AJax in 2022-23

[Deleted at users request]

I'm not so sure he deferred to them. I feel like maybe he lacked the confidence. Of course, no evidence to back it up, just a feeling.

Yeah it’s definitely a confidence thing which doesn’t help when you have experienced guys too. I agree with the feeling. Hoping this year since he is the vet it’ll allow him to take charge more.

His game is so intriguing because without the right skills being developed, he’d have such a high ceiling for improvement. If he can finish around the rim consistently he instantly becomes a lottery pick with all his other skills.

 

[ctchamps]

I'm not so sure he deferred to them. I feel like maybe he lacked the confidence. Of course, no evidence to back it up, just a feeling.

I get the opposite feeling. Selvie was a shoot first pass second kind of player. Except he never got to second. AJ is a pass first shoot second kind of player. I expect him to take that second option a lot more this season. My impression was he deferred to the older players out of respect. The exception was Sonogo which the coaches chose as the primary option.

 

[jdb50]

Going from deferring to Cole and Martin last season to having the ball as the shot clock runs down, which happened a lot with us, is a big jump and the question of the offseason. If Jackson can show that he can convert in those situations it will open up his ability to pass as well. It's possible Newton is that guy. AJax has to have a midrange shot to carry the load of scoring in crunch time.

 

[BlueMAB]

Going from deferring to Cole and Martin last season to having the ball as the shot clock runs down, which happened a lot with us, is a big jump and the question of the offseason. If Jackson can show that he can convert in those situations it will open up his ability to pass as well. It's possible Newton is that guy. AJax has to have a midrange shot to carry the load of scoring in crunch time.

Newton is that guy...

(edit - and I'm as big of an AJax supporter as you'll find here)

 

[Deleted at users request]

Going from deferring to Cole and Martin last season to having the ball as the shot clock runs down, which happened a lot with us, is a big jump and the question of the offseason. If Jackson can show that he can convert in those situations it will open up his ability to pass as well. It's possible Newton is that guy. AJax has to have a midrange shot to carry the load of scoring in crunch time.

Think Hawkins is a huge possibility. Remember when he was playing confident last year he was one of our best scorers. 16 points in 16 mins against Auburn.

 

[Dove]

Jackson is one of the most interesting players I can recall in a UConn uniform. Incredible hops, great vision, averaged 6.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a soph on 36% shooting from 3, and 42% overall. He also averaged 2 turnovers and .6 blocks. He only shot 71% from the line though.

I think we see more offense from Ajax this season and he averages 10-12 points per game, along with 7 boards and 4 assists. I expect a nice bump in free throw % to over 80%, 1 block per game and 2 To. Those numbers would represent decent development, in my opinion.

Are my expectations realistic or is Andre poised for a truly breakout season?

Andre is The Answer.

Your projections are tepid. He shall dominate.

 

[Ratso]

AJ is gonna be a star, h’es Ben Simmons who wants to shoot the ball. That is all

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Unless Sanogo is averaging Oscar Tshiebwe rebounding numbers, someone has to grab the ball lol


Newton

Hopefully Oscar turns into the eating machine Zion is after collecting his first million and we never hear from him again.

 

[KingAG]

AJ is gonna be a star, h’es Ben Simmons who wants to shoot the ball. That is all

Ben Simmons is 6’10.

 

[MexicoHusky]

Ben Simmons is 6’10.

And probably a better shooter. Definitely better scorer

 

[superjohn]

And probably a better shooter. Definitely better scorer

Ben Simmons a better shooter than Jackson? Ummm no.

 

[Kenny11]

Simmons had nba all star talent at 19. Jackson isn’t as good obviously but every player and coach would rather have a competitor like Jackson on their team.
Jackson does have nba potential and probably needs to realize it this year to have a shot at being a late first round pick

 

[Billy Bob]

I want AJ to watch the video of Stick’s dunks and to not only significantly increase his dunk numbers but to scream like Sticks after every dunk. You know. Make a statement!!!

In terms of excitement, nobody compared to Stanley ever in UConn history.

 

[navery12]

And probably a better shooter. Definitely better scorer

There's 0 chance he's a better shooter, Simmons has taken 37 3's in 5 seasons of college and NBA basketball. He refuses to even shoot

 

[RichZ]

I think we see more offense from Ajax this season and he averages 10-12 points per game, along with 7 boards and 4 assists. I expect a nice bump in free throw % to over 80%, 1 block per game and 2 To. Those numbers would represent decent development, in my opinion.

Are my expectations realistic or is Andre poised for a truly breakout season?I think it hinges on a LOT of improvement this offseason, primarily in two areas

• ball handling in the paint
  He has an OK handle except when he is under duress or has to change direction in traffic. He may not lose possession of the ball, but he loses control of it, and ends up taking an awkward shot when he doesn't lose it.
• outside shooting
  For a guy who idolizes Maravich, he certainly never tried to model his shooting form after him. He really needs to throw out everything he does jumper-wise and start from scratch. Study the form of good shooters. As it is, he appears to have modeled his jumper after Ryan Crouser.
  
  Without improvement in those two areas, he's too limited to make a big jump.

 

[husky429]

Ben Simmons a better shooter than Jackson? Ummm no.

Glad to know I'm not the only one that did a double-take. He's better at just about everything BUT shooting.

 

[UConnStats]

He had 18 dunks last year. He needs at least 30 dunks this year.

More importantly, overall Martin made 70 "close 2s" last year and Jackson only 40. That number has to go way up. He's got to be attacking and finishing at the rim (whether by dunk or layup, either is fine).

Martin also 90 FTA, Jackson 63. Also has to go up correspondingly.

People always talk about his shooting/form, but he really needs to attack the rim and get comfortable laying it up. He doesn’t take nearly enough close 2s and his layup game is fairly non-existent. Clear that up and a respectable 3P% is gravy. I think adding more muscle will really benefit him in getting comfortable finishing through contact.

 

[MexicoHusky]

There's 0 chance he's a better shooter, Simmons has taken 37 3's in 5 seasons of college and NBA basketball. He refuses to even shoot

Good numbers. I reluctantly concede the shooting battle to Jackson. Which sounds odd. He's not exactly Reggie Miller.

 

[alphasigko]

Perhaps with his hops he should, if he improves his shooting and getting to the rim, pattern his game after Ja Morant?

 

[HuskyHawk]

People always talk about his shooting/form, but he really needs to attack the rim and get comfortable laying it up. He doesn’t take nearly enough close 2s and his layup game is fairly non-existent. Clear that up and a respectable 3P% is gravy. I think adding more muscle will really benefit him in getting comfortable finishing through contact.

One of the concerns I have is that he doesn't have a midrange game. He uses those floater and finger rolls. With his hops, he would have a devastating step back midrange game like Jaylen Brown flashed last night in the Celtics - Bucks game. Drive hard, when they are on their heels, stop, elevate. shoot.

Yes, we need him to attack and make layups and dunks and I think he can do that. He has his set shot from outside which is somewhat reliable. But he really needs to train himself to use a jump shot with his hands in proper position, because it would be very hard to defend. It's going to take some work.

 

[Captbluefin]

Jackson is a Robin.. We need a Batman to go with him.

Jackson has many tools and is a athletic freak. But he needs to really take a big step forward this year if we are going to be successful. He is a great 2nd or 3rd option on offense but will not be more than that.
If he turns out to be one of those “ he is what he is” type players and hits or has hit his ceiling that’s a problem. He must develop a offensive game aside from passing. He needs to take it to the rim if he can’t develop some sort of jumper or we are screwed.

 

[BlueMAB]

Perhaps with his hops he should, if he improves his shooting and getting to the rim, pattern his game after Ja Morant?

 

[BuffaloHusky]

I'm looking for Jackson's numbers to approximate Martin's with less 3 point shooting and more assists. If he can do that, I think you will see an overall bump in scoring by a couple of buckets a game.

 

[auror]

Jackson is a Robin.. We need a Batman to go with him.

Jackson has many tools and is a athletic freak. But he needs to really take a big step forward this year if we are going to be successful. He is a great 2nd or 3rd option on offense but will not be more than that.
If he turns out to be one of those “ he is what he is” type players and hits or has hit his ceiling that’s a problem. He must develop a offensive game aside from passing. He needs to take it to the rim if he can’t develop some sort of jumper or we are screwed.

Sanogo is a Batman.
Newton is an Aquaman. We'll see what he can do in a different level.
Hawkins is a Batman-in-training, a Terry McGinnis Batman Beyond.

 

[PAHusky]

Some of these NBA takes/player comps are goofy.

Jackson is not a lottery pick, or even guaranteed an NBA bench role, unless and until he figures out how to score, and, more specifically, fixes his jump shot.

Ben Simmons is 6'10 and one of the best on ball defenders in the NBA, his passing is way more advanced than Andre, his overall game is better....and even he struggles with fitting into lineups because he can't shoot.

AJ's form is awful. Shooting set shot 3's in the NBA won't cut it, and his finishing at the rim isn't phenomenal either. Despite his otherworldly athleticism, there's no defined role for him in an NBA that demands that even its centers be able to stretch the floor on offense.

However - I think he can be an incredible college player even with his offensive limitations. If he can keep knocking down just enough 3's to keep the defense somewhat honest and the game slows down a little more on offense for him, he'll be an incredible wing if we can surround him with shooters. The NBA talk needs to be put on hold until we see some improvement in his shooting though.