Best case scenario for UConn (and Big East)

[MU in MKE]

How are you feeling about the future of your MU squad, while we have you?

TL;DR version: Will be much improved next year - maybe bubble team if we're lucky - but really HUGE potential for following season if Shaka keeps the roster consistent.



Admittedly, I’m of a more optimistic mindset than most of the currently melting down MU fanbase. This year was a culmination of the seniors not stepping up and a junior class that imploded with on and off court issues.

The Sophomores and Freshman, while going through the typical fr/So. ups and downs, have shown incredible growth in the last few weeks. Royce Parham is finally starting to live up to his potential (we're talking some level of all BE team) and Demarius Owens is getting more consistent after 12 months of injury setbacks.

The best news is the backcourt freshmen have really taken advantage of the down year and made this “their” team and are far ahead of where they’d otherwise be. Specifically, Nigel James Jr. would easily be a strong candidate for BE freshman of the year if it weren’t for him being on such an awful squad. On top of that, we have some redshirt freshman and incoming ’26 class that should have immediate impact.

On the flip side, the 5 is going to be a gaping weak spot unless Shaka bucks his own system and hits the portal OR we see some surprising growth from within. So next year is going to be a vast improvement, but still maybe not tournament level. Either way, we won’t be a drag on the BE like this year.


All that being said, we should have an AP ranked team again the year following – assuming Shaka continues his history of roster continuity. We’ll have a few exits this year, but hopefully none of those exciting underclassmen!

 

[RuffRuff]

TL;DR version: Will be much improved next year - maybe bubble team if we're lucky - but really HUGE potential for following season if Shaka keeps the roster consistent.



Admittedly, I’m of a more optimistic mindset than most of the currently melting down MU fanbase. This year was a culmination of the seniors not stepping up and a junior class that imploded with on and off court issues.

The Sophomores and Freshman, while going through the typical fr/So. ups and downs, have shown incredible growth in the last few weeks. Royce Parham is finally starting to live up to his potential (we're talking some level of all BE team) and Demarius Owens is getting more consistent after 12 months of injury setbacks.

The best news is the backcourt freshmen have really taken advantage of the down year and made this “their” team and are far ahead of where they’d otherwise be. Specifically, Nigel James Jr. would easily be a strong candidate for BE freshman of the year if it weren’t for him being on such an awful squad. On top of that, we have some redshirt freshman and incoming ’26 class that should have immediate impact.

On the flip side, the 5 is going to be a gaping weak spot unless Shaka bucks his own system and hits the portal OR we see some surprising growth from within. So next year is going to be a vast improvement, but still maybe not tournament level. Either way, we won’t be a drag on the BE like this year.


All that being said, we should have an AP ranked team again the year following – assuming Shaka continues his history of roster continuity. We’ll have a few exits this year, but hopefully none of those exciting underclassmen!

You missed the key question - will Shaka use the portal this year?

 

[freescooter]

Sure. First, pretty much every fan base in the country believes "everyone is out to get them" and that the refs treat them unfairly, etc. In our case, the fact BE refs allow an unprecedented amount of hand checking, jersey grabbing, and bumping off the ball limits our ability to run our offense effectively. Meanwhile, Connecticut gets called for many fouls often, resulting in a 3 to 1 differential. Thus Connecticut often struggles in a conference that has difficulty getting people to the dance, never mind out of the first weekend.

On the other hand, Connecticut has won two of the last three national championships setting MOV records along the way. Once games are officiated in a more evenhanded manner we seem to be pretty successful.

Hope this helped!

I don’t think it is so much a “conspiracy” as a mid-match in styles. As I’ve said a million times, the NBE wants to be seen as a rough, urban, physical almost thuggish league. It’s a marketing thing. You hear play by play guys and other media types mention it all the time (listen to Donny Marshall some time ). The referees call games in keeping with that model and most of the teams play a version of hero ball/hack and grab which fits with that style of officiating. Oddly hand checking is not allowed. But grabbing a shirt is. UConn plays different style of game based on ball and player movement. It works well in the non-conference where grabbing kicking and eye gouging are not allowed. But it is more easily disrupted in the “rough tough New Big East.”

 

[MU in MKE]

You missed the key question - will Shaka use the portal this year?

Can't fully answer that because it will totally depend on who decides to leave. Shaka has said in the past that he's not anti-portal, but the player has to meet the need and fit the mold of his system. I'm betting that will continue to be his stance again this year.

(Yes, I know that answer was a cop out)

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The “refs are out to get us” bit is an embarrassing cliche.

 

[SoFla Steve]

If (when) SJU beats Xavier tonight, we'll have to share first place in the BE.

 

[Frenemy]

Actually you'd be in 2nd place(for now). Damn head to head tie breaker

 

[Frenemy]

That's if they win, I'm getting let down game vibes from the Johnnies in this first half.

 

[uconngb]

That's if they win, I'm getting let down game vibes from the Johnnies in this first half.

Ties at the half

 

[UCan3]

If (when) SJU beats Xavier tonight, we'll have to share first place in the BE.

Ironically, they are tied 48 to 48 right now

 

[SoFla Steve]

Ironically, they are tied 48 to 48 right now

I watched it to the bitter end.

 

[NJHusky]

I don’t think it is so much a “conspiracy” as a mid-match in styles. As I’ve said a million times, the NBE wants to be seen as a rough, urban, physical almost thuggish league. It’s a marketing thing. You hear play by play guys and other media types mention it all the time (listen to Donny Marshall some time ). The referees call games in keeping with that model and most of the teams play a version of hero ball/hack and grab which fits with that style of officiating. Oddly hand checking is not allowed. But grabbing a shirt is. UConn plays different style of game based on ball and player movement. It works well in the non-conference where grabbing kicking and eye gouging are not allowed. But it is more easily disrupted in the “rough tough New Big East.”

Agree and as someone else said, BE isn’t protecting UConn because they know we gone first chance we get. It’s helps the other teams in tournament seeding/ entry if they knock us off.

If SH or Nova beat ST Jons it helps more now that Jonnie’s beat us

 

[UCan3]

I watched it to the bitter end.

I was very frustrated by Xavier at the end of that game in regulation. That was such a horrible play to run.

The worst kind at the end of the game is when same player holds onto the ball 🏀 and then literally has nowhere to go at the very end of the game / tosses up brick..
It's like just play your offense!