Alex Karaban …..

[Chin Diesel]

Karaban is def a top 3-4 player for us, arguably the most consistent, and has a VERY bright future.

Sanogo is our best player. With all the frustrations these past few weeks we can't lose sight of that. If he didn't draw as much attention as he does he'd easily be averaging 20 pts a game.

What we are seeing throughout this skid is Sanogo cannot be the best player and focal point.

He is diminishing returns the more the ball goes to him.

Hawkins, good or bad, has to be the focal point.

 

[dennismenace]

Karaban is great but he's had nobody to fight with for minutes all season. Clingan's numbers would be outrageous if he played 30 minutes per game.

Yes indeed and all that chatter by Donny and others about how some players can play great for 10 minutes and then get worse as the minutes continue is such a horrible take. I have never ever heard a comment so stupid. He is justifying Dan Hurley limiting his playing time by rationalizing that he needs to only play limited minutes. Terrible comment.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I will also add I am more confident of Karaban doing something good when the ball comes to him than I am any other player on the team.

 

[HuskyHawk]

What numbers you looking at that don’t support it? Only Donovan and Adama have higher shooting % and decent benchmark for 5’s is 60%.

What’s your argument offensively?

A bunch of no-show games, and he hasn’t led them in scoring once. He isn’t as good on either end as Hawkins. I like him a lot, but most of his offense comes because teams are trying to stop Sanogo and Hawkins and he gets clean looks. Do love the cuts to the basket. He’s got a lot of savvy on offense.

 

[HuskyHawk]

That's basically true. But I don't recall ever seeing a Newton assist on an AJax basket before today either.

There was a play from another BE game earlier in week I commented on in another thread. Some dude was in position for a baseline 3, but opponent was closing. Another guy set a screen and the ballhandler went straight across the baseline for an easy slam as there was no traffic in the paint. It's a play Dan Hurley could run for AJax often if he so desires.

They came out and ran two plays posting up Jackson. It was interesting. Indeed we haven’t seen that. He should stress the D more doing that.

 

[superjohn]

Karaban is def a top 3-4 player for us, arguably the most consistent, and has a VERY bright future.

Sanogo is our best player. With all the frustrations these past few weeks we can't lose sight of that. If he didn't draw as much attention as he does he'd easily be averaging 20 pts a game.

Sanogo has not been our best player in Big East play. You can't just feast on Butler and lose 7 out of your 8 other matchups.

 

[McLovin]

Close but not yet. Alex is almost tripling him in minutes. Consistency on big minutes counts for a ton here. No doubt that it could be Donovan with more minutes though.

Agree with the sentiment, but Karaban doesn’t have the press on BEPOY to compete for with minutes (and the only other threat to his minutes has been injured all year).

No doubt though our freshman have been difference makers for us this season.

 

[Dove]

Alex is The Antedote.

 

[JMick]

That’s easy, karaban rotates to the 3. and eats alleyne’s ( and a couple other guards through trickle down) minutes. It would just shift the guard rotations. And defensive matchups would dictate.

That being said, I’m skeptical we get real useful minutes out of Johnson this year. If we do though, that’s a good problem to have and easily addressed.

If Johnson can be who we need him to be, I would like to see lineups of Jackson/Hawkins/Karaban/Johnson/Clingan

 

[XLCenterFan]

I saw a graphic comparing Clings numbers vs Zach Edeys as a freshman. Our guys numbers are better.

 

[ucp990411]

Jordan is our best player and is becoming a go to guy

 

[InKembaITrust]

Sanogo has not been our best player in Big East play. You can't just feast on Butler and lose 7 out of your 8 other matchups.

Let's take it down a notch @superjohn.

Sanogo's averaging 16 & 7 in league play and leading the league in season avg ppg.

He's been our best player.

 

[InKembaITrust]

What we are seeing throughout this skid is Sanogo cannot be the best player and focal point.

He is diminishing returns the more the ball goes to him.

Hawkins, good or bad, has to be the focal point.

Sanogo is our best player.

 

[tcf15]

I’ll need to dig into the archives pre-2011, but this is nice:

Ok, after digging into the archives, three more have at least 200 points, 80 rebounds, 30 assists and shooting 45% from the field or better in first 21 games (could only go as far back as 1989-90):

Caron Butler - 285 points (95/208, .457), 134 rebounds, 63 assists (and this is only in 18 games since he was out the first three games of the season)​

​

Ray Allen - 278 points (104/193, .539), 84 rebounds, 39 assists​

​

Nadav Henefeld - 224 points (79/159, .500), 129 rebounds, 59 assists​

There were two other freshmen that came close, but missed the 45% cut:

Rudy Gay - 233 points (84/188, .447), 129 rebounds, 31 assists​

​

Donyell Marshall - 216 points (81/194, .418), 103 rebounds, 34 assists​

 

[superjohn]

Let's take it down a notch @superjohn.

Sanogo's averaging 16 & 7 in league play and leading the league in season avg ppg.

He's been our best player.

Let's not be lazy.

His scoring average if fine (right there with Hawkins) but there's way more to the game than that.

 

[uc1990]

Sanogo should be our best player. I wish that he was our best player but he hasn’t been. The nice thing is that this team plays team ball and they make each other better when they are playing well. I don’t see how we will have Sanogo and DC next year. One of them will decide to move on unless Hurley can figure out how to play them both.

 

[SwampYankee]

Most consistent on the offensive end maybe? But the numbers don’t support that. But against good 4s he’s still been a problem on the defensive end, so definitely not our best player. Certainly an encouraging freshman season.

You've repeatedly described Sanogo as our best player yet his defense has been nonexistent against several quality BE bigs. What gives?

 

[August_West]

Ok, after digging into the archives, three more have at least 200 points, 80 rebounds, 30 assists and shooting 45% from the field or better in first 21 games (could only go as far back as 1989-90):

Caron Butler - 285 points (95/208, .457), 134 rebounds, 63 assists (and this is only in 18 games since he was out the first three games of the season)​

​

Ray Allen - 278 points (104/193, .539), 84 rebounds, 39 assists​

​

Nadav Henefeld - 224 points (79/159, .500), 129 rebounds, 59 assists​

There were two other freshmen that came close, but missed the 45% cut:

Rudy Gay - 233 points (84/188, .447), 129 rebounds, 31 assists​

​

Donyell Marshall - 216 points (81/194, .418), 103 rebounds, 34 assists​

Horrible company right there.

We should replace him with Samson Johnson.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Sanogo should be our best player. I wish that he was our best player but he hasn’t been. The nice thing is that this team plays team ball and they make each other better when they are playing well. I don’t see how we will have Sanogo and DC next year. One of them will decide to move on unless Hurley can figure out how to play them both.

No. A below the rim, back to the basket big man who needs multiple dribbles and moves to get off his shot is a killer for team ball and movement.

He is great against weaker teams but strong teams know how to limit him.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

Hawkins is our best player. Surprised that isn’t being stated by most here.

Theres a reason opposing teams game plan their D on shutting down two players: Hawkins and Sanogo.

If you don’t shut them down, either will put up 25+ points. No other UConn players get game planned by the opposing team.

That said, Karaban is playing really well.

 

[tentoes4rings]

I just think this staff is casting a wider net that will include anyone who can help, not just athletic, potentially multidimensional recruits. One or two skill guys can help you win.

 

[UofCT]

I saw a graphic comparing Clings numbers vs Zach Edeys as a freshman. Our guys numbers are better.

Edey stinks

 

[HuskyHawk]

I saw a graphic comparing Clings numbers vs Zach Edeys as a freshman. Our guys numbers are better.

Slightly yes, and he's playing the same minutes Edey did as a freshman. Bodes well for next year. I honestly don't think he has the stamina yet to play much more than 20 minutes. His highest is 21 min, and that was twice. Two 19 and two 18 min games. His low is 7 (Xavier and Ok State) and I think that's about defensive matchups.

 

[CL82]

Alex Karaban would crush that Texas steak- eating challenge every time he entered.

Clingan orders two 72 ounce challenges and he’s asking for the dessert menu by the 25 minute mark.

 

[CL82]

Alex is The Antedote.

 

[Devland]

What I liked yesterday was that Clingan didn't pick up any fouls (although Butler didn't really have any bigs). The last two games he picked up two quick fouls in the first half and then two quick fouls in the second halves. People were complaining he didn't get enough minutes in those games. At the rate he was picking up fouls not many more minutes were possible. It was a concern.

 

[ToolzieFan]

Karaban won Big East freshman of the week again. What a great pair of freshmen we have.

 

[August_West]

Let's take it down a notch @superjohn.

Sanogo's averaging 16 & 7 in league play and leading the league in season avg ppg.

He's been our best player.

Yet he is the SIXTH best center in the league for effective FG% and his turnovers are up in league play.

THe following centers are all shooting better than he is. We need more efficiency. the PPS is telling.

RK​	PLAYER​	TEAM​	GP	PPG	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FG%	2PM	2PA	2P%	PPS	FG%
1​	Ryan Kalkbrenner, C​	CREI​	16	14.9	6.1	8.3	97	133	.729	93	122	.762	1.80	.744
2​	Oso Ighodaro, F​	MARQ​	21	12.2	5.5	8.1	115	171	.673	115	171	.673	1.50	.673
3​	Manny Bates, C​	BUT​	18	12.6	5.4	8.7	98	156	.628	98	155	.632	1.46	.628
4​	Joel Soriano, C​	SJU​	20	16.4	6.4	10.4	127	208	.611	127	208	.611	1.58	.611
5​	Ed Croswell, F​	PROV​	20	12.8	5.0	8.2	100	164	.610	100	164	.610	1.56	.610
6​	Adama Sanogo, F​	CONN​	21	17.2	7.1	12.1	149	254	.587	138	224	.616	1.42	.608

 

[superjohn]

Yet he is the SIXTH best center in the league for effective FG% and his turnovers are up in league play.

THe following centers are all shooting better than he is. We need more efficiency. the PPS is telling.

RK​	PLAYER​	TEAM​	GP	PPG	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FG%	2PM	2PA	2P%	PPS	FG%
1​	Ryan Kalkbrenner, C​	CREI​	16	14.9	6.1	8.3	97	133	.729	93	122	.762	1.80	.744
2​	Oso Ighodaro, F​	MARQ​	21	12.2	5.5	8.1	115	171	.673	115	171	.673	1.50	.673
3​	Manny Bates, C​	BUT​	18	12.6	5.4	8.7	98	156	.628	98	155	.632	1.46	.628
4​	Joel Soriano, C​	SJU​	20	16.4	6.4	10.4	127	208	.611	127	208	.611	1.58	.611
5​	Ed Croswell, F​	PROV​	20	12.8	5.0	8.2	100	164	.610	100	164	.610	1.56	.610
6​	Adama Sanogo, F​	CONN​	21	17.2	7.1	12.1	149	254	.587	138	224	.616	1.42	.608

We desperately need him to play defense and to pass. It was Butler but he actually passed yesterday.

 

[Vancat]

I decided AK is my favorite and just ordered an AK hoodie.