Gibbs

[Stainmaster]

I'll be in the minority here but I wish Terrance Samuel were still around. He could bowl his way to the rim better than anyone else on the current roster.

I mean, he'd be a better 12th man off the bench than Nnamdi Amilo, but how can anyone prefer Terrence Samuel to Sterling Gibbs?

 

[MexicoHusky]

I actually think Gibbs has played one notch above shi**y, but I'm not giving up on him. I had all but given up on Omar, then suddenly he looks like a new player.

I do wish we used Gibbs differently though. I wish we had Gibbs hunting threes instead of handling the ball. But KO knows what's up. He'll do the right thing.

 

[donyell34]

Lots of good points guys , but that defense and it's pretty much everyone. Worst I can remember. We are light years away from the great D played against Michigan St. and the other teams on the championship run in 14. We have almost always hung our hat on defense. Just hard to figure . Just reminded myself that we did play good d against Ohio state so what happened today?

 

[djct1999]

There is little doubt in my mind that Gibbs will pay huge dividends down the road. He is a quality, mature, and very experienced guard that can score in a flurry. My guess is that KO runs a much different system and program than Gibbs is used to and he is still getting acclimated. The problem with Gibbs is not ability. I have seen Gibbs quite a bit and right now is he is thinking to much on the court on what he believes is wanted from him instead of relying on natural ability and simply playing/reacting(think Purvis for most of last year). He appears very uncomfortable out there, similar to many of us at a new job. Once it clicks, watch out. He is very worthy of starting on this team and getting 25 plus minutes nightly. To think otherwise is ludicrous.

 

[donyell34]

Thought Gibbs was OK yesterday. If only he could defend and dham also.

 

[huskymagic]

There is little doubt in my mind that Gibbs will pay huge dividends down the road. He is a quality, mature, and very experienced guard that can score in a flurry. My guess is that KO runs a much different system and program than Gibbs is used to and he is still getting acclimated. The problem with Gibbs is not ability. I have seen Gibbs quite a bit and right now is he is thinking to much on the court on what he believes is wanted from him instead of relying on natural ability and simply playing/reacting(think Purvis for most of last year). He appears very uncomfortable out there, similar to many of us at a new job. Once it clicks, watch out. He is very worthy of starting on this team and getting 25 plus minutes nightly. To think otherwise is ludicrous.

Down what road? He is already a fifth year senior and its not like he has ever played as a point guard. He is an undersized and nonathletic 2 guard who has no choice but to play point. He can serve a role as a spot up shooter which will help his game, but if you have to rely on him, the team is in trouble. He is a role player who doesn't play his role. It's not like Ollie can hide multiple zeroes on defense at the same time. Someone has to sit in favor of glue guy or someone with intangibles, and Gibbs has to be that guy to sit.

 

[8893]

Gibbs is not and will not be the answer. Forget about James Harden, Gibbs is a less talented and athletic version of Jerome Dyson. The sooner Jalen Adams starts and the sooner Gibbs is benched and doesn't play alongside Jalen and Rodney the better we will be. Omar should take Gibbs minutes. I don't want to see anymore fifth year transfers aka basketball mercenaries unless they are tenacious defenders or rebounding energy guys or glue guys who know their roles. You pretty much are spot on about Gibbs. He looks like a guy who has QUIT all over him.

Down what road? He is already a fifth year senior and its not like he has ever played as a point guard. He is an undersized and nonathletic 2 guard who has no choice but to play point. He can serve a role as a spot up shooter which will help his game, but if you have to rely on him, the team is in trouble. He is a role player who doesn't play his role. It's not like Ollie can hide multiple zeroes on defense at the same time. Someone has to sit in favor of glue guy or someone with intangibles, and Gibbs has to be that guy to sit.

 

[huskymagic]

Dude, did you have to disrespect Jerome Dyson, a fan favorite and an actual "good" college player. Why? Nothing about Gibbs reminds me of Dyson.

Horatio I wasn't disrespecting Dyson as I have a lot of respect for what Dyson was able to do here and Gibbs is nowhere near the player Dyson was. I have a problem with Gibbs not Dyson. Your right though a better comparison for Gibbs is probably Craig Austrie.

 

[Horatio]

Horatio I wasn't disrespecting Dyson as I have a lot of respect for what Dyson was able to do here and Gibbs is nowhere near the player Dyson was. I have a problem with Gibbs not Dyson. Your right though a better comparison for Gibbs is probably Craig Austrie.

It's all good bro. We all have our favorites and my fandom has to defend the
Legacy of Jerome , Super Tone and Selvie. In my opinion I kinda feel like Gibbs has to earn his Uconn jersey and even comparing him to Craig is wrong but thats the weird side of bringing in grad. Transfers as starters.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Down what road? He is already a fifth year senior and its not like he has ever played as a point guard. He is an undersized and nonathletic 2 guard who has no choice but to play point. He can serve a role as a spot up shooter which will help his game, but if you have to rely on him, the team is in trouble. He is a role player who doesn't play his role. It's not like Ollie can hide multiple zeroes on defense at the same time. Someone has to sit in favor of glue guy or someone with intangibles, and Gibbs has to be that guy to sit.

Gibbs played almost exclusively as a PG as a sophomore, and mostly as a PG last year. Your posts are bad, and you should feel bad.

 

[upstater]

I just hope this team figures out what last year's team couldn't. We were here in the same position last year, and it never clicked. You can argue there is more talent here, but Adams, Gibbs and Miller will have to bring much more than what Boatright brought. So far, Miller is doing that. Adams is just a pup.

 

[Matt1010]

Gibbs played almost exclusively as a PG as a sophomore, and mostly as a PG last year. Your posts are bad, and you should feel bad.

Was typing this as you posted and completely agree. @huskymagic you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about but sure let's compare a guy who was second team all-big east and ranked in the top-five in the BE in both scoring and assists last year to Craig Austrie. I loved having Austrie back in the day but the compassion between the two is nonexistent.

Gibbs is obviously still adjusting to the system but he hasn't been nearly as bad as some posters make it out to be. Let's not forget that he was a big part of the win over Michigan (our best of the season).

 

[MexicoHusky]

Down what road? He is already a fifth year senior and its not like he has ever played as a point guard. He is an undersized and nonathletic 2 guard who has no choice but to play point. He can serve a role as a spot up shooter which will help his game, but if you have to rely on him, the team is in trouble. He is a role player who doesn't play his role. It's not like Ollie can hide multiple zeroes on defense at the same time. Someone has to sit in favor of glue guy or someone with intangibles, and Gibbs has to be that guy to sit.

Harsher than I would word it, but not horribly wrong. In particular about defense. I haven't seen much that would suggest Gibbs can play D. I do hold out hope for his 3 point shooting and shooting in general.

 

[Pudge]

Just Feels ...

Some of the names I don't recognize seem terribly ignorant.

Gibbs? Look at Kromah. Then extrapolate ... to other peer programs. I think being a 5th year guy is tough. You'll try to fit in DESPITE, confidently, you know you can bring certain skills. I'm watching yesterday & I thought both Hamilton & Adams missed tossing an easy pass to Gibbs for a wide open 3. Gibbs finished better at the hoop yesterday; better angles. His defense? His overall game? Hmm. I think ... Marginal improvement.

We will see a different Gibbs in February. This comparison to walk ons & Dyson or Terrance Samuel? That's crap. No one here is going to let you throw that in the middle of a thread. I think you don't know what you're watching.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I'll be in the minority here but I wish Terrance Samuel were still around. He could bowl his way to the rim better than anyone else on the current roster.

Has to be sarcasm.

 

[Hurleyman216]

Down what road? He is already a fifth year senior and its not like he has ever played as a point guard. He is an undersized and nonathletic 2 guard who has no choice but to play point. He can serve a role as a spot up shooter which will help his game, but if you have to rely on him, the team is in trouble. He is a role player who doesn't play his role. It's not like Ollie can hide multiple zeroes on defense at the same time. Someone has to sit in favor of glue guy or someone with intangibles, and Gibbs has to be that guy to sit.

If you think Gibbs is "nonathletic" you need your eyes checked son. You could make the case that he doesn't use his freakish athleticism enough. He is one of the quickest guards I've seen in the country taking the ball from end to end. His biggest flaw this year is he doesn't penetrate enough which as we all saw yesterday he can do at will. He's had a sub-par year because his shot has been off and he's been settling for 3's instead of taking it to the rim. There's about a 50% chance that he ends up as our leading scorer and "go to" guy by the end of the year because he has a better handle than Purvis.

 

[intlzncster]

It's all good bro. We all have our favorites and my fandom has to defend the
Legacy of Jerome , Super Tone and Selvie. In my opinion I kinda feel like Gibbs has to earn his Uconn jersey and even comparing him to Craig is wrong but thats the weird side of bringing in grad. Transfers as starters.

I love all those dudes too. TR is still in my top 5.

 

[joober jones]

I mean, he'd be a better 12th man off the bench than Nnamdi Amilo, but how can anyone prefer Terrence Samuel to Sterling Gibbs?

Definitely not over Gibbs, but just a guy off the bench who could take it to the rack.

 

[Chin Diesel]

If you think Gibbs is "nonathletic" you need your eyes checked son. You could make the case that he doesn't use his freakish athleticism enough. He is one of the quickest guards I've seen in the country taking the ball from end to end. His biggest flaw this year is he doesn't penetrate enough which as we all saw yesterday he can do at will. He's had a sub-par year because his shot has been off and he's been settling for 3's instead of taking it to the rim. There's about a 50% chance that he ends up as our leading scorer and "go to" guy by the end of the year because he has a better handle than Purvis.

I'm holding out on Gibbs for a few more games because he is trying to fit in and be a team player.

There isn't any measurable way to say Gibbs is above average athletically at the high D-1 guard level of play. He is a below the rim player and doesn't have dynamic speed.

 

[Hurleyman216]

I'm holding out on Gibbs for a few more games because he is trying to fit in and be a team player.

There isn't any measurable way to say Gibbs is above average athletically at the high D-1 guard level of play. He is a below the rim player and doesn't have dynamic speed.

Agree to disagree...I don't just equate athleticism with jumping out of the gym. The dude is fast as hell. Is Michael Johnson non-athletic? I couldn't tell you whether he can jump over a pencil, but he is (or was) fast. Name 5 guards in the country that are faster than Gibbs from end to end....I don't think you can.

 

[CTBasketball]

Agree to disagree...I don't just equate athleticism with jumping out of the gym. The dude is fast as hell. Is Michael Johnson non-athletic? I couldn't tell you whether he can jump over a pencil, but he is (or was) fast. Name 5 guards in the country that are faster than Gibbs from end to end....I don't think you can.

Kris Dunn
Tyler Ulis
Melo Trimble
Nic Moore
AJ English
Jalen Adams

I could go on..

 

[Hurleyman216]

Kris Dunn
Tyler Ulis
Melo Trimble
Nic Moore
AJ English
Jalen Adams

I could go on..

Ulis and Trimble maybe...if you think Jalen is faster dribbling from end to end than Gibbs then I'm not sure what games you've been watching this year. Adams is going to be great but he is not faster than Gibbs with the ball...and it isn't even close

 

[businesslawyer]

Was typing this as you posted and completely agree. @huskymagic you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about but sure let's compare a guy who was second team all-big east and ranked in the top-five in the BE in both scoring and assists last year to Craig Austrie. I loved having Austrie back in the day but the compassion between the two is nonexistent.

Gibbs is obviously still adjusting to the system but he hasn't been nearly as bad as some posters make it out to be. Let's not forget that he was a big part of the win over Michigan (our best of the season).

This. I loved Craig Austrie and what he gave us, but not even his Mom would compare him to Gibbs. Austrie was a role player/glue guy. Gibbs has been second team all league in the Big East.

Gibbs is not a pure 1, but that's not the issue. The defense of the entire tem right now is the issue.

 

[djct1999]

Down what road? He is already a fifth year senior and its not like he has ever played as a point guard. He is an undersized and nonathletic 2 guard who has no choice but to play point. He can serve a role as a spot up shooter which will help his game, but if you have to rely on him, the team is in trouble. He is a role player who doesn't play his role. It's not like Ollie can hide multiple zeroes on defense at the same time. Someone has to sit in favor of glue guy or someone with intangibles, and Gibbs has to be that guy to sit.

Try Feb-March. While you are at it, go back and watch tapes of Gibbs last year before Seton Hall's season unraveled. There was a reason Gibbs was a top 3 transfer available last year.

 

[InKembaITrust]

Am I the only one who thinks that Gibbs should be starting at the 2 and/or coming off the bench for Purvis? We need to begin starting Jalen at the 1 as soon as possible so his confidence rises as we move closer to March. Him and Hamilton are the only ones who can create their own shot and get defenders off balance; (Gibbs can not do this in my opinion, he doesn't have that athletic spring in his step). I know if we start Gibbs at the 2 this would push Purvis to the bench, but I don't see that as a negative in the slightest...think of that type of energy coming off the bench...scary. If we bring Gibbs and Omar off the bench at the same time and stick them in the corners that would really spread out the floor. Lot of moving pieces with this rotation but I'm just not seeing Gibbs running the point. At the most I say give him limited time at the point to give Jalen some rest but for the most part have him at the 2 coming off screens and nailing 3s.

 

[Pudge]

It's early ...

Part of why YOU should all be thankful for Gibbs arrival is that Jalen Adams gets to have a normal less-intense baptism into College. Do I disagree with your assessment of Adams SHOULD be the lead guard and play that role that UConn tradition has prized? I don't think that is debatable; in fact, Ollie brought Gibbs in with a plan. Adams will evolve into that role. My view is that will come later this season and it will be a simple decision and Gibbs still will have a valued role.

 

[Kitaman]

Ben too when he wasn't making his shots.

Ahh Ben, when he was hot he was our best inside/out player ever. He could take it to the rim, hid the mid-range or bust the 3 pointer, so versatile.

In another system with marginal/good players he could easily have averaged well over 20 points per game. Amazing that while at UConn he wasn't even our best player (i.e. Okafor).

 

[Kitaman]

I do wish we used Gibbs differently though. I wish we had Gibbs hunting threes instead of handling the ball. But KO knows what's up. He'll do the right thing.

By mid-January I expect him to be off the ball, especially when Jalen is playing. Ollie is breaking Jalen in right now. I read Ollie talking about Gibbs plays well off the ball (2 guard). I think Jalen just needs a few more games. The thing is that Rodney is also not a true point guard, so that dilemma will be constant at opening tip.

 

[James]

Gibbs is a terrific offensive weapon, his defense leaves much to be desired. really in the same way as hamilton although Dan Hurley fills the box score . Probably the only competent perimeter defender on the team is purvis and at moments adams although he lately has slipped on defense imo. When you think of the 2014 team, they had FOUR competent perimeter defenders ; Kromah, Boat, Napier, and Giffey.

 

[intlzncster]

Am I the only one who thinks that Gibbs should be starting at the 2 and/or coming off the bench for Purvis? We need to begin starting Jalen at the 1 as soon as possible so his confidence rises as we move closer to March. Him and Hamilton are the only ones who can create their own shot and get defenders off balance; (Gibbs can not do this in my opinion, he doesn't have that athletic spring in his step). I know if we start Gibbs at the 2 this would push Purvis to the bench, but I don't see that as a negative in the slightest...think of that type of energy coming off the bench...scary. If we bring Gibbs and Omar off the bench at the same time and stick them in the corners that would really spread out the floor. Lot of moving pieces with this rotation but I'm just not seeing Gibbs running the point. At the most I say give him limited time at the point to give Jalen some rest but for the most part have him at the 2 coming off screens and nailing 3s.

Purvis is irreplaceable in the starting lineup imo. Too well rounded and experienced a player to come out. The LAST thing we need to do is remove defense from the perimeter.