2026 Recruiting: Dylan Mingo Official Visit this weekend!

[HW611]

Not sure Austrie was much better than Gaffney off the bat.

I was a big fan of freshman year Gaffney so no push back from me.

Craig Austrie is a poor example. Yes, he didn’t have elite-level athleticism or physical skills, and wasn’t flashy at all, but you make it sound like JC turned Austrie from scrub into “viable PG”. In reality, the kid was a fairly polished PG from the moment he arrived in Storrs. He started the first two dozen games his freshman year and set the freshman single-game assist record (14) early that season. Anyone who watched this kid in the FCIAC at Trinity (Stamford) Catholic knew that he was a solid PG and a winner: 103-6 record his four years there, three FCIAC titles, two CIAC state titles and two-time CIAC runner-up. Gatorade CT POY. You make it sound like Calhoun turned a Rob Garrison-level player into a serviceable PG. Austrie deserves a lot more respect.

I like Austrie a lot. Unfortunately he’s the lowest on the totem poll because Calhoun was so legendary when it came to making a great PG.

And it’s crazy he can trust him the way he did but we couldn’t trust Nowell, a top 30 recruit under any circumstance.

 

[Son of Robert]

Speaking of recent point guards.

My take on Ahmad Nowell is that early in the season he was IN IT, very limited minutes, but he made some nice plays, some sharp passes, seemed to handle the ball well, took a few shots, played aggressive D, and the potential for more minutes was a very possible thing. Then he got hurt, some arm strain, some injury that kept him out of practice, out of games, then he came back even more limited on minutes and opportunity, and I swear, his body language changed, he did not seem to have that same fire to his game that I saw earlier in the season. Hate to put this on anyone, just my opinion, and I never say stuff like this, but I think he checked out somewhat when the playing time door closed. He may play very well at VCU, a fresh start, new season, 2nd year baller.

 

[Inyatkin]

I was a big fan of freshman year Gaffney so no push back from me.

I like Austrie a lot. Unfortunately he’s the lowest on the totem poll because Calhoun was so legendary when it came to making a great PG.

And it’s crazy he can trust him the way he did but we couldn’t trust Nowell, a top 30 recruit under any circumstance.

Some of us remember that 2005-06 season. We "trusted" Craig Austrie because our other two point guards were suspended.

 

[boog204]

I was a big fan of freshman year Gaffney so no push back from me.

I like Austrie a lot. Unfortunately he’s the lowest on the totem poll because Calhoun was so legendary when it came to making a great PG.

And it’s crazy he can trust him the way he did but we couldn’t trust Nowell, a top 30 recruit under any circumstance.

The only reason Austrie played was because Marcus and AJ were suspended. Let's not make it seem like Austrie was expected to be a major contributor from day one.

 

[Mr. French]

Some of us remember that 2005-06 season. We "trusted" Craig Austrie because our other two point guards were suspended.

The only reason Austrie played was because Marcus and AJ were suspended. Let's not make it seem like Austrie was expected to be a major contributor from day one.

Was hoping someone made this point.

I’m exhausted with his takes. I swear, he wasn’t this ridiculous last year. The new username has really emboldened him.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Was hoping someone made this point.

I’m exhausted with his takes. I swear, he wasn’t this ridiculous last year. The new username has really emboldened him.

He was-The Ross takes were just as ridiculous

 

[HW611]

Some of us remember that 2005-06 season. We "trusted" Craig Austrie because our other two point guards were suspended.

We were putting Liam at point at times last year when Diarra was hurt. Diarra had to play 30 minutes on a bum knee for the whole back half of the season because we refused to trust Nowell.

 

[TheHorde]

We were putting Liam at point at times last year when Diarra was hurt. Diarra had to play 30 minutes on a bum knee for the whole back half of the season because we refused to trust Nowell.

The bigger issue is that the staff thought Mahaney could provide valuable minutes at point guard. As we saw, he was more suited to playing 2 guard than the point. It was a roster construction issue. The staff learned from it and appeared to make significant efforts to shore up the point guard spot and ball handling going into this coming season.

 

[Son of Robert]

The only reason Austrie played was because Marcus and AJ were suspended. Let's not make it seem like Austrie was expected to be a major contributor from day one.

If I remember right Austrie was the Gatorade Player of the year in CT his senior year of high school.

 

[Inyatkin]

We were putting Liam at point at times last year when Diarra was hurt. Diarra had to play 30 minutes on a bum knee for the whole back half of the season because we refused to trust Nowell.

Players earn trust. You don't just give it to them. So much happens in practice that we don't see. And despite your convictions, you don't know everything.

 

[navery12]

We were putting Liam at point at times last year when Diarra was hurt. Diarra had to play 30 minutes on a bum knee for the whole back half of the season because we refused to trust Nowell.

Which should tell you everything you need to know. You saw him in those few games, he was awful

 

[HW611]

Which should tell you everything you need to know. You saw him in those few games, he was awful

Just goes back to my original point. How come Calhoun can make Austrie, an outside the top 100 player, comfortable enough to be a viable point guard from Day 1 but we can’t make even a top 30 recruit comfortable enough to play well.

That’s coaching.

 

[jleves]

Locking this one up - start a new thread when there is any news on Mingo.