Goodman Preseason Top 50

[Durks07]

I feel dirty saying this: Goodman may not be completely wrong. [Pauses to take long shower]. Ollie prefers two ball-handling guards on the floor (ala Shabazz and Boatright) who are good defensively. Adams and Gibbs probably provide this dynamic more than Purvis with either of them. It is not unreasonable to think that as the season progresses that Adams will start games. I imagine that Purvis will start in the near term, but it won't surprise me if that changes over the course of the season. Purvis should and will get a lot of minutes during the season, but the Gibbs/Adams combo might provide more of the offense that we are used to seeing from Ollie coached teams.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Unless Purvis starts playing very poorly or has some other kind of issue, he isn't losing his starting spot.

 

[CL82]

I would make the prediction at some point that happens during the season, while nolan is slotted into a olander bare minimum minutes role. Love nolans defense, but its a bit like olanders offense. he would offer very good post defense, picknroll defense, rotating... but then commit a dumb foul. Nolan is such a buffoon on offense if there is any other option i suspect KO to use that

Apparently he played injured last season (plantar faciitis) which could explain his stunning inability to elevate or make a lay up. I'm giving the kid a pass. We'll see soon enough.

 

[Stainmaster]

Unless Purvis starts playing very poorly or has some other kind of issue, he isn't losing his starting spot.

But he steps out of bounds a lot...

 

[Yankees32123]

Can someone who has the time on their hands post his whole top 50 here?

 

[scrappy2.0]

I think what Uconn is going to have:

The combination of being an older team that also has a GREAT deal of talent size and athletic ability--you dont really see that too much. I can see ANY scenario UNLESS we get injured that Uconn is not a top 10 team and a serious final 4 contender.

 

[mauconnfan]

Unless Purvis starts playing very poorly or has some other kind of issue, he isn't losing his starting spot.

Anyone think maybe Miller comes off the bench first? Adams, Gibbs, Purvis, Hamilton, Brimah?

Not saying it will happen just thinking about how hard it may be to keep some people off the court.

 

[Pudge]

The issue is defensive assignment.

Anyone think maybe Miller comes off the bench first? Adams, Gibbs, Purvis, Hamilton, Brimah?

Not saying it will happen just thinking about how hard it may be to keep some people off the court.

If you have a SMU Marcus Kennedy, there is no expectation that Daniel Hamilton can cover him ... and I hope that Shonn Miller can. You might see Phil Nolan on the court. A beefy tall PF brings us to another level.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Miller didn't come here to sit, and neither did Gibbs. Those guys are both starters. Miller is too good defensively and on the boards to not start.

 

[pj]

Anyone think maybe Miller comes off the bench first? Adams, Gibbs, Purvis, Hamilton, Brimah?

Not saying it will happen just thinking about how hard it may be to keep some people off the court.

That lineup will see a lot of time. Adams, Gibbs, Purvis, Hamilton, Brimah, Miller could average 30 minutes each, other players splitting the remaining 20 minutes. I doubt Omar or Sam Jr will be able to push Adams/Gibbs/Purvis/DHam off the court at the perimeter spots. Facey will earn time, so Miller probably gets 20-25 minutes only. Nolan and Enoch will get some time backing up Brimah.

I think as far as starters, the freshman always sits, so starting lineup is Gibbs, Purvis, Hamilton, Miller, Brimah. But Jalen will finish the game and get a ton of minutes as many have said.

 

[mauconnfan]

The issue is defensive assignment.



If you have a SMU Marcus Kennedy, there is no expectation that Daniel Hamilton can cover him ... and I hope that Shonn Miller can. You might see Phil Nolan on the court. A beefy tall PF brings us to another level.

Agree there may be match ups where this lineup actually puts more of a strain on the competition as far as covering them also. But I do prefer 3 bigs or shall I say a SF, PF and C traditional line up. I also hope that Miller is our answer for those match ups we have had trouble with like Kennedy.

 

[mauconnfan]

Miller didn't come here to sit, and neither did Gibbs. Those guys are both starters. Miller is too good defensively and on the boards to not start.

No one is here to to "sit" but I think they may mix it up with the "core 6" - these guys will all see a lot of time for sure. But agree, Miller with his abilities on both ends will be tough to take out of the line up.

 

[Danzz]

I don't see any way Adams starts over Purvis from day one.[/QUO
Adams could start with Gibbs if KO wants 2 ball handlers in the game at the same time(ala Ollie and Sheffer). If Adams is a great shooter it would be hard to start Purvis who can be inconsistent. Either way this is a nice problem to have. Last season we couldn't even find a second ball handler

 

[Matt1010]

Adams will be 6th man, it's an easy decision and makes the most sense for both team chemistry and player development. Adams will be a very good player for us this year and I want him at around 25mpg but I want Miller in the game more. Hamilton will steal some of his minutes but otherwise this kid needs to be on the court. Ivy League competition or not he was ranked top 10 in the nation defensively and that is how we win championships. Offensively we have unlimited potential, but for this team to make a deep run our defense must be on par. This starts with Miller.

 

[Danzz]

Adams will be 6th man, it's an easy decision and makes the most sense for both team chemistry and player development. Adams will be a very good player for us this year and I want him at around 25mpg but I want Miller in the game more. Hamilton will steal some of his minutes but otherwise this kid needs to be on the court. Ivy League competition or not he was ranked top 10 in the nation defensively and that is how we win championships. Offensively we have unlimited potential, but for this team to make a deep run our defense must be on par. This starts with Miller.

That scenario is most likely but there are always surprises. Team chemistry will happen or not on its own and that is the one thing nobody can predict. I don't think the starting lineup is an easy decision at all. There is a lot of talent on this team. We could see Omar and Sam Jr. really come on and Gibbs and Miller disappoint. You never really know until practice begins. Going to be an interesting year.

 

[Danzz]

Given that Enoch is 6'10'', his easiest path for minutes would be to beat out Nolan for the backup center spot. That could happen.

The only thing about Enoch is his youth. I believe he is only 17 so he would be playing against much more mature players.

 

[TasteofUConn]

Maybe Ollie should implement the Kentucky Reserve Alternating Platoon system.

 

[itgoeslike]

Gibbs: 30
Purvis: 30
Adams: 25
Hamilton: 33
Miller: 27
Facey: 10
Brimah: 25
Nolan: 5
Enoch: 5

10 minutes extra to spare

If these numbers had represented projected points per game you would have easily earned a "like". . .

 

[BoatShow]

With UConn teams in recent years its not about who start but who finishes. Sure King Charles started games in 2011 but do you have any memories of him doing anything important down the stretch? No, because it was Kemba, Bazz, Lamb, Roscoe, AO closing games. Ollie will determine who is closing games and it may look way different than a traditional starting 5.

 

[Gurleyman]

With UConn teams in recent years its not about who start but who finishes. Sure King Charles started games in 2011 but do you have any memories of him doing anything important down the stretch? No, because it was Kemba, Bazz, Lamb, Roscoe, AO closing games. Ollie will determine who is closing games and it may look way different than a traditional starting 5.

Actually, yes. He guarded Derrick Williams in the last 5 minutes of a two-point win that got us to the Final Four. It's a great example of a role player called into duty in crunch time and coming through with an important contribution.

 

[BoatShow]

Actually, yes. He guarded Derrick Williams in the last 5 minutes of a two-point win that got us to the Final Four. It's a great example of a role player called into duty in crunch time and coming through with an important contribution.

MY BAD. Olander was probably starting over Chuck by then anyways. Looking at the box for that game TO started and played 5 minutes and Chuck came off the bench and played 24 minutes still proving my point.http://espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=310850041

 

[Dogbreath2U]

Two things come to mind: 1. With only 2 point guards on the roster, UConn will have great difficulty managing an injury to either one of them. Oh for another Craig Austrie to come along. 2. Who will be the best able to handle being the sixth man? Conversely, who will be the least able to handle not starting?

Regarding 2, I have no idea who would best handle not starting, although the freshman could be the choice for no other reason than that. It might be a problem for KO to handle if Jalen comes in and shows he is the best player or the best guard on the team. I think that Rodney will need to start as his confidence is a major factor in how he will play. He seems to have become the social leader of the team (no idea if this is really true, just seems like it) and KO's success in selling a "team first" mentality may be the most important thing.

 

[UConnSwag11]

@JonRothstein: All four of UConn's newcomers - Jalen Adams, Sterling Gibbs, S. Miller, and Steve Enoch - will contribute in 15-16. Huskies are Top 20 good.

 

[David 76]

I think our top 6 is clear and starting doesn't mean that much.
I think our 7th player is Facey over Enoch
Without TSam, Sam II becomes our 3rd PG when injuries and fouls add up. Probably our most vulnerable spot which is fantastic. Last year our 2nd PG was a huge vulnerability.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I think our top 6 is clear and starting doesn't mean that much.
I think our 7th player is Facey over Enoch
Without TSam, Sam II becomes our 3rd PG when injuries and fouls add up. Probably our most vulnerable spot which is fantastic. Last year our 2nd PG was a huge vulnerability.

I hope the Sam can really play some PG at this level. He didn't seem to have the quickness to get past or around people with the ball.

 

[Sportsman5]

@JonRothstein: All four of UConn's newcomers - Jalen Adams, Sterling Gibbs, S. Miller, and Steve Enoch - will contribute in 15-16. Huskies are Top 20 good.

I hate to be critical of a positive quote from a national guy, but to say Uconn will be a top 20 team isn't exactly going out on a limb. Even with very little improvement from our current players Uconn would probably be a top 25 team next year because gibbs replaces most of what boatright gave and obviously miller, enoch, and adams will add quite a few wins. then there are a bunch of scenarios where players make major leaps or adams proves to be a freshman stud and the team is top 5 in the country.

 

[David 76]

I hope the Sam can really play some PG at this level. He didn't seem to have the quickness to get past or around people with the ball.

I am skeptical too. That is why I wished TSam stayed. (But I understand why he left.) Much better to worry about our 3rd string PG than our 2nd string PG though.