ESPN Way Too Early Top 25: UConn #4

[Mr. French]

Pitino has always been a great coach, but he’s lost plenty of games with talented teams. They’re dangerous and he’s excellent, but suddenly in his older years people are acting like he can’t be beaten.

I guess all the old coaches retiring and him cracking jokes on twitter has people feeling all gooey, but not me. Rick Pitino can buzz off. He’s not The Pope despite his attempts and Sunday white.

 

[businesslawyer]

No she asked if I felt intimidated by their numbers and it was the way she said it like they were going to whip us so why are you even at this event. My brother was with me and he felt the same way with the way the woman approached me and said that. I only met other awful entitled Purdue fans when there. As I mentioned in another post they acted more entitled than Duke fans. Yuck!

With all due respect, toughen up buttercup.

 

[LetsGoUC]

I think were gonna be good. But part of also says we were pretty average last year and are practically the same team with an improved PG, so improved yes but makes me think were more a 15-25 team. Who knows what the freshman will really be. So are we worthy of top 5???

 

[jibsey]

I think were gonna be good. But part of also says we were pretty average last year and are practically the same team with an improved PG, so improved yes but makes me think were more a 15-25 team. Who knows what the freshman will really be. So are we worthy of top 5???

No, I don’t agree. We are significantly upgraded IMO but we’re going to have to wait 5 months to know how much.
Some of that upgrade is growth of Solo, Reed and Stew. Also Alex being better.
The 2 new point guards are a serious upgrade.
And.. we will have a new forward coming.

 

[HooperScooper]

Some of that upgrade is growth of Solo, Reed and Stew. Also Alex being better.

Agree. Some people keep saying it's almost the same team. But all of these guys coming back are now juniors and seniors. I know we got burned last year expecting a jump from all of the sophomores and we didn't get it so now we're gun shy to expect it. I think all of these guys will be better. Some a lot better now that they're upperclassmen.

The only unknown to me is how Demary will adjust. It may take a little time on offense but I expect him to add a lot on defense right off the bat.

 

[Huskies990411]

Purdue's fans are horrible. When my brother and I went to the Final four in 2024. A lady came up to me in food line and said aren't you scared to be outnumbered so bad in fans. I just said WTF with my face. What I should have said was why would I when we are Champions. It was so nice routing them and being able to celebrate amongst all those Purdue fans who outnumbered us like 4 to 1. LOL!

Yes! So many emboldened Purdue fans based on their turnout. Best feeling ever watching them get quiet and slump in their seats as the lead kept growing.

 

[controlfade]

Agree. Some people keep saying it's almost the same team. But all of these guys coming back are now juniors and seniors. I know we got burned last year expecting a jump from all of the sophomores and we didn't get it so now we're gun shy to expect it. I think all of these guys will be better. Some a lot better now that they're upperclassmen.

The only unknown to me is how Demary will adjust. It may take a little time on offense but I expect him to add a lot on defense right off the bat.

I couldn't agree more, the sophomores were dramatically better all the way around as the season progressed.

I expect Demary to be very good on D right away, if he can adjust and run Danny's offense along with some contributions from at least 1 freshman, this will be an exciting season.

 

[Lafayette]

I couldn't agree more, the sophomores were dramatically better all the way around as the season progressed.

I expect Demary to be very good on D right away, if he can adjust and run Danny's offense along with some contributions from at least 1 freshman, this will be an exciting season.

Frosh to Soph stats:

1. Ball - minutes almost tripled 11.5 -> 31.7; FG% 38.5% -> 43.9%, 3PG% 31.9% -> 41.4%, pts: 3.3 -> 14.4
2. Stewart - minutes doubled 8.9 -> 17.8; FG% 47.4% -> 54.5%, 3PG% 27% -> 36.4%, pts: 2.5 -> 5.4
3. Ross - minutes up 4.4 -> 11.4, FG% 27.3% -> 40.5%, 3PG% 9.1% -> 22.2%, pts 0.7 -> 2.4

Ball made a huge jump from bench to starter, contributing 14.4 ppg on starters 32 mpg. If we can get close to 16 ppg it will be huge for us.
Stewart made a good stride as a Sophomore, his 2pt FG% was nice at 55%, and his 3pt FG respectable at 36%. Probably gets > 20 min a game and should increase pts, rebounds, blocks.
Ross as a Soph moved up to Ball as a frosh and was better from 2, but not from 3 than Ball was.

Demary will be just fine - he has much better weapons in Ball, Mullins, AK to dish to than at Georgia plus Reed down low. He is also a much better 3pt shooter from catch and release than dribble shoot.