Andy Katz on Next Season

[gwhuskyfan]

Connecticut Huskies (My pick -- No. 14; Jason's -- No. 23): The Huskies have something no team will be able to match entering this season -- an edge. Kentucky's core consists of freshmen, who can't relate to playing in the NIT. UConn wasn't allowed to play in the NCAA tournament because of the APR postseason ban. Shabazz Napier,Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels are returning for a shot to play in the NCAA tournament in 2013-14. They will and should be the toughest challenger in the American Athletic Conference.Omar Calhoun quietly had a solid freshman season. Kevin Ollie is even more comfortable as a coach, having replaced Jim Calhoun. This should be a consistent top-15 team.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...rly-top-25-ranking-2013-14-college-basketball

 

[Deleted member 3149]

jason king is an idiot

 

[SubbaBub]

Sounds good, but expect a high variance to any predictions if we can't fix the rebounding/post scoring issues.

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[Vuce]

Agree to an extent SubbaBub. We need rebounding and defense from the post for next year. Not sure we need much in the way of scoring. We will get more points from the post simply from tip ins and stuff - we won't need (nor do we have) guys will be post up and score consistently. I generally agree with you though

 

[art4life]

Our perimeter scoring is not a concern.
The perimeter defense could use some seasoning: although unlikely, would love to see a Louisville-like ability to press the hell out of opponents. Hey, one can dream, though!

The interior defense & rebounding (to the chamber!) need to be brought up to speed quickly...

 

[aceboon]

Scoring from the post is irrelevant as long as our perimeter is fine, 2 titles were won without really a legit low post scorer, as long as the interior D and rebounding improves we'll be fine.

 

[Scot-e]

I agree to a degree. The two things that make next year very interesting are:

1) The improvement of some of the players. This includes two players in the front court- Wolf and PN (sorry I do not see TO getting much better- hope I am wrong). Wolf is a senior and PN could really come in and give us some quality minutes. I think the less TO plays is an indication of how much better our team will be next year. Sweet 16 (or better) teams do not have TO's type players at the 5. If Wolf can stay on the floor and PN can improve as much as he did last year we are already in much better shape then last year in the front court.
OC and DD could both make big jumps next year and have a huge impact on what level of team we really have a UCONN. Last year my family and I said that barring injuries and assuming that RB and SN did their thing- that this team would go the way that DD went- and he really turned it on toward the end of the year.

2) We have a few big bodies coming in that will help clog up the middle at the very least. I never expect big things from freshman- at least not until I have seen them play. We all remember the hype surrounding AD's one year will us and he is a future NBA all star. All the new guys need to do is play smart- pick up some quality fouls and rebound. Rebounding is something you have to want to do and KO will make sure they want it bad if they are going to see minutes. I was in the car and Howard Stern played a old interview with Dennis Rodman- he just wanted the rebounds more then anyone else on the floor and made it happen- maybe we should bring him in for a pep talk? JK

Scoring check. More bigs check. If we get improvement from the guys that were on the floor for us last year we have a team that will be fun to watch.

On a side note- is anyone else as happy as I am that we have a team that can hit jump shots? I am loving it.

WE ARE DOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Waquoit]

Wolf and Nolan were both basically rookies and had stretches of good play on occaision. No reason to believe that those stretches won't become more frequent and of longer duration next year.

 

[huskiesnyc]

King originally had us at 14, but now that everyone announced they're returning he drops us to 23. That makes a lot of sense

 

[John]

King originally had us at 14, but now that everyone announced they're returning he drops us to 23. That makes a lot of sense

I ran King's stuff through Babblefish and it came back with "I'm a doosh".

 

[BleedHuskyBlu]

Is it wrong for me to want to start the season unranked so we have less pressure and can shock everyone?

 

[upstater]

Remember that Giffey played center a few games last year?

I don't think UConn needs to worry as much about fouls and injuries at the center position anymore.

 

[Husky25]

Scoring from the post is irrelevant as long as our perimeter is fine, 2 titles were won without really a legit low post scorer, as long as the interior D and rebounding improves we'll be fine.

Agreed that is more important. Interior scoring was at least competent, but the interior defense was superior in 2 of 3 championship years and 3 of 4 FF years.

 

[sledog]

Still need a board-o-vac.

 

[Clockshop]

http://courantblogs.com/uconn-men/notes-and-quotes-from-decision-day-at-gampel/

"Ryan Boatright stopped in at Gampel on Friday, knowing it will be his home gym for one more year."

 

[CL82]

TO may have a better year than some expect if our post depth allows him to play at PF.

 

[Waquoit]

TO may have a better year than some expect if our post depth allows him to play at PF.

A guy at work wondered if TO had nagging injuries last year. Any hear anything like that?

 

[SubbaBub]

Post scoring needs to be credible whether through dribble drive or low-box or offensive rebounding.

Otherwise, you get guys like Bazz/Boat double teamed at the top of the circle all night. Watch a few games from the end of last season and you'll see.

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[aceboon]

http://courantblogs.com/uconn-men/notes-and-quotes-from-decision-day-at-gampel/

"Ryan Boatright stopped in at Gampel on Friday, knowing it will be his home gym for one more year."

Not that I had any doubts, but at least we know where he stands on this and won't be waiting on a decision come next year. Sounds like both him and DD are putting in the work to make sure this is their last year, I think they're both going to beast this season.

 

[Kitaman]

Scoring from the post is irrelevant as long as our perimeter is fine, 2 titles were won without really a legit low post scorer, as long as the interior D and rebounding improves we'll be fine.

Yeah, we won a Championship with Chuck. Our bigs combined surpass his contributions. All they need to do is make an impact (rebounds, selective fouling, boxing out, block shots, etc..) making their presence known on the court and we'll be fine.

 

[RS9999X]

Deandre at the four against many teams will open up the Center for easy put backs and dunks. 3/4 the Center game is setting screens, boards, Posting up without fouling and learning how to draw fouls. Timing blocks is the gravy.


With Calhoun and Giffey off the bench and Olander or Daniels at the 4 at least 20 teams will be out matched at the 1-4 and at best might have a small advantage at the 5. Another 6 teams might be competitive on a bad night or at home in the usual mid-Feb blue period of sickness or injury, Leaving at best 6 games that. are considered competitive. 25 wins and a 3 seed out West against the weakest two team on the S curve. Some over rated PAC 12 team.

Facey will earn serious minutes.

 

[aceboon]

Post scoring needs to be credible whether through dribble drive or low-box or offensive rebounding.

Otherwise, you get guys like Bazz/Boat double teamed at the top of the circle all night. Watch a few games from the end of last season and you'll see.

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Our bigs being able to finish garbage baskets around the rim from either dump offs or offensive rebounds is all that is really required as long as Bazz/Boat/OC/DD(and possibly Niels as a spot up shooter) live up to the expectations as a high scoring core that I and most of us expect them to be. The biggest issues we had on offense in the beginning were that OC & DD weren't really consistent scorers to complement Bazz & Boat(before Boat fell apart towards the end of the season). If Boat, OC, and DD make the jumps that we expect(we know Bazz is going to be nice), we'll be fine scoring wise. Offensively all we'll need from our bigs is to simulate what we got offensively from our bigs in 99 and 11 and I think they're capable of doing that. Quiet as kept DD was developing pretty nicely operating out of the post with either a couple of dribbles and a quick turnaround or facing up and slashing from there.

 

[Scot-e]

^ I am not sure why some fans think Boat or Calhoun will be coming off the bench. If there are 4 guys that will almost without question- start every game they are healthy it will be OC, SN, RB and DD. An improved PN or Wolf or even KF could (and I really really really hope they do) knock TO out of the box for a starting spot. Facey would have to be somewhat of a star to get the starting job though.

There is about a zero chance of OC not starting. Also the statement "with TO at the four" followed by "out matched" just does not sound right. I do agree that moving DD to the 4 spot against teams with a smaller or slower 4 may work very well.

 

[RS9999X]

Tyler's in a good position to have a Hilton Armstrong Senior year as a 4/5.. Matching up against weaker starters and green second team players. I'd exploit him off the bench in that role as a 4/5. Let the starting guards and Daniels play the first 8 Then get Olander his 8 splitting the 4/5 as the anchor during the guard bench rotations.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Tyler's in a good position to have a Hilton Armstrong Senior year as a 4/5.. Matching up against weaker starters and green second team players. I'd exploit him off the bench in that role as a 4/5. Let the starting guards and Daniels play the first 8 Then get Olander his 8 splitting the 4/5 as the anchor during the guard bench rotations.

Tyler Olander doesn't have much in common with Hilton Armstrong.