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Rosters have a way of working themselves out.
"I just was telling myself everything happens for a reason," Johnson said. "I'm still going hard in practice, doing everything I can to make something happen. Anything can happen at any given time. You just have to be ready for it, ready for the call. I'm just happy to see my teammates step up and having fun and the team's success."I really hope Samson does come back. I don’t know much about him but I did wonder how he must have felt this season.
How did that team do in 2022?We started Jackson, Whaley and Sanogo for most of 2022. Castle, Newton and Karaban can all stroke it.
Thanks! I haven’t heard much from him but from what I can tell he seems like he’s a great kid. I don’t know that too many recruits, or myself for that matter would have looked at it in such a mature way."I just was telling myself everything happens for a reason," Johnson said. "I'm still going hard in practice, doing everything I can to make something happen. Anything can happen at any given time. You just have to be ready for it, ready for the call. I'm just happy to see my teammates step up and having fun and the team's success."
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Journal Inquirer
The latest news from Manchester, Connecticut, as well as coverage of Enfield, Vernon, South Windsor, East Hartford and beyond.www.journalinquirer.com
Even this old man figured that outEveryone involved knew what was going on.
Andre has said he’s staying 2 more years before the tournament started or right around thenNo mention of Jackson? I think he's coming back.
For the last time Castle the burger boy is not coming off the bench. He is just too talented not too start. Newton's shot looked money at times and I'm sure Jackson's shot will get better. If we need a shooter off the bench then Alleyne or a transfer SG will play more.Castle is too redundant with Newton and Jackson. We need a spacer for those 2 and Don down low. Alleyne is a very good connective piece that can shoot(in theory), and 20x the defender Timberlake is. I’ll accept Timberlake starting over Alleyne, but Castle makes way more sense coming off the bench.
This is something that I haven't seen mentioned enough. Obviously there is an element of bad luck involved with injuries, but our strength coach Gavin Roberts and all the rest of the training staff did an unbelievable job of keeping our guys healthy and well prepared physically throughout the season. Huge shout out to them.We were lucky this year injury wise. It would be good to have extra insurance.
So true. I was thinking about this during the “lucky” thread during the tourney.We were lucky this year injury wise. It would be good to have extra insurance.
Great article, thanks![]()
CTInsider article: Newtons decision coming soon
UConn men's basketball already eying a national championship repeat: 'The mix for six' Newton is deciding in the next 2 days, per himself. Adama in the next couple weeks. Roumoglou, Hasson, Diarra uncertain.the-boneyard.com
Nahiem has a reason to come back besides basketball.
Today is Nika’s birthday
Agreed. He needs to develop his shot.No mention of Jackson? I think he's coming back.
He had to step into a very difficult role this year, and had his ups and downs during the season but really kinda figured it out 2nd half of BigEast play.I think Tristen can surprise a lot of people and be MUCH better next season
Granted. Castle is very talented. But it may take him some time to adjust to college BB. As most of you are aware, that is not always a seamless transition.For the last time Castle the burger boy is not coming off the bench. He is just too talented not too start. Newton's shot looked money at times and I'm sure Jackson's shot will get better. If we need a shooter off the bench then Alleyne or a transfer SG will play more.
We were already 4th in the country in assists per game as a team this year. Imagine what that would look like with another year of Andre and Newton improving combined with Castle coming in. Ball movement would be spectacularThe idea that we will have 3 very high level 6'5-6'7 guys who can create would be an absolute matchup nightmare for any team in the country
Tristen had to step into a very difficult role this year, and had his ups and downs during the season but really kinda figured it out 2nd half of BigEast play.
He will be a great beneficiary of Castle because he can move off the ball and be a true combo which is really his role and not be pestered having to bring the ball up for 40 minutes. With AJ & Castle running point Tristen becomes a pretty crazy complementary piece.
I doubt anyone disagrees with that, but it is irrelevant for the point at hand. He is going to start no matter what.Granted. Castle is very talented. But it may take him some time to adjust to college BB. As most of you are aware, that is not always a seamless transition.
You very well may be right, and as far as I'm concerned if Castle comes in and is the best player in the damn country that will be great. But Kemba didn't start as a freshman, Shabazz didn't start as a freshman, Kevin Ollie didn't start as a freshman, Marcus Williams didn't start as a freshman and AJ Price didn't start as a freshman. To be fair, Taliek Brown did and so did Khalid El-Amin.For the last time Castle the burger boy is not coming off the bench. He is just too talented not too start. Newton's shot looked money at times and I'm sure Jackson's shot will get better. If we need a shooter off the bench then Alleyne or a transfer SG will play more.
It's a different time. With the "one and done" nature of the game, top ten recruits expect to come in and start immediately to showcase themselves for the draft. Not saying that this is necessarily the case with Castle -- but the top freshmen in the country generally expect to start (and do start).You very well may be right, and as far as I'm concerned if Castle comes in and is the best player in the damn country that will be great. But Kemba didn't start as a freshman, Shabazz didn't start as a freshman, Kevin Ollie didn't start as a freshman, Marcus Price didn't start as a freshman and AJ Price didn't start as a freshman. To be fair, Taliek Brown did and so did Khalid El-Amin.
So I must ask -- if two point guards who were national player of the year candidates by their junior years didn't start as freshmen, and both were more "natural" point guards than Castle is, how in the world can you be so sure that Castle is ready to start from day one? Because if there is any more to your theory than just continuing to declare it, I and others would be glad to hear it.
Because we live in a different times were McDonald All-Americans pretty much start from the get go. Shabazz wasn't a top 10 recruit and burger boy and Kemba was behind AJ Price when he was playing as a Freshman and was small. Newton isn't really an ideal PG and I think Hurley would have no issue playing him off the ball. There are no guarantees in life but with the College game is nowadays these type of players start especially in an area of need. Right now there is no great shooter to pair with him but Newton would give UCONN the 2 PG look and the ability to knock down the long 3 playing off the ball will make it easier. I have seen Newton play and he is more athletic and even bigger than Newton. He just has to work on his outside shot to become truly elite. He is coming in as a 1 and done type player due to his size and playmaking ability. I hope that he isn't a one and done and he will play 2 years but either way college basketball is different from even when Shabazz was around. He will start the year at PG and unless he really struggles will stay there. The game is evolving especially with the transfer portal around. There is more pressure on coaches to give their recruit chances especially when they come in as Burger Boys.You very well may be right, and as far as I'm concerned if Castle comes in and is the best player in the damn country that will be great. But Kemba didn't start as a freshman, Shabazz didn't start as a freshman, Kevin Ollie didn't start as a freshman, Marcus Price didn't start as a freshman and AJ Price didn't start as a freshman. To be fair, Taliek Brown did and so did Khalid El-Amin.
So I must ask -- if two point guards who were national player of the year candidates by their junior years didn't start as freshmen, and both were more "natural" point guards than Castle is, how in the world can you be so sure that Castle is ready to start from day one? Because if there is any more to your theory than just continuing to declare it, I and others would be glad to hear it.
Is Castle going to get a chance to start? Of course he is. But anyone who thinks that Danny Hurley isn't going to start the guys who give him the best chance to repeat, as opposed to doing what Calipari does and picking lineups not to win but to help him recruit in the future, doesn't know Danny Hurley.Because we live in a different times were McDonald All-Americans pretty much start from the get go. Shabazz wasn't a top 10 recruit and burger boy and Kemba was behind AJ Price when he was playing as a Freshman and was small. Newton isn't really an ideal PG and I think Hurley would have no issue playing him off the ball. There are no guarantees in life but with the College game is nowadays these type of players start especially in an area of need. Right now there is no great shooter to pair with him but Newton would give UCONN the 2 PG look and the ability to knock down the long 3 playing off the ball will make it easier. I have seen Newton play and he is more athletic and even bigger than Newton. He just has to work on his outside shot to become truly elite. He is coming in as a 1 and done type player due to his size and playmaking ability. I hope that he isn't a one and done and he will play 2 years but either way college basketball is different from even when Shabazz was around. He will start the year at PG and unless he really struggles will stay there. The game is evolving especially with the transfer portal around. There is more pressure on coaches to give their recruit chances especially when they come in as Burger Boys.
So I must ask -- if two point guards who were national player of the year candidates by their junior years didn't start as freshmen
Would we be able to get a shot off with so much movement? LolWe were already 4th in the country in assists per game as a team this year. Imagine what that would look like with another year of Andre and Newton improving combined with Castle coming in. Ball movement would be spectacular
I'm saying a lineup of Castle, Newton, Jackson, Karaban and Clingan is a much better shooting lineup than what we ran out there in 2022.How did that team do in 2022?