Coroner's Report: This Season

[tzznandrew]

Everyone spent this year trying to figure out an analogue for a different UConn season. Some season are unique: 1990, 1999, 2010, 2011. Sometimes you can feel certain resonances, 1998 and 2002 stick out; 1997 and 2001.

This year is obviously distinct from the others, but I think it most resembles the 2003 team. That team was young, coming off a great run (E8) dealing with the loss of a great leader (Butler); but the season was rockier than it should have been because Calhoun was lost for health reasons (cancer). That team struggled under Blaney, but then got it together for a run to the BET Championship Game and the S16.

What made this team different was that they got Calhoun back too late. The just didn't have enough games with the team and Boatright and JC. They never fully gelled.

Many people are trashing some of these kids. I'll say two things about that. All the sophomores and juniors are champions, and they will forever be looked upon fondly by me.

Drummond and Boatright--Boat will be back, perhaps AD will be. They have a legacy to right. Boat is better now, but I'm not giving up on AD yet. AD, sadly, just doesn't get it yet. The intensity is missing. But that doesn't mean it won't get there.

I hope the NCAA does the right thing and allows next years team to play in the NCAAs; and I hope that AD comes back--I hope Lamb does as well, but I think it less likely.

 

[junglehusky]

At least right now, I'm conflicted about Lamb, during the game chat at least one person was saying they hoped Lamb left and that it would be good for the team. But after a few more minutes to think (drunkenly) about it I kind of believe if he comes back and commits to becoming a better defender and not disappearing at critical stretches it would benefit him (and UConn). That may not happen depending on the NCAA situation. I think Drummond would def. benefit from another year of development but it's up to him if he gets offered millions of dollars whether to take it or not.

I remember Jay Bilas saying he thought / heard that Tyler was going to make strides this season and didn't. Hope he can put in the work to be a bigger factor next year. Niels too. If they can develop into solid contributors, along with Boat, it might make up for Lamb and/or Drummond leaving.

Given the way we finished I have a hard time imagining Calhoun not coming back. But health issues might overrule other factors. I hope he comes back. Some Husky fans might push for a young Shaka Smart type sooner rather than later, but as long as Calhoun can coach I think he deserves 2 years or more.

 

[Tenspro2002]

This team will not miss Drummond. The qualities this team was lacking will not be provided by an off-season of improvement by him. You can tell when a freshman has toughness and the will to dominate. Jeff Adrien is a great example of that. Drummond hasn't shown that he has it between the ears to be the dominant post presence we've been lacking the last 3 years.

I think it's a big "if" to say we'll be better if Lamb commits to playing better defense and being more engaged. The tone for his season was set last spring when he got all this hype and toyed with declaring for the draft. Those scouts inflated his ego beyond belief, and he played this season as if he was just waiting for this year's draft.

Unfortunately, I think Tyler's ceiling is just too low for him to be a big contributor against major-conference competition. His movements are stiff and slow.

Boat and Bazz will be a great backcourt duo next year. Roscoe will be a solid "glue guy" at the 4. Hopefully Daniels will make a quantum leap in the offseason and be a reliable contributor at the 3. Giffey will continue to be a nice bench player.

Calhoun will be back. And he'll have a lot more fun with the toughness of Boat and Bazz at the helm. Hopefully Oriakhi gets the message and comes back showing greater toughness himself. I'm skeptical, but it's what we need to be a true UConn team next year.

 

[Dove]

Without Drummond the Huskies will not be better next season. Who will fill his sneakers? If no Nerlens then who? Alex cannot be the only big man again.

 

[tzznandrew]

Drummond can and will get better. I just hope it's with this team.

 

[Tenspro2002]

He can improve his skills but what we're lacking in the post is toughness. Will that improve as well?

 

[lavuuk153]

Lamb coming back is more important IMO. Most teams don't have legit NBA big men and if he can't score he doesn't help as much at this level. Lamb is needed simply because we only have Calhoun coming in as a frosh at the SG position. AO as the center with a bunch of 3's playing the 4 is better than Drummond coming back and Lamb leaving.

 

[ASweet3781]

He can improve his skills but what we're lacking in the post is toughness. Will that improve as well?

And who are we bringing in or can bring in that will be better at bringing it next year than hopefully an improved Drummond?

 

[CL82]

Many people are trashing some of these kids. I'll say two things about that. All the sophomores and juniors are champions, and they will forever be looked upon fondly by me.

Well said.

 

[Adios]

Drummond will hit the weight room this summer. He's going to need to for the NBA, anyway.

 

[James]

um i'm pretty sure lamb is gone. did you see that windmill at the end of the game by lamb? he does not give a ****. lackluster.

 

[Fishy]

He can improve his skills but what we're lacking in the post is toughness. Will that improve as well?

It is the pinnacle of silliness to openly opine that this team would not miss someone with the obvious potential of Andre Drummond.

Would he better? For sure. Would we be better? Absolutely.

We're better if this team returns as a whole.

 

[SubbaBub]

This team looked like a teenager wearing his father's suit. Yeah they're dressed up, but it's obvious too big and doesn't hang right on them.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

 

[HuskyHawk]

It is the pinnacle of silliness to openly opine that this team would not miss someone with the obvious potential of Andre Drummond.

Would he better? For sure. Would we be better? Absolutely.

We're better if this team returns as a whole.

It's astonishing that anyone can think otherwise. Does everyone appreciate how young this team is? Really?

Lamb's star was made last year with stellar defense, teardrop runners and sweet outside J. I was pleased to see him moving without the ball last night, something he often neglected this year. His D was lax most of the season. Mentally, it seemed he was already thinking NBA. In that sense, the Rudy Gay comparison may be fair.

Drummond is an amazing talent, and if he returns, he may be the best player in all of college basketball. I think he can find the will to dominate and win. He does seem to have fun playing, so maybe he'll return.

AO concerns me. He seemed unhappy all year, perhaps because Jamal Coombs-McDaniel was gone. He plays better when he's enjoying himself and feeds off of positive energy.

All in all, a solid foundation should return. Napier has the talent to be very good, and another year should help him with the mental aspects of the game. Boat is explosive, and will gain a measure of composure. Olander can contribute, but a team that lives and dies with guard penetration and outside shots doesn't take advantage of what he offers. Smith showed a lot at the end of the season, on offense and defense. Daniels will make an impact and hit the weights.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

After sleeping on it, I feel pretty much the same: relief that I am out of my misery.

Without criticizing anyone's effort, ability, or performance, I can simply state that I spent an alarming amount of time watching bad basketball, heard a lot of bad commentary, and read a lot of bad news this season. That said, even with a lessened signal-to-noise ratio this year, The Boneyard still provides laughs like nowhere else. I like the new home and Tapatalk access.

The UconnHuskies web site doesn't use these words, but frames things as follows:

20-Win Season and an NCAA 1st-Round Bye.​

I really loved that part of the Holy Cross game when the defense allowed nothing whatsoever.
What's your season highlight?
Time to change the avatar . . .

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

It's astonishing that anyone can think otherwise.
Lamb's star was made last year with stellar defense, teardrop runners and sweet outside J. I was pleased to see him moving without the ball last night, something he often neglected this year. His D was lax most of the season. Mentally, it seemed he was already thinking NBA. In that sense, the Rudy Gay comparison may be fair.

Drummond is an amazing talent, and if he returns, he may be the best player in all of college basketball. I think he can find the will to dominate and win. He does seem to have fun playing, so maybe he'll return.

AO concerns me. He seemed unhappy all year, perhaps because Jamal Coombs-McDaniel was gone. He plays better when he's enjoying himself and feeds off of positive energy.

All in all, a solid foundation should return. Napier has the talent to be very good, and another year should help him with the mental aspects of the game. Boat is explosive, and will gain a measure of composure. Olander can contribute, but a team that lives and dies with guard penetration and outside shots doesn't take advantage of what he offers. Smith showed a lot at the end of the season, on offense and defense. Daniels will make an impact and hit the weights.

Does everyone appreciate how young this team is? Really?

If everyone is talking about how YOUNG this team is, and giving them a pass, I want to know why. Look at Kentucky. All freshman and sophomores, and their record is, what 30-2? Let's say what it was. A team that 1. underachieved, 2. had no leader, 3. had it's annual Calhoun absence. As much as we all love Coach Calhoun, can we continue to have his annual several game absence in the middle of the season? Yeah, I know he came back last year, and they won it all, but a lot of that had to do with Kemba Walker carrying the team. There is one glaring problem this team had, this year. NO LEADERSHIP. That is going to be the first and foremost thing the 2012-13 team is going to have to work on. Someone is going to have to be that LEADER, and unless someone steps up. 12-13 is not going to be that much more rewarding than 11-12 was.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I have a feeling next year will be a lot better, leadership-wise, in part due to addition by subtraction. People were calling all year for Lamb to step up and for Oriakhi to truly fulfill his role as a captain (which I felt he was handed by default as being the lone junior on a team with no seniors). If Lamb and Oriakhi depart, and Drummond as well -- who was handled with kid gloves, making it difficult for other guys to keep him mentally engaged -- that clears room for a true JC-type leader.

The person who needed to lead this team was Shabazz Napier, with Boatright as his sidekick. My feeling is it will be easier for those two to lead and truly be the conduit from JC's personality to the rest of the team, without interference from some of those other guys.

 

[Marat]

I have a feeling next year will be a lot better, leadership-wise, in part due to addition by subtraction. People were calling all year for Lamb to step up and for Oriakhi to truly fulfill his role as a captain (which I felt he was handed by default as being the lone junior on a team with no seniors). If Lamb and Oriakhi depart, and Drummond as well -- who was handled with kid gloves, making it difficult for other guys to keep him mentally engaged -- that clears room for a true JC-type leader.

The person who needed to lead this team was Shabazz Napier, with Boatright as his sidekick. My feeling is it will be easier for those two to lead and truly be the conduit from JC's personality to the rest of the team, without interference from some of those other guys.

Alot of people blamed Napier for his lack of leadership earlier this year. He was the one of the few guys trying his best last night. I think you may be right regarding SB being the leader next season if things clear our. It worked the previous season for Kemba after Dyson/Robinson departed.

 

[hungry husky]

I have a feeling next year will be a lot better, leadership-wise, in part due to addition by subtraction. People were calling all year for Lamb to step up and for Oriakhi to truly fulfill his role as a captain (which I felt he was handed by default as being the lone junior on a team with no seniors). If Lamb and Oriakhi depart, and Drummond as well -- who was handled with kid gloves, making it difficult for other guys to keep him mentally engaged -- that clears room for a true JC-type leader.

The person who needed to lead this team was Shabazz Napier, with Boatright as his sidekick. My feeling is it will be easier for those two to lead and truly be the conduit from JC's personality to the rest of the team, without interference from some of those other guys.

I disagree, I'd love to see Lamb stay and Boatright step up and become the premier player on our team. There were simply not enough consistent scorers to run consistent effective offense. But if Oriakhi and Drummond leave, that leaves us with TO, Bradley, Wolf, Roscoe, and potential freshmen. I'd like to see Oriakhi and Drummond stay and develop...but we haven't developed solid post players since Hilton and Okafor. Great group of guys this year, was really sad to see them go out so early.

I'm really high on Boatright, with an offseason of work he's going to be a real force.

 

[tzznandrew]

Kentucky's recruits for 2010-11 still on the team(rankings according to Scout.com):

PG: Marquis Teague - #1 PG, overall 8 (2011)
SG: Doron Lamb - #5 SG, overall 28 (2012)
SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - #1 SF, overall 6 (2011)
PF: Anthony Davis - #1 PF, overall 1 (2011)
PF: Terrence Jones - #2 PF, overall 8 (2010)
C: Kyle Wiltjer - #3 C, overall 24 (2011)

Those kids are out of this world talent-wise, and if it weren't for the NBA age restriction, probably all but Lamb and Wiltjer would have went pro out of high school. Those are their freshmen and sophomores. Ours:

PG: Napier - #14 PG, overall 62
PG: Boatright -#15 PG, overall 77
SG: Lamb - #21 SG, overall 84
SF: Smith - #5 SF, overall 32
SF: Giffey - Unranked
C: Drummond - #1 C, overall 2

A couple of comments. Drummond was ranked on talent. The kid has a ton, and we'll see if he can maximize it. I think Napier, Boatright, and Lamb were clearly underranked. But that doesn't change the fact that, other than Lamb among those 3, there may not be an NBA player.

Smith may have been overranked--but the team has asked him to do some different things.

Regardless, the talent discrepancy between Kentucky's Freshmen and Sophomores and UConn's is absurd. They got no worse than the #5 overall player at his position. The comparison looks legit on paper, but is spurious in that no other team is constructed with the overall talent of Kentucky.

 

[caw]

Does everyone appreciate how young this team is? Really?

If everyone is talking about how YOUNG this team is, and giving them a pass, I want to know why. Look at Kentucky. All freshman and sophomores, and their record is, what 30-2? Let's say what it was. A team that 1. underachieved, 2. had no leader, 3. had it's annual Calhoun absence. As much as we all love Coach Calhoun, can we continue to have his annual several game absence in the middle of the season? Yeah, I know he came back last year, and they won it all, but a lot of that had to do with Kemba Walker carrying the team. There is one glaring problem this team had, this year. NO LEADERSHIP. That is going to be the first and foremost thing the 2012-13 team is going to have to work on. Someone is going to have to be that LEADER, and unless someone steps up. 12-13 is not going to be that much more rewarding than 11-12 was.

All 5 stars or higher. Also their sole upperclassman actually plays well.

 

[caw]

This team will not miss Drummond. The qualities this team was lacking will not be provided by an off-season of improvement by him. You can tell when a freshman has toughness and the will to dominate. Jeff Adrien is a great example of that. Drummond hasn't shown that he has it between the ears to be the dominant post presence we've been lacking the last 3 years.

I think it's a big "if" to say we'll be better if Lamb commits to playing better defense and being more engaged. The tone for his season was set last spring when he got all this hype and toyed with declaring for the draft. Those scouts inflated his ego beyond belief, and he played this season as if he was just waiting for this year's draft.

Unfortunately, I think Tyler's ceiling is just too low for him to be a big contributor against major-conference competition. His movements are stiff and slow.

Boat and Bazz will be a great backcourt duo next year. Roscoe will be a solid "glue guy" at the 4. Hopefully Daniels will make a quantum leap in the offseason and be a reliable contributor at the 3. Giffey will continue to be a nice bench player.

Calhoun will be back. And he'll have a lot more fun with the toughness of Boat and Bazz at the helm. Hopefully Oriakhi gets the message and comes back showing greater toughness himself. I'm skeptical, but it's what we need to be a true UConn team next year.

To be fair to Olander he doubled his minutes and saw statistical increases greater than double last years output. He could be a decent player by the time he is a senior. He is one player that should get better with age (moreso than some of the others). He'll never be a star but he should be able to hit open jumpers and perhaps even extend his range to 3 point range and be like Kelley at Duke.

 

[tzznandrew]

To be fair to Olander he doubled his minutes and saw statistical increases greater than double last years output. He could be a decent player by the time he is a senior. He is one player that should get better with age (moreso than some of the others). He'll never be a star but he should be able to hit open jumpers and perhaps even extend his range to 3 point range and be like Kelley at Duke.

I like Olander. Just not a sophomore Olander on this team. He has nice touch but not enough confidence, he get's better position than the other bigs, but doesn't have the strength yet, he hustles on defense, but doesn't have the lateral quickness.

 

[caw]

I like Olander. Just not a sophomore Olander on this team. He has nice touch but not enough confidence, he get's better position than the other bigs, but doesn't have the strength yet, he hustles on defense, but doesn't have the lateral quickness.

He has numerous things he needs to work on, but I can't fault him for being a sophomore (and a young one at that, remember he also reclassified to join UConn early). I think he will be a very useful player when he is a senior, same with Giffey. They are the type of hustle/fundamentally sound players you need to surround your stars with, or at least I think they will be those players in a year or two.

 

[tzznandrew]

He has numerous things he needs to work on, but I can't fault him for being a sophomore (and a young one at that, remember he also reclassified to join UConn early). I think he will be a very useful player when he is a senior, same with Giffey. They are the type of hustle/fundamentally sound players you need to surround your stars with, or at least I think they will be those players in a year or two.

Agreed--which is what I hope I conveyed in my post.

As to Giffey--much better after Calhoun returned. We hadn't seen that Giffey pretty much the whole season (despite more calls for him to play). From Pitt on, Giffey provided almost exactly what I wanted from the bench. Solid D, good decision making, nice touch from the foul line, and good shooting. If he came in when we were tied or had a lead, we would hold it. If we were down, say, 22, we would shave a couple points off.