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Big Bigs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chief00
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UCDaveD said:
A top-20 recruit or 2? No problem!
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It's for people who are looking for seven footers. We need size like AO but more importantly someone who is aggressive when rebounding and playing defense
 
uconnyankee said:
Really miss Clyde. That guy could coach up the big men. Really surprised noboday has given him a second chance.
I've heard people commend Hunter with his work on Carlton. If he's half as good as Clyde, we're okay.
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Agree on all points.
 
jdb50 said:
Can Diarra play next year and if not why would he still take up a scholarship? Have to get Josh some help and add a guard if Al keeps getting hurt. The 2 freshman and Vital are not enough. The mid majors are full of players that could start for us. Such a recruiting disaster.
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Chief isn’t going to respond directly on Diarra. Would suggest though you look at his chronic knee history and how many games he has been able to play.
Best Regards, Chief
 
jdb50 said:
Can Diarra play next year and if not why would he still take up a scholarship? Have to get Josh some help and add a guard if Al keeps getting hurt. The 2 freshman and Vital are not enough. The mid majors are full of players that could start for us. Such a recruiting disaster.
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Not supposed to talk about it but we'll have more than the 1 open scholly we currently have.
 
Bottom line - if Dan Hurley/staff doesn't score a quality big who can walk in and contribute day 1 then they are in for a longer year than this and he better revise the plan
This program can't go much longer without a consistent level of talent in the post area
As Chief00 has lamented where the hell is Clyde when UConn could use him most - I don't give a crap about what happened years ago - folks have done so much worse and are still in the game
 
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gtcam said:
Bottom line - if Dan Hurley/staff doesn't score a quality big who can walk in and contribute day 1 then they are in for a longer year than this and he better revise the plan
This program can't go much longer without a consistent level of talent in the post area
As Chief00 has lamented where the hell is Clyde when UConn could use him most - I don't give a crap about what happened years ago - folks have done so much worse and are still in the game
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Right on! But, no disrespect to Coach Hunter, who has upgraded coaching at this position.
 
Chief00 said:
Right on! But, no disrespect to Coach Hunter, who has upgraded coaching at this position.
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No disrespect meant to Hunter
Just unsure as to strategy in getting a quality big - I don't remember Dan Hurley ever having one - at least one that has the talents he needs here
 
gtcam said:
No disrespect meant to Hunter
Just unsure as to strategy in getting a quality big - I don't remember Dan Hurley ever having one - at least one that has the talents he needs here
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At this level he will need to get some to be successful.
 
uconnyankee said:
Really miss Clyde. That guy could coach up the big men. Really surprised noboday has given him a second chance.
I've heard people commend Hunter with his work on Carlton. If he's half as good as Clyde, we're okay.
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Chief's second account?

Clyde was only here for two years man. And we had 15+ years of great big production.
 
gtcam said:
No disrespect meant to Hunter
Just unsure as to strategy in getting a quality big - I don't remember Dan Hurley ever having one - at least one that has the talents he needs here
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The strategy now is 'look at what we did with a kid like Carlton', who could barely walk when he got here. You want to get better, come here.

And we got one big this year, a talented one at that. Already on campus even. He's not a bruiser, but he does have a number of tools to work with.

Next step is to get a monster. Personally, I'm hoping 5th year, so we keep that scholly for 2020.
 
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What’re y’alls thoughts on taking chances on players with questionable character issues? Calhoun did it during a time when we didn’t even necessarily need them, sometimes they worked out(Butler), sometimes they didn’t(Miles). We need both a culture change and a talent infusion, so a case can be made either way. There are players out there that we probably could land with talent that no one really wants to take a chance on, Dimon Carrigan for example. IMO it takes a certain type of no nonsense coach to have any luck with these players Jim Calhoun fit that bill, as does Bill Belchik. I’m still unsure if Hurley is that type of coach, he seems like more of a players coach.
 
UcannUconn said:
What’re y’alls thoughts on taking chances on players with questionable character issues? Calhoun did it during a time when we didn’t even necessarily need them, sometimes they worked out(Butler), sometimes they didn’t(Miles). We need both a culture change and a talent infusion, so a case can be made either way. There are players out there that we probably could land with talent that no one really wants to take a chance on, Dimon Carrigan for example. IMO it takes a certain type of no nonsense coach to have any luck with these players Jim Calhoun fit that bill, as does Bill Belchik. I’m still unsure if Hurley is that type of coach, he seems like more of a players coach.
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If you have a culture built, and that kind of coach, then fine. But we still don't have that. Hard pass.
 
jibsey said:
Yup. And why is that? Year after freaking year we watch teams from nowhere with skilled bigs. Do they pick them from “bigs” trees on the green? Yet we get guys that either get thrown to the floor with a feather or need leg transplants.
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I think too many teams pass on guys who have limited athleticism, with no NBA level upside, but who have solid fundamental basketball skills. They end up at places like Cogate, Vermont, Harvard and others.

I looked at Harvard’s class. Saw this kid 6’9” and 220. Ciaran Brayboy, New Trier, Center (BK)
In two years he’s going to be an effective player, doing all the things you want. Blocking out, defending the post, making FTs and layups.
 
I get the feeling that most people don't really watch basketball are are wildly overrating the quality of big men throughout the country. There are only a couple of bigs who come in every year who are pluses on both offense and defense immediately. The few who are that good are courted by everybody.

You can win a lot of different ways in college hoops. For Hurley's style of play, I think we really need an athletic shot blocker/rebounder. No, we don't have one right now. Carlton doesn't suck guys. It would be awesome to land a guy who complements his weaknesses.
 
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Walker11 said:
I get the feeling that most people don't really watch basketball are are wildly overrating the quality of big men throughout the country. There are only a couple of bigs who come in every year who are pluses on both offense and defense immediately. The few who are that good are courted by everybody.

You can win a lot of different ways in college hoops. For Hurley's style of play, I think we really need an athletic shot blocker/rebounder. No, we don't have one right now. Carlton doesn't suck guys. It would be awesome to land a guy who complements his weaknesses.
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To your first point, I think it’s critical that we stop relying so much on grad transfer and Juco big men. Freshmen may not be as ready immediately, but at least the staff can mold them into what they want them to be.
 
It was morbidly depressing watching FSU and Purdue up close tonight operating at such a high level. We are so far from these teams. No idea how it got to this point. Well I do. But it is daunting the task Hurley has.
 
Walker11 said:
I get the feeling that most people don't really watch basketball are are wildly overrating the quality of big men throughout the country. There are only a couple of bigs who come in every year who are pluses on both offense and defense immediately. The few who are that good are courted by everybody.

You can win a lot of different ways in college hoops. For Hurley's style of play, I think we really need an athletic shot blocker/rebounder. No, we don't have one right now. Carlton doesn't suck guys. It would be awesome to land a guy who complements his weaknesses.
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Akok is one of the best shot blockers in the country. We do desperately need size though.

I watch all the games, there are good bigs on teams all over the country.
 
Walker11 said:
You can win a lot of different ways in college hoops. For Hurley's style of play, I think we really need an athletic shot blocker/rebounder. No, we don't have one right now. Carlton doesn't suck guys. It would be awesome to land a guy who complements his weaknesses.
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We have Akok. He's that. Or are you just talking center?
 
blue93 said:
To your first point, I think it’s critical that we stop relying so much on grad transfer and Juco big men. Freshmen may not be as ready immediately, but at least the staff can mold them into what they want them to be.
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Sure, if you can get the right freshmen. Or if you already have a deep team and can carry a non contributor for two years. This is not that year. We tried, we didn’t land them (aside from Akok). So it needs to be a Grad Transfer or Juco, which at least preserves a scholarship for next year.
 
blue93 said:
To your first point, I think it’s critical that we stop relying so much on grad transfer and Juco big men. Freshmen may not be as ready immediately, but at least the staff can mold them into what they want them to be.
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A healthy program does not rely on these types. We are not a healthy program. My dream is that we land a shot blocking 6'10ish grad transfer and then Omoruyi in the '20 class. We don't have any young guys whose development I worry about inhibiting.
 
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blue93 said:
To your first point, I think it’s critical that we stop relying so much on grad transfer and Juco big men. Freshmen may not be as ready immediately, but at least the staff can mold them into what they want them to be.
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Not that it hasn't been said 100 times, but we don't need a freshman who might not be as talented, and just takes up space for 4 years. We don't need Justin Brown's on the bench.

In fact, I'd argue the opposite. The two biggest needs for the program in general:
  1. Wins -- Best way to attract high end recruits is to win.
  2. Preserve a scholly -- In order to land a high end post in 2020.
Best way to do both is a quality Grad transfer.
 
intlzncster said:
We have Akok. He's that. Or are you just talking center?
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Center. Akok is the perfect 4 for us both offensively and defensively but he will be manhandled by a big 5. So many teams play 4 out that he will be in the perimeter a lot. I want a guy who will be playing in the paint who doesn't look like a kid next to Kabengele.
 
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HuskyHawk said:
Sure, if you can get the right freshmen. Or if you already have a deep team and can carry a non contributor for two years. This is not that year. We tried, we didn’t land them (aside from Akok). So it needs to be a Grad Transfer or Juco, which at least preserves a scholarship for next year.
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intlzncster said:
Not that it hasn't been said 100 times, but we don't need a freshman who might not be as talented, and just takes up space for 4 years. We don't need Justin Brown's on the bench.

In fact, I'd argue the opposite. The two biggest needs for the program in general:
  1. Wins -- Best way to attract high end recruits is to win.
  2. Preserve a scholly -- In order to land a high end post in 2020.
Best way to do both is a quality Grad transfer.
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I probably wasn’t clear. I’m well aware that grad transfer is the only way to address it this year unless a solid decommit falls into our lap. I just prefer developing bigs over 3 or 4 years to hoping we land someone serviceable for a year then doing it all over again the following year.
 
superjohn said:
There are good bigs all over the place, all these mid-majors have them. We used to get them and will get them again. Good start with Akok but missed on Kofi.

We were left with no frontcourt when our previous coach lost the program. Three bigs transferred at the same time, our top recruit became a shoplifting cross dresser and our old coach was reduced to scouting bigs off of YouTube videos.
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Even Chief misses the boat sometimes - Who was the recruit who became a shoplifting cross dresser?
 
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