Aidan Mahaney

[boog204]

I think Ross could be a two as well, maybe a 1. But yeah, mostly a three but the guy is a good passer. We'll see.

A 1? Really? He played like 12 minutes the whole year. I think the kid has some talent for sure but he's definitely going to get squeezed out again I'd imagine.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

We may be under selling Ball. I think the kid will come back balling.

 

[KembaRunner]

Nope

Wonder if he portals if we land a few of these guys

 

[KembaRunner]

I think this is the part a lot of people missed.

I’ve been devouring DH content but i did not see said interview

 

[Hey Adrien!]

So who is a better fit for this team mahaney or brea? Working under the assumption that we get mcneeley commitment.

Mahaney brings more to the table than Brea.

Brea is an elite catch-and-shoot option. He hits 1/2 of his three-point attemps and over 80% of his field-goal attempts are from three.

Mahaney isn't as strong of a perimeter shooter as Brea (almost no one is), but can hit threes, but also score in a variety of ways. Out of the two, I'd prefer Mananey.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

Ross isnt a 1 or 2....I think Stewart could play 2 better than Ross if need be (he's not really a 2 either). In a 4 out offense, the spots are kinda interchangeable, but I would feel scared if Ross was the 2 next to Hass or Nowell (or Traore ) Ross is a bouncy 3 and D with a really nice stroke and good energy.

 

[ThabeetDown]

We may be under selling Ball. I think the kid will come back balling.

I agree with this -- we easily forget. Go look at the game tape vs UNC -- 13 points (3-6 3P) -- his stroke is very good (even for a lefty). A full summer in the system/learning the offseason he can easily become a 10ppg+ scorer next season and be a great starting 2.

 

[Shine21]

I’ve been devouring DH content but i did not see said interview

I think it was during the parade.

 

[dingaling]

If Diara isn't coming back it is because The staff recruited over his preferred role and couldn't convince him to take the lesser role. And I trust the staff - so like with Roumoglou, I would be sorry to see him leave, but wish him well.

Diarra is so awesome. He is not anything like Roumoglou leaving. He has been vital to this team. I would think they do everything possible to convince him to return and I doubt they are looking for someone to play over him. Looking for someone to play alongside him would make sense. He is a team first guy and I would bet he takes whatever role the staff thinks is best for him to fill.

 

[Gurleyman]

My bad, 2 in 25

Technically you could also say AJ Price. He hadn’t played yet, but had his medical condition and his suspension and was officially a sophomore since he lost a year of eligibility to the latter. If everything had gone according to plan, he’d have probably come off the bench - or maybe started at the 2 alongside Marcus - before taking over point guard duties.

Taliek also would have backed up Khalid for a year if Khalid came back. Taliek and AJ were part of teams that missed the tournament as first year point guards, so it shows it has never been the blueprint for short term success (Khalid had a good situation with the rest of the team returning around him, with Ricky to help shoulder the point guard burden).

 

[Tyler2Rings]

How about the possibility of an Aiden Mahaney/ Liam McNeely tandem? The Irish in me would love that

 

[KemBuckets21]

How about the possibility of an Aiden Mahaney/ Liam McNeely tandem? The Irish in me would love that

I like the idea of adding both. Have to imagine part of the pitch would be for heavy minutes for Mahaney, which would likely leave Solo coming off the bench. It's a point of contention on this board whether Solo is ready to start.

 

[AllHusky]

Khalid El Amin is the only freshmen starting PG we’ve had in 25 years. odds aren’t Nowell ain’t that

Huge El Amin fan, and I think Nowell is in his league. Huge Nowell fan also in case you didn't pick that up.
#W-W

 

[HooperScooper]

I’ve been devouring DH content but i did not see said interview

Here's the quote.

“What (Diarra) envisions for himself next year in terms of role has got to be aligned with what ours is,” Hurley said. “I think what’s been effective for us the last two years is that the level of honesty has created great rosters. Because the players that didn’t align with what we viewed for them, they left, we brought in appropriate players in both years and then we won back-to-back championships. We’re just gonna tell the truth with players about where we see them, but we would like to return as many of the players as we can.”

Dan Hurley commits to UConn’s future, starts construction of 2024-25 roster as he hunts ‘three-peat’

Where UConn’s roster stands as a handful of players face potential NBA options and how coach Dan Hurley, committed to return, is building his next roster.

www.courant.com

 

[AllHusky]

I know some will be surprised by this, I was watching him, but I think Ross is more guard than forward. We've had him bring the ball up and operate mostly in the backcourt. Think Guard in the Andre Jackson/Castle meaning of it.

Need a Ross thread. Not much data obviously, but everyone seems so high on him. Bouncy as can be from what I've seen, just don't know what his role(s) project(s) Love to hear thoughts.

edit-saw some of them, sounds like no consensus

 

[FlexOnEm]

We may be under selling Ball. I think the kid will come back balling.

He will. That shot will start falling and our perimeter defense with Diarra, Nowell, and Ball will be ferocious.

 

[Mr. French]

How about the possibility of an Aiden Mahaney/ Liam McNeely tandem? The Irish in me would love that

I agree.

Koby Brea entered the portal. Please please Coach Hurley

 

[JustbrewitMan]

It’s almost like the majority of people here forget what’s been happening with player development now that the Hurley & Co. era is full steam ahead.

I expect SIGNIFICANT jumps in skills and abilities from all the freshmen. We ride with Ball/Stewart/Ross & I’m cool with that.

I’m not sure if I care that much whether we get Mahaney or not. Seems more like a backup plan for McNeeley/Brea.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

How about the possibility of an Aiden Mahaney/ Liam McNeely tandem? The Irish in me would love that

That would be awesome. Have Calhoun guest coach a game too.

But seriously, a starting lineup of Diarra/Mahaney/McNeeley/Karaban/Reed w/ Stewart and Nowell off the bench is a tasty lineup, a Shepherd's Pie, if you will.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

That would be awesome. Have Calhoun guest coach a game too.

But seriously, a starting lineup of Diarra/Mahaney/McNeeley/Karaban/Reed w/ Stewart and Nowell off the bench is a tasty lineup, a Shepherd's Pie, if you will.

I don’t think JStew is coming off the bench…

 

[bendm]

I don’t think JStew is coming off the bench…

yeahhh i dont either. i realize mahaney averaged over 30 mpg as a starter for the past 2 seasons but he wasnt playing at UConn. he can still get 25mpg off the bench.

 

[Mr. French]

Honestly, the roles / minutes are my only concerns.

If Hurley and staff tell Mahaney his role, and he commits, I’m happy.

I think him getting between 20-25 minutes is reasonably, starting or 6th man or whatever.

 

[FlexOnEm]

Honestly, the roles / minutes are my only concerns.

If Hurley and staff tell Mahaney his role, and he commits, I’m happy.

I think him getting between 20-25 minutes is reasonably, starting or 6th man or whatever.

Same. Have to think if we land McNeeley the 8 man rotation will be Diarra, Nowell, Ball, Stewart, McNeeley, Karaban, Samson, and Reed. If we bring in another guy on the level of Brea or Mahaney, somebody is going to be unhappy with their role. I still feel like the staff is recruiting as if Karaban will be gone. Replace Karaban with Brea/Mahaney in that rotation and everything makes more sense.

 

[bendm]

If we bring in another guy on the level of Brea or Mahaney, somebody is going to be unhappy with their role.

among the 9 rotation players who's unhappy in the below scenario? nowell and ball?
if Nowell is as good as advertised then it could end up being closer to a 22/18mpg split for Diarra/Nowell.
if Ball shows improvement then he can steal 1 or 2 mins each from Mahaney/McNeeley and get him up to 18-20mpg as well.
nothing is guaranteed. stairway to 7.

Diarra 25 / Nowell 15
McNeeley 10 / Mahaney 15 / Ball 15
Stewart 15 / McNeeley 15 / Mahaney 10
Karaban 30 / Stewart 10
Reed 20 / Johnson 20

30: Karaban
25: Diarra / McNeeley / Mahaney / Stewart
20: Reed / Johnson
15: Nowell / Ball

Bench: Ross / Abraham / Singare

 

[UConnStats]

Honestly, the roles / minutes are my only concerns.

If Hurley and staff tell Mahaney his role, and he commits, I’m happy.

I think him getting between 20-25 minutes is reasonably, starting or 6th man or whatever.

The minutes would be tight on paper if Karaban, Diarra, McNeeley, and Mahaney/Brea were all here, but all it takes is one injury or one player having a bad season to open things up. Despite how the last two years have gone, these things almost always happen too. Convincing the entire group to buy into these roles is much easier said than done, but more than likely the minutes would figure themselves out and you wouldn’t be saying “there’s not enough minutes to go around” come December.