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Message: [QUOTE="Hey Adrien!, post: 5097331, member: 5787"] I'm doing a piece for Big East Vault that'll drop later this month where I rank Big East teams, state their ceiling and a factor needed for ceiling to come to fruition. In relation to Mahaney, here's a sneak peak to what I wrote about UConn. [B]1) UConn Realistic ceiling: Three-Peat Factor needed for ceiling to come to fruition: 2-guard production[/B] There’s a lot to like about UConn’s three-peat chances: Senior forward Alex Karaban is back after testing the NBA draft waters and is a legit All-American candidate. The shutdown two-way ability of fifth-year guard Hassan Diarra reminds many so much of former UConn champ Ricky Moore. With Samson Johnson and Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr., UConn boasts yet another rock-solid center tandem. Like Stephon Castle last season, Liam McNeeley is a five-star plug-and-play starter at the 3. Whether it were Jordan Hawkins in 2023 or Cam Spencer in 2024, UConn’s #2 scoring option on their championship teams were at the 2-guard. Currently, Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney has the inside track to start at the 2-guard after finishing last season averaging 14 points-per-game and shooting 35% from three. However, listed at 6’3 185, there is some doubt whether the junior guard has the size and toughness needed to consistently produce in the Big East. Mahaney’s biggest competitor for the starting spot is sophomore guard Solomon Ball, a former top-50 prospect who started ten games early last season, but failed to reach double-digit minutes in any game following Valentine’s Day. Last week, head coach Dan Hurley shared high praise for Ball, claiming that he [URL='https://www.si.com/college/uconn/uconn-s-dan-hurley-makes-eye-opening-remarks-about-two-huskies-sophomores-colin3']“has taken the biggest leap of the sophomores.”[/URL] Although the 2-guard spot might have the least certainty on UConn, seeing who steps up at that spot will be one of the more intriguing stories to follow this upcoming season. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach