Expectations: Adama Sanogo

[microfich]

Instinct is that unteachable talent that sometimes hides itself until brought out by a teacher even if experience alone is that teacher. Adama Sanogo landed in Storrs with a naturalized low post game unlike possibly any other to tread the boards here. This is a thick and moldable piece of clay that makes teacher Danny glisten inside. Imagine when he learns what to do when he’s doubled. When he has that 8-10-foot jumper to fall back upon. What will the finished product look like? Simply, excitement.


Five Things we have seen:

Footwork. The instinctive swivel, fake, re-take and the touch to finish.​

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Inexperience. Only playing ball since he was 16. Came off the floor early at the beginning due to lack of understanding and came off late when he couldn’t guard at 35’ in our system.​

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Strength. BE-ready body as a frosh looking as if it was built by the Ford Truck team.​

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Fouling machine. It’s the usual stuff for a young big.​

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Maximus. Despite playing just 17 mpg he led the team in adjusted shots per game (19.24) and minutes per shot (2.08.) Banged and bagged 5 rpg in those limited minutes.​

Five Things to expect:

Fewer fouls is clearly the hope but do we really expect it? Let’s see what coaching can do to help the kid understand what his limitations should be.​

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Other offensive options. He played with the bail-out tiny jumper not with the best of results. That is already in his bag of tricks ready to be refined. The straight face-up also appeared with a decent bit of form to propel it.​

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Bruised opponents. Shuck and jive and watch them dive.​

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More trips to the line. Being the #1 option, opponents will try to cut the head off the dragon. Combined with shooting 58% at the line he just may see more time there. He has it in his form to tick up to 70% and should get the reps to prove it.​

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Facilitation. This may reveal itself as the doubling occurs and he begins to think ahead. It was mostly non-existent last year but we did have glimpses.​

Summary:

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Imagine being able to bang like a truck and pirouette like Baryshnikov. His hands work like a steel cage holding a bright delicate orange bird. The de facto offensive leader with a thrilling set of talent and skills downstairs, he needs to be on the first floor much more than 17 mpg. We know it and opponents know it – they will be working at getting him in trouble.​

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Aside from exciting, it will be interesting to watch Adama grow into his role. Outside of putting the ball in the hoop, so much will depend on what he can do when options are not there. Individual growth seems more than just potential but it can be special here if he understands the floor outside the paint rather than just wrangling to find an outlet when walled in.​

 

[Vancat]

His hands work like a steel cage holding a bright delicate orange bird.

Nice!

 

[Tampahusky]

2nd team All Big East

 

[GoatHouse]

2nd team All Big East is fair ^. He's showed flashes last year of being able to carry us, hopefully he can be more consistent this year.

I can't see him averaging 25 ppg. I think expectations are a bit too high for him. Not that he can't reach them, but maybe a little lofty following a solid freshman season.

 

[navery12]

12 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, more defense like the end of the season than beginning

 

[Hungryhusky99]

If what Hurley has said about playing through Sanogo comes true there is no reason he shouldn't be around 15 ppg or more.

 

[husky429]

12 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, more defense like the end of the season than beginning

I was about to write almost the exact same thing.

If he can be a 2apg kind of big by learning how to handle double teams, we get a lot more dangerous.

 

[Peacefrog]

If what Hurley has said about playing through Sanogo comes true there is no reason he shouldn't be around 15 ppg or more.

I hope he's been working on foul shots too. If he's going to be as effective as we believe/hope, opponents are going to hacking the daylights out of him.

 

[aburks41]

12 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, more defense like the end of the season than beginning

I feel like 12 points should be the floor for him. If he's as dominant as we hope he will be, he should be scoring in the 14-16 PPG range

 

[Umami Zen]

Will need to be smarter about his use of hands on D..Refs seem to have a quick whistle on him because of his size.

Has the eye of the tiger re: motor/attitude/competitiveness. Jump hook with either hand makes him unstoppable in the paint. Would love to see outlet passes to start the break.

14/10 as a floor. If he can make FTs because he's gonna get fouled. Higher upside.

 

[Psolo12]

I feel like 12 points should be the floor for him. If he's as dominant as we hope he will be, he should be scoring in the 14-16 PPG range

Feel like this is partially contingent on his ability to stay out of foul trouble early, which could affect his scoring numbers.

 

[Rico444]

I want our offense to run through him. He should get the ball on most possessions and if he's not being doubled, look to get a shot. Otherwise, look for the open man.

 

[husky429]

I want our offense to run through him. He should get the ball on most possessions and if he's not being doubled, look to get a shot. Otherwise, look for the open man.

Andre was fantastic at feeding him in the post. Problem is unless he can shoot--that's an immediate double team. One of the many reasons why an at least halfway decent shot is so critical for him

 

[Chin Diesel]

27-29 mpg
16.1 ppg
7.8 rpg
0.5 assists
0.3 steals
1 block
57% FG%
63% FT%

 

[superjohn]

2nd team All Big East is fair ^. He's showed flashes last year of being able to carry us, hopefully he can be more consistent this year.

I can't see him averaging 25 ppg. I think expectations are a bit too high for him. Not that he can't reach them, but maybe a little lofty following a solid freshman season.

You say you can't see him averaging 25 ppg and you think expectations are a bit too high for him. Nobody has ever said he'll average 25 ppg, you made up those expectations and then claimed people are expecting too much.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Andre was fantastic at feeding him in the post. Problem is unless he can shoot--that's an immediate double team. One of the many reasons why an at least halfway decent shot is so critical for him

One way to mitigate that is the secondary break where AJ pushes the ball over half court and gets it in to Sanogo's hands as soon as he is in position. Don't give defense time to set up and start their doubles and rotations.

 

[Huskybass]

2nd team All Big East is fair ^. He's showed flashes last year of being able to carry us, hopefully he can be more consistent this year.

I can't see him averaging 25 ppg. I think expectations are a bit too high for him. Not that he can't reach them, but maybe a little lofty following a solid freshman season.

25 ppg? Where did that come from. I can't remember anyone ever averaging 25 in a UConn uniform.

14 and 8 seems about right.

 

[Huskyforlife]

18-8-2blks

Gonna go optimistic on this one. Imo he will be the focus of every half court possession he's in the game. He's not much of a passer, so shots will go up. And after including dump offs and offensive rebounds, I think he makes a significant leap.

 

[ShootURShot]

I love this team this year because of Sanogo and Akok. I think they are both going to eat this year. I think Sanogo is going to finish very strong. My guess is he averages 16-8-2

 

[mussels]

 

[AZHuskiePop]

25 ppg? Where did that come from. I can't remember anyone ever averaging 25 in a UConn uniform.

14 and 8 seems about right.

Tony Hanson 1976-77

Donyell Marshall

 

[Umami Zen]

Tony Hanson 1976-77

Donyell Marshall

FWIW.. Different game/different era/no three point line. Wes B had a career ave of 23.6 pts per game.

 

[Kenny11]

Hurley has clearly been comfortable setting the expectation that sanogo will be our best player.

 

[Rico444]

Andre was fantastic at feeding him in the post. Problem is unless he can shoot--that's an immediate double team. One of the many reasons why an at least halfway decent shot is so critical for him

That's why I'm hoping to see improved passing from him, and getting him the ball more at the foul line where he has more options (back his man down, pass to either side of the court, mid-range jumper).

 

[prankster]

If what Hurley has said about playing through Sanogo comes true there is no reason he shouldn't be around 15 ppg or more.

I would love for him to put up those numbers.

But Coach Hurley said he would play "through" Sanogo.

He did not say he would play "to" Sanogo.

Very excited for this season to begin.

 

[Kitaman]

If AJax and the PGs continually feed him, he could be high teens. Even without a assist first PG last season (and Bouk focused offense), he held his own last season. But if he gets fed, I see a lot of opponents getting into foul trouble.

Oh, and having reliable outside shooters will certainly open things up for him as well.

 

[Hungryhusky99]

I would love for him to put up those numbers.

But Coach Hurley said he would play "through" Sanogo.

He did not say he would play "to" Sanogo.

Very excited for this season to begin.

We will see. He has proven to very efficient already, and Hurley has spoken glowingly about the kid's work ethic and improvements all off season. If he is leading the team in field goal attempts like he should be I don't think 15 is a crazy prediction at all.

 

[TheChamps990411]

12 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, more defense like the end of the season than beginning

If hes seeing 20-25 minutes per game that sounds about right to me. If he establishes himself as a reliable scorer and can stay out of foul trouble and can be on the floor 25-30 minutes then the numbers will be closer to 15, 10 and 3.

 

[gtcam]

Adama can be huge if he can stay on the floor - it's as simple as that
As far as the play going through him - there are many weapons on this team and don't want to see him as the primary focus on offense because it could limit the potential of others - he would best serve as just playing smart and aggressive and he will get his points, his blocks and his rebounds. This kid has NBA written all over him but he still is a work in process - imagine if he started playing basketball as a youngster! Best of luck Adama - UConn needs you to go as far as it can.