Do you remember this UConn team?

[MDHusky]

This team came into their season following a UConn team that went 32-3.

Here's what this UConn team did the year after 32-3:

Blind resume: 7-11 conference, regular season 14-14, PPG=65.8, Postseason: NIT Final Four, 18-15 final record.

Top Players: Rip, Rash, Rickey, Freeman, Voskuhl, Kirk King
Other Notables: Antric Klaiber, Inyatkin, Monquencio Hardnett, Sam Funches, Dion Carson

This is the 1996-1997 Huskies, a team that had lost to graduation/NBA: Ray Allen, Doron Sheffer, Travis Knight, and Rudy Johnson. The 96/97 team did have a Freshman Phenom in Rip Hamilton, Kirk King, Kevin Freeman, and a young Rickey Moore. What they didn't have was an experienced backcourt, good shooting - 41%, and scored only 65.8ppg. It was a tough year and there were a lot of haters on the Huskies fan forum (kind of like this year).

The team added El-Amin, Albert Mouring, and Edmund Saunders over the next 2 seasons to eventually become an experienced team that wins NC #1.

The 2014/2015 team could easily be on the same path as the 96/97 team! We've got our Freshman Phenom Hamilton, a defensive beast in the middle, Purvis (who will someday be loved by Boneyarders), a solid bench, some incoming recruits next year in Adams, Enoch, along with the 2016 class.

UConn teams have typically been built on a great backcourt (2 top point guard), a knock down shooter, and a team defense that keeps the scoring down. Looking at the statistics over the past 20 years, the team's best years (not necessarily ending with a NC) have occurred when team scoring is at 77 ppg or higher. The team scoring for the last two NC teams was only 72 ppg.

So, I see good things for the Huskies and improved play because that's what has happened in the past. I believe Ollie will get the right mix of players and it will come together over the next couple of seasons. Keep an eye on the team scoring, it will need to improve by 7-10 points per game.

In the meantime, let's just support the team and see if they can finish strong, and get the foundation in place for another Championship banner!

 

[BUConn10]

Looking at the statistics over the past 20 years, the team's best years (not necessarily ending with a NC) have occurred when team scoring is at 77 ppg or higher. The team scoring for the last two NC teams was only 72 ppg.

The current trend of college basketball has lead to major decreases in team scoring. Teams rarely average 70+ppg in todays game.

UConn teams have typically been built on a great backcourt (2 top point guard), a knock down shooter, and a team defense that keeps the scoring down.

Thats why people are worried about the teams future next year and the year after. We do not have these pieces which have historically brought us success, and we are not bringing in pieces that would help alleviate this next year outside of Adams (which is a toss up because we are losing a stellar Boatright, which cancels out his gain in a way).

 

[boog204]

The nucleus of the 96-97 team was a top 20 frosh in rip, 2 top 50 sophs in Ricky and Rash, a top 50 frosh in KFree, and an underrated dirty work C in a frosh Jake. For good measure it also had a top 75 ish player in Antric. We then added a top 20 player in KEA and two top 50s in Mouring and Edmund. That adds up to 9 4* or better players; the talent level to what we will have next year is not even comparable in my opinion.

In addition, the 96-97 team obviously building. We played hard and even though we lost 15 games, very rarely did we quit and w/ the addition of Khalid all of the pieces were in place to be a championship contender. Do you envision us in that position next year?