How good can we be?

[Rico444]

Even after I took dozens off Ignore, he remains. No regrets. Eternal post handle mismatch.

I think it's a good post/handle, actually. I have been passive-aggressively calling people "buddy" forever.

 

[rip7774]

I think if u have ever worked/played for a bad leader or in a toxic environment, u should be expect dramatic improvement. Would have likely been a mass exodus 2 years in a row. These assistants are big time too and i think help exponentially vs what we had. Throw in Rique and the conference falling off a cliff, and i expect a ton of improvement.

 

[Huskybass]

Not very. Too much dysfunction from tire fire. Cupboard is bare. Starting from scratch. Worst roster in UConn history. We will be lucky to improve over last season and anything beyond that is a bonus. Hurley needs at least three to four seasons before we can be expected to sniff the NCAA.

@JMick and @Huskybass , do I have the talking points down?

Sorry but that's just a b******* post. I once stated that I would be okay with Hurley having UConn back to a perennial NCAA tournament team within two to three seasons. I think that's entirely fair given the total dysfunction that we saw the last two seasons.

I am optimistic that we can make the NCAA tournament either this year and/or next year. However I'm not going to be down on Hurley if he doesn't make it in his first season coming off of two losing seasons.

 

[8893]

b********

Brilliant?

Why, thank you. Thank you very much.

 

[Rico444]

Brilliant?

Why, thank you. Thank you very much.

I can't for the life of me figure out what word he meant in that post.

 

[UConn990411]

I have high expectations for Jalen now that he’ll have the luxury of competent coaching, but I’m going into next season with zero expectations for the team.

This sounds kinda lame, but I’m just looking for steady improvement over the course of the year.

 

[TRest]

I have high expectations for Jalen now that he’ll have the luxury of competent coaching, but I’m going into next season with zero expectations for the team.

This sounds kinda lame, but I’m just looking for steady improvement over the course of the year.

I would like to see a team that doesn't get bogged down the first time a cupcake throws a zone at them.

 

[superjohn]

I can't for the life of me figure out what word he meant in that post.

b^tch arse.

 

[mauconnfan]

Sorry but that's just a b******* post. I once stated that I would be okay with Hurley having UConn back to a perennial NCAA tournament team within two to three seasons. I think that's entirely fair given the total dysfunction that we saw the last two seasons.

I am optimistic that we can make the NCAA tournament either this year and/or next year. However I'm not going to be down on Hurley if he doesn't make it in his first season coming off of two losing seasons.

Of course you won't be. LOL Go figure.

 

[buddy]

I think it's a good post/handle, actually. I have been passive-aggressively calling people "buddy" forever.

I am an old man. I was trying to help you. The way one speaks and writes goes a long way in determining their career success. UConn taught me that.

 

[auror]

We have more talent than last year's Rhode Island team. Nuff said.

Rhode Island had 5 seniors in the rotation (4 starters), all of whom had played in Hurley's system before the year.

We've got 0 players that have played in his system, 5 that haven't played more than 5 games with anyone else on the team, and are likely to have 1 senior in the starting lineup. There's a bit of a development gap.

 

[metsfan2323]

Hurley's system

What exactly is Hurley's system?

From what I saw of Rhode Island the offense doesn't seem very complicated, it's not like the players have to learn the finer points of the triangle offense. They need to get in great shape and learn how to man up on D. I don't think were talking about a multi-year learning curve.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Hey, anything is possible. The Red Sox won a damn World Series after dropping Bobby Valentine, even with an idiot like John Farrell in charge.

Seriously, though. There’s a difference between “how good can we be” and “how good can we do.” The two may not correlate. I want to see tougher defense, better rebounding, smarter shots and passes, and no bad losses. I think all of those things are likely. And if I see all that for this year I’ll accept the record, whatever it is. For “how good can we do,” if the line is 19 wins I’m taking the over. There’s more potential with this team than many are crediting.

 

[intlzncster]

3. For everyone saying we basically have the same team. Gilbert being back would be MASSIVE. We were 4-0 with him last year, and down only 1 at halftime to a Top 5 team. He immediately would make a huge difference.

And that's just it. There's a large amount of 'ifs' this year. If all or most of them hit, then we could be pretty damn good. But a few of those could easily derail this campaign. tbd

To piggy back on Gilbert, having a guy like Smith as that 3rd ball handler has so many positive follow on effects. He's a good step up from a guy like Anderson. Lack of quality guard depth killed us last year.

The big achilles heel is outside shooting. How guys improve, and a number will need to, determines the team's ceiling imo.

 

[intlzncster]

I'm all for the Chief caricature but when you're trying to live up to your rep in a thread that has zero connection to what you just posted and had actually generated on-topic discussion to this point,

But that is the Chief caricature...

 

[TheChamps990411]

If they buy in and play for each other with love and heart and love in their hearts as a family and a unit with resolve and desire knowing that only they can believe in each other and that believing in each other is the belief that will drive them to success on the court and in life then they can come together and push one another to great and amazing things.

So, like, hopefully 20+ wins.

Do they hold hands and sing koomba ya before every game too?

 

[borninansonia]

I expect the first third of the season to be rough, throwing some posters here in total panic.

The second third of the season I expect the team to start showing some improvement, giving hope to the more observant members of the boneyard.

The last third of the season I expect the team to look good, to win more games than they lose, and show up well in the AAC tournament, giving almost boneyard members great expectations for the following year.

 

[UconnFanDC]

I do believe that we will be a fairly good team. If we can get some rebounds and interior scoring, we'll get back to 20 wins. We should finish in top 3 of AAC.

 

[jibsey]

Who are the very good 3 point shooters on our team? Not the wishing and hoping ones please.

 

[willie99]

No reason to think anything short of an NCAA Tournament birth. We have plenty of talent, and speed and size and athleticism and quality guards.

The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores. I think Hurley is going to put the kids in a better position to play well, I think his game planning will be better, I think his offensive schemes will be more flexible (talent helps), I think Hurley will get us a few easy baskets after a timeout and that will be huge in close games

The team may start slowly, but I trust they'll be pretty good come February. They'll make the dance, and the second weekend is a realistic expectation (unless they're a dreaded 8/9 seed)

 

[willie99]

I've severely overestimated our team two years in a row.

I'm done with the prediction business.

Nobody expected the devastating injuries which didn't help. I'm sure your expectations, and mine, would be a lot lower if we knew we wouldn't have Gilbert or Larrier for either year.



PS: and no, we never had a healthy Larrier either, so don't anyone go Boneyard on me, it's the truth

 

[Rico444]

Who are the very good 3 point shooters on our team? Not the wishing and hoping ones please.

When Christian Vital is using good shot selection, he's a good shooter. Shot 37% as a freshman, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if he shot around 40% this upcoming season, assuming the offense looks better than it did last year (it almost has to, right?).

 

[Sphinx]

Yes, there are lots of question marks on offense, but the great unknowable is how totally this team will commit to defense. They have the size and quickness at guard and on the wings to cause a lot of full-court disruption. And they have the bodies to sustain it for forty minutes. They must do this to avoid the mismatches underneath that will show up in a half-court defense. The problem with trying to predict wins is that so much depends on what happens at the opponent's end of the court. Who, for example, can estimate the wins that might come from an aggressive, in-your-face three-point defense?

 

[Jaker]

Unless they improve their perimeter D and drastically improve 3 point shooting, the team will only probably be 4-5 wins better than last year.

 

[Husky68]

Who are the very good 3 point shooters on our team? Not the wishing and hoping ones please.

Adams and CV shot 32% from 3 last year. Prior year Adams shot 35% and CV 37%. Dip last year to 32% maybe as much shot selection/tiredness as lack of ability. Not so much of a stretch to see potential of 40% in either/both as both are solid foul shooters. Team shot 32.6% overall from 3's last year.

Kemba 2011 team shot 32.9% from 3's; both Kemba and Bazz shot 33% that year (as did Giffey) (Bazz and Giffey shot 41% and 48% respectively in 2014). 2011 turned out pretty good.


Polley was 42% from 3's last year.

For all the talk about poor offensive sets (and much warranted) here are last year vs. 2014 and 2011 overall scoring and defense stats:

Uconn Pts Per Game Opponent Pts Per Game

2017 68.2 73.1
2014 70.6 63.4
2011 72.4 64.9

One 3 pointer per game gets 2017 team scoring to 2014 level, lot of stops needed to get to those years defensive stats. Play tough and with some Kemba/Lamb/Bazz/Giffey/Boat type aggressiveness/smarts on offense and defense and a lot of things get better (or end up good enough like the 2011 team's 3 point shooting % at 32.9%).

 

[Jaker]

"You do not know what pain is yet, but you will learn"

 

[HuskyHawk]

There were times last year when I thought, of only we had Dom Perno as coach, that would be good for a few wins. We were the worst coached team in D1 basketball, and maybe of any time in recent memory. It’s hard to estimate just what that means.

I’m optimistic that it means that our players are a little better than they’be looked so far. I think guys like Diarra can be quality players. Carlton looked very good at times. Adams is Adams. Gilbert is a McD AA PG who is finally healthy. Transfers look like solid players.

It gives me hope.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Gentlemen and Ladies; the answer comes down to three things; defense, defense, defense. we will be as good as our defense lets us be.

 

[BlueMAB]

20 wins. But may not be enough to make the tourney. More important is how we play. I don't expect the offense to be significantly better, just marginally. I expect improved defense, and that should be enough to make this team compete for post-season play.

 

[Madmannsucks]

I expected more last year. I really think there was more talent than the record indicates. So if the team over achieves I see a tourney bid, otherwise NIT.