Borges: UConn looking to fill two spots

[lange10]

So the article is headlined ‘Uconn looking to fill 2 spots’ yet offers no explanation of how they are planning on opening up a second scholarship. It even implies that no spots will be opening up because no one wants to leave, something that we’ve been speculating.

"That doesn’t mean UConn will end up with just one scholarship to fill, however. One more could open up. The Huskies are still beating down the recruiting path, looking to fill two spots."

If the staff is recruiting to fill two spots, I think it's safe to say they're trying their best to clear room for 2 spots. And despite no real explanation, we all know which player could potentially free up the second scholarship.

 

[fatlucy]

I think it is fine if he sits with kids and tells them they may not end up with playing time, etc. And it might be better for them to move on. I just have a problem with yanking a scholarship from a kid who got recruited and is working his ass off. But if a kid says he wants to stay and fight for a spot/PT, I say you have to let him.

I disagree. Money is a finite thing. Scholarship or other. We cannot and should not give away a scholarship just bc the kid wants to be here and is trying. Real life doesn’t give anything away. Coach and AD have a responsibility to maximize the return of our tax dollars on all levels. Participation scholarships should not be allowed as a matter of policy. My kids don’t get scholorships just bc they try hard. All our players need to earn their returns.

 

[casual-yardin]

I disagree. Money is a finite thing. Scholarship or other. We cannot and should not give away a scholarship just bc the kid wants to be here and is trying. Real life doesn’t give anything away. Coach and AD have a responsibility to maximize the return of our tax dollars on all levels. Participation scholarships should not be allowed as a matter of policy. My kids don’t get scholorships just bc they try hard. All our players need to earn their returns.

LOL.

 

[Marat]

So the article is headlined ‘Uconn looking to fill 2 spots’ yet offers no explanation of how they are planning on opening up a second scholarship. It even implies that no spots will be opening up because no one wants to leave, something that we’ve been speculating.

This is such a contrast from a couple years ago, and is something I'm supporting with coach Hurley in developing the team culture.

 

[BackAftaThis]

I think it is fine if he sits with kids and tells them they may not end up with playing time, etc. And it might be better for them to move on. I just have a problem with yanking a scholarship from a kid who got recruited and is working his ass off. But if a kid says he wants to stay and fight for a spot/PT, I say you have to let him.

These are kids we're talking about. I think it's extremely messed up to tell someone hit the road if they were recruited and committed to the University and are working their ass off.

My hope is that Diarra gets some weird injury loophole that we can use his spot.

 

[businesslawyer]

I don't know how to even address Putnam Science. We don't owe them any favors. If you recall, HD spurned us to sit out a semester at Kentucky, That showed me that Putnam Science is in it for themselves.

This is a great example of The Boneyard in action. State a position, and then when you decide it may be wrong double and triple down by piling meaningless stuff on top of it rather than acknowledge its weakness.

HD deciding to enroll at Kentucky showed you that Putnam Science is in it for themselves? I don't claim we owe any one school anything, but that statement is just absurd. Does Steve Enoch going to Louisville prove that UConn is in it for itself? How do Putnam's intentions and desires become clear by an 18 year old who goes there exercising his free will?

 

[Towney007]

We lose our best player in Jalen Adams. We get three unproven freshmen. Exactly how are we going to get better? I applaud the optimism but with things currently as they are, explain how we are going to have this big jump. This is based on a ton of "ifs" and not all that realistic.

OK I was trying to be optimistic, but I'm fine with this. And i shouldn't have said 'big step.'

And I'm the unpopular opinion around here on this, but I'm really fine with next year (and people really need to understand this) being a wash, too. They just need to keep getting talent in the door. I think we'll see incremental improvements in most across the board.

Rebuilds take time. Getting talent in the door is one thing, developing it is another - and so is getting your lack of talent out the door. I'm looking at 2020-2021 as the year I want to see a jump. Not next year.

 

[KingAG]

OK I was trying to be optimistic, but I'm fine with this. And i shouldn't have said 'big step.'

And I'm the unpopular opinion around here on this, but I'm really fine with next year (and people really need to understand this) being a wash, too. They just need to keep getting talent in the door. I think we'll see incremental improvements in most across the board.

Rebuilds take time. Getting talent in the door is one thing, developing it is another - and so is getting your lack of talent out the door. I'm looking at 2020-2021 as the year I want to see a jump. Not next year.

It really depends on what you mean by jump. I expect at least a 20-12 type season next yr

 

[Towney007]

It really depends on what you mean by jump. I expect at least a 20-12 type season next yr

I just don't think you can look at things like that and he's not wrong. Who's replacing Adams' scoring? Can Gilbert stay healthy? How much can we realistically count on from the three freshmen? Asking for ultimatums on record improvements is kind of missing the point - *at this point*.

My wish list is basically:

-Another top 20 recruiting class
-Stopping the sideways midseason slides and see the team look better at the end of the year than at the beginning
-Stop getting blown out by good teams
-Beat all of/close to all of the teams we should beat
-See improvement from key returners - notably Carlton, Gilbert, Wilson, Vital.

If I see all of that and we're 17-18; I'm good. If I see all that and we're 20-12, I'm good. While i'd love to get all this and 25 wins or something, it's just not something that based on what i've seen so far - is something i'm going to be demanding. It's a rebuild, not a reload. Rebuild of the system, the talent, the program, the culture, all of it.

Year after that, though? When we've got two top 20 recruiting classes and some of our B-level talent is headed into Senior year territory? Well, that's when we should be thinking about things like wins and losses.

 

[UofCT]

This is my point.

Also - it's extremely likely we take a pretty good jump next year as-is. That's all i'm looking for at least. Destabilizing your culture to win a few extra games in a year where you're at-best a tournament team is really short-sighted, I think.

So much Tyrion Lannister in Towney

 

[uconnever]

Since UConn self-imposed the scholarship reduction can they just say "eph it, we're taking it back"?

LOL

 

[businesslawyer]

I believe the perceived impact of ridding the program of dead wood on future recruits is being vastly overstated.

To be consistent, I hated the rule in Little League that every kid had to play too.

Same naivete? You know why they have the rule? Because marginal players aren't going to pay the Little League money if they are going to never get in.

You're clearly a guy who likes to have his cake and eat it too. Hurray for you. Reality is nonetheless real. You don't get something for nothing. And you don't get to kick out guys who are trying without other guys preferring to go somewhere where the coach is more tolerant of recruiting mistakes.

 

[jibsey]

Any available scholarship should go to a big. We can always find a serviceable backcourt. Currently, we have no frontcourt.

We have Carlton. Isn’t he frontcourt? I quite agree that he is not near enough and 2 players are needed. Good players.

 

[intlzncster]

It really depends on what you mean by jump. I expect at least a 20-12 type season next yr

If the front court stays as it is, you won't get that.

 

[JimHurley]

Talked to my former roommate who is a student manager. He says doubtful anyone is leaving. Not sure where that second scholarship would come from. Only thing I can think of, which I mentioned before, is if Mamadou is stepping away due to injury. But that’s just me thinking, I don’t have any info on that.

 

[tzznandrew]

I just don't think you can look at things like that and he's not wrong. Who's replacing Adams' scoring? Can Gilbert stay healthy? How much can we realistically count on from the three freshmen? Asking for ultimatums on record improvements is kind of missing the point - *at this point*.

My wish list is basically:

-Another top 20 recruiting class
-Stopping the sideways midseason slides and see the team look better at the end of the year than at the beginning
-Stop getting blown out by good teams
-Beat all of/close to all of the teams we should beat
-See improvement from key returners - notably Carlton, Gilbert, Wilson, Vital.

If I see all of that and we're 17-18; I'm good. If I see all that and we're 20-12, I'm good. While i'd love to get all this and 25 wins or something, it's just not something that based on what i've seen so far - is something i'm going to be demanding. It's a rebuild, not a reload. Rebuild of the system, the talent, the program, the culture, all of it.

Year after that, though? When we've got two top 20 recruiting classes and some of our B-level talent is headed into Senior year territory? Well, that's when we should be thinking about things like wins and losses.

Yup. This is right.

I'd obviously prefer that a few players who aren't top flight talent leave to kickstart the rebuild. But the rebuild is as much cultural as anything, and you lose who you are and (more importantly) what you are selling if you actively take scholarships from kids.

If this were Hurley's first rebuild, I'd be worried. But this guy has done this twice already. And he's never had talent like Gilbert/Wilson/Akok/Gaffney/Bouknight. I want to see improvement next year, but they ain't winning a title next year, so if Hurley thinks keeping a few guys who won't play very much is good for the team is right, I'm willing to roll with him.

A losing season next year is a problem for me; but really, for me, 2020-21 is the year we should be a pretty darn good team.

 

[joober jones]

I respect Hurley's approach here, I just disagree with it wholeheartedly and think it's extremely detrimental to the program.

Based on all those years with Dove, I think it's been in place for a while.

 

[Jbirdp5]

So many people in here are basically saying Hurley is wrong for not running kids out town. It’s not his style so why are so many people still surprised/upset about it.

 

[UC1995]

If I were those kids I wouldn’t leave. They aren’t going pro so why leave a great university with the friends that they have made and go to a MEACC school to maybe start with a bunch of other kids who they have no connection to. Unless their egos are involved the best memories will be made here.

Yup. This is right.

I'd obviously prefer that a few players who aren't top flight talent leave to kickstart the rebuild. But the rebuild is as much cultural as anything, and you lose who you are and (more importantly) what you are selling if you actively take scholarships from kids.

If this were Hurley's first rebuild, I'd be worried. But this guy has done this twice already. And he's never had talent like Gilbert/Wilson/Akok/Gaffney/Bouknight. I want to see improvement next year, but they ain't winning a title next year, so if Hurley thinks keeping a few guys who won't play very much is good for the team is right, I'm willing to roll with him.

A losing season next year is a problem for me; but really, for me, 2020-21 is the year we should be a pretty darn good team.

 

[UofCT]

Talked to my former roommate who is a student manager. He says doubtful anyone is leaving. Not sure where that second scholarship would come from. Only thing I can think of, which I mentioned before, is if Mamadou is stepping away due to injury. But that’s just me thinking, I don’t have any info on that.

Student managers know less than Boneyarder insiders.

 

[the Q]

If I were those kids I wouldn’t leave. They aren’t going pro so why leave a great university with the friends that they have made and go to a MEACC school to maybe start with a bunch of other kids who they have no connection to. Unless their egos are involved the best memories will be made here.

They could play overseas after college. It would help to have some nice tape and scouting opportunities for that.

 

[JimHurley]

Student managers know less than Boneyarder insiders.

You are wrong. They see them everyday and participate in shootarounds weekly. They know where guys stand

 

[UofCT]

You are wrong. They see them everyday and participate in shootarounds weekly. They know where guys stand

I was a manager you were not. If you don’t believe me send me PM and I’ll provide proof.

 

[JimHurley]

I was a manager you were not. If you don’t believe me send me PM and I’ll provide proof.

I’m not looking for an argument. I’m telling you my old roommate’s experience as a manager. He’s close with the guys, sees them everyday and they hang out outside of basketball activities. I think he’d know if anyone was considering leaving.

 

[UofCT]

I’m not looking for an argument. I’m telling you my old roommate’s experience as a manager. He’s close with the guys, sees them everyday and they hang out outside of basketball activities. I think he’d know if anyone was considering leaving.

I remember the day Marcus Johnson transferred, everyone was shocked, especially JA and CA, they almost couldn’t practice they were so upset. My point being players, managers, even assistant coaches may not know if a guy was planning on leaving until he leaves. That was my experience but things could be different.

 

[djct1999]

This is a great example of The Boneyard in action. State a position, and then when you decide it may be wrong double and triple down by piling on meaningless stuff on top of it rather than acknowledge its weakness.

HD deciding to enroll at Kentucky showed you that Putnam Science is in it for themselves? I don't claim we owe any one school anything, but that statement is just absurd. Does Steve Enoch going to Louisville prove that UConn is in it for itself? How do Putnam's intentions and desires become clear by an 18 year old who goes there exercising his free will?

What’s a great example of the boneyard is responding to a post without understanding the context of that post. Vintage boneyard. Nicely done.

 

[kemba]

Student managers know less than Boneyarder insiders.

During my time at UConn, the amount of made up and completely contradictory information i heard from managers, practice players, and walkons was incredible. I almost felt they had weekly meetings to discuss how they are going to best mess with the student body

 

[Danzz]

In that case I don't agree or respect his approach
If UConn has kids who simply can't compete at the D1 level because of talent - those kids have to be helped to go somewhere else, need to drop the sport at UConn and become a student or play as a walk-on and pay for school. A scholarship is something of value given for a return value. If there is no return value it's a freebie.
Now in case of career ending injury there is room for being gracious but there are kids on the team earning scholarships now who may not be this level D1 ability.

If a player was recruited who didn't work out talent wise it is on the coaching staff that recruited him. The player shouldn't have to pay the price.

 

[UCDaveD]

I remember the day Marcus Johnson transferred, everyone was shocked, especially JA and CA, they almost couldn’t practice they were so upset. My point being players, managers, even assistant coaches may not know if a guy was planning on leaving until he leaves. That was my experience but things could be different.

Remember when they made you let Ater Majok borrow your car?

 

[huskyharry]

Since UConn self-imposed the scholarship reduction can they just say "eph it, we're taking it back"?

They certainly should! It was a BS move to support the administration’s court actions against KO. Nothing was done that merited a scholarship reduction!