Honest question- Do we have enough rebounding to be bulletproof | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Honest question- Do we have enough rebounding to be bulletproof

Great against most guards, but he doesnt have the strength/size versatility against the bigger PG/SG/SF that Castle did.
Neither did the guy in your profile picture and he was one of the best rebounding guards in the country ;)

Along with his 6’0” backcourt mate too…
 
Great against most guards, but he doesnt have the strength/size versatility against the bigger PG/SG/SF that Castle did.
We might not be as good of a rebouning team from 1-3 positions but based on who we have and what we are trying for in the portal we might be a lot better 3 pt shooting team.
 
Yes because Stewart isn’t “replacing” anyone unless Karaban leaves. Liam isn’t as athletic as Castle, Newton was capable of grabbing 10 boards, and Cam was also a tenacious rebounder. Brea and Mahaney averaged a combined 6.4 rpg last year.
Newton averaged similar rebounding numbers to those guys before he came to UConn. What these guys did at their last program has little bearing on what they’ll be capable of under Hurley and co. As he’s proved over and over.
 
Great against most guards, but he doesnt have the strength/size versatility against the bigger PG/SG/SF that Castle did.
He’s fine unless it’s a good that’s going to turn around and back him down/bully him down low. They put him on Shannon and he did just fine for stretches. No he’s not Castle, but we won’t have a Castle. Diarra is still an elite perimeter defender that can play well above his size on that end.
 
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Diarra and Samson - the perceived weak rebounding points next year - both played a ton of minutes last year. It isn't going to be that different.

Ball and his solid frame and 45.5" are not going to be a problem on the glass. Reed is a strong rebounder as is McNeeley. We have already seen Stewart all over the glass.

If you watch Nowell play - you can see he is going to be a want-it rebounder - and he is solidly built as well. Napier did okay with less to work with physically.

They are going to be just fine with plenty of options.
 
Samson is not a rebounding specialist, we’ve seen that. His upper body strength contributes, he has length. Cam was getting 7-8 rebounds a game in crunch time. Newton too. Need Alex back it would help but I think we have to see what the new mixes produce. Defense and rebounding made us unbeatable so we need it.
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Rebounding is position plus desire and toughness. Who wants to bet against Hurley instilling that?
 
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Yes because Stewart isn’t “replacing” anyone unless Karaban leaves. Liam isn’t as athletic as Castle, Newton was capable of grabbing 10 boards, and Cam was also a tenacious rebounder. Brea and Mahaney averaged a combined 6.4 rpg last year.
C'mon. The ample tapes of Liam show and prove he is VERY athletic, fast, quick, heady, and functional. He's got great foot movement. Remember Larry Legend? Was he athletic or not? Naw, he was only the GOAT......
 
Solo will be getting more minutes and is hyper athletic. He’ll chip in plenty of rebounds.

Nowell being 6’ definitely changes the look of our back court in that regard a lot
But hes so thick that he bounces guys out of the way. I've seen him do well for his size getting rebounds.
 
Agree with McNeeley at 2. Maybe even Jaylin some. But if AK doesn't return, which tall wings are you talking about? Abraham could be the answer i'm looking for, but our other forwards aren't big in height or frame. Ross has been growing and is REALLY bouncy, hope he shows enough to get into rotation eventually.
We have 4 guys who are 6' 7' or taller who are all talented run and jump athletes and very interchangeable. You get 3 of them on the court at once and youve got very good height.
 
This team need some older players. Not going to repeat with a Junior and a Senior.

The past 2 teams had grad students in the mix and that leadership needs to be replaced first.
 
This team need some older players. Not going to repeat with a Junior and a Senior.

The past 2 teams had grad students in the mix and that leadership needs to be replaced first.
That's why I wanted AK to stay. Don't see it though. He's probably happy being a 2nd round pick and betting on himself.
 
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This team need some older players. Not going to repeat with a Junior and a Senior.

The past 2 teams had grad students in the mix and that leadership needs to be replaced first.
Diarra, Karaban, Samson, Brea, Mahaney, and Reed would all be older players + we have a bunch of 2nd year guys. Only bringing in 3 true freshmen. I think we would have more than enough experience to contend with this team.
 
Diarra, Karaban, Samson, Brea, Mahaney, and Reed would all be older players + we have a bunch of 2nd year guys. Only bringing in 3 true freshmen. I think we would have more than enough experience to contend with this team.
There are 4 scholarship slots open.

As for your list:

2 of them are on the team as of today. A Junior transfer and a Senior.

1 is never coming back from the draft and 1 is unlikely to sign up for another year of 6th man role and is waiting out the commitments (until April 30 when he puts his name in the portal to extend his decision time).

The other 2 can get to the NBA from their other target schools and NIL is a factor.

If Hurley and co. can get 2 of the 4 then he only has to fill in the last 2 slots with “1 and out of eligibility” players.

Today, this looks like a young roster that can win it all in 2026 - not 2025.
 
There are 4 scholarship slots open.

As for your list:

2 of them are on the team as of today. A Junior transfer and a Senior.

1 is never coming back from the draft and 1 is unlikely to sign up for another year of 6th man role and is waiting out the commitments (until April 30 when he puts his name in the portal to extend his decision time).

The other 2 can get to the NBA from their other target schools and NIL is a factor.

If Hurley and co. can get 2 of the 4 then he only has to fill in the last 2 slots with “1 and out of eligibility” players.

Today, this looks like a young roster that can win it all in 2026 - not 2025.
You're completely talking out of your arse but that's your role here.
 
He’s replacing a lot minutes though which is essentially the same thing. And in Hurleys offense/defense all these guys are going to rebound regardless of what they did at their last school. Point is, size and athleticism certainly will not be an issue. It’s literally what Hurley had been putting recruiting emphasis on.

C'mon. The ample tapes of Liam show and prove he is VERY athletic, fast, quick, heady, and functional. He's got great foot movement. Remember Larry Legend? Was he athletic or not? Naw, he was only the GOAT......
K. So it’s not enough to say Next years team could be #1 in the country, and just as good offensively as this years team. We have to argue it will be just as good on the boards and defensively as well. I guess we should all prepare for another tourney record breaking performance that none thought we’d ever see again.
 
K. So it’s not enough to say Next years team could be #1 in the country, and just as good offensively as this years team. We have to argue it will be just as good on the boards and defensively as well. I guess we should all prepare for another tourney record breaking performance that none thought we’d ever see again.
Alll I’m saying is that you said that we are not as big or athletic with this upcoming team which is just objectively false. We were literally considered a relatively unathletic team this past season, especially for how much we dominated.
 
Were still going to have plenty of size. And this staff maximizes the rebounding prowess of every player. Ahmad and Has will be our two smallest players but complete bulldogs. Will be fine I think
 
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Newton and Cam both had a knack for hunting rebounds. With that said I think a lot of credit goes to the coaching staff for teaching team rebounding. I think we'll see similar results if the team buys into what they'll be taught.

I seem to remember in the past seeing opponents get offensive rebounds, often by the perimeter players, and thinking how are you not boxing out?!?! Not so much the past two seasons.

Size and strength helps, but execution and effort can be the difference between losing because you gave up too many second chances and/or didn't generate some for your own and losing.

I think we'll be fine. We'll find out if that's the case once they start playing against the other high major teams.
 
100% agree. We’re possibly replacing Newton, Cam, Castle, Clingan with Mahaney, Brea, McNeeley, Reed. In other words replacing 4 NBA players with 1 projected NBA player. Our offense could be as good as last year but our defense and rebounding won’t be. We just wont have the same size or athleticism. So no We wouldn’t be bulletproof but we’d still be the best team in the country.
Losing a force like clingan is huge both on the defensive and offensive end. Will need to see how these guys develop and come back with the new additions but lots of “ifs” right now for me on defense particularly.
 
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