ESPN- Ryan Boatright ready to lead UConn

[CGarr]

Good read.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...right-ready-lead-defending-national-champions

 

[gorbowski06]

In summer pickup games, Boatright's teammates noticed the guard's edge. It was just unsanctioned summer ball among friends, but the senior played like the Huskies were still in the Big Dance.

"Sometimes he just came out and scored probably like five, six in a row," Samuel said. "He just showed that he could score when he wants, like he's the man and he's going to be taking the big shots this year."

Love to read this. Boat is primed to have a monster year.

 

[UChusky916]

The article's 3 biggest takeaways from me:

"He devoured film of his teammates over the summer. Boatright wants to know exactly where each guy wants the ball and how.

This shows great leadership. As lead PG, you have to be the coach on the floor. Glad to see he's putting in this effort.

He's worked on his attack from the perimeter so he can be a "knockdown 3-point shooter off the dribble" this season."

This is something I'm interested to see if he can develop. I don't expect him to be on Bazz's level as far as 3-pt %, but he needs to hit them when he's open. If anyone goes under a screen against him on a pick-and-roll, he needs to make them pay. With his quickness, I could see teams playing off of him and forcing him to shoot the 3. If he can knock a few down at a good percentage, the rest of his game should open up.

"And he's taken the proper time to recover from nagging ankle and shoulder injuries."

Interesting to read he's had nagging injuries. I remember the ankle injury in the title game. We need a healthy, in-shape Boat. I hope he can withstand the rigors of being the lead PG the whole season. He's a little dude so you know bigger guards are going to be physical. Hopefully his quickness makes up for it like it did in the title game vs UK.


Stoked to see Ryan for 1 more year. Really hope he can continue his from from the post-season.

 

[billythekid]

"We carry it all together," UConn coach Kevin Ollie said. "It's not one brother carrying it. That's not a brotherhood. That's somebody on his own trying to do everything, and you'll always fail doing that. He understands that. I think the better he looks, the better his teammates have looked. I think he's really trying to get that across: 'I gotta make these other guys better. Yeah, I can score 20 points and be the Boat Show, but that's not going to get me too far.'"

I think this quote from KO gets to the heart of the matter from my perspective. I thought that Boat's acceptance of his role as the primary defensive stopper during the NCAA Tournament was the key difference in UConn winning it all. Once he stopped worrying about being the Boat Show, the team's defensive intensity picked up tremendously and Boat was still able to be a difference maker offensively. Now that he will be the top dog this year, Boat needs to be able to bring that same mentality of bringing the defensive pressure first and trusting that the offense will come from the flow of the game.

 

[CTBasketball]

First thing I ever read from Myron Medcalf that isn't garbage. UConn related or not...

 

[RichZ]

I think this quote from KO gets to the heart of the matter from my perspective. I thought that Boat's acceptance of his role as the primary defensive stopper during the NCAA Tournament was the key difference in UConn winning it all. Once he stopped worrying about being the Boat Show, the team's defensive intensity picked up tremendously and Boat was still able to be a difference maker offensively.

To me, the Boat Show was even better when his focus was on D. It was damned exciting!

 

[Kitaman]

I want to believe this is the result of Ollie's tutelage. The things he's saying and doing scream NBA style. Watching (i.e.studying) teammates in films is great stuff.

 

[David 76]

KO asked him to spend time over the summer watching film.