AK is back - are we not done with Portal ?

[3rdbass]

I think that we seem to be a weaker team than last year at this point. We need a couple of more players. We are depending on players that were no more than backups to be starters. I hope they have improved but it remains to be seen .

That is a weird comment. We should definitely stronger with our starters. We have Demary who is better than Diarra. We have Reed ar Center who overall is a better player than Samson. We then have Stewart who will have a chance to excel as he won't have McNeeley in front of him. Though if he fails Mullins will start. That is the only position. That should be weaker. We will have Mullins/Stewart whoever isn't starting as 6th man, the Reibe and Smith. I think that overall is a better 8 than we had this year.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I think that we seem to be a weaker team than last year at this point. We need a couple of more players. We are depending on players that were no more than backups to be starters. I hope they have improved but it remains to be seen .

Whole-heartedly disagree with this.

Last year, our backcourt was the biggest issue, but I love our mix of Demary, Ball, Smith, Mullins as the top-four guards.

We are depending on Demary, Ball, Karaban and Reed. They are clear-cut starters. Stewart will have a big role too.

I also feel good that Mullins will be our impact freshman next year, Reibe will be a fun matchup nightmare with his size and shooting ability while Furphy will be a fun X-factor. I also like Ross' defensive potential as a 3/4.

All I "need" is another veteran reserve center who can play D. A backcourt bench shooter would be nice too, but we can wait on both positions.

 

[Hunt for 7]

That is a weird comment. We should definitely stronger with our starters. We have Demary who is better than Diarra. We have Reed ar Center who overall is a better player than Samson. We then have Stewart who will have a chance to excel as he won't have McNeeley in front of him. Though if he fails Mullins will start. That is the only position. That should be weaker. We will have Mullins/Stewart whoever isn't starting as 6th man, the Reibe and Smith. I think that overall is a better 8 than we had this year.

Mullins will average more points than McNeeley’s did imo. He is a better shooter and quicker getting to the basket. If Liam would have been healthy all year I think my opinion might be different. But the three spot will not be a weakness for this years team.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

We need two more players. One a legit 6’8 or better, and a big defensive minded guard. Time to start playing waves of players to press and trap more. Love the offense but need a few easy buckets here and there. No need to play guys 35 minutes, keep them fresh. Good insurance if J. Stew and Ross don’t make the leap we all hope for.

I’m still not sold on Ross, but Stewart is solid. If Stewart is not a starter, and that could happen, he will see major major minutes.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Mullins will average more points than McNeeley’s did imo. He is a better shooter and quicker getting to the basket. If Liam would have been healthy all year I think my opinion might be different. But the three spot will not be a weakness for this years team.

Only thing I hate about Mullins is he’s only gonna be here one year.

 

[REB1094]

I think that we seem to be a weaker team than last year at this point. We need a couple of more players. We are depending on players that were no more than backups to be starters. I hope they have improved but it remains to be seen .

Whoa. Aside from McNeeley vs Stewart or maybe Mullins, we are upgraded at every starting position with a serious BE 6MOY contender off the bench

 

[HooperScooper]

I think that we seem to be a weaker team than last year at this point. We need a couple of more players. We are depending on players that were no more than backups to be starters. I hope they have improved but it remains to be seen .

I disagree. A starting 5 of Reed (senior), Karaban (senior), Stewart (junior) or Mullins (5 star freshman), Ball (junior) and Demary (junior) is better than last year's team. They do need a little bit more depth since they only have 10 scholarship players and I expect that they will add that. We'll see how it shakes out.

 

[HungryHu5ky]

I think that we seem to be a weaker team than last year at this point. We need a couple of more players. We are depending on players that were no more than backups to be starters. I hope they have improved but it remains to be seen .

Highly disagree!!!

 

[DogMania]

Only thing I hate about Mullins is he’s only gonna be here one year.

That's likely the case, but who knows. Could be a 2 year player if NIL is good, and they feel a second year positions him for a high first round pick. Maybe his draft slot will be plenty high after 1.

Not to derail this thread that's already wandered off the tracks, but the NIL era has kicked player development to the curb for most programs. Props to Hurley and his staff, they've been able to retain some key rising upperclassmen (Karaban and 3/4ths of the sophomore class). Though they were not able to retain any from the freshman class. Was that due to choosing poorly or them being recruited over, or a combo of both? Makes me wonder that the players that would usually take 3 to 4 years to develop into a solid college starter and possible NBA draft candidate are unlikely to stick around with the same program that recruited them, like Donnie Marshall, Travis Knight...trying to think of others who took a while to developer their way into the NBA.

Now staffs are blending whatever players they can retain along with whatever high school players and portal transfers they can get who are ready to play but need some possible bad habits coached out of them and taught a likely new system, particularly in the case at UConn that runs a lot of different sets and defensive schemes. Makes me wonder if the level of execution suffers. Though maybe by tournament time many teams have matured enough to keep the level of team basketball high.

Atempting to get this back on the tracks, it's apparent that the Huskies have most of the roster set and only needs to bring in a 3rd 5 or 4/5 combo. I'd like that to be a good defender, screen setter and rebounder who's okay with getting a handful of minutes off the bench. Would also like to add a long physical wing who can defend and rebound. It would seem to be hard to find one who is a three level or even a two level scorer who doesn't mind coming deep off the bench. Someone who can be brought off the bench to lock down an opponent's top wing scorer if one has been going off or needs to be shut down during a late in the half defensive stop.

 

[3rdbass]

Mullins will average more points than McNeeley’s did imo. He is a better shooter and quicker getting to the basket. If Liam would have been healthy all year I think my opinion might be different. But the three spot will not be a weakness for this years team.

Not sure you can say that from a player we haven't seen play that he will score more than McNeeley who was big east freshman of the year. Also, i think Mullins will be oir 4th to 5th option on offense so doubt he scofes more than McNeeley. I have faith in Stewart/Mullins combo that we will have consistent production there.

 

[Zonepress]

Correct me if I‘m wrong, but don’t we now have 10 guys on scholarship next year? So don’t we need more guys, if only for practice and scrimmage if for no other reason? If so, has Dan Hurley indicated that the coaches are still recruiting, from either the portal or overseas?

good luck, finding players who wanna be there only for practice and scrimmaging

 

[jibsey]

I think that we seem to be a weaker team than last year at this point. We need a couple of more players. We are depending on players that were no more than backups to be starters. I hope they have improved but it remains to be seen .

What? Reed was NOT a backup even though he didnt start, he certainly was equal to Johnson Sharing the center spot. Karaban a starter, Solo a starter, Silas a starter for Georgia, so that leaves just Stewart.

 

[Scoe]

Have a 15 man rotation why not

 

[RuffRuff]

And the staff has figured it out

https://twitter.com/_samcalhoun/status/1919125257471897999?s=46&t=ZmRox7-IWVB7w8zPzR3q1Q

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[ddent68]

good luck, finding players who wanna be there only for practice and scrimmaging

I’m thinking an under recruited foreign player with excellent size and a ton of upside that wants to develop

 

[RuffRuff]

I’m thinking an under recruited foreign player with excellent size and a ton of upside that wants to develop

Case in point, Furphy. I’d be all for the staff going after some of these high upside developmental international bigs like Florida and Zona picked up.

 

[ToolzieFan]

The whole Tom Moore interview quoted earlier is available here.

 

[3rdbass]

I guess this means International? Or maybe some Div. 2/Juco Transfers. 4-5 spots is a lot to fill.

 

[ToolzieFan]

I guess this means International? Or maybe some Div. 2/Juco Transfers. 4-5 spots is a lot to fill.

He said it could be under-recruited high school players, international players, or under-recruited players in the portal. He said they likely would not be players who were actively recruited by high majors. Definitely nobody going through the draft process. They are hoping to find somebody with some untapped potential, or somebody who at least brings athleticism and competitiveness as a practice player. That doesn’t mean it won’t be D2 or JuCo, just that he didn’t mention that.

 

[RitzLuce1]

good luck, finding players who wanna be there only for practice and scrimmaging

Florida had 17 players on their roster last season. The entire first row of seats in Raleigh behind their bench was filled with their players who couldn't fit on the real bench.

Guess it's not that hard.

 

[RuffRuff]

Florida had 17 players on their roster last season. The entire first row of seats in Raleigh behind their bench was filled with their players who couldn't fit on the real bench.

Guess it's not that hard.

Sure is - because anyone developmental can likely get that by actually playing at a lesser program.

 

[3rdbass]

He said it could be under-recruited high school players, international players, or under-recruited players in the portal. He said they likely would not be players who were actively recruited by high majors. Definitely nobody going through the draft process. They are hoping to find somebody with some untapped potential, or somebody who at least brings athleticism and competitiveness as a practice player. That doesn’t mean it won’t be D2 or JuCo, just that he didn’t mention that.

Yeah I heard that. He also mentioned not having a lot of Freshmen besides the one and done kinds balanced out with more transfers in future classes. He definitely made it seems the 4-5 players would basically just be practice players whch makes sense. Even though you could find a diamond in the rough with them. It definitely didn't seem we would pay the the money to get an impact 4-5 that others on the board wanted.

 

[DogMania]

I love coach Hurley and his staff, but how do you explain the miss eval of Mahaney (BE PG he was not) and the entire 2024 freshman class that all hit the portal? Maybe there simply weren't any viable PGs or combo guards available after they won the NC, but the lack of having a backup PG probably cost us a higher seed, deeper run and a shot at a 3-peat. Granted there were other issues such as problems preventing teams from driving the paint and defending without fouling, but the roster Construction last season was far from the best in the country.

Looks like they learned something, adding some quickness and athleticism with the 2 portal guards they added seems to demonstrate a sharp learning curve. I was hoping they can still add a 5 or 4/5 combo who can defend, rebound, set screens and protect the rim when we need that 3rd big man. If we were to suffer any sort of injury with our 2 bigs it could spell trouble. And I'm concerned a big athletic wing could give us trouble, and adding a long physical defensive wing, even if it's to get a few stops every few games would be nice. Maybe Stewart can play that role when needed.

Maybe we'll just outscore most teams.

I love our coaches, and they are always learning. Just wouldn't place them walking on water good with roster construction.

 

[RuffRuff]

I love coach Hurley and his staff, but how do you explain the miss eval of Mahaney (BE PG he was not) and the entire 2024 freshman class that all hit the portal? Maybe there simply weren't any viable PGs or combo guards available after they won the NC, but the lack of having a backup PG probably cost us a higher seed, deeper run and a shot at a 3-peat. Granted there were other issues such as problems preventing teams from driving the paint and defending without fouling, but the roster Construction last season was far from the best in the country.

Looks like they learned something, adding some quickness and athleticism with the 2 portal guards they added seems to demonstrate a sharp learning curve. I was hoping they can still add a 5 or 4/5 combo who can defend, rebound, set screens and protect the rim when we need that 3rd big man. If we were to suffer any sort of injury with our 2 bigs it could spell trouble. And I'm concerned a big athletic wing could give us trouble, and adding a long physical defensive wing, even if it's to get a few stops every few games would be nice. Maybe Stewart can play that role when needed.

Maybe we'll just outscore most teams.

I love our coaches, and they are always learning. Just wouldn't place them walking on water good with roster construction.

My theory - rushed portal process, overconfidence leading to over indexing on soft stuff. I don’t expect it to happen again.

 

[REB1094]

You need a really good top 7

A solid 8-9 for emergencies

10-15 are practice players, long term potential players, etc.. where if you bring in 20 guys over a few years and 2 of them become real contributors, you’ve hit a home run

 

[husky99]

The tom Moore interview is a must listen

 

[jibsey]

I love coach Hurley and his staff, but how do you explain the miss eval of Mahaney (BE PG he was not) and the entire 2024 freshman class that all hit the portal? Maybe there simply weren't any viable PGs or combo guards available after they won the NC, but the lack of having a backup PG probably cost us a higher seed, deeper run and a shot at a 3-peat. Granted there were other issues such as problems preventing teams from driving the paint and defending without fouling, but the roster Construction last season was far from the best in the country.

Looks like they learned something, adding some quickness and athleticism with the 2 portal guards they added seems to demonstrate a sharp learning curve. I was hoping they can still add a 5 or 4/5 combo who can defend, rebound, set screens and protect the rim when we need that 3rd big man. If we were to suffer any sort of injury with our 2 bigs it could spell trouble. And I'm concerned a big athletic wing could give us trouble, and adding a long physical defensive wing, even if it's to get a few stops every few games would be nice. Maybe Stewart can play that role when needed.

Maybe we'll just outscore most teams.

I love our coaches, and they are always learning. Just wouldn't place them walking on water good with roster construction.

Mahaney had highly productive performances against high level programs at St. Mary’s correct? They thought it would translate. You can bet that the evaluation process was looked at to find out what went wrong but there are human factors. We think that this team going in to next season is fairly bulletproof? Gotta play the games to really find out what is what.
Duke’s roster walked on water. What happened?

 

[gtcam]

Mahaney had highly productive performances against high level programs at St. Mary’s correct? They thought it would translate. You can bet that the evaluation process was looked at to find out what went wrong but there are human factors. We think that this team going in to next season is fairly bulletproof? Gotta play the games to really find out what is what.
Duke’s roster walked on water. What happened?

They went to the Final Four

 

[huskyharry]

Need a guy you can put at the 5 for 10-12 minutes a game without it being a liability. Could be a 4/5 if Reibe is going to contribute in the 5 spot. With AK back there won't be a to of minutes at the 4 beyond him and Ross.

If you don't think Reed can stay effective without getting into foul trouble for 30 minutes a game, and Reibe can hold his own for at least one Klaiber, then you need another big body to give you 10-12.

Another Antric Klaiber would be good!