Expectations: Isaiah Whaley

[UConnStats]

if he holds firm in his defense and does a better job finishing at/around the rim, he will have a great year. This team can’t leave as many points at the rim as they did last year and it starts with Whaley and Martin (58.5% and 50.0% respectively around the rim which are both below average for their position).

 

[JCSuperstar]

Seems like a good place to post this. There was an article on Whaley in the Register yesterday. The Register has closed the holes to read without paying. Sign up for the $0.99 for 6 months special. It will get you all the way to the end of the season.

archive.is is still working
Register Whaley Article

 

[HooperScooper]

archive.is is still working
Register Whaley Article

Thanks.

 

[RichZ]

Open shots are the best shots.

THIS. Absolutely.

 

[mauconnfan]

They key for Whaley is that he's 24 years old. There is a reason why veteran teams usually win in college basketball. Older, experienced players often out play younger more talented players. One of the reasons why I wasn't too worried about "replacing Bouknight" is that Whaley, Cole and Martin are key players for us and they are very experienced.

I expect Whaley to take a few more jump shots. I'd like to see him slash to the rim a bit more, especially if Sanogo draws double teams, but he really hasn't shown that. I think it's more likely that Jackson or Akok does that. I think Whaley starts, but Akok should push him for time, and it may be that using Whaley as the backup 4 and 5 is our best lineup.

Not sure why we’d want one of our best players backing up anyone I want all the minutes we can get from him. His impact is improving every year and no one else plays defense as well as he does. I hope Akok pushes him and improves this year again and he becomes the back up for 3-4-5. We need Whaley and Martin to add 5-10% to their FG percentage and finish better closer to the rim but both bring so much more to the table hard to take them off the court.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

no one else plays defense as well as he does

This is why he absolutely must play. Akok is a fabulous shot blocker, but Whaley disrupts inside, outside, and sideline to sideline.

 

[Jaker]

Future NBA All Star