Aidan Mahaney

[husky429]

Mahaney UConn , doubt it! Is there a place for him???

Yes. Quite clearly. We will be better with another ballhandler.

 

[3rdbass]

Are there are other guys we are looking at and potentially could have visits as it seems like both Mahaney and Brea are also entertaining Kentucky as a possible destination? Not saying we can't beat Kentucky for a recruit but it is good if we have backup plans too as I think we are looking for 2 more guys to join us.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Is it disrespectful to be honest? His handles aren't good enough to be a secondary ballhandler with our brutal schedule. He has other strengths that benefit the team.

If he was a perfect player, he's be in the league.

If you wanna be honest, call your opinions opinions. It's not a fact because you believe it.

 

[bendm]

If you wanna be honest, call your opinions opinions. It's not a fact because you believe it.

But it’s a fact if it’s true

 

[RedStickHusky]

I think there’s a good amount of us young/middle-aged and annoying folks as well.

Our poster development program is strong.

 

[cohenzone]

I think there’s a good amount of us young/middle-aged and annoying folks as well.

Go to your room without your dinner you annoying squirt.

 

[ctchamps]

I think there’s a good amount of us young/middle-aged and annoying folks as well.

Definitely. 98%.

 

[RedStickHusky]

I'd love for you to point out where I said my word was gospel.

"His handles aren't good enough..." - opinion stated as fact.

We need every brain cell we can get on this board.

Now that's a fact, Jack.

 

[bikerburt]

Gut tells me Brea is UConn bound. Canceled Duke
while being at UConn seems like a vey positive message!

 

[FearThePups]

Gut tells me Brea is UConn bound. Canceled Duke
while being at UConn seems like a vey positive message!

I’d like to believe that, but Brea is reportedly going to visit Kentucky tomorrow.

 

[3rdbass]

Gut tells me Brea is UConn bound. Canceled Duke
while being at UConn seems like a vey positive message!

There are rumors that Brea is setting up a Kentucky visit.

 

[husky429]

"His handles aren't good enough..." - opinion stated as fact.

Now that's a fact, Jack.

Yawn. Next.

 

[ec33]

Gut tells me Brea is UConn bound. Canceled Duke
while being at UConn seems like a vey positive message!

I think part of the Duke cancellation was Scheyer finally figuring out he needed some ball handlers.

Meanwhile Kansas and Kentucky are filling up similar spots and I think UNC took themselves out as well.

If Brea is looking for that level (his five finalists) - then UConn sort of became his only option.

Edit: Well, a rumored Kentucky visit would change that if true.

 

[ec33]

"His handles aren't good enough..." - opinion stated as fact.

In this case it is a fact. Solo (who I think is going to breakout next year) is not PG-capable right now.

Which is why our beloved staff as searching for such a player.

Or such is my opinion.

 

[VanDunk]

In this case it is a fact. Solo (who I think is going to breakout next year) is not PG-capable right now.

Which is why our beloved staff as searching for such a player.

Or such is my opinion.

Solo was looking GREAT early in this past season. I’m really looking forward to seeing that player one year on

 

[husky429]

In this case it is a fact. Solo (who I think is going to breakout next year) is not PG-capable right now.

Which is why our beloved staff as searching for such a player.

Or such is my opinion.

It's still an opinion. Some opinions are based in more fact than others. My opinion could be that Tarris Reed should be our point guard. That opinion would also be stupid.

The fact is Solo averaged 0.9 assist per 40 minutes. Now... IN MY OPINION that speaks to not being comfortable enough with the ball in his hands, considering our offense creates more open passes than anyone in the country. He needs to get more comfortable taking a few dribbles, pivoting and passing to open shooters/cutters. And I'm sure he will.

He's not our PG of the future and was never intended to be. His job is to cause mayhem on defense, shoot when he's open and punish people at the rim with his strength. Not lead the offense.

 

[Son of Robert]

It's still an opinion. Some opinions are based in more fact than others. My opinion could be that Tarris Reed should be our point guard. That opinion would also be stupid.

The fact is Solo averaged 0.9 assist per 40 minutes. Now... IN MY OPINION that speaks to not being comfortable enough with the ball in his hands, considering our offense creates more open passes than anyone in the country. He needs to get more comfortable taking a few dribbles, pivoting and passing to open shooters/cutters. And I'm sure he will.

He's not our PG of the future and was never intended to be. His job is to cause mayhem on defense, shoot when he's open and punish people at the rim with his strength. Not lead the offense.

He is a scorer who plays the 2/3. I'm hoping for a nice jump from Solo next year, and he should play good minutes. He doesn't have point guard instincts, but I do like his handle in the open court. He flies and has excellent control in transition, and on the perimeter too. Driving he gets himself in trouble at times, but a big part of his game is slashing so he'll need to tighten that up. Working on his D and his shooting, his dribble penetration, will make him a valuable player next year. Plus, just getting more comfortable with the sets Hurley runs.

 

[YearoftheHusky]

We all weren’t sure what we had when Joey Cauliflower committed.

Dude you can’t even spell Husky so I can’t tell if that was a joke.

 

[husky429]

He is a scorer who plays the 2/3. I'm hoping for a nice jump from Solo next year, and he should play good minutes. He doesn't have point guard instincts, but I do like his handle in the open court. He flies and has excellent control in transition, and on the perimeter too. Driving he gets himself in trouble at times, but a big part of his game is slashing so he'll need to tighten that up. Working on his D and his shooting, his dribble penetration, will make him a valuable player next year. Plus, just getting more comfortable with the sets Hurley runs.

Agree. He needs to be a slasher... he's built for it. The volume of 3s he took was too high. Like everyone, he'll earn his minutes in practice.

 

[Improviser]

C’mon guys are there any updates on Austin Mahaney or not?

If he visits Austin, then we will know his intentions.

Hope not.

 

[ec33]

Agree. He needs to be a slasher... he's built for it. The volume of 3s he took was too high. Like everyone, he'll earn his minutes in practice.

I suspect some of his shot selection was due to his role within last year's offense with the veteran players around him and this year's offense will have a little more designed around his strengths.

I only mention that because he was much more aggressive in going to the basket when the freshmen team came in at the end of games. His role as a scorer became more prominent with that set of players. Yes, it was a window of opportunity where his play wouldn't result in being yanked - but still it showed a certain natural tendency.

Or so I think (at this moment).

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

but I want UConn to win and don’t care about the NBA. I’m fine with people who have different interests.

Sure, but you have to admit that the last 2 years (6 early entrants, 2 Titles), and the many years prior (1 early entrant -Bouknight, 0 Titles) kind of mean they work symbiotically, no?

Of course i want everyone to stay 4 years, but it's atypical lately to have only 4 year players winning National Championships. This is just the way it's going.

As far as the one and done pipeline goes, sending a player who was projected as a 1 year player to the pro's successfully is better than him having to stay extra years. How much better is it? I doubt anyone can quantify, but at worst it's neutral. It's certainly not my favorite thing, but if we do it every once in a while (Dan Hurley has laid out a very specific criteria for his prototype team player, and most 1 and dones don't qualify), then i will just enjoy UConn's success, which is what we all want.

 

[cohenzone]

Sure, but you have to admit that the last 2 years (6 early entrants, 2 Titles), and the many years prior (1 early entrant -Bouknight, 0 Titles) kind of mean they work symbiotically, no?

Of course i want everyone to stay 4 years, but it's atypical lately to have only 4 year players winning National Championships. This is just the way it's going.

As far as the one and done pipeline goes, sending a player who was projected as a 1 year player to the pro's successfully is better than him having to stay extra years. How much better is it? I doubt anyone can quantify, but at worst it's neutral. It's certainly not my favorite thing, but if we do it every once in a while (Dan Hurley has laid out a very specific criteria for his prototype team player, and most 1 and dones don't qualify), then i will just enjoy UConn's success, which is what we all want.

Of course this is fun, beats the heck out of other alternatives. I do know for the incoming class we had already signed Castle who right off the bat was projected to be one and done and we had just won an NC and missed anyway on most of our top recruiting targets. I see McNeeley as being in a different w
category, probably going to Indiana if the coach hadn’t been fired. The next class should tell us more. I don’t know if luck is the right word, but the result from the portal has been everything a program could ask but even that might just have been good fortune that our main sniper target went to Kansas.

 

[superjohn]

Of course this is fun, beats the heck out of other alternatives. I do know for the incoming class we had already signed Castle who right off the bat was projected to be one and done and we had just won an NC and missed anyway on most of our top recruiting targets. I see McNeeley as being in a different w
category, probably going to Indiana if the coach hadn’t been fired. The next class should tell us more. I don’t know if luck is the right word, but the result from the portal has been everything a program could ask but even that might just have been good fortune that our main sniper target went to Kansas.

The Indiana coach wasn't fired.

 

[Matt1010]

UK fans seem to think this might be referring to Mahaney

 

[cohenzone]

The Indiana coach wasn't fired.

Whatever. We weren’t his first choice or any choice at all during the early period which is more to the point on the Castle experience. The LM commitment now might be more if a hint at how hs seniors or even juniors will react to our offers this time around.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

View attachment 100199

Weird good, or weird bad?

If the latter, I figure you have a built-in 'advantage' in exchanges like these, because I'm for the most part unwilling to write stupidly and then cast a response that I don't like or comprehend as "weird" in order to one up somebody else.

In a closer analysis, you're more the guy with the hat but don't know it, though I wouldn't be surprised if you also represent a majority position. Either way.

Most of all, I don't mind appearing as your fool if the alternative would mean expressing myself like you do.

I'll always try to coach you up. It's the least I can do to honor your strengths here, and the common cause that unites us.

 

[Fan1978]

Gut tells me Brea is UConn bound. Canceled Duke
while being at UConn seems like a vey positive message!

I believe duke canceled the visit

 

[Fan1978]

I suspect some of his shot selection was due to his role within last year's offense with the veteran players around him and this year's offense will have a little more designed around his strengths.

I only mention that because he was much more aggressive in going to the basket when the freshmen team came in at the end of games. His role as a scorer became more prominent with that set of players. Yes, it was a window of opportunity where his play wouldn't result in being yanked - but still it showed a certain natural tendency.

Or so I think (at this moment).

I agree with you observations. I think he took more 3’s because that was expected and avoided penetration to limit turnovers. Basically he played scared because he had an undefined role once castle returned. He has plenty of talent and should be an excellent driver once he gets his confidence. While he is not a point guard, he should be solid as second or third ball handler.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

For the kids out of the portal who have really made us a winner, none of them lit up big time recruiting boards out of hs. Not the one and done types and their pre-UConn experience that gave both floor time and exposure undoubtedly helped them. If the portal keeps getting filled with enough of that type player, filling holes with game ready talent might make filling a lot of holes easier. And if we are becoming a program that continues to have a lot of talented early departures, the portal is bound to be important. Question is how reliable will it be. Between last year and this we will have had 5 and maybe 6 early departures, some graduates and several end of bench transfers who fill out a roster. That’s over a dozen slots in 2 years. Without any early departures next year’s team would include Hawkins, Clingan and Castle. That is a crapload
of talent to fill no matter how astute Dan Hurley is. The portal is a downright necessity with that kind of turnover that sees potential mature top shelf players gone likely before it ever plays its best college ball. Filling that void with only even very talented freshmen gets you pretty close to the Calipari experience. The great and horrible thing about the future is we have to wait and see.

I'm not arguing with anything you're saying here.
Are you saying that you'd rather have 1 year players from the portal than 1 year players from HS ? If so, then in most cases, i certainly agree. It would take an incredibly special, and talented High school kid to accomplish what a Senior could (like Castle), and i think Dan Hurley agrees.
You get no argument from me on any of this. I'm only saying that every so often a 1 and done HS kid will come along and be a perfect fit (ala Castle), and in that very specific case we should take him if he's the prospect that the coaches think is best for the spot we have available.