Anyone else worried about the roster?

[MrDownunder]

Yep. And this lineup is based on projections. The staff expects all these guys to explode during the year.
None of our projected starters reached their potential last year:

the ceiling on each individual guy is the tallest I've seen out of a starting five (+ 2 recruits) in Storrs in decades, maybe ever.

No, you are wrong. Mullins was expected to carry us to the championship game and he did precisely that.

 

[Horatio]

Solo is still on the team. He absolutely is still a big part of the continuity.

He’s not playing next season

 

[RuffRuff]

A starting lineup of Silas, Mullins, Jayden, Khamenia, Hines looks too offensively challenged to me. There's a lot of talent there and room for offensive growth but expecting everyone to have major spikes in offensive production or two or three of them to have humongous spikes in offensive production is a gamble.

You'd have to expect leaps in every one of these kids, given it's either second year in system or they're jumping from Frosh to Soph.

2023 UConn

Newton averaged 10
Karaban averaged 9
Adama averaged 17
Hawkins averaged 16
Jackson 7

What I would think we need:

Khamenia 12
Mullins 18
Silas 12
Hines 10
Landrew 8

Landrew will ultimately be the starting 3.

 

[Jaydumo20]

A starting lineup of Silas, Mullins, Jayden, Khamenia, Hines looks too offensively challenged to me. There's a lot of talent there and room for offensive growth but expecting everyone to have major spikes in offensive production or two or three of them to have humongous spikes in offensive production is a gamble.

100% this team is a gamble. But everyone is trending up. If it hits it's gonna be magic. This reminds me of old basketball where teams banked on rising sophomores, recruits and 2 or 3 seniors.

 

[uconn_jack]

A starting lineup of Silas, Mullins, Jayden, Khamenia, Hines looks too offensively challenged to me. There's a lot of talent there and room for offensive growth but expecting everyone to have major spikes in offensive production or two or three of them to have humongous spikes in offensive production is a gamble.

Silas can score double digits pretty easily if needed. He just didn't usually have to last year. I think Jayden will suprise as a spot up 3 ot shooter, I hope he can show a slashing game too, the athleticism is there. Hines and Khamenia will be good for 8-12 ppg I think. I'm honestly not worried about starter points, its more bench points I'm concerned about.

 

[fatlucy]

Not sure why this is so difficult for everyone to figure out. Landrew/Ross platoon at the 3.

I'm not checking off the possibility that Hines plays a little 4. He's mobile enough, and could be useful that way with some of these FC's. Keeping an eye on the 5 quality - if they splurge, that's where it is. There ain't s@#$t left in the portal at PF unless we pay up for Graves or the Iowa St kid, ain't happening.

My guess:

Cheap shooter
Cheap PG
Cheap PF
Legit 5

That gets us to 11. Pad the back end with some euros, a third 5 in case of injury.

Cheap is not a business plan

 

[superjohn]

You'd have to expect leaps in every one of these kids, given it's either second year in system or they're jumping from Frosh to Soph.

2023 UConn

Newton averaged 10
Karaban averaged 9
Adama averaged 17
Hawkins averaged 16
Jackson 7

What I would think we need:

Khamenia 12
Mullins 18
Silas 12
Hines 10
Landrew 8

Landrew will ultimately be the starting 3.

All you would need is for all those guys to improve to where they're putting up those numbers and Clingan, Joey California, Naheim Alleyne/Diarra off the bench.

 

[Scottobot]

They filled everything they needed to fill. They could use one more scorer / star in case one of their top 6 has an off year or gets hurt.

They need another big. Would be awesome if its a good player, but so long as its someone who can play some defense and get some rebounds for 15 minutes it will work.

Assuming Landrew is as good as we expect they have 6 great players. Ross is not going to have to worry about playing time next year and he will get to play through some mistakes and I think he is going to explode

 

[uconn_jack]

You'd have to expect leaps in every one of these kids, given it's either second year in system or they're jumping from Frosh to Soph.

2023 UConn

Newton averaged 10
Karaban averaged 9
Adama averaged 17
Hawkins averaged 16
Jackson 7

What I would think we need:

Khamenia 12
Mullins 18
Silas 12
Hines 10
Landrew 8

Landrew will ultimately be the starting 3.

I think this expected point production is about right, although I am not convinced Landrew starts. I thinks Ross starts, and Landrew plays 6th man at PF and SF, allowing Mullins, Khamenia, and Ross to shift around the 3 and 2 and for rests. County will be 7th man from the other direction, spelling Silas and occasionally playing with him at the 2 when the other starters shift in the other direction. Hines will be an island at the 5 with a specific backup for him.

That said, I think both Ross and Landrew will average around 8 apiece.

 

[RuffRuff]

All you would need is for all those guys to improve to where they're putting up those numbers and Clingan, Joey California, Naheim Alleyne/Diarra off the bench.

True, but 3 of those 4 guys were lower end older transfers coming in. No reason we don’t try to replicate something similar. We are just going to need higher quality than Koroma and Millender.

The backup 5 is big.

 

[uconn_jack]

He’s not playing next season

That's not the point. You think he'll be sitting in his room? He will be at all the practices, team meetings, workouts, and travelling with the team like all redshirt do. And once his wrist is safely healed, he will be full on practicing with the team.

He will still be looked at as a veteran by his teammates and respected accordingly. I honestly wouldn't even be suprised if he is team captain or co-captain with Silas. The continuity we are talking about is culture, and him not playing won't matter in this case.

 

[HW611]

@HW611 you ready for another campaign??
This year should be easier. Kinda like the war of 1812. Ross haters are like "i'll die on this...oh forget it"

duck it. Let’s get crazy. Ross All American campaign starts now

 

[FreeDogs]

Paul McNeil is going to be a 1st Team BE superstar

If we get him

 

[uconn_jack]

That's not the point. You think he'll be sitting in his room? He will be at all the practices, team meetings, workouts, and travelling with the team like all redshirt do. And once his wrist is safely healed, he will be full on practicing with the team.

He will still be looked at as a veteran by his teammates and respected accordingly. I honestly wouldn't even be suprised if he is team captain or co-captain with Silas. The continuity we are talking about is culture, and him not playing won't matter in this case.

@Horatio not sure why laughing is your reaction. You really think Ball isn't going to still have a significant impact on the continuity and culture of the team?

 

[superjohn]

True, but 3 of those 4 guys were lower end older transfers coming in. No reason we don’t try to replicate something similar. We are just going to need higher quality than Koroma and Millender.

The backup 5 is big.

I'm pretty damn bummed about Solo not playing next season. He's my favorite player and he's approaching my favorite UConn player of all-time after what he put himself through this past season and how invested he is in UConn...

I expected him back healthy and starting next season and back to his old shooting with an improved overall game. I get that people like that Braylon is moving to his more natural position but even with his messed up wrist and bad shooting because of it Solo always had to be accounted for on the court because he was always a threat to go off for 20 points. That scoring, threat of scoring and big shot capability needs to be replaced.

If we can't replace it through the portal with one player we need to become more dynamic in other areas with more size and athleticism. Right now Hines is our only guy over 6'8. We need a legit 7 footer to share minutes with him at center. I really hope Machot or another legit athletic shot blocking, lob catching 7 footer like him comes here. It's incredible important to what the team can be next season. Reibe wasn't that type of player but he was damn good until Tarris turned into Elvin Hayes and Reibe quietly quit.

Point is we need some other guys who can legit play and aren't Koroma, Millender, Elezaj, Paunovic emergency types/practice players. I do love Millender though, I think he was great for the team behind the scenes this past season.

 

[Chief00]

I love the players we have, but realize this is the start and more needs to be done. You don’t win them all, but losing Freeman to St John’s hurts. Additionally, essentially putting St John’s President Shanley in charge of selecting the new Big East Commissioner just empowers Pitino more, since Pitino reports directly to him, such is the closeness of their relationship.

 

[bendm]

According to the Borges article we’re looking to add 3 guys:
Backup SG
Backup PF
Backup C

Personally I’d like a backup CG and a backup PF/C ie Marchol

 

[Bigbrad1029]

I love the players we have, but realize this is the start and more needs to be done. You don’t win them all, but losing Freeman to St John’s hurts. Additionally, essentially putting St John’s President Shanley in charge of selecting the new Big East Commissioner just empowers Pitino more, since Pitino reports directly to him, such is the closeness of their relationship.

Yeah the Big East UConn relationship is a one way street IMO, it’s time to go to ACC or Big 12 …better for basketball style of play, football and most importantly TV revenue ACC more than 2X per team Big 12 almost 5X per team vs Big East….the sooner the better

 

[Magic32]

We have all summer for UConn to fill the roster. The portal just closed and there were over 2,000 players that entered and only a fraction have found new homes. The staff is methodical when it comes to recruiting and keep it pretty locked down, they know who they want for some of the positions already. Now they just have to get them. I could see leaving 1 or 2 spots open.

 

[navery12]

Why would I be worried? We have the top 6 of our roster set, and a solid guard off the bench with Junior County. We're going to add 3 good backups as well and then we're ready to win a championship

 

[willie99]

I don't worry, I trust Hurley, everyone should by now

My job is to buy tickets, support the team, and yell at the refs

 

[Umami Zen]

Not worried. Now that the deadline has passed the staff can continue to identify their targets. Confident that they'll move quickly-efficiently-and execute on their short list. Early look at roster construction as it stands now shows multi-positional flexibility for our returnees and portal adds. A different roster-but still with championship DNA and potential.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I'm not worried at all, more curious about how the staff will work there stuff. There's definitely less go-go-go mindset with me, and more intrigue about what will happen.

If the season started today, our two-deep is:

1: Demary, County
2: Mullins, Jac. Ross
3: Jay. Ross, Landrew
4: Khamenia
5: Hines

Obviously, there's work to be done, but we are in excellent shape for late April.

 

[Hurlees4hed]

I'm concerned about front court depth. I am curious about who we will bring in.

Not really "worried" yet though.

If we get to August and there are gaping holes on the roster, I will be pulling what's left of my hair out. But I don't see that happening.

 

[Hi-Low]

We'll get to a 15 man Roster at some point.....so that's 6 open spots (assuming Ball counts as #15)

Need 2 solid rotation players / 2 "break glass in case" but capable guys / and 2 practice only guys.

 

[Nameless]

I'm not worried about the roster but in terms of the poll I voted 3+ for reasons of basic math. We have what, 8 healthy players on the roster next year if one includes Jacob Ross? We will obviously be bringing in at least 3 more guys from the portal.

That doesn't mean they will all be rotation pieces. I expect at least one Millender and one Koroma type of guy. Veteran practice players that provide depth in case of injury.

I think we bring in 2 more guys for the rotation as well. Need a backup big and at least one more guy that can handle the ball. Not saying either gets big minutes when all is said and done but we need options on the bench.

 

[Goldjosh21]

A starting lineup of Silas, Mullins, Jayden, Khamenia, Hines looks too offensively challenged to me. There's a lot of talent there and room for offensive growth but expecting everyone to have major spikes in offensive production or two or three of them to have humongous spikes in offensive production is a gamble.

Exactly. Only one “legitimate “ scorer in that bunch. Silas has his nights, but isn’t a go-to type player. Hines and Khamenia are nice but unproven and probably aren’t making other teams worry too much. Maybe they’ll surprise us, who knows? And Jayden is good, one of my favorite players, but he isn’t going to be a monster. More of a glue guy that can do a little of everything but not show out every night. I’d feel better with another pure scorer on the team

 

[elmcityboy]

No.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm started to get a bit worried. UConn hasn't picked up a player in days. Days!

 

[Chief00]

We have all summer for UConn to fill the roster. The portal just closed and there were over 2,000 players that entered and only a fraction have found new homes. The staff is methodical when it comes to recruiting and keep it pretty locked down, they know who they want for some of the positions already. Now they just have to get them. I could see leaving 1 or 2 spots open.

Many of the best portal players are already gone. But, agree guys that can fill needs on the roster remain.
I am still old school in basketball - wanting depth up the middle - which is point guard and center.