Do you think Napier and Boatright will stay next year?

[hasheemthedream]

Oh stop! On a more typical UConn team, Wolf would barely see the floor. he is playing this year because we have nobody else in the front court. He gets out muscled by 6-6 "bigs" form mid-major programs. Well maybe he makes all-big east if the Catholic schools leave, Tulane arrives and we decide to add East Carolina as a full member...

I will be surprised if Wolf makes it through the Big East season without getting hurt. Some of the other big guys in the league are going to put a hurting on him for sure.

 

[Husky25]

If they do, I think we have a tournament team, especially with Facey. My gut says one of them won't be back next year.

I am 85% sure they are both returning. Otherwise they would have left prior to this year.

 

[Husky25]

If neither can develop a deadly midrange/3pt game they probably won't do much in the NBA. They're both smaller than Kemba and can't shoot the way he does. They could develop that midrange game eventually but they aren't there yet. Boatright is basically a smaller Kemba with a worse jump shot. And Bazz is smaller than Kemba, a worse athlete and can't shoot like he does. So I don't think they are NBA ready. Maybe next year they will both have refined jump shots and be able to get drafted but they just aren't there yet IMO.

Agree with the overall sentiment that Boat is closer. His athleticism is outstanding. If his shot really comes together for the rest of the year he could go.

The college 3 pointer is an NBA midrange. They need to make the college 3s with more consistency. They are probably both back for the 2013-14 season in order to make a tourney run...

 

[aceboon]

Not sure where the Bazz is smaller than Kemba stuff is coming from, he's definitely not smaller from a height or weight perspective. Bazz is also probably a bit thicker as well but Kemba has him in strength.

 

[freescooter]

I actually think we'd be fine if one left. I doubt that either one would be that attractive to an NBA team, for all the reasons discussed, but that doesn't mean one won't go. In this day of handlers and advisors and so on, guys make dumb moves all the time. But from a UConn perspective, I'm not sure it would be a disaster if either one, though not both, left after this year. Play Calhoun at the 2, who stays between Napier/Boatright at the point, assuming the Samuel kid they are bringing in is at least ok, he can spell Bazz/Boat here and there. Of ocurse it won't matter if we don't get some pretty good help in the front court. But losing 1 of Napier or Boatright wouldn't necessarily be disasterous for UConn.

 

[mauconnfan]

I actually think we'd be fine if one left. I doubt that either one would be that attractive to an NBA team, for all the reasons discussed, but that doesn't mean one won't go. In this day of handlers and advisors and so on, guys make dumb moves all the time. But from a UConn perspective, I'm not sure it would be a disaster if either one, though not both, left after this year. Play Calhoun at the 2, who stays between Napier/Boatright at the point, assuming the Samuel kid they are bringing in is at least ok, he can spell Bazz/Boat here and there. Of ocurse it won't matter if we don't get some pretty good help in the front court. But losing 1 of Napier or Boatright wouldn't necessarily be disasterous for UConn.

Omar at the 2 does not bring to the table what these 2 small guards bring.......Omar at the 2 means we get pressed end-to-end, have you seen him handle and pass this year? While I think he'll improve I doubt we'll see much of him at 2 w/o an unbelievable improvement by next fall.........they need to stay or we need help for whoever stays and Samuel coming in......

I do agree though kids get bad information from their "peeps" now I just hope these guys listen to Coach Ollie and the staff (and of course JC!!)

 

[freescooter]

Omar at the 2 does not bring to the table what these 2 small guards bring.......Omar at the 2 means we get pressed end-to-end, have you seen him handle and pass this year? While I think he'll improve I doubt we'll see much of him at 2 w/o an unbelievable improvement by next fall.........they need to stay or we need help for whoever stays and Samuel coming in......

I do agree though kids get bad information from their "peeps" now I just hope these guys listen to Coach Ollie and the staff (and of course JC!!)

I guess I think he'll improve some and he could bring some things these guys don't, notably size and a more consistent shot, at least potentially. I don't worry about getting pressed end to end, mainly because very few teams play that style any more and are unlikely to put it in for one game.

 

[aceboon]

it doesn't even have to be a pressing D, it's about being able to break a trap in the halfcourt, or take a couple of dribbles with the ball and make the right play, whether that be for yourself or creating an opportunity for a teammate, something Omar hasn't shown against legit competition. I have no doubt he'll improve, but Boat and Bazz can do that right now and we'll be even better another year from now. I like Samuel for the future, but he's not someone that can step in and adequately fill either Boat or Bazz's shoes next year , and with team likely to deal with frontcourt issues again next year they'll still have to heavily rely on their backcourt. Not even sure how its arguable that the team still desparately needs the both of them, but when you argue for contrarian's sake I guess you can take that stance.

 

[freescooter]

it doesn't even have to be a pressing D, it's about being able to break a trap in the halfcourt, or take a couple of dribbles with the ball and make the right play, whether that be for yourself or creating an opportunity for a teammate, something Omar hasn't shown against legit competition. I have no doubt he'll improve, but Boat and Bazz can do that right now and we'll be even better another year from now. I like Samuel for the future, but he's not someone that can step in and adequately fill either Boat or Bazz's shoes next year , and with team likely to deal with frontcourt issues again next year they'll still have to heavily rely on their backcourt. Not even sure how its arguable that the team still desparately needs the both of them, but when you argue for contrarian's sake I guess you can take that stance.

Ok, I can see that argument. But I think we can be fine with one of them. In a lot of ways they are very similar players, I think. They are both inconsistent outside shooters, I think Calhoun will be better, and they are both on the small side. To a degree they rely on speed and quickness to make up for the lack of height and strength. I think Calhoun will give you more size and strength which along with better shooting will tend to balance the loss. I'm not saying I hope one leaves or even that we won't be better if they both stay. I just we could survive the loss of one of those two with what we have and what we're bringing in the back court. Again, assuming Samuel is up to playing some at this level. If for some reason both left, we'd be screwed.

 

[aceboon]

How is Omar a better shooter though? He hasn't shot well against real teams. I don't expect Boat to keep up the pace he's been on the past couple of games, but he's showing that he's a better shooter than what he's been putting up in the beginning of the year, and he showed that last year also. Bazz has shot pretty well from long range as well, and was shooting well before he injured his foot early in the BE season last year. Even if we were to get someone like Kendall Smith I would still be worried if we lost either Bazz or Boat. I like both Samuel and Smith(if we were to get him), but the team would be much better suited with them getting 10 minutes or so a game and learning instead of being forced into action. This team is still going to have rely heavily on its guards/wings next year, and Bazz and Boat provide too much offensively for me to see someone like Niels or DeAndre making up for that in case one of them departs.

Ok, I can see that argument. But I think we can be fine with one of them. In a lot of ways they are very similar players, I think. They are both inconsistent outside shooters, I think Calhoun will be better, and they are both on the small side. To a degree they rely on speed and quickness to make up for the lack of height and strength. I think Calhoun will give you more size and strength which along with better shooting will tend to balance the loss. I'm not saying I hope one leaves or even that we won't be better if they both stay. I just we could survive the loss of one of those two with what we have and what we're bringing in the back court. Again, assuming Samuel is up to playing some at this level. If for some reason both left, we'd be screwed.

 

[mcs333]

Boat is a much better shooter than walker at this point in his career in all areas,FG, 3pt, ft and scoring. Both Bazz and Boat stats are even better than walker's junior year with the exception of scoring ave.

 

[Tenspro2002]

As much as I'd love for this to be true, since when did Facey all of a sudden become this electrifying big man who is going to make us a title contender?

Yeah, I made that point about 3 pages ago. I don't expect Facey to give us more more than, say, a Hilton Armstrong, Marcus White, or Alex Oriakhi gave us as freshmen.

 

[freescooter]

Yeah, I made that point about 3 pages ago. I don't expect Facey to give us more more than, say, a Hilton Armstrong, Marcus White, or Alex Oriakhi gave us as freshmen.

My view as well. And seems to be the consensus among the recruiting sites I've seen. Not that they specifically compare him to those guys, of course but that is the impression I get.

 

[freescooter]

Boat is a much better shooter than walker at this point in his career in all areas,FG, 3pt, ft and scoring. Both Bazz and Boat stats are even better than walker's junior year with the exception of scoring ave.

Neither is as good an all around player. They just are not. And Walker had other guys who could produce, Lamb for one, so he didn't have to score as much. He could when he needed to, though. That is for sure.

 

[CTBasketball]

My view as well. And seems to be the consensus among the recruiting sites I've seen. Not that they specifically compare him to those guys, of course but that is the impression I get.

But I agree with you. Unless Facey becomes a rabid animal on the boards, I see him averaging somewhere around 6 and 6.

 

[huskyharry]

Very difficult to predict how individual players will perform 10 to 16 months from now. What UConn will need is two or more bigs to really step up their games and solid contributions from at least two others. We may or may not get any new 2013 recruits but the cupboard of potential contributors is far from bare:

EW...if he can consistently play like he did in his two excellent games this year, he will be one of the two.

TO...if he regains confidence and plays like he did early last year when he sent the big Mumu to the bench, he will be one of the two.

If Phil Nolan works hard/gains basketball game experience to build on his natural athleticism and soft shooting touch, he could be one of the two.

If Leon T works hard/gains basketball game experience to build on shooting range and strength, he could be one of the two.

If Facey lives up to his reputation for playing hard all the time, having natural timing for shot blocking and excellent athleticism, he could be one of the two.

So, we have potential here...we don't need any one person to be a superstar, we just need two out of these five to step it up and two others improve incrementally so that they can contribute.

 

[mcs333]

Neither is as good an all around player. They just are not. And Walker had other guys who could produce, Lamb for one, so he didn't have to score as much. He could when he needed to, though. That is for sure.

I believe Boat is as good as Walker was as a soph. His stats are much better than Walkers second year. As far as Walker's junior year he was something special. No one could predict anyone matching Walkers junior year when he carried the team and scored almost 1000 points. Just comparing soph. To soph. year and Boat fairs very favorable.