'24 Huskies vs. '26 Huskies

[caw]

Believe me I remember - neither were YL. YL more than doubles both of them in efficiency on EM.

I'm honestly not sure if people are processing how good a year that guy has had. He is rated comfortably above Flagg last year. Does that help? He has 3 inches on Shannon. Shannon was a one trick pony - all downhill.

I love Steph, but if anyone is comparing 24 UConn vs 26 Mich and saying it's a wash at the 3, they don't have their head screwed on well. And I'm not talking about 2 years in San Antonio Steph, like some doofus got wound up over.

Anyone questioning the Johnson lean, he's got 2 full points on Karaban this season and 23-24.

EM is not the end all be all of things first off.

Going off that Elliot Cadeau rates higher than Castle did on defense. Do you want to make the argument Elliot Cadeau is currently a better defender than Castle that year (I am not talking now, that obviously is beyond absurd)? EM has Boozer rated at nearly double the defensive player that Castle was. There is no way anyone who watches games believes that BS.

That said, Yaxel is a better player than Castle was, but Yaxel is not without his flaws. Honestly not even sure Castle defends Yaxel as UConn did often use Castle to shut the PG down but I digress.

Michigan does start all three bigs together but they don't go triple big for that many minutes on average. So I don't even know how long Castle would need to be on Yaxel.

In the end UConn's huge advantage is guard position and Clingan being 30-40 pounds bigger than Mara and nearly as mobile. I know Michigan has not played a center like Clingan this year that can shut down the entire paint by himself.

 

[RuffRuff]

There's a lot of times you (rightfully) take some flack around here, but I'm honestly not sure how you could make this clearer...

Yaxel is a mismatch for basically everyone...kinda reminds of 00s Calhoun teams that would roll out guys like Rudy or Sticks at the 3

You can't, yet the subjective ignorance of some here will fight you to the death trying to convince you the obvious is wrong.

Yaxel - 15.1ppg, 53% shooting, 38.3% 3pt, 6.9 rebounds, 3.3 apg, 82% FT shooter in 30mpg

His stats last year were even better. And he's a top tier defender, all big10 first team.

Castle in 27mpg (comparible)

11.1ppg, 47%, 27.6% from 3, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 75% FT shooter.

There is absolutely zilch that says Steph is a better player as a freshman than Yaxel is as as a senior other than subjective preference and the fact he's turned into a great NBA player. Not a single stat, award, anything. I can't even say the eyeball test as Yaxel can play point forward at 6'9".

Cased closed - 'yarders can go to bed. If Steph is a Swiss Army Knife then Yaxel must be some kind of Navy Seal weapon based on the numbers. Yaxel also averages more steals and blocks per game.

 

[uconn_jack]

Sigh.

 

[TheChamps990411]

Since there has been so much talk about Michigan being as dominant at the '24 Huskies, here is a fun exercise. What would this '26 team need to do to beat the '24 team?

I dont think either of these teams beat `24 Uconn. I dont think either beats `23 Uconn either. That `24 team was sooo damn good in the halfcourt on offense they were pretty much unstoppable. I mean they didnt shoot great from 3 and still blew out the field and defensively between Clingan and Castle opposing teams would get their best low post option or driver shut down by DC and your best perimeter player would have Castle draped all over them all night. Just look at the guys he shut down in that tourney. This Uconn team simply would not be able to keep pace with them but then again how many teams of the past 40+ years could?

 

[tzznandrew]

I dont think either of these teams beat `24 Uconn. I dont think either beats `23 Uconn either. That `24 team was sooo damn good in the halfcourt on offense they were pretty much unstoppable. I mean they didnt shoot great from 3 and still blew out the field and defensively between Clingan and Castle opposing teams would get their best low post option or driver shut down by DC and your best perimeter player would have Castle draped all over them all night. Just look at the guys he shut down in that tourney. This Uconn team simply would not be able to keep pace with them but then again how many teams of the past 40+ years could?

The 4 seed in 2023 was pretty ridiculous. They went into the tournament with the 4th highest efficiency and beat every OOC opponent by double figures. People would remember them more dominantly if they weren't in a conference that refs this team like trash or if they got a 1 seed in the Final Four, rather than two 5 seeds.