Drummond decision expected today

[DogMania]

A brief, unremarkable career. While I don't expect most freshmen to live up to the hype, I have to rank Drummond as one of the biggest disappointments we've had when you consider that he was ranked as the #2 prospect in the country. It also reflect the problems with the NBA...he's a guy who is no more ready to play at that level than I am...yet somebody will spend mega bugs to pick him in the top 5 or so...just insane.

Other than his FT shooting going from real bad to terrible, he pretty much did what I expected. Freshman bigs just about always develop slowly and tend to yield inconsistent results, which is what we saw from AD. One day he'd score 18, the next 2. I guess I also expected him to rebound better.

To claim he was the most disappointing Husky doesn't seem fair.

 

[Dann]

he stole my girlfriend at a party last week.

 

[8893]

It is too bad if he leaves imo, for him more so than the program. While his unique physical talents ensure that he will be a lottery pick on potential alone, he is not remotely close to being ready emotionally. I am convinced he would be staying but for the post-season ban. Although that has little to do with the continued development he would have next year, it will undoubtedly affect his exposure, as most of the storylines are written in March, and if the ban holds no one will be paying attention to us. I don't blame him and those who are advising him for factoring that in, but I really do think this increases significantly the odds that he will fail to have a notable NBA career.

 

[willie99]

Prepare Boneyard

If he stays, "He is a great, loyal kid. Can't wait to see his skills develop!"

If he goes to the NBA, "What a terrible mistake! Most disappointing Husky ever! He will fail in the NBA! What is he thinking?! Andre you suck!"

none of the above

if he goes, I wish him all the best. But his decision will reaffirm my position that I simply don't want one and done players

(even if Jimmy does )

 

[hungry husky]

I was just kidding! I want ALL huskies to be my bff!

LOL I didn't say that I disagreed with your post even if you were joking

I'm just not typing what I really think.

 

[caw]

Anyone who doesn't think Drummond had a disappointing freshmen season is drinking the Kool aid or smoking some powerful stuff. As others have posted before, despite those highlight videos that never lie....he showed a complete lack of offensive skills other than lob or putbacks dunks, and who was expecting 25% foul shooting? I was prepared for 50% but not 25%. Add into that the way Anthony Davis, the #1 recruit, and the bench mark for #2 recruit Drummond dominated, and the poor team results when most thought he was the missing piece we needed for a deep tourney run, how could his season not be considered disappointing. He may jump at the money but he's really not ready.

AD #1 14/10/4.8


Anthony Davis was very good, but he didn't even put up Greg Oden or Durant numbers. Read my other post, there aren't as many top 5 players that dominate as freshman as you would like to think.

I swear some people live in a UConn bubble.

Personally, after watching Davis play, there were a few things that stood out compared to Drummond.

• First, he is a much more active rebounder. He knows how to move when the shot is taken.
• Second, UK did a great job of driving and dishing to him for easy dunks. It was astounding how poor UConn was at that this year. I don't know if the guards weren't athletic enough or the screening was poor.
• Third, Davis really played a one man zone in the middle, similar to Thabeet. UConn, seemed to play Drummond against the 4 more often than not (to be able to put Oriakhi on the floor). That was a flawed plan to try and satisfy a disgruntled (but talented) junior, who had helped lead UConn to a NC. I can respect that notion but Drummond should have been used differently.

A lot of UConn's game plan took Drummond away from the rim on defense and they really didn't do a great job of finding him on offense on the drive and dish. Even so, his offensive numbers would be pretty close to Davis' if he was at say 70% from the line. That is a huge flaw that needs work.

 

[UChusky916]

More from Duffy:

Drummond 100 percent gone, source says. #UConn's frontcourt now extremely thin

https://twitter.com/#!/KevinRDuffy/status/190455092405735425


The irony... AO would have gotten exactly what he wanted if he stayed... he would have been the unquestioned man at the 5, playing easily 35+ mpg

 

[freescooter]

I think he demonstrates the real risk of taking a 1-and-done guy...they might work out, they might not, they can mess things up. Drummond was a good kid by all reports, not a problem by any means, but I don't think he added to the team this year in any significant way and his presence screwed up the rotations that had worked so well the year before. He was one of those guys who was too good not to play but not good enough to be a big difference maker.

By the way, I said he was disapoining relative to his pre-seasonhype, but the all time disappoinment award goes to Anjou Deng. Ator Majok is a distant 2nd.

 

[hungry husky]

Did he really make that much progress offensively from Game 1 to Game 34? Besides Hasheem the Dream, the coaching staff haven't really developed big men to a high level since Armstrong and Boone. Whether this is recruiting (no front court players yet this year for obvious reasons) or poor coaching, it is a little disconcerting that the coaching staff can't develop these guys at the same level offensively as they are defensively.

 

[hungry husky]

More from Duffy:

Drummond 100 percent gone, source says. #UConn's frontcourt now extremely thin

https://twitter.com/#!/KevinRDuffy/status/190455092405735425


The irony... AO would have gotten exactly what he wanted if he stayed... he would have been the unquestioned man at the 5, playing easily 35+ mpg

Not with his fouling tendencies. He was a sad excuse for a captain.

 

[Ricky1Moore]

From all frontcourt and no guards to too many guards and no frontcourt... It's like words with friends when you have all vowels, and then you have none...

 

[bobbygt]

LOL I didn't say that I disagreed with your post even if you were joking

I'm just not typing what I really think.

When I'm pissed (assuming Drummond leaves) my sense of humor gets all warped.

 

[upstater]

Did he really make that much progress offensively from Game 1 to Game 34? Besides Hasheem the Dream, the coaching staff haven't really developed big men to a high level since Armstrong and Boone. Whether this is recruiting (no front court players yet this year for obvious reasons) or poor coaching, it is a little disconcerting that the coaching staff can't develop these guys at the same level offensively as they are defensively.

Huh? First off, Armstrong and Boone were 5 or 6 years ago. Not much time has passed. In the interim, we've seen players like Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet and Gavin Edwards develop. Even Oriakhi was better in his sophomore year than he was in his freshman year. Okwandu was worlds better as a senior than he was as a sophomore. Who didn't develop other than Oriakhi? Seems to me that, other than Alex, the only big men we've had since then (Adrien, Thabeet, Edwards, Okwandu) all developed.

 

[TheRogers]

It's official. Good luck Andre. Finish up in good academic standing please.

 

[Taco]

Really sad if he does leave - the thing is there was so much anticipation - probably dozens of threads going back to his early prep says. When he signed there was so much hope and anything short of another FF it was going to be a disappointment. Certainly frustrating and IMO not the right devision, but all of this back and forth is bit much to lay on a 18YO.

 

[hungry husky]

Huh? First off, Armstrong and Boone were 5 or 6 years ago. Not much time has passed. In the interim, we've seen players like Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet and Gavin Edwards develop. Even Oriakhi was better in his sophomore year than he was in his freshman year. Okwandu was worlds better as a senior than he was as a sophomore. Who didn't develop other than Oriakhi? Seems to me that, other than Alex, the only big men we've had since then (Adrien, Thabeet, Edwards, Okwandu) all developed.

I said developed to a high level. I forgot Adrien, but there's no way you can consider Oriakhi, Edwards, Okwandu, and co. one of the 3 best players on theirs teams (expect for AO sophomore year) and have legitimate NBA careers in store. I just think we can do better for an elite team.

 

[HooperScooper]

Duffy has an article up already on Drummond going pro.

UConn's Andre Drummond going pro

 

[HuskyBballFan]

I said developed to a high level. I forgot Adrien, but there's no way you can consider Oriakhi, Edwards, Okwandu, and co. one of the 3 best players on theirs teams (expect for AO sophomore year) and have legitimate NBA careers in store. I just think we can do better for an elite team.

Gavin Edwards would be an example of a big that DID develop well. He was not a high major recruit by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[JLock819]

Let me start by saying i'm as big a UConn homer as there is. I always see the bright side in every player, even our boy Dyson when this board was imploding. With that said, I cannot name a single memorable thing, other than his tweet committing to UConn, that AD accomplished during his one year here. Yes, it's a small sample size, but I can't think of one (I went to every home game BTW).

Other than Majok (who shouldn't have been as hyped as he was, clearly), I can't think of another more disappointing year from a Fr. or So. with the amount of hype that he came in with. He was rated #2 in his class, and if you're not expecting much from the #2 player then what do you expect from any freshman? A lot of the disappointment resulted from the overall poor performance of the team, as well as his inability to mess with a player at the 4. The mask also hurt him as well.

I don't think he is remotely ready for the NBA, and I wish we had him another year so we could watch him develop into a special player. He's clearly a great kid, with exceptional basketball skills. And I can't be more happy than to have had the chance to watch him for 1 year in a Husky uniform, I just hope he can succeed in taking the path that has shown over the years to be very difficult for raw big men.

Good luck AD!

 

[Dann]

AD is our 1st one and done hugh? Goodluck to the kid, I think in time he will develope into a good pro. At worst hes a ok center in the NBA with a Dan Hurley type ceiling. He will be fun to watch develope and he will make CT proud. Another name that will get big $$ eventually for UConn and JC's resume. Thank you AD for staying home instead of following the media whores by going to UK for a 1 and done year. We need more kids like you from CT and New England that grew up on UConn bball and value the program to the degree that you did. Its truly special that you valued what you did and made good on that dream of yours to play in the NBA one day. With some work on your shot form and some post moves you have unbelievable potential and I hope you become a great player!

Now that its gotten to this point its time for JC/KO and crew to show us what they got. The last 2 years were incredible and if you don't think so then your just a spoiled fan who doesn't understand whats going on and what happened with everything around this program. We have a great rotation of players for 12-12 at the guards and wing spots. With Evans coming in for 1 year the 1-3 spots are solid and with a mix of Scoe/TO i would say i'm happy or ok with the 4 spot if we dont get anyone else. Our challenge next year is at the 5. The ncaa ship and Evans ship will both open next year so that class will have atleast 2 kids. We have 2 open ships for this year also now with getting 2 back from the ncaa and ao/jl/ad going elsewhere. It time for the staff to work its magic once again. I have faith that we can get a kid or 2 here that will be a difference maker. I also think while slim we still have a shot at the postseason next year. I'm going to sit back and see what happens and you can say i'm way over the top but the sky isn't falling to me. I think this program is on the right track. The pf is being built, were getting ships back, a new ad and pres, the gov is in on the ncaa stuff and so on. Were not going to fall down with no pants on like Ind or UCLA did the past 10 years, we will be just FINE!

 

[Connrack]

It is too bad if he leaves imo, for him more so than the program. While his unique physical talents ensure that he will be a lottery pick on potential alone, he is not remotely close to being ready emotionally. I am convinced he would be staying but for the post-season ban. Although that has little to do with the continued development he would have next year, it will undoubtedly affect his exposure, as most of the storylines are written in March, and if the ban holds no one will be paying attention to us. I don't blame him and those who are advising him for factoring that in, but I really do think this increases significantly the odds that he will fail to have a notable NBA career.

In my opinion, this is more collateral damage from the APR debacle. If we had a scholarship to give, we probably could have enticed Kris Dunn to join the team. With Dunn as a member, the Dunn-Drummond friendship would have been a significant draw to keep Drummond at UConn. Is this the first time, we haven't offered a Mac All-American from Connecticut?

 

[Scot-e]

This thread proves once agin that many UCONN fans are spoiled whiney biatches.

When you recruit a "one and done" player- you are getting a "one and done player". That is it. He never said he was going to stay more then one year and he picked UCONN over every other school in the country.

It is not his fault we had a below average year nor is it his fault that he was not as ready to contribute as we had hoped. AB skipped college all together to play for the Lakers and this board said he would never make it in the NBA. AD is going to do great int he NBA and I am fine with him doing the right thing and looking out for his family. If it was me- I would go as well.

 

[8893]

In my opinion, this is more collateral damage from the APR debacle. If we had a scholarship to give, we probably could have enticed Kris Dunn to join the team. With Dunn as a member, the Dunn-Drummond friendship would have been a significant draw to keep Drummond at UConn. Is this the first time, we haven't offered a Mac All-American from Connecticut?

I agree that it is collateral damage from the APR, but not for that reason. We're all just reading the tea leaves here, but I don't think he needed the draw of a significant friendship to stay. I think he quite liked it here, but he (and especially the people influencing his decision) needed to believe there was an upside to him staying that was at least equal to, if not better than, the guarantee he is going to get by leaving now. If we were not banned from post-season play next year, I believe he could be sold on the prospect of making another run, as well as the exposure he would get in the process. It is a given (imo) that he would develop far better by staying another year irrespective of the ban, but in the end I'm guessing he came to believe that it was unwise to risk injury and lack of exposure, with so little upside beyond better development.

 

[Taco]

I hope if he does opt for the NBA that he mentions the post season ban as a deciding factor - would like that on the record as add'l damage the NCAA has inflicted. At some point you'd hope the powers that be would take serious notice of them basically picking the winners and losers.

 

[8893]

This thread proves once agin that many UCONN fans are spoiled whiney biatches.

When you recruit a "one and done" player- you are getting a "one and done player". That is it. He never said he was going to stay more then one year and he picked UCONN over every other school in the country.

It is not his fault we had a below average year nor is it his fault that he was not as ready to contribute as we had hoped. AB skipped college all together to play for the Lakers and this board said he would never make it in the NBA. AD is going to do great int he NBA and I am fine with him doing the right thing and looking out for his family. If it was me- I would go as well.

I don't necessarily disagree, but you do realize that Bynum is by far the exception, not the rule, right?

 

[Cheddie]

Gavin Edwards would be an example of a big that DID develop well. He was not a high major recruit by any stretch of the imagination.

Gavin was so raw that Calhoun said it was a mistake not to redshirt him as a freshman.

 

[upstater]

I said developed to a high level. I forgot Adrien, but there's no way you can consider Oriakhi, Edwards, Okwandu, and co. one of the 3 best players on theirs teams (expect for AO sophomore year) and have legitimate NBA careers in store. I just think we can do better for an elite team.

??? Do you know where these guys started from? Okwandu came out of the blue, Edwards didn't start for his high school team, and didn't even manage to land an offer from Sam Houston St. and the like. I don't know what Karl Hobbs saw in him, but whatever he saw, it showed that Hobbs could detect skills for big men. As for Oriakhi, he was the biggest force down low in the 2011 NCAA tournament.

 

[Wolferowski]

Gavin Edwards would be an example of a big that DID develop well. He was not a high major recruit by any stretch of the imagination.

Didn't Gavin hurt our APR? IMO Hilton is a better example.

 

[upstater]

Let me start by saying i'm as big a UConn homer as there is. I always see the bright side in every player, even our boy Dyson when this board was imploding. With that said, I cannot name a single memorable thing, other than his tweet committing to UConn, that AD accomplished during his one year here. Yes, it's a small sample size, but I can't think of one (I went to every home game BTW).

Other than Majok (who shouldn't have been as hyped as he was, clearly), I can't think of another more disappointing year from a Fr. or So. with the amount of hype that he came in with. He was rated #2 in his class, and if you're not expecting much from the #2 player then what do you expect from any freshman? A lot of the disappointment resulted from the overall poor performance of the team, as well as his inability to mess with a player at the 4. The mask also hurt him as well.

I don't think he is remotely ready for the NBA, and I wish we had him another year so we could watch him develop into a special player. He's clearly a great kid, with exceptional basketball skills. And I can't be more happy than to have had the chance to watch him for 1 year in a Husky uniform, I just hope he can succeed in taking the path that has shown over the years to be very difficult for raw big men.

Good luck AD!

I can think of a lot of memorable things he did.

Too many to list, numerous highlight moves, from is incredible spin move on the baseline for a jam, to numerous alley-oops, to jump shots raining down on West Virginia in his best performance of the year.

 

[Cassius Klaiber]

Farewell Andre. It would've been great to have one more year, but when the money calls I guess you have to listen. Can't blame him for that. Thanks for all the dunks that got everyone with a pulse out of their seats, the occasional made free throw that brought raucous applause, and that smile that you wore on the court. The team never got it all together this year, but it was clear that you love basketball, and that made me love watching you play. All the best in the NBA.