AAC Preview from SI.com

[Kitaman]

With Vital it's not the averages you go by, its the production in game situations.

I'm saying that against top tier teams I see Vital capable of performing with a higher production/contribution rate, and against lesser competition with 'average' production.

He just seems to rise to the occasion and is reliable when needed. In big games and close games I see Vital having higher and important minutes. The kid ain't scared.

 

[HCope]

With Vital it's not the averages you go by, its the production in game situations.

I'm saying that against top tier teams I see Vital capable of performing with high production/contribution, and against lesser competition him with 'average' production.

He just seems to rise to the occasion and reliable when needed. In big games and close games I see Vital having higher and important minutes. The kid ain't scared.

Didn't he casually ice a game with two free throws at the buzzer last season?

 

[HooperScooper]

Didn't he casually ice a game with two free throws at the buzzer last season?

Syracuse game. Hit both free throws with 2 seconds left with the game tied. Funny thing about that game is he played 28 minutes and went 0-6 from the field. The free throws were his only 2 points of the game.

 

[Guapo]

Syracuse game. Hit both free throws with 2 seconds left with the game tied. Funny thing about that game is he played 28 minutes and went 0-6 from the field. The free throws were his only 2 points of the game.

Not to delve too far OT, but I felt that moment was a real turning point in both Vital's season and how Ollie viewed Vital.

 

[Drew]

Good to see Kentrell Barkley for ECU get some love. That dude is legit. Flat out PLAYER.

 

[NielsisGood]

Really do have to wonder who the SI guy reached out to in order to come to that conclusion on Vital. I can't really blame him for not having seen us play last year, but there's no way he'd print that projection for CV if he did.

 

[ctchamps]

Really do have to wonder who the SI guy reached out to in order to come to that conclusion on Vital. I can't really blame him for not having seen us play last year, but there's no way he'd print that projection for CV if he did.

My take as well. CV is no Jalen, but his improvement over the second half of the season was incredible. When Jalen was hobbled with the ankle injury, Christian showed signs of becoming a very good distributor. His development is the only tangible plus that could be taken away from last season.

I'd be very pleasantly surprised if AA had more minutes than CV because it only means AA is very good imo.

 

[kobe]

Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll is out.

Wichita comes in at #8
Cincinnati is #13
SMU in others receiving votes.

AAC OOC Opponents Preseason Rank:
#5 Arizona (UConn)
#6 Villanova (UConn)
#7 Florida (Cincinnati)
#10 West Virginia (potential game UCF)
#11 Southern Cal (SMU)
#16 Louisville (Memphis)
#17 Eggsavier (Cincinnati)
#18 UCLA (Cincinnati)
#24 Baylor (Wichita)
#25 Alabama (UCF)

Didn't include potential opponents in that Nike Tournament thing bc I am lazy.
NCAA Men's Basketball - Coaches Poll | USA Today Sports

 

[rip7774]

So bogus. Vital is the best shooter on the team and he is the only player besides Jalen who has played significant minutes in a UConn uniform. He's also a reasonably good defender.

He is going to play a lot. And he's gonna score too.

He is the TOUGHEST kid on the team too!! He will play a ton!!!! Tough players always find minutes.

 

[HuskiesAllDay]

Feel like 3 apg for Rique is way too low....

 

[4in16]

Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll is out.

Wichita comes in at #8
Cincinnati is #13
SMU in others receiving votes.

AAC OOC Opponents Preseason Rank:
#5 Arizona (UConn)
#6 Villanova (UConn)
#7 Florida (Cincinnati)
#10 West Virginia (potential game UCF)
#11 Southern Cal (SMU)
#16 Louisville (Memphis)
#17 Eggsavier (Cincinnati)
#18 UCLA (Cincinnati)
#24 Baylor (Wichita)
#25 Alabama (UCF)

Didn't include potential opponents in that Nike Tournament thing bc I am lazy.
NCAA Men's Basketball - Coaches Poll | USA Today Sports

Here you go...

#2 Michigan St (UConn PK80*)
#9 North Carolina (UConn PK80**)
RV Oregon (UConn)
RV Arkansas (UConn PK80***)
RV Oklahoma (UConn PK80***)

*Potential Game 2 Opponent
**Potential Championship Opponent
*** Hopefully Not

 

[TheChamps990411]

Id bet my salary for the next 5 years vital has double that ppg.

Severely underrated player here. He had a better freshman season than jalen did, for christ sake.

Im not very vocal about it but i really really like CV and believe he can be an all conference level player by his senior season. I fully believe hes going to have a terrific uconn career. Really love the kid.

 

[jetsdogs]

I think we will be in the top 3 or 4 teams this year in AAC. The upper tier of AAC will have a lot of quality teams.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Im not very vocal about it but i really really like CV and believe he can be an all conference level player by his senior season. I fully believe hes going to have a terrific uconn career. Really love the kid.

agreed. If he works on his handle and his defense he could be very very good. I would like him to become a great catch and shoot guard coming off screens. We haven't had that since Lamb?