2025 McDonald's AA Day 1 Recap

[FreeKlaiber]

On the contrary I see a good on the ball defender with quickness, good ball handling and passing skills and a willingness to go fight for rebounds.

Not sure we watched the same game. At all.

 

[Pmac923]

Not sure we watched the same game. At all.

I agree. I didn’t see any of that.

 

[superjohn]

The announcers talking about how amazing the passers are now, as Mullins does everything right the whole time he's in there with finding space and making cuts and his teammates never finding him. He's going to be a total stud, we all know about the shooting but everything he does on the court is quick. All his movements are so quick, his processing is quick. I see it every time I watch him play.

Reibe is the guy I've barely seen any video on and he moves a lot better than I expected.

Adams is way too frail, he's one of the skinniest players I've seen coming into college. He looked out of place out there falling over twice trying to drive with minimal contact and it was compounded by basically airballing his three shots.

We need two point/combo guards so badly and they have to have some muscle/size on them.

 

[UCFan1513]

If Mullins is 6-5, Adams is 6-3. More likely, 6-4 and 6-2

 

[gsmooth]

it doesn't mean much. These all star games are meaningless in the big scheme of things.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

We better hit the portal hard.

We will.

 

[superjohn]

If Mullins is 6-5, Adams is 6-3. More likely, 6-4 and 6-2

Based on pictures I've seen of Mullins standing next to Hurley and others I would guess he's 6'4 barefoot.

 

[RuffRuff]

it doesn't mean much. These all star games are meaningless in the big scheme of things.

Agree, but did see enough to confirm we aren't seeing Flagg/Knueppel/Maluach coming in. All three of these kids will be multi year. Mullins mainly because he's just not big enough. He was light on his feet, but looked pretty slight against other players who looked college ready physically.

Confirms that we are going to win/lose next year with what we do in the portal, not this freshmen class.They may end up being great, but it won't be till at least year 2. For anyone getting geeked up thinking this is going to super sensation instant impact class coming in, I'd temper.

Part of me thinks the most impactful player could be Furphy.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

It’s always been like this.

We have three guys in this and through 3 quarters none have scored.

Finally a basket by Mullins (after spending most of his time on court standing in corner - alone). But really? Three UConn players were near non entities in the MD game. A lot of talent out there but the UConn kids?????. Dan Hurley better get some 6-8 to 6-11 athletes who can complement the freshmen. No more "nice families". No more high IQ-BB players, unless they come with explosive athletes - Hawkins, Ajax, Newton. BTW, was UConn flirting with Bundalo last spring? Too bad, he looked good and has nice length.

 

[Gurleyman]

It's OK if a kid is a little out of sorts with his outside shot in a game like this.

There were two possessions when someone tried to go right at Adams and his footwork defensively was outstanding. Super quick. That's the kind of stuff that will be there all the time. Although being thin will also be there all the time.

 

[ctchamps]

He was average then but at the end of the season he was almost unplayable at times besides his offense keeping him in there. Maybe the ankle never healed right.

Very early he struggled. Worked his way to where he was guarding opposing teams best two, threes or fours. Boneyard posters commented positively about his defense.

Then the ankle injury.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Agree, but did see enough to confirm we aren't seeing Flagg/Knueppel/Maluach coming in. All three of these kids will be multi year. Mullins mainly because he's just not big enough. He was light on his feet, but looked pretty slight against other players who looked college ready physically.

Confirms that we are going to win/lose next year with what we do in the portal, not this freshmen class.They may end up being great, but it won't be till at least year 2. For anyone getting geeked up thinking this is going to super sensation instant impact class coming in, I'd temper.

Part of me thinks the most impactful player could be Furphy.

Despite the rankings, I actually like our 2023 class more.

 

[navery12]

People are making way too many conclusions about the impact these guys will have based on an all star game with a bunch of guys playing iso ball

 

[FreeKlaiber]

Ive been saying I'm hope I'm wrong, but I have my doubts about how much help we will see from the freshman without weight room infusion.

Mullins made several unselfish correct passes, made smart cuts, and a nice anticipation steal. And remained uncovered and open in the corner all game. Does look slight. Will be fine in our sets

Reibe showed he likes to put the ball on the floor, nice footwork/hand up opening on his pick and rolls (no one ever looked to pass it to him of course.) I think he is more of a face the hoop big, like a Wagner brother/even Dirk type big than what people think.

Adams looked overmatched, game was too fast, his handle was loose. Saw this when he played Boozers high school team early this year as well. Supposed to be a shooter. Says all the right things, and seems to put out alot of effort. But I already saw Mahaney over matched physically the whole season, I'm good. Hope I'm wrong.

I was saying "Oy Oy Oy" during the game. Thats where I have been and stay

 

[Pmac923]

People are making way too many conclusions about the impact these guys will have based on an all star game with a bunch of guys playing iso ball

I don’t like that excuse. The lights are on in a full arena on ESPN. When the ball is in your hands what do you do with it? You need to make basketball plays regardless of the game

 

[CTBasketball]

People are making way too many conclusions about the impact these guys will have based on an all star game with a bunch of guys playing iso ball

One thing we lacked last year (and currently next year too) is a guy who excels at iso ball. We still don’t have that.

 

[navery12]

I don’t like that excuse. The lights are on in a full arena on ESPN. When the ball is in your hands what do you do with it? You need to make basketball plays regardless of the game

It's not an excuse, it's reality. I'm not saying you need to think all 3 will or won't contribute, just that basing it off last night is dumb. If Boozer makes passes to a wide open Mullins a few times people here would be loving him, but because he didn't get the ball his stat line doesn't look as great as it could have. In UConn's offense he's always getting that pass

 

[mauconnfan]

Riebe looked better than I thought moving his feet but he has work to do. His size and ability to make some shots will get him some minutes but not a ton. Adams is skinny was falling and being bumped off plays a lot both ends. Probably has some game or he wouldn’t be there but he’s not seeing a ton of minutes next year unless he lives on steak and potatoes for half a year as well as in the weight room. Mullins is a player, he just was a ghost to all the other hired gunners out there in this “me” pathetic game. He is quick with the ball and active without it. He will see plenty of court.

The portal is huge for us, larger than anticipated.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

The UConn guys took 7 shots COMBINED. Guys like Dybantsa, Peterson, Acuff, Boozer all took 10+ shots individually. Can we relax over a glorified exhibition?

 

[Palatine]

This game means less that nothing. It is controlled by ball dominate players and basket hangers. There will be no games like this in their college carers.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

How worthless is the McDonald's game as an evaluation tool?

Does anyone remember Mike Rosario, former game MVP?

 

[Hunt for 7]

Dude i thought the same thing watching the video. Good on you for having the stones to point it out. I am with you

Well at least I got acknowledgment on his quick release before the rest of my post was refuted. He does have what we used to call a chesty shot when I was growing up. But being 5’10” I know that quick release is more important that how high you are when you release.

I think I was told when I pointed out how perfect Hawkins shot was that they were not teaching that form any more and the young great shooters where all starting to look like Curry.

The thing about Curry is that you never know when he is going to shoot. Mullins appears to have some of that ability which he has probably developed because of how he shoots. I think the kid is going to kill it next year. He is much quicker than I thought he would be and one of the regulars did point out he had lateral quickness so good info.

Also he dunked easily and athletically from a few good angles. Not like he jumped out of the gym but he got up quick and the ball moves like lightning in his hands, there was one where he switched hands going from right to left to throw it down and he has incredible hand quickness.

I did not watch the game yesterday but I read he picked a few pockets on the defensive ends. I think we are getting a gem in this kid. Usually I turn these videos on what h for a few plays then move on. With Mullins I wanted to keep watching. Excited to see him and Ball spot up next year. Now one or true athletic bigger guards who can get to the basket, pass and they just have to shoot ok because if they can defend handle get to the basket I like our backcourt.

We see every spring you need great guard play to be special in the tourney. Seems to me the time it is taking for a few other of these kids to go portaling is interesting. I expected Nowell, Singare. And was not sure about Abraham but there are at least two more players that I thought would already have made a decision. And is there any chance that someone who could test the draft do so but enter the portal at the same time. Hope that don’t happen.

We are always meticulous, during this process for reasons sometimes out of our control. Hard to tell because we have been defending champs ever since this portal thing got crazy. I wonder how much interest in Luke and Kimani for HC positions is impacting the work. Saw a few MD fans wanted Luke as their head coach but they went with Williams from A&M/Marquette. I found that move a bit surprising.

Can’t wait for the first new portal decision coming in is dropped. But after watching Mullins play tough not to get excited with him and Ball in the backcourt together.

 

[Kitaman]

Funny though, if our incoming burger boys would have brought the house down, then the game would have been viewed as important and a barometer of future success.

To me the McD boys are all high-grade clay to be sculped with. Our three kids will be sculpted by the best sculptor in college basketball "Hurley Potter".

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Just watched the whole scrimmage and what a love fest it was for the "name" teams. They mentioned UConn had three guys in the game but didn't name them (at that time).
Adams was interviewed but there were no positive comments about any of our guys in spite of some good plays. Nice inside pass from Mullins to Reibe with no credit given, nice passes from Adams on two occasions with no mention of his name, while the announcers sounded like PR men for the Boozers and a few others. Reibe looked much better in this scrimmage than the one yesterday so maybe there's hope he'll work out well for us.
Mullins was very unselfish for a guy with his reputation as a great shooter. Maybe because he missed his first shot? I don't think he took another one. Just passed to someone else very quickly. We need RIP to talk with him about never passing up a good shot!

Those a …. holes calling the game couldn’t even get Eric’s last name pronunciation right, kept calling him “Ribe” with one syllable. His last name is actually pronounced with two syllables. Mark Zanetto on his podcast has referred to him as Eric “Reebee”, and it is a fairly common name in Connecticut in general and I’ve heard it widely pronounced that way as well. However I heard Hurley refer to his last name as “Riba”, with two syllables. The kids roots are in Germany so maybe the pronunciation is different.