AAC in 2016-17: A time for Huskies, and a time for regression

[ibleedhuskyblue]

We really need another guard, preferably another PG. I love when we play 2 PG's together, and Jalen will need a break at some point.

Jalen, Rodney, and a frosh Gilbert won't be enough, especially to start the season.

 

[JMick]

247 says Christian Vital decommitted from UNLV. Anyone heard anything about him?

 

[ctchamps]

Don't agree with this at all. What did you see in Facey's game that was a big improvement from last year? An upgrade to Miller sounds like fantasyland to me. I'm much more excited about Enoch's prospects.

Fantasyland perhaps. I was critical of his defense in the Colorado game supporting what @tzznandrew wrote. There was something I saw in the Kansas game that makes me believe he's beginning to understand his positioning instinctually versus conscious thinking. And as @CTBasketball wrote there are things he could do that Miller could not do. But it will take that next leap of development. And that is something I'm neither willing to bet for or against.

 

[ctchamps]

247 says Christian Vital decommitted rom UNLV. Anyone heard anything about him?

Funny with your name and rumors of Cronin checking out UNLV that you would be the one to post this.

 

[JMick]

unny with your name and rumors of Cronin checking out UNLV that you would be the one to post this.

...you found me out

and I swear I'm typing the letter "f" and it's just not showing up

edit: well that was strange. all of 's on the page did not show up for a minute there.

 

[ctchamps]

...you found me out

and I swear I'm typing the letter "f" and it's just not showing up

Just had the same problem. Censorship thinking we're using word.

 

[Jaker]

We should be contacting every U of L recruit

 

[JMick]

We should be contacting every U of L recruit

Is it not tampering if they aren't released from their LOI?

 

[Jaker]

Is it not tampering if they aren't released from their LOI?

probably

 

[superjohn]

Fantasyland perhaps. I was critical of his defense in the Colorado game supporting what @tzznandrew wrote. There was something I saw in the Kansas game that makes me believe he's beginning to understand his positioning instinctually versus conscious thinking. And as @CTBasketball wrote there are things he could do that Miller could not do. But it will take that next leap of development. And that is something I'm neither willing to bet for or against.

You seem to be expecting a hell of a lot out of a guy who averaged 3 points this season or you just didn't watch Miller closely this season.

 

[JMick]

probably

Would be nice to get back in on VJ King, though...

 

[ctchamps]

You seem to be expecting a hell of a lot out of a guy who averaged 3 points this season or you just didn't watch Miller closely this season.

Miller was exceptional at creating and scoring one on one and one on two. But he couldn't position himself for offensive rebounding, hesitated frequently at passing the ball when he was double teamed, occasionally lost his player on the defensive end and struggled most of the year with the offensive and defensive sets. This critiquing is not meant to imply I was wishing he was on the bench. Quite the contrary. He and Gibbs, as others expressed, got us into the NCAAs.
I just think that Kentan has quicker reflexes than Shonn and can jump almost as well. Kentan just hasn't put it all together but if he does I think my statement would have merit.

 

[noeynox]

One hell of a write up. There is a future for you at Street and Smith!

 

[Huskybass]

Terrific write up. Thank you.
Really like the development of Facey last year to this year. Can he make a similar leap in development? If he does I think he can be an upgrade to Miller. But that is a huge question mark and I'm not underplaying what Shonn did for the team.

I like Facey alot, but I am not convinced he will start over Diarra. Diarra is all motor and toughness and will be tough to keep off the court.

 

[noeynox]

Losing by 20 to Villanova every single year is embarrassing. Losing by 25 to any decent ACC team you play is embarrassing.

Gotta win SOME of those games. Just playing and losing to every decent OOC team isn't getting it done.

 

[UConnfan8]

If those two questions are answered in the affirmative, we should be a top 10 team.

a top 10 team??? in the country???

 

[jibsey]

Nice write up but top 10 team? Please explain.

 

[ctchamps]

I like Facey alot, but I am not convinced he will start over Diarra. Diarra is all motor and toughness and will be tough to keep off the court.

I'm not invested in who starts. Just want the team to succeed. But it takes time to learn new systems. It takes time to learn what coaches want. It takes time to learn how to play with new team mates.

We had two players come to UConn with three years of college experience under their belt and it took most of the season for these veteran players to integrate. So I'm not quite as confident that a freshman player, no matter how talented or driven, can easily come in and take over minutes. And some of the scouting reports indicate Diarra is raw offensively. Of course scouting reports don't necessarily predict the future. Some players never adjust and some are immediately integrated. But most players need some time in their development and there is quite a variable in the amount of development.

I'll still stick to my predictions knowing full well they are just one persons point of view and outcomes don't depend on an observers point of view.

 

[aceboon]

I like Facey alot, but I am not convinced he will start over Diarra. Diarra is all motor and toughness and will be tough to keep off the court.

I'm not gonna say who will or won't start, but what you just wrote to describe Diarra are the same words that were used to describe Facey coming into college. I have no issues with Facey being offensively challenged, my biggest disappointment with him as I don't really don't see the relentless motor and energy that he was billed as having coming out of HS. Alot of the time he just looks like a guy getting some cardio in while on the court.

 

[Slasher]

Just an FYI on the Cincy write-up the NC State transfer is Kyle Washington not Kyle Anderson.

 

[ctchamps]

I'm not gonna say who will or won't start, but what you just wrote to describe Diarra are the same words that were used to describe Facey coming into college. I have no issues with Facey being offensively challenged, my biggest disappointment with him as I don't really don't see the relentless motor and energy that he was billed as having coming out of HS. Alot of the time he just looks like a guy getting some cardio in while on the court.

The result of his trying to integrate team imo.
He was an offensive rebounding phenom freshman year but had no idea where to be on the court. He still lacks that ability but I feel he's made significant improvements from freshman year. Still a long way to go.

The same process is taking place with Brimah. He still struggles to avoid the instinct to block every shot with other aspects of the game. But you can tell he's trying to adjust.

If these two players can integrate their instinctual gifts with how to play within the framework of team play then they could be special. It's just hard to predict if they can. The pessimists already have written them off. The optimists are declaring they will succeed. IMO the future is unknown.

 

[Matrim55]

Nice write up but top 10 team? Please explain.

I think the team we were in the AAC tourney is the team we'll most often be next year. Not a national championship contender, but a team that has balance, plays suffocating defense, and can get to the Elite 8 with the right draw.

A lot of that prediction hinges upon Jalen's improvement in running the show, which is a big ask - neither Shabazz nor Kemba was particularly ready to lead as a sophomore. But neither of those guys had a Hamilton-type to take some of the creative/leadership burden off their shoulders.

That said, even if the offense doesn't improve all that much, I think our defense is going to be enough to get past 95% of the teams out there. It's going to be really, really tough to score against us.

 

[tzznandrew]

A lot of that prediction hinges upon Jalen's improvement in running the show, which is a big ask - neither Shabazz nor Kemba was particularly ready to lead as a sophomore. But neither of those guys had a Hamilton-type to take some of the creative/leadership burden off their shoulders.

Many of our sophomore PGs have struggled. One who didn't was Taliek, who had a savant at the SF in Caron--who averaged 3 assists as our primary scorer--and two secondary ball handlers with the ability to penetrate, shoot, and score (Robertson and Gordon). While I don't expect a freshman Gilbert to come close to Gordon's numbers, I do think the fact that he's more of a PG than Gordon was will help ease the transition as well.

I expect there to be some growing pains, but I'm hoping that in Adams' second year the team's success is closer to Taliek's second year than Kemba/Shabazz. And I think you're right to situate the hope for that in Hamilton making a jump.

 

[Matrim55]

Avery Woodson is transferring from Memphis. Dude shot 43% from 3 and averaged 10 ppg.

That one hurts them a lot.

 

[bmo22]

Avery Woodson is transferring from Memphis. Dude shot 43% from 3 and averaged 10 ppg.

That one hurts them a lot.

Memphis might be one of the worst teams in the conference next year. They're losing 4 of their top 5 guys in MPG and PPG, and who are they bringing in? One top 100 guard and one Juco wing. Pastner needed quite the haul to fix his roster and signed just two players. What a disaster.

 

[tcf15]

Avery Woodson is transferring from Memphis. Dude shot 43% from 3 and averaged 10 ppg.

That one hurts them a lot.

Another one gone...