redshirt??

 

[Chin Diesel]

Yea I'm sorry this team is going to be insane. We have so much flexibility now lineup wise. You know how we were a good second half team last year? Ya imagine with these horses just absolutely running teams into the ground for 40 minutes. There are just so many choices, but here is my guess what the lineup will be next March, when we are a 3 seed in the NCAAs that absolutely no one wants to play.

STARTERS

PG RJ Cole 30 mpg 15ppg, 7 assists

Comment: People do not understand how good this kid is offensively. He's basically going to be what if Marcus Williams were a smaller but also a better scorer and in shape. He wont score as much as he needed to at Howard but he's going to be super efficient and just.. I'm so excited I love lefty PGs.

G Bounight 30 mpg 18 ppg, 5 reb 1 WTFs

Comment: Maybe Big East POY is his ceiling. Im envisioning a Ben Gordon like sophomore year. Times where he just looks like its too easy. Will have some 30 pt games.

F Jackson 25 mpg 10pt 5 reb 2 WTFs

Comment: Some people are saying he wont start. On what planet? Just his raw athleticism will scare other teams, and just on dunks he's good for 8 ppg. He's going to start, he's going to play a lot, and he's going to be the most fun player on the team by the end of the year. He has a very, very unique skill set in that he has multiple superior skills. His passing/vision and ballhandling at his size, combined with his athleticism, are just a very rare commodity. Better pro prospect than Bouk if he figures his shot out.

F Pork Chop - 20 mpg, 8 ppg 7 rpg 2 bpg

Comment: On a team of absolute thoroughbreds, you need a plow horse or two. He's proven himself, and he'll play a pivotal role doing the dirty work.

C Sanogo - 20 mpg 7ppg 6 rpg 1 bpg

Comment: who knows with young guys. I did think it was funny though that Sanogo commitment and Jackson highlight video hit on the same day. Are there more two opposite players? Sanogo just kinda banging people on the block, soft touch, eating glass.. Jackson flying all over the place.

BENCH

Backup PG - Gaffney 15 mpg, 5 ppg 2 assists

Comment: Gaffney is a good program player. He will play a great backup steadying guard off the bench. I kinda think that is also his best case scenario but will be great program player.

Backup G - Brendan Adams 15 mpg 8ppg no other stats

Comment: I like Adams as a microwave shooter off the bench. 15mpg of 100% Adams as a 4th guard means your team is very good. Adams is a good player

Shooter: Polley

Comment - He'll shoot and make a lot of shots

2nd Center - Carlton

Comment: There are so many players

Backup Wing - The kid from URI

Comment: I really liked him a week ago. How does he play any minutes? Redshirt?

Backup F - Springs

Comment: I heard good things. How is he going to play? Can you redshirt twice?

Backup Backup F but only cuz he's hurt Akok Akok

Comment: Wait how is Akok like the 3rd forward. When he comes back how does he crack that lineup??

Backup Backup C - javonte Brown Ferguson

Comment: How do we have a 3rd string center prospect this good? A month ago I was convinced he was starting over Carlton what is going on?!?!?!??!?

Nice effort with all the numbers. I will say no way in hell does Cole or any player get to 7 APG. I think you are closest on Bouk and Whaley for numbers.

 

[BlueDogs]

Maybe it lights a fire under Carlton and he comes back determined to start

I think we have a large enough sample to know he should be used sparingly. Lacks the athleticism, quickness and skills to be taking a lot of minutes. As more stepped up their game, his ineffectual play became more noticeable.

 

[RichZ]

Marcus White played 27 minutes for that team, 0 in the postseason.

And someone will likely play very few minutes this year.
But you're right, it was 02/03 that he was one of five bigs,, played reasonable (especially for a freshman) 17 minutes a game and averaged almost 6 boards a game. Even then, if it wasn't for the 5 games that Blaney coached that year, we wouldn't have seen how good an offensive rebounder he was, because JC didn't give him nearly as many minutes as George did.

 

[JimHurley]

If it plays out that way..It would certainly make DH's player rotations less complicated.. With a Martin redshirt..Do you think it makes it less likely that Javonte Brown Ferguson would redshirt??

I don’t think he could redshirt if Martin does. That would have us going into the season with 9 healthy guys, which is a BIG no no. With Hurley’s style of play, we need to be able to go 10 deep.

 

[JimHurley]

If Martin sits, I don’t think you can redshirt Javonte. If both Martin + Javonte sit and Polley + Akok are returning from serious injury that leaves us with 9 healthy guys. That’s not going to cut it in the Big East and with our injury history.

 

[Jbirdp5]

Surprised at all the people that still have Carlton starting. I can’t see him earning that right this year, too many more talented and productive bigs. Lots of variables in the lineup still with eligibility and injury concerns
Cole 25, Gaffney 15
Bouknight 30, Gaffney 5, b Adams 5
Jackson 20, Martin 15, b Adams 5
Whaley 20, Martin 10, springs 10
Sanogo 25, Carlton 10, Whaley 5
My best guess if Martin is eligible and Akok misses a sizeable portion of the season. Once Akok is back I would guess carltons minutes go down further and springs and Martin see a slight hit as well

 

[ucp990411]

Cole
Gaffney
Bouk
Whaley
Josh

I like the lineup with 2 point guards then Bouk can not be too concerned with ball handling and just do what he does best - score points. Also, the freshmen, as good as they may be, I don't think will start or displace the veterans until they learn to play defense the way DH wants them to.