'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.

 

[Scoe]

The 2024 team didn't get the respect they deserved because of the Caitlyn Clark coverage, however as time goes on year after year their legacy will get bigger and bigger.

No matter how tonight goes the 2024 team is gonna have a role in this. Michigan has copied our the model of the 2024 team somewhat. Of course the UConn side of it having Solo, Ross and Stew on that team but never played and obviously AK who has emerged as our vocal leader. Now these guys have that chance to win their own title and have their own legacy.

 

[lonsharkin51]

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.

And yet, despite all that, senior-year Yaxel will not be drafted anywhere near as high as freshman-year Castle was. Cased closed, as you incorrectly say.

 

[RuffRuff]

And yet, despite all that, senior-year Yaxel will not be drafted anywhere near as high as freshman-year Castle was. Cased closed, as you incorrectly say.

Why does that matter? We aren’t assessing draft status or NBA potential, we are looking at the more valuable piece/mismatch at a point in time.

Yaxel hasn’t had a linear road, story well documented. Life happens with some kids.

Kid still likely a lottery pick this year in a loaded draft full of freshmen, first upperclassmen taken off the board. He’s had a monumentally better year this year than Castles 24 year - no reason to get sensitive over the obvious, substantially better numbers/recognition the board.

 

[Excalibur]

I think Yaxel was the best player in the country this year. But using full year stats to judge freshman Castle is a bit silly given the injury and obvious adjustment period he had early on. Particularly as a defender, NCAA Tournament Castle was nothing like January Castle.

 

[REB1094]

2024 was a historically special team. The starting lineup was 2 fifth year seniors, 2 NBA lottery picks, and one of the best glue guys in the UConn history (maybe the best?)

They went on to become: a guy who just averaged 25 PPG in the G League, a double digit NBA scorer who shoots 44% from three, the NBA ROY and borderline all star, one of the best defensive bigs in the NBA who is averaging a double double, and the leading three point shooter in program history

No disrespect to this current squad because clearly they are a wagon themselves, but there are very few teams this century that I’d put over 2024 UConn

 

[3rdbass]

But he wasn't that during the 2023-24 season. I don't think he was even on a BE all conference team other than freshman. Yaxel has 3 inches and 35 lbs on him, shoots, passes, plays great d too. He also has 4 years on him.

But he was that in the Final Four. He was incredible in that Final Four especially against Alabama were he was showing his NBA talent in that game. He then followed that up with 15 points against Purdue and playing top not D on the Purdue guards and wings.

 

[lonsharkin51]

Why does that matter? We aren’t assessing draft status or NBA potential, we are looking at the more valuable piece/mismatch at a point in time.

Yaxel hasn’t had a linear road, story well documented. Life happens with some kids.

Kid still likely a lottery pick this year in a loaded draft full of freshmen, first upperclassmen taken off the board. He’s had a monumentally better year this year than Castles 24 year - no reason to get sensitive over the obvious, substantially better numbers/recognition the board.

Honestly, dude, at this point I’m just having fun trying to trigger you. Don’t take me too seriously

 

[giddyup]

‘24 won a championship and ‘26 hasn’t yet. Could we just focus on the thing in front of us which would be the thing that even makes the question nominally relevant.

 

[controlfade]

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.

Again—you’re arguing something I never said. I never claimed Castle as a Freshman was better than Yaxel as a Senior. The point is simple: Castle could guard and contain him, even as a freshman. He did it all season against top players.


That’s not an opinion—that’s what actually happened and yet you fail to acknowledge it!

so... as you say cased closed!

 

[Dooch]

Someone on twitter after Saturday night said 'If Michigan ends up winning it all, are they the greatest college team ever?' I simply replied 'They aren't even the best team of the decade' And he said 'Don't be silly'. I then countered with how the '24 team would throttle this Michigan team, etc and of course, got no reply. People certainly love themselves some recency bias...Michigan didn't even win their conference tournament.

 

[Excalibur]

This looks to be an argument where one guy thinks the other is saying that Castle would hold Yaxel scoreless, and one guy thinks the other is saying Yaxel would drop 40.

 

[mauconnfan]

Honestly maybe a question for a couple weeks from now but for now don’t care. If and when we pull this one out the roads to the 🏆 will be entirely different but results the same. Can’t wait to answer this after euphoria of this team!

 

[RuffRuff]

Someone on twitter after Saturday night said 'If Michigan ends up winning it all, are they the greatest college team ever?' I simply replied 'They aren't even the best team of the decade' And he said 'Don't be silly'. I then countered with how the '24 team would throttle this Michigan team, etc and of course, go no reply. People certainly love themselves some recency bias...Michigan didn't even win their conference tournament.

They're not the only ones saying that - have heard it multiple times. I don't agree with it, but it's it's out there. It's mainly because they'll have the highest KP of a winner ever.

 

[CL82]

Lol.

This place. Do you think we are getting 2026 Castle who has played for the Spurs for two seasons? Do you think Castle would have won B10POY this year as a freshmen even if he were featured? Or first team AA in a heralded class of talent.

Johnson is better than 2024 Alex, not by much given different.

It's worth sliding McKinney in there as the 2 since he gets more time, Cam was still much better.

The point differential thing isn't even worth looking at - Michigan had AZ by 30 and let it go.

This 26 team would have zero chance against the 24 team. Their only chance would be to feed Reed and foul Cling out, which everyone tried to do.

As for UM, Clingan would have owned Mara as he had 40lbs on him. Yaxel would be a tough guard - rare that we put Castle on guys that much bigger, but he would have likely got up in his shirt and played deny.

OK, I'm feeling a little bit better about the game now. Ruff Ruff doing Ruff Ruff things. We're still doomed though.

 

[RuffRuff]

OK, I'm feeling a little bit better about the game now. Ruff Ruff doing Ruff Ruff things. We're still doomed though.

Why do you think I'm dong it.....

 

[CL82]

Why do you think I'm dong it.....

Shhh...

 

[RuffRuff]

Shhh...

 

[CL82]

Too soon. Don't ruin it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

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.

Since Yaxel is hurt, I think Castle would abuse the hell out of him. Let's focus on the actual team we're playing.

 

[RuffRuff]

Since Yaxel is hurt, I think Castle would abuse the hell out of him. Let's focus on the actual team we're playing.

I'm over it.

 

[Excalibur]

They're not the only ones saying that - have heard it multiple times. I don't agree with it, but it's it's out there. It's mainly because they'll have the highest KP of a winner ever.

That’s the argument of the people that don’t understand KP.

 

[RuffRuff]

That’s the argument of the people that don’t understand KP.

KP is being skewed in the portal because the middle is so darned bad now.

All said, they've blown out the team widely considered #2. If they go ahead and pounce Hurley, you'll be hearing it often.