Your concerns are legitimate. Right now things look this way: Alex will transfer, Lamb to NBA, Drummond will return, another player will likely transfer, no NCAA tourney next year and if JC returns it will be for only next season.
There is plenty to be concerned about but none these things will bury our program. BTW, your thoughts aren't negative, the situation is.
1. While I do think Lamb is the closest we have on this squad to being a lock in the NBA draft... one never knows. He
could decide to come back in an effort to prove that he can be "the guy" rather than just a second option, if he has the mentality to do so and believes in the fact that he can do so. That type of transformation alone could land him in the top 3-5 picks for sure, instead of ~12 as some have said he is projected (I don't follow the draft projection sites, I just go by what is updated on here and what I hear on the media)
2. I do agree Alex will transfer and Drummond will return (the combination of which I think could be beneficial to this squad overall, as Alex will no longer be fighting his own internal demons as he seemed to be doing while playing with AD). Plus, that would leave AD as THE MAN for us down in the post. He'd be free to dominate it entirely, rather than having any concern about stepping on his "captain's" (even though AO never acted like a captain this year, unfortunately) toes.. etc. etc. I think that having AD as our primary big man could be very beneficial for his growth as he will get a lot more post action and experience.
3. I'm not so sure that we will likely see another transfer besides AO... maybe one of the other big men that has hardly played yet simply in hopes of getting more PT/development somewhere else. But overall, I think AO is the only transfer we are really looking at, at this point. I could be
very wrong about this though (and honestly, I wouldn't be upset if we freed up a scholarship that isn't really being used as much as we'd like... given the limited number of schollies we've been working with).
4. Lastly, and most important... I definitely do not think that next year is JC's last year. I think JC's last season will likely be 2013-2014 (that's when his contract ends, correct?). I think he has every intention of completing out his contract, as long as health permits. Not only does he want to leave the program in a stable state (which it will not be one year from now, though it will be getting much much closer), but he also has a strong interest in ensuring that there is a solid replacement for him when he does leave which is still up in the air regardless of the Kevin Ollie rumors. In addition, he and Shabazz seem to have a very strong relationship (a la the relationship he had with Kemba) and I think Boatright is also developing that type of relationship as well. Calhoun sees these kids as his own children practically, and I have a strong feeling he wants to help them succeed in a UConn uniform until the end.
Not to say that he doesn't have a very strong relationship with all of his players that have the work ethic/attitude of Kemba/Bazz/Boat/etc.... but Bazz was apart of something very special last year (and that alone holds a lot of weight in the fact that he was a part of "bringing new life" in a way to Calhoun). And Boatright just simply has some qualities about him that really, really remind me of Kemba in a number of ways; and we all know Calhoun loves that type of personality, work ethic, and so forth.
Either way, who knows... Calhoun's retirement could come at any time, especially given potential health concerns. But I truly believe he has every intention of finishing out his current contract which I believe ends in 2014. Shabazz would be graduating after his 4th year at that point (if he doesn't leave after his 3rd year, which I hope he doesn't for his own sake) and Boatright would be finishing his 3rd year. If 2014 results in a National Championship (knock on wood), I could see Boat possibly declaring for the draft, Shabazz graduating/declaring, and Calhoun riding out in the sunset on top in the 4 NC club.
