Akok enters the portal

[NYC_HUSKY22]

Man this hurts, i had a feeling it was going to happen. But his smile was contagious. I loved watching Akok - you could sort of feel his positive energy through the TV. Hope he finds success wherever he lands.

But what on earth is going on in Storrs right now...

 

[Fishy]

Players want to play.

He played 28 minutes as a freshman and 14 as a junior.

You could have called this one in January.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

This is a terrible way to build a program. Saying every one but 3 players on your roster is dispensable is operating as an NBA team. If a guy like Johnson leaves we would have whiffed on almost an entire recruiting class. It’s not good

That's just it - with the instant eligibility transfer rule we're in an era that is the NBA on steroids because there aren't ANY real commitments either way involved.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

While I agree with this sentiment in general, today's CBB is becoming a year-to-year propostion almost with the portal. If kids don't play much as freshman they start looking around for other opportunities and promises of playing time.

If you can keep a core of 4 or 5 players for 3 years and supplement roster yearly in portal based on needs that might the formula nowadays.

Cut that statement down to 2 years and you might be correct.

 

[alphasigko]

And another.... Hmmmm....but, "there's nothing wrong here".

Granted he was not productive this past year, but then again, he did not play much either. I really liked him, and I wish him success wherever he lands.

 

[alphasigko]

Richie Springs getting ready for some extended minutes?

Maybe he will transfer too... Why not? Everyone else is doing it!

 

[AllAbout5]

Maybe he will transfer too... Why not? Everyone else is doing it!

That post just reminds me of Frank the Tank streaking saying “Everybody’s doing it!”

 

[MJKI]

Akok leaving is sad but people blaming Hurley for not playing him are insane. You wanted him playing over Whaley? Over Polley? Whaley played 28.5 mpg. Sanogo 30. That's 22 minutes available at the 4/5 and every time Akok had to defend in the post he got bullied. So call that 15 mpg assuming Whaley can take some of Sanogos minutes. Where in the world did people expect Akok to be played more?
Its sad he couldn't become what he was projected but that in NO WAY is on Hurley and is entirely on injuries.

 

[Mr. French]

No. Those guys weren't getting any more athletic or better. Their potential was tapped out. It was time to move on and hand the reigns to Hawkins and Andre Jackson. Guys with much higher ceilings to be the best player on the court NBA caliber players.

I agree, but it would have made us threats THIS year. I was just saying with our recruits lined up I always thought NEXT year was the year.

 

[Kitaman]

This will be rebuilding REBUILDING.

We'll have at least a one year delay.

 

[aburks41]

Players want to play.

He played 28 minutes as a freshman and 14 as a junior.

You could have called this one in January.

Right but this is one of those cases that is neither Akok nor Hurleys fault. The injury completely changed who he could be as a player and his minutes reflected that. He'll transfer down to a smaller program and be one of their most talents guys and get his minutes, whereas we already have Karaban and Samson in front of him on the depth chart

 

[uconnfan68]

Now this is a kid I will root for at his next stop. He's going to do great things. Didn't get a chance. This one is on Hurley for sure. I'm still boggled how Akok came in, blocked 3 shots in two minutes, got sent out and never came back again. What's the message there? Really likable young man with a bright future.

Should have stopped after first sentence. He had a severe career threatening injury, and last year was him trying to overcome the mental part of the injury. It lead to him being slower, and out of position often. This wasn't on anyone, especially Hurley.

 

[August_West]

Right but this is one of those cases that is neither Akok nor Hurleys fault. The injury completely changed who he could be as a player and his minutes reflected that. He'll transfer down to a smaller program and be one of their most talents guys and get his minutes, whereas we already have Karaban and Samson in front of him on the depth chart

I dont think he will go to a "smaller" program.

 

[KembaStepback]

Players want to play.

He played 28 minutes as a freshman and 14 as a junior.

You could have called this one in January.

Guys have to earn minutes. Love Akok and had high hopes but he tended to disappear when he was on the floor.
Good luck to him

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

Ya think Jim Boeheim calls?

No. He probably faxes. Dude is geriatric.

 

[ThabeetDown]

Akok leaving is sad but people blaming Hurley for not playing him are insane. You wanted him playing over Whaley? Over Polley? Whaley played 28.5 mpg. Sanogo 30. That's 22 minutes available at the 4/5 and every time Akok had to defend in the post he got bullied. So call that 15 mpg assuming Whaley can take some of Sanogos minutes. Where in the world did people expect Akok to be played more?
Its sad he couldn't become what he was projected but that in NO WAY is on Hurley and is entirely on injuries.

100%. People are obsessed with having guys not transfer even if said guys were not playable. It makes no sense. It's like they see the word "transfer," immediately blame Hurley, and don't look at a second of the film on them as players.

Sool is not going to a better spot. He's going to end up at UMass or URI. if Sool was going to BE/P5 school, you can complain.
CFJ's list is a fair mix but I wouldn't say any school is better than us, most are worst.
Haven't even seen a Gaff list but can't imagine it goes higher than the A-10...

Until the guys transferring are routinely equal/better places than us, can we just acknowledge that some guys just don't have the skill/effort to play here? Hurley, like Calhoun, isn't for everyone. If you're soft (and not saying any of these guys are), you're going to leave.

 

[king conn]

It's only a flesh wound!

 

[navery12]

100%. People are obsessed with having guys not transfer even if said guys were not playable. It makes no sense. It's like they see the word "transfer," immediately blame Hurley, and don't look at a second of the film on them as players.

Sool is not going to a better spot. He's going to end up at UMass or URI. if Sool was going to BE/P5 school, you can complain.
CFJ's list is a fair mix but I wouldn't say any school is better than us, most are worst.
Haven't even seen a Gaff list but can't imagine it goes higher than the A-10...

Until the guys transferring are routinely equal/better places than us, can we just acknowledge that some guys just don't have the skill/effort to play here? Hurley, like Calhoun, isn't for everyone. If you're soft (and not saying any of these guys are), you're going to leave.

To be fair, Sool is going to end up at a P5 school. It's just still going to be a step down and to a perennial losing team in Penn State

 

[aburks41]

To be fair, Sool is going to end up at a P5 school. It's just still going to be a step down and to a perennial losing team in Penn State

He's visiting UMass and URI and odds are he goes to one of those. Those are not P5 schools. He doesn't have any P5 schools even considering him

 

[8893]

He's visiting UMass and URI and odds are he goes to one of those. Those are not P5 schools. He doesn't have any P5 schools even considering him

UConn basketball transfer Rahsool Diggins sets Penn State visit

...

247sports.com

 

[Woodson]

This will be rebuilding REBUILDING.

We'll have at least a one year delay.

Really? So far we lost 8.2 points/game to transfers. I'd lose sleep if today was 10/13 but it's not, it's 4/13

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

I agree, but it would have made us threats THIS year. I was just saying with our recruits lined up I always thought NEXT year was the year.

I think as long as they were here they would’ve been the go to guys. As long as they were the go to guys we weren’t going anywhere.

 

[navery12]

He's visiting UMass and URI and odds are he goes to one of those. Those are not P5 schools. He doesn't have any P5 schools even considering him

I missed that he's not visiting Penn State anymore this weekend, makes sense

 

[8893]

I missed that he's not visiting Penn State anymore this weekend, makes sense

I missed that, too.

 

[Improviser]

Maybe he will transfer too... Why not? Everyone else is doing it!

Why shouldn't he get some PT somewhere else.

When I went to UConn, there was a bench player named PJ Curran who everybody liked, but he rarely played and got a rousing welcome when he did. He was a guard and stayed all 4 years in the non-portal days.

Springs looks like a bruiser and looked okay in the brief moments we saw him. He cheered his teammates on and didn't look distressed.

Maybe Frank Martin can use him along with Akok.

Harpo Marx could do more than play the harp and Springs can do more than sitting on the bench.