Good Borges Piece on Daniels

[tykurez]

DeAndre Daniels used to dealing with adversity

I still have very high hopes for this kid ... as much flak as he's been getting on here recently.

 

[Kitaman]

Thanks, good read. The kid may be in shock a little bit. Not just the league but Coach Calhoun takes some time to adjust to as well. He needs some time and he will perform as expected.

 

[bobbygt]

Nice read- I didn't know he was in New Orleans when Katrina hit.

It's really easy to root for all of uconn's freshman.

DD's practicing late at night after games reminds me of the reports last year of JL doing the same.

I'm sure uconn's record of getting guys to the nba was a big reason, but it's amazing what a NC will do for recruiting as well.

 

[tykurez]

I'm sure uconn's record of getting guys to the nba was a big reason, but it's amazing what a NC will do for recruiting as well.

That was a really interesting part ... you have UK, KU, and Duke going after you and he seemed kind of giddy about the team just coming off a NC. And it was also good to hear him and his family say that it's probably the spot to go to make the most strides.

I really liked what I saw out of Daniels early on. He definitely needs to add some size, but players can get away with that. For him it really seems the speed is the issue. Once he adapts to that, I think he has all the tools to be a great weapon.

 

[3rdbass]

I think he is the x-factor on the team. He really has a nice shot and can definitely drive. He is more athletic than RS. I think it is just a confidence thing going on with him and learning his role with the team. He sounds like he will adjust as he did with his high school team. He would be a matchup nightmare for other teams if he gets it together. If we don't get RB back I think he is the x-factor if we hope to make the tourney. We can't rely on only 2 players to score for us to win especially when one is suppose to be running the offense also.

 

[Danzz]

I think he is the x-factor on the team. He really has a nice shot and can definitely drive. He is more athletic than RS. I think it is just a confidence thing going on with him and learning his role with the team. He sounds like he will adjust as he did with his high school team. He would be a matchup nightmare for other teams if he gets it together. If we don't get RB back I think he is the x-factor if we hope to make the tourney. We can't rely on only 2 players to score for us to win especially when one is suppose to be running the offense also.

It sounds like he is going to have to get stronger on D. Like all freshmen, Daniels is adjusting to the college game. Some simply take longer than others. He will contribute if not this yesr, next season. Sometimes fans expectation for 18 year old freshmen is unrealistic.

 

[caw]

I like Daniels, so don't take this the wrong way but I don't know if he will have much a large impact this year. I hope he does, but it seems a lot of his issues are his body/strength/muscle which is something that is extremely hard to add/gain during a hoops season. Doable but not easy at all.

Hopefully, he can be a big contributor next year/the year after.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

"Given the way UConn has played over the past couple of weeks, it may be insanely premature to point this out, but this year’s Final Four will be held in New Orleans. What a homecoming that would be for DeAndre Daniels.

“It would be emotional,” he admitted. “I have family that still live out there. That would be great, to get to the Final Four.”

All my Final 4 teams are on the ropes and going through difficult phases in their seasons. Guess what I'm sticking by each 1 of them including UConn. College hoops is very unpredictable and I still love at least 3 of mine to make it in and the other to make a strong run towards New Orleans. Losses this time of year are not fatal but time will be of the essence shortly. I also like this kid. He just may make a big shot in New Orleans. Never say never.

 

[3rdbass]

I like Daniels, so don't take this the wrong way but I don't know if he will have much a large impact this year. I hope he does, but it seems a lot of his issues are his body/strength/muscle which is something that is extremely hard to add/gain during a hoops season. Doable but not easy at all.

Hopefully, he can be a big contributor next year/the year after.

I don't think physical strength muscle is his problem. Rudy Gay played the same way. I think it has more to do with confidence and making sure what his role is with the offense. Though Rudy Gay wasn't someone who created his own shot much at the college level he had to confidence to step up and take and make shots. DD just like RS seem confused on what their roles are with the offense at times. I would even lump NG in there too but I think he has realized that he only takes the open shot when it is available to him. I think DD can actually go one on one against some defenders but likes to defer to JL and SN in the present offense.

 

[tykurez]

I don't think physical strength muscle is his problem.

I absolutely agree with this. Obviously strength would benefit any player, but there are plenty of players who get away without it (to some extent). Durant is a good example, he's lanky ... but he uses his height and quickness to his advantage.

I really really really hate to bring up Moe Harkless in a Daniels thread because someone is bound to come in here and compare the two (unfavorably) ... but they're the exact same size and weight. Harkless has a defined role on an incredibly young team ... shoot, shoot often, and score. For UConn freshman it's always much different. They spend much of their first year getting worked in slowly and often this creates a longer adjustment period. Jeremy blossomed once he had a defined role and I think, given DeAndre's skill set, there's no reason to believe he won't blossom as well.

 

[jibsey]

Don't think the flak has been excessive (compared to some), but we all know the kid has tremendous talent so everyone is waiting to see it. Calhoun will maximize his development no doubt about that, but I just don't want him to get down on himself the way Alex has seemed to.

 

[HuskyFan32]

I like Daniels, so don't take this the wrong way but I don't know if he will have much a large impact this year. I hope he does, but it seems a lot of his issues are his body/strength/muscle which is something that is extremely hard to add/gain during a hoops season. Doable but not easy at all.

Hopefully, he can be a big contributor next year/the year after.

Agreed. Seems like he needs the offseason to work on his strength and hopefully his speed as well. The size and skills are obviously there. He seems like a nice kid and he works hard, hes just too thin and a little too slow right now. Expect him to make big strides next year, but I wouldnt expect much this season

 

[HuskyFan32]

"Given the way UConn has played over the past couple of weeks, it may be insanely premature to point this out, but this year’s Final Four will be held in New Orleans. What a homecoming that would be for DeAndre Daniels.

“It would be emotional,” he admitted. “I have family that still live out there. That would be great, to get to the Final Four.”

All my Final 4 teams are on the ropes and going through difficult phases in their seasons. Guess what I'm sticking by each 1 of them including UConn. College hoops is very unpredictable and I still love at least 3 of mine to make it in and the other to make a strong run towards New Orleans. Losses this time of year are not fatal but time will be of the essence shortly. I also like this kid. He just may make a big shot in New Orleans. Never say never.

Other teams you picked to be in the Final Four, or other teams that you root for? Also, please share which ones.

 

[champs99and04]

I said early on in the season that the two kids whose development was most crucial to the teams success were Drummond and Deandre. At least to this point, neither of them had made noticeable improvements from the beginning of the season. With Boatright out it is more important than ever that Deandre make strides, because UConn desperately needs a third scorer at the moment, to go along with an inside scorer. Last year UConn was able to get away with the lack of an inside scorer, but this season we will probably need either Drummond or Oriakhi to step up.

 

[Thirty Three]

My take on DeAndre thus far; He reminds me of Denham Brown in a couple of aspects. Namely ballhandling and footwork/footspeed. The two areas, in my opinion, that held Denham back from being a great player. Denham was a decent ballhandler for a small forward, but not quite good enough to be really good dribbling against most small forwards in a one on one situation. Same goes for footwork/footspeed. Denham was decent but not quite quick enough with his footwork and footspeed to go one on one against most small forwards he faced. It looks very much to me like those are the two biggest areas that are hurting DeAndre at this level, ballhandling and footwork/footspeed. Whether or not those are aspects of his game that he can improve I don't know. Regardless, I think he can be a very good player for UConn, he's a solid athlete and has a REALLY nice, pure shooting stroke. When he figures out what he can and can't do at this level, and learns to play to his strengths he is going to be a solid contributer and has a chance to be a very good player.

 

[Huskybass]

I don't think physical strength muscle is his problem. Rudy Gay played the same way. I think it has more to do with confidence and making sure what his role is with the offense. Though Rudy Gay wasn't someone who created his own shot much at the college level he had to confidence to step up and take and make shots. DD just like RS seem confused on what their roles are with the offense at times. I would even lump NG in there too but I think he has realized that he only takes the open shot when it is available to him. I think DD can actually go one on one against some defenders but likes to defer to JL and SN in the present offense.

Daniels is exceptionally thin. I was shocked when he sat next to me in the stands at the Pro-Am this past summer at just how thin his legs are. I really think that once he builds some strength and confidence, you will see a vastly improved player.