Alterique Gilbert learned a lot after most recent shoulder injury

[HooperScooper]

New Haven Register article.

UConn’s Alterique Gilbert learned a lot after most recent shoulder injury

 

[mauconnfan]

Good read, nice to have him back and 100%. Certainly makes the team better as soon as he steps on the court. Actually will make Jalen better too once they play together, and that is scary for the opposition.


(just hope they don't play Wagner or Northeaster - for the naysayers LOL)

 

[InKembaITrust]

Having Jalen and Alterique running down the throats of the opponent in transition, both who have unbelievable athleticism and body control for their position, 2 ball handlers, getting Jalen moving off the ball more scattering defensive sets....call me an overly hopeful optimist but I think this upcoming season will be night and day compared to last. Alterique's dark horse, under the radar status right now fits the Uconn narrative so perfectly with how our most recent national championship teams were perceived preseason. I'm loving it

 

[MSGSeven]

Having Jalen and Alterique running down the throats of the opponent in transition, both who have unbelievable athleticism and body control for their position, 2 ball handlers, getting Jalen moving off the ball more scattering defensive sets....call me an overly hopeful optimist but I think this upcoming season will be night and day compared to last. Alterique's dark horse, under the radar status right now fits the UConn narrative so perfectly with how our most recent national championship teams were perceived preseason. I'm loving it

Good stuff

Throw Anderson in as a third ball handler and playmaker who's not afraid to take the big shot and make it. I just mentioned in another thread about the chemistry between those three. If it's there and I think it will be combine that with Vital and Larrier playing off the ball and we've got a very dangerous perimeter.

 

[Stinger92860]

Good read, nice to have him back and 100%. Certainly makes the team better as soon as he steps on the court. Actually will make Jalen better too once they play together, and that is scary for the opposition.


(just hope they don't play Wagner or Northeaster - for the naysayers LOL)

I'm not a naysayer, but unless I was having a bad dream we actually lost to both of those teams with a full squad. That scares the Spartacus out of me.

 

[husky429]

Good stuff

Throw Anderson in as a third ball handler and playmaker who's not afraid to take the big shot and make it. I just mentioned in another thread about the chemistry between those three. If it's there and I think it will be combine that with Vital and Larrier playing off the ball and we've got a very dangerous perimeter.

Vital will be our third guard, possibly even second. Do you guys realize he had a statistically better freshman season than jalen did? (Didn't flash the potential, but still)

 

[mauconnfan]

I'm not a naysayer, but unless I was having a bad dream we actually lost to both of those teams with a full squad. That scares the Spartacus out of me.

Not me but I certainly can't blame you, I get that. But I take that with a grain of salt as there was little to no chemistry yet. Remember even our AA center got severely outplayed by a 6'7 white guy against Wagner and he was better as the year moved on.

The way I prefer to look at it when they did get better and had a nice streak imagine sprinkling AG, Larrier and Diarra in the mix? They have a chance to be good, how good we have no idea. But this kid will make them better I have no doubt.

 

[mauconnfan]

Vital will be our third guard, possibly even second. Do you guys realize he had a statistically better freshman season than jalen did? (Didn't flash the potential, but still)

Will be real nice to have both Christian and Anderson to add to Jalen and Alterique. CV does need his kudo's though tremendous addition considering how much people questioned why we even took him so late. Hoping one or 2 of the bigs (or all) give us a shot like he did this year.

 

[imno1]

Not me but I certainly can't blame you, I get that. But I take that with a grain of salt as there was little to no chemistry yet. Remember even our AA center got severely outplayed by a 6'7 white guy against Wagner and he was better as the year moved on.

The way I prefer to look at it when they did get better and had a nice streak imagine sprinkling AG, Larrier and Diarra in the mix? They have a chance to be good, how good we have no idea. But this kid will make them better I have no doubt.

Are you accusing Amida of having a drinking problem?

 

[husky429]

Will be real nice to have both Christian and Anderson to add to Jalen and Alterique. CV does need his kudo's though tremendous addition considering how much people questioned why we even took him so late. Hoping one or 2 of the bigs (or all) give us a shot like he did this year.

I can't imagine Anderson being much more than a garbage time or foul troubke player. At best 7 mins a game hope I'm wrong.

To me, CV AG and JA lock down the 1 and 2 spot pretty clearly. 1-3 if we go small, which might be where Anderson serves a role spelling guys.

I would be surprised if AT C.V IS and TL didn't all score low double digits with one or two breaking out for 15-17ppg (most likely jalen or terry). Maybe I'm optimistic?

 

[MSGSeven]

I can't imagine Anderson being much more than a garbage time or foul troubke player. At best 7 mins a game hope I'm wrong.

To me, CV AG and JA lock down the 1 and 2 spot pretty clearly. 1-3 if we go small, which might be where Anderson serves a role spelling guys.

I would be surprised if AT C.V IS and TL didn't all score low double digits with one or two breaking out for 15-17ppg (most likely jalen or terry). Maybe I'm optimistic?

I think you're wrong on Anderson. From his highlights and stats he looks like a very talented and experienced combo guard with clutch playmaking and shooting ability. Him and Vital are going to compete for playing time but I would give Anderson the edge going into the season because he has better handle and more experience. But in no way am I counting Vital out he should be a player for us all year.

 

[CL82]

“I feel like I got a lot stronger, the muscles around my shoulder are strong and stable,” he said. “It’ll allow me to play.”

This is a key for him. Muscle mass will help to stabilize the shoulder.

 

[husky429]

I think you're wrong on Anderson. From his highlights and stats he looks like a very talented and experienced combo guard with clutch playmaking and shooting ability. Him and Vital are going to compete for playing time but I would give Anderson the edge going into the season because he has better handle and more experience. But in no way am I counting Vital out he should be a player for us all year.

Eh, personally I see a guard who was the 4th option on a bad team in a bad conference.

His handle will be why he'll be a decent guy to spell rique or jalen, but I don't see him being able to score.

Let's just hope were both right and they both overachieve

 

[superjohn]

Not me but I certainly can't blame you, I get that. But I take that with a grain of salt as there was little to no chemistry yet. Remember even our AA center got severely outplayed by a 6'7 white guy against Wagner and he was better as the year moved on.

The way I prefer to look at it when they did get better and had a nice streak imagine sprinkling AG, Larrier and Diarra in the mix? They have a chance to be good, how good we have no idea. But this kid will make them better I have no doubt.

"Sprinkling AG, Larrier and Diarra in to the mix?" You do realize Purvis, Brimah, Jackson. Enoch, Durham, and Facey are all gone right?

You also mention "no chemistry yet." You realize Adams and Vital are the only ones who have played together, right?

 

[superjohn]

I think you're wrong on Anderson. From his highlights and stats he looks like a very talented and experienced combo guard with clutch playmaking and shooting ability. Him and Vital are going to compete for playing time but I would give Anderson the edge going into the season because he has better handle and more experience. But in no way am I counting Vital out he should be a player for us all year.

Anderson was the fourth leading scorer on a horrible team, you might be overrating him.

 

[mauconnfan]

"Sprinkling AG, Larrier and Diarra in to the mix?" You do realize Purvis, Brimah, Jackson. Enoch, Durham, and Facey are all gone right?

You also mention "no chemistry yet." You realize Adams and Vital are the only ones who have played together, right?

Yeah did we lose a superstar I missed?

 

[mauconnfan]

I can't imagine Anderson being much more than a garbage time or foul troubke player. At best 7 mins a game hope I'm wrong.

To me, CV AG and JA lock down the 1 and 2 spot pretty clearly. 1-3 if we go small, which might be where Anderson serves a role spelling guys.

I would be surprised if AT C.V IS and TL didn't all score low double digits with one or two breaking out for 15-17ppg (most likely jalen or terry). Maybe I'm optimistic?

Don't see that at all. Better than a garbage player certainly has more game than that.

 

[MSGSeven]

Anderson was the fourth leading scorer on a horrible team, you might be overrating him.

I might be but I think his game, experience and toughness is perfect for this team

 

[MSGSeven]

Eh, personally I see a guard who was the 4th option on a bad team in a bad conference.

His handle will be why he'll be a decent guy to spell rique or jalen, but I don't see him being able to score.

Let's just hope were both right and they both overachieve

He averaged 11 points a game while Vital scored 8 points a game for a horrible team in a horrible conference so what's your point?

 

[tcf15]

Regardless of how he did at Fordham, Kevin Ollie loves the kid so Anderson will probably get a lot of minutes.

 

[ucp990411]

KO also loved Durham, Enoch and Jackson. And told us Rodney was a Ferrari

 

[pj]

Let's hope Kevin loves all his players. Anderson and Vital had very similar stat lines -- Anderson did score 11.1 pts, 3.2 assts, 2.0 rpg in 34 mpg on a team with 9 guards, Vital 9.1 pts, 1.8 assists, 3.5 rpb in 29 mpg on a team with 3 guards, shooting percentages were almost identical from 2, 3, and free throw line. Conferences were similar in strength. On a per-40 minutes their stats were almost identical. Got to think it will be a matchup issue, when size is needed Vital plays and when ballhandling is needed Anderson plays. I do think Vital has potential to raise his 3 pt shooting percentage significantly, then he'd be the designated marksman. Anderson has to cut down on turnovers but I expect KO can teach him that.

 

[6xChamps]

Anderson is going to play a good amount. Could even see him getting a bunch of crunch time minutes when we have the lead as he might be the best defensive guard on the team

 

[gtcam]

KO also loved Durham, Enoch and Jackson. And told us Rodney was a Ferrari

And he probably still loves Durham, Enoch and Jackson and RP had some very good moments in a UConn uniform (the Ferrari quote came out of how he played in practice and scrimmages while red shirt - don't remember KO saying it last year, do you?)
What is your point?

 

[Goat]

How good are TL and AG?
I think Gilbert with 4 years eligibility had much to do with MAL decommitting. I think TL's game was a factor in Daniel Hamilton going pro and was part of the bad vibes dad and Vance had.
We need a big or 2 to step up earlier than expected to make small ball work.
We should be fast and fun to watch

 

[WlfdHusky]

How good are TL and AG?
I think Gilbert with 4 years eligibility had much to do with MAL decommitting. I think TL's game was a factor in Daniel Hamilton going pro and was part of the bad vibes dad and Vance had.
We need a big or 2 to step up earlier than expected to make small ball work.
We should be fast and fun to watch

I agree that TL game had impact n Hamilton's decision. I think studying and work ethic also were influential with Hamilton. I am not convinced that 4 years of AG had any influence on MAL's decision. 3 versus 4 doesn't move the needle in my opinion. I think we lost MAL because KO failed to do what it took to keep him on board. Something I am hoping he won't repeat in the future. That said, as long as we are healthy I think we will be very good and hopefully will win the conference regular season and tournament. Something JC always prioritized and rightfully so.

 

[ucp990411]

And he probably still loves Durham, Enoch and Jackson and RP had some very good moments in a UConn uniform (the Ferrari quote came out of how he played in practice and scrimmages while red shirt - don't remember KO saying it last year, do you?)
What is your point?

My point is have you ever heard a coach say he does not love a recruit? It's all coach speak. KO has a lot to prove. And don't talk about the past. I am worried about where our program is TODAY! I hope I am wrong but it seems like we are heading to the world of mid majors and I don't like it.

 

[UConnNick]

My point is have you ever heard a coach say he does not love a recruit? It's all coach speak. KO has a lot to prove. And don't talk about the past. I am worried about where our program is TODAY! I hope I am wrong but it seems like we are heading to the world of mid majors and I don't like it.

We aren't just headed to the world of mid majors, we're already there. The AAC is a mid major conference, despite Mike Aresco's marketing campaign calling it a P6 league.

 

[Edward Sargent]

How good are TL and AG?
I think Gilbert with 4 years eligibility had much to do with MAL decommitting. I think TL's game was a factor in Daniel Hamilton going pro and was part of the bad vibes dad and Vance had.
We need a big or 2 to step up earlier than expected to make small ball work.
We should be fast and fun to watch

If MAL can't compete with Gilbert and Vance with Larrier how do they expect to make the NBA?

 

[champs99and04]

Let's hope Kevin loves all his players. Anderson and Vital had very similar stat lines -- Anderson did score 11.1 pts, 3.2 assts, 2.0 rpg in 34 mpg on a team with 9 guards, Vital 9.1 pts, 1.8 assists, 3.5 rpb in 29 mpg on a team with 3 guards, shooting percentages were almost identical from 2, 3, and free throw line. Conferences were similar in strength. On a per-40 minutes their stats were almost identical. Got to think it will be a matchup issue, when size is needed Vital plays and when ballhandling is needed Anderson plays. I do think Vital has potential to raise his 3 pt shooting percentage significantly, then he'd be the designated marksman. Anderson has to cut down on turnovers but I expect KO can teach him that.

Not sure this is how I view the situation. It's difficult to compare the stats of a fourth year junior and a true freshman, especially when accounting for the trajectories of the players (Vital averaged 12 ppg on 44% from three in his final 14 games). I think it's safe to say - based on Anderson's 34% career mark from deep - that Vital has considerably more upside as a shooter and probably as an offensive player in general.

Vital is going to play a lot, maybe as many as 35 minutes per game (he played 117 of a possible 120 minutes over three do-or-die games in Hartford to end the season). He's not a player whose minutes are going to be dictated by match-ups and he's surely not going to be platooning with Anderson. My impression is that Gilbert, Adams, and Vital will share the floor a lot and Anderson will scoop up the remaining minutes.