Yes, and it really helps us be flexible on D. Clingan is in drop. Sanogo sometimes is, sometimes hard hedges, but the latter is much less high risk if Johnson is back there helping on the rim. We can really mix and match, playing super fast athletic teams, or super good shooting teams.
Great point. One of the starkest differences between this staff and the last was how strategically they recruit roster needs and plan for the future roster scenarios.
In truth, the portal availability is a game changer in terms of roster management.
our PG was our leading scorer and had 7 assists.
Thanks, this is what I was looking for a few weeks ago and what I had referenced in a recent post.For those noticing he's a bit calmer on the sidelines, that was the plan all along.
From November 2018:
UConn Men’s Basketball: Dan Hurley is a "Maniacal Sideline Stalker"
The Huskies’ head coach previews Syracuse ahead of Thursday’s battle at MSG.www.theuconnblog.com
UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley doesn’t hide his emotions very well on the sideline. If he’s angry, he’ll stomp his feet like a kid having a tantrum or yell so loud the entire arena can hear. When he’s excited, Hurley will hype up the crowd or go into the stands to help a player up. For him, it’s all part of the team-building process.
“A lot of opposing arenas are going to get some show this year,” Hurley joked. “When you’re first starting out and trying to build something, a mindset, a toughness and mentality, that’s how you have to coach your first year or two when you’re not quite as well-rounded in terms of having everything you need as a team. I’m going to have to will these guys through games, I’m going to have to coach every possession like it’s the end of the world.”
Once Hurley can get the players he needs and have them play the way he wants to, he’ll tone down the sideline antics a bit. But they won’t go away completely.
“Once we become a more well-rounded team with an overall better everything, you’re not going to see that maniacal, sideline stalker,” he said. “You’ll see it at times when we need it but you won’t see it possession in, possession out.”
I wasn’t initially a fan of the transfer portal but changed my mind for good last night seeing the immense contributions transfers had for both teams. We have four really capable transfers in our backcourt and from a depth and experience perspective, look similar to teams of yesteryear when players stayed 3-4 years. It’s impacting the quality of ball significantly for staffs using the portal adeptly.
This is really it. Our margin for error was so slim last couple years, everything was magnified, from poor use of timeouts to ineffective plays coming out of the huddle. Talent and depth clear a lot of that up. We've seen some great OOB plays this year. Are the plays different, or are the players executing them better? Takes a long time to turn over an entire roster. He's getting his guys now and the results are coming.
Think people forget that Hurley said at the end of the pre-season that Hawkins and Johnson were the best players in practice at the start of the season…if Johnson can start playing like that, I agree….wow!
Right. We got a 6'5" point gaurd with experience that does a little bit of everything. Then you have a guy that is super tough on the ball to give him a rest in Diarra, you got Andre whenever needed, or Allene who has shown some real promise. I dont know why everyone is so concerned with the point gaurd role. I think we are in pretty good shape. As much as I liked RJ Cole, I think we are in a better position this year at the point.
I have to admit, I had some doubts in year one, which was the “Stoned Lemur Phase. “
