Emmitt Matthews Jr Commits to UConn

[mauconnfan]

Yup, if Larrier plays the 4 it's because our frontcourt isn't very good. Same with Matthews.

Partially right but not completely. I mean there may be times they will play "small" because they need to score the ball and maybe the new front court is a bit short on offensive ability right? Tough even for a great trio like AG, JA and TL to get open space with 2 guys who can't score the ball so only at times and certain match ups could we see maybe 3 guards and Terry with a Cobb or alike or even 2 guars, Polley and Terry with a 5.

But we do need to be able to put 2 big rebounding bodies out there most often to be really effective I agree.

 

[Stinger92860]

That's not an argument, it's just contradiction.

No it's not!

 

[JimHurley]

I don't think we'll being seeing much Matthews at the 4. I have faith in the future of the UConn front court. I think Mamadou and Carlton are both going to be really good. Williams may take some getting used to D1 but I think he will give us great energy, rebounding, and jumping ability at the 4. Whaley will take a year or two but I could see him averaging 10 and 8 before he graduates. Matthews will likely split his time between the 2 and 3.

 

[3rdbass]

I don't think we'll being seeing much Matthews at the 4. I have faith in the future of the UConn front court. I think Mamadou and Carlton are both going to be really good. Williams may take some getting used to D1 but I think he will give us great energy, rebounding, and jumping ability at the 4. Whaley will take a year or two but I could see him averaging 10 and 8 before he graduates. Matthews will likely split his time between the 2 and 3.

I think we have no idea how any our bigs are going to do. It really is a crapshoot as we have no sure thing up front. That is why predicting a lineup with this many question marks going into the season is not worth it. The only people we have an idea on are JA, , CV while to a lesser extent AG and TL. That is why you see alot of posters going with the small lineup because at least we have an idea these players can score which has been our Achilles heel the last few years. Playing with two non scoring bigs last year was crippling at times.

 

[ctchamps]

Partially right but not completely. I mean there may be times they will play "small" because they need to score the ball and maybe the new front court is a bit short on offensive ability right? Tough even for a great trio like AG, JA and TL to get open space with 2 guys who can't score the ball so only at times and certain match ups could we see maybe 3 guards and Terry with a Cobb or alike or even 2 guars, Polley and Terry with a 5.

But we do need to be able to put 2 big rebounding bodies out there most often to be really effective I agree.

Exactly. If KO utilizes TL at the 4 because he wants to go small and create match up problems like the 2014 terrific. If he plays TL at the 4 because none of the bigs are decent we can be in trouble.

 

[Ricker]

Not saying they aren’t out there, but does anyone have a link in which it states Matthews has grown to 6’9? I haven’t seen it, but a few people have mentioned it.

The 6'9 statement comes from a Washington State high school coach that KansasHusky reported on Sept 19th in the other Emmitt Mathews thread. I tried to link that quote with yours in this reply, but evidently I'm too technologically challenged

 

[Hoophound]

Larrier, Polley and Williams could all play some 4. The determining factor will be matchups and most importantly, if one of them turns out to be a great rebounder. Much easier to play a small 4 with offensive skills if he plays good D and has a nose for the ball. I suspect KO actually does see the roster as 5's, PGs, and everyone else. From there it will be situational.

 

[kansashusky]

The 6'9 statement comes from a Washington State high school coach that KansasHusky reported on Sept 19th in the other Emmitt Mathews thread. I tried to link that quote with yours in this reply, but evidently I'm too technologically challenged

That was from me. To make my wording clear, he is 6'7 now, but growing and supposed to top out at 6'9. He was 6'4 last March.

 

[UConnStats]

The 6'9 statement comes from a Washington State high school coach that KansasHusky reported on Sept 19th in the other Emmitt Mathews thread. I tried to link that quote with yours in this reply, but evidently I'm too technologically challenged

That was from me. To make my wording clear, he is 6'7 now, but growing and supposed to top out at 6'9. He was 6'4 last March.

Thanks boys

 

[awfuldan]

Coach Ollie Caught Matthews' Eye After UConn's 2014 National Title

Did this interview get posted yet? Some great quotes from Matthews. Sounds like a great kid. Also, he addresses playing the 4, if anyone is still curious about that.

 

[MSGSeven]

Larrier, Polley and Williams could all play some 4. The determining factor will be matchups and most importantly, if one of them turns out to be a great rebounder. Much easier to play a small 4 with offensive skills if he plays good D and has a nose for the ball. I suspect KO actually does see the roster as 5's, PGs, and everyone else. From there it will be situational.

Williams will play the 4 because he is a 4

 

[Tenspro2002]

Exactly. If KO utilizes TL at the 4 because he wants to go small and create match up problems like the 2014 terrific. If he plays TL at the 4 because none of the bigs are decent we can be in trouble.

It will probably be a little of column A and a little of column B.

There is a not-insignificant chance that, at least this year, zero of our frontcourt players (Cobb, Carlton, Onuorah, Whaley, Diarra, Williams) are UConn-caliber. The law of probabilities is in our favor that not all of them are busts, but who of that group do you look at and say "yup, that's the guy"?

 

[nomar]

Coach Ollie Caught Matthews' Eye After UConn's 2014 National Title

Did this interview get posted yet? Some great quotes from Matthews. Sounds like a great kid. Also, he addresses playing the 4, if anyone is still curious about that.

Everybody knows UConn. It's a storied program. Shabazz [Napier] holding his jersey up, telling everybody, 'I told you so.'

 

[rip7774]

Coach Ollie Caught Matthews' Eye After UConn's 2014 National Title

Did this interview get posted yet? Some great quotes from Matthews. Sounds like a great kid. Also, he addresses playing the 4, if anyone is still curious about that.

Thank you so much for posting!

Really pumped reading about this kid's character and that he's an alpha dog!!!! KO is back to getting UConn tough-minded kids! About d@mn time!!

 

[awfuldan]

Everybody knows UConn. It's a storied program. Shabazz [Napier] holding his jersey up, telling everybody, 'I told you so.'

Yeah, this is the main quote I was thinking of. How do you watch that on TV as a young basketball player and not want to come play for UConn? Love that it resonated with Matthews.

 

[80shusky]

Wait, I thought today's recruits didn't even know who Shabazz was?

 

[jibsey]

Okay, I take it back. Sure Ollie COULD play Matthews at the four, if the rest of our frontcourt is so bad/injured/foul prone he has no choice but to play a guard there, then yeah, it could happen.

If Matthews plays the 4, then we swung and missed on Diarra, Williams, Cobb, Whaley, Carlton, and potentially Polley, and whoever else we bring in for the frontcourt in the next few years.

I don't see a frontcourt as thin as when Giffey played.

@3rdbass Same with Larrier last year. Durham wasn't ready, Diarra was out for the year, Facey had to spell Brimah at the 5, because Enoch couldn't stay on the floor, and no we had no frontcourt depth at all. If Larrier plays anything more than a few minutes at the 4 it's because we have nothing but freshman and juco transfers in the frontcourt who aren't ready to contribute. not because that's where he is best suited to play.

Jackson, who is 50 pounds heavier, played the 4 and transferred because of it.

Yes, Matthews could play the 4 out of necessity, you're right. But he's not more likely to play the 4 than the 2. His skills are 2/3. Not 4.

You say you don't see a frontcourt as thin as when Giffey played. How do we know this? Out frontcourt could be good but to my knowledge no one has played yet and Larrier and Diarra are coming off injuries.

 

[Hoophound]

Williams will play the 4 because he is a 4

Ha. I meant Matthews.

 

[BlueMAB]

You say you don't see a frontcourt as thin as when Giffey played. How do we know this? Out frontcourt could be good but to my knowledge no one has played yet and Larrier and Diarra are coming off injuries.

We don't "know". Like everyone else, I'm speculating.

We're also talking about 2018-19, so Larrier is irrelevant, he won't be around next year.

2013/14 - Brimah (FR), Nolan (SO), Olander (SR), Facey (FR) and Daniels (JR).
2018/19 - Cobb (SR), Williams (JR), Diarra (R.SO), Carlton (SO), Whaley (SO), and maybe even Polley (SO) and/or Wilson (R. FR) available to "go small".

In 13/14 there were 4 guys who could play the 4 and nothing else.
In 18/19 there will be at least 5, possibly 6 or 7 players with experience before "I" get to Matthews.

Polley/Wilson have similar builds but (IMO) are already wing players who could likely transition to a stretch 4 easier, than a guy who's been a 2 forever and had a growth spurt. He said himself he's a guard.

I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time, but that's how I see it. More depth, other more likely options to take that position in a small lineup.

 

[jibsey]

It's funny, I look at that lineup of Brimah, Nolan , Olander and Facey and I wonder how, but Daniels was pretty talented and anything can happen.

 

[Kmba2Rmemba]

Don't think it's been noted yet, but ESPN finally developed his profile. 79 rating, 3 star.

Here is the Insider scouting report:

ESPN Analyst
Updated 09/27/2017

Strengths:
Matthews is a big lefty wing with a lot of upside. He can impact the game in a variety of ways, play multiple positions, and may just be scratching the surface of his potential. He has good size on the wing, big hands, and natural fluidity and athleticism as he continues to grow into his body and fill out his frame. He has potential as a shot-maker, converting 37% from behind the arc and 85% from the stripe during the recent UAA season, but the versatility to score in all three ranges. He has good finishing touch around the rim, a little bit of a floater game, and can be both smooth and athletic in the open floor. He's a solid rebounder on the wing with the potential to defend multiple positions down the road.

Weaknesses:
His ability to play through contact should improve as he builds up his body but he can struggle in that area right now, both getting bumped off the line of his drives at times and also when attempting to finish in traffic. He also needs to be more willing to seek out contact in order to get himself to the free-throw line more. Physically, while he has a wiry build, he's also not as long as he looks with a measured 6-foot-7 wingspan. From a skill standpoint, he could further develop his ball-handling ability, specifically with his right hand. His overall motor could stand to improve as well as he doesn't always impact the game like a player with his talent level should.

Bottom Line:
Matthews is a talent with good size, budding versatility, and a lot of upside on the wing but he needs to develop his body, willingness to play through contact, and his right hand in order for his productivity to start catching up to his potential.