How Jayden Ross could be important piece of UConn men's basketball March Madness run

[HooperScooper]

An article @HW611 is going to love. 😀 From Mike Anthony. Another one you don't get without local beat writers.

Yes. You don't look tight anymore. You used to look tight.

“That was something I definitely struggled with in the past,” he said. “I think I've gotten a lot better at playing more relaxed but also bringing that same energy. It's taken a lot of work. I put in a lot of work over the summer, in terms of being able to be ready, mentally, for those moments. I feel a lot more comfortable and confident in those big spots where my team needs me, offensively, defensively, just being able to come through, trust my game, trust my teammates and trust the work I've put in.”

https://www.nhregister.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/jayden-ross-dan-hurley-big-east-21955260.php

The RuffRuff Alternate Access™:
How Jayden Ross could be important piece of UConn men's basketball March Madness run

 

[ucp990411]

I happen to agree that he could be an important part to our success. His ability to defend as well as hit the open shot will earn him important minutes. Something not often mentioned is how he runs the court. He is the type of player that can drive opponents crazy

 

[CardiacAndre7]

He’s been better and more often than not his shot looks really good. Good in transition too

 

[Umami Zen]

One of our X factors heading into Tournament time. Gotta get Stewie healthy and support the starters with our bench productivity on both sides of the ball.

 

[RuffRuff]

I'm really excited to see how he contributes - love his energy and body language.

 

[Lafayette]

Yes since we have had an abundance of good defenders it is highly positional. Emeka and Clingan were amazing down low and Shabazz and Ryan great at the point defense. Castle was lockdown as a two guard in our system and for my Lyman was capable of limiting a player to 1 or 2 shots. Ross is not that level but maybe 60% as good which is helpful if he gets any more consistent on both ends he will be vital (no pun intended)

 

[RoderickSpode]

Jayden is the classic team-first guy who is so easy to root for. If he keeps bringing the defensive intensity and can knock down open shots in the postseason, we could be in for a really fun journey over the next month.

 

[Tenspro2002]

There will surely be games where we need to emphasize defense and athleticism to set the tone, and he will be an important part of those lineups when others are ineffective.

 

[Husky Alien]

Excellent article on J Ross. I’ve been excited about his progress at UConn and supported him even through the rough stretches. His length and athleticism always stood out to me. While plenty of Boneyarders wrote him off as “not D1 level", you know who you are. It’s great to see his growth.
With NIL and the transfer portal, you may not see this kind of development as often anymore. He stuck with UConn, and I love that level of commitment to the program. Looking forward to what he brings in the Big East and the NCAA Tournament.

 

[HW611]

He’s been looking a lot more comfortable over this stretch like the article noted. Not only is he knocking down shots offensively, he’s starting to show he can make plays for others with the ball in his hands too.

Very excited to see what he brings this March and how it’ll set him up for an even bigger breakout next year.

 

[Lafayette]

Ross’ 3pt fakes are up with Ezra Miller flash.

Then on D it’s like sometimes he is faked out if his jockstrap but at least he can recover.

 

[ucp990411]

He’s been looking a lot more comfortable over this stretch like the article noted. Not only is he knocking down shots offensively, he’s starting to show he can make plays for others with the ball in his hands too.

Very excited to see what he brings this March and how it’ll set him up for an even bigger breakout next year.

I also think he will shine next year. I believe he will be an NBA player. His game is more suited to the NBA than college. Always just needed to relax more on the court and has improved in that area. I met him at one of the open practices last summer and seems like a great guy.

 

[jibsey]

He’s gotten control of the mental aspect and shoots confidently now. He never had big minutes which would have helped but he couldn’t get. Could be the X factor for us.

 

[BGesus4]

Man this guy is easy to root for

 

[HW611]

I also think he will shine next year. I believe he will be an NBA player. His game is more suited to the NBA than college. Always just needed to relax more on the court and has improved in that area. I met him at one of the open practices last summer and seems like a great guy.

I agree that he can prove to be an NBA player depending on what he can do next year.

I’m really curious to see if he’ll be a starter and how he’d look as a trusted Hurley guy on the team.

 

[prankster]

Watching Michigan v Iowa last night, I couldn't stop thinking about a Michigan v UConn match up.

And throughout, I kept thinking to myself just how big.of a problem Jaylin would present to Michigan's front line... and Ross, too.

 

[RuffRuff]

I also think he will shine next year. I believe he will be an NBA player. His game is more suited to the NBA than college. Always just needed to relax more on the court and has improved in that area. I met him at one of the open practices last summer and seems like a great guy.

I've not seen an interview with JRoss where he didn't come off as an absolutely terrific kid. There is a reason that Hurley brought his brother in. Ross kids are great for culture.

 

[navery12]

I agree that he can prove to be an NBA player depending on what he can do next year.

I’m really curious to see if he’ll be a starter and how he’d look as a trusted Hurley guy on the team.

Even if he starts I'm not sure it'll look too different from this year. He'll bring the energy and defense and knock down the open shots he gets but I'd be surprised if he's not still the 5th option on offense, which is not a knock on him.

That's all we need from him to be a positive when Silas, Solo, and Reibe are pretty much locked into their roles in the starting lineup.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Great article thanks for sharing

 

[alphasigko]

If you honestly watched and evaluated player performance during the actual games, you’d look at your post and be ashamed

Watched them all... He has improved on offense but he falls for at leaat one fake per game.

 

[ucp990411]

Watching Michigan v Iowa last night, I couldn't stop thinking about a Michigan v UConn match up.

And throughout, I kept thinking to myself just how big.of a problem Jaylin would present to Michigan's front line... and Ross, too.

Agreed. The athleticism we have on the front line will cause problems for Michigan, Duke and Florida. Their front lines are big and strong but the movement of our offense will cause them problems . It was why we had Florida on the ropes last year. But let’s worry about Marquette first.

I agree that he can prove to be an NBA player depending on what he can do next year.

I’m really curious to see if he’ll be a starter and how he’d look as a trusted Hurley guy on the team.

Depends on who comes back. Regardless I think he will play 22-25 minutes a game next year.

 

[lateralous]

I suspect that he will be one of the 5 on the court at the most critical times in March.

 

[gsmooth]

Watched them all... He has improved on offense but he falls for at leaat one fake per game.

He does fall for the upfake and sure he has some basketball skills he has to work on, like most players. The biggest thing Jayden has to work on is his mentality and mindset so he doesn't play like a scared uptight out of control spazz. Most of his issues are in between the ears and he seems to know that and is constantly working on that which is good and this team seems to be better with him on the floor.

The more he solves his issues in mindset, the more positive contributions he will make to this team. His athleticism is sorely needed for this team that is short on athleticism. This year's UConn team is going to need him to be a regular part of the rotation. Hurley and the coaching staff cannot have Ross as an afterthought.

 

[HW611]

Even if he starts I'm not sure it'll look too different from this year. He'll bring the energy and defense and knock down the open shots he gets but I'd be surprised if he's not still the 5th option on offense, which is not a knock on him.

That's all we need from him to be a positive when Silas, Solo, and Reibe are pretty much locked into their roles in the starting lineup.

You have to stop looking at basketball from a perspective of capping players based on what is needed and think more about what they are capable of doing.

It’s how you end up on the wrong side of these things so often.

 

[navery12]

You have to stop looking at basketball from a perspective of capping players based on what is needed and think more about what they are capable of doing.

It’s how you end up on the wrong side of these things so often.

That's exactly what I'm doing with Jayden Ross right here. He's looking great in his role, which is an important one. Why should we change that?

I'm very happy with where I end up on these conversations, but thanks for the advice. Including on these Jayden Ross conversations

 

[HW611]

That's exactly what I'm doing with Jayden Ross right here. He's looking great in his role, which is an important one. Why should we change that?

I'm very happy with where I end up on these conversations, but thanks for the advice. Including on these Jayden Ross conversations

I’m probably on an island, but these train of thoughts that’s okay with capping a player as good enough for their role is just weird to me.

The goal is for guys to be as good as they possibly can be. Which also connects with winning if a player is as good as they possibly can be.

 

[navery12]

I’m probably on an island, but these train of thoughts that’s okay with capping a player as good enough for their role is just weird to me.

The goal is for guys to be as good as they possibly can be. Which also connects with winning if a player is as good as they possibly can be.

I think you go into defensive mode way too fast with Ross. Not everyone is out to get him and hates him. I agree with everything you're saying here. All I'm saying is he's not a guy who needs to get 15 shots and a focal point of the offense for him to continue to improve. That's a compliment to him, not every player is able to contribute in the ways he can without getting shots

 

[HW611]

I think you go into defensive mode way too fast with Ross. Not everyone is out to get him and hates him. I agree with everything you're saying here. All I'm saying is he's not a guy who needs to get 15 shots and a focal point of the offense for him to continue to improve. That's a compliment to him, not every player is able to contribute in the ways he can without getting shots

I’m not saying he’s a 15 shots a game #1 option. But I don’t care enough to expound on the point right now.

Just happy he seems to finally be over the mental hurdle enough to start actually showcasing and growing his game.

 

[Kowalski]

I'm really excited to see how he contributes - love his energy and body language.

Really like how he runs the court in transition too. I think the team plays more up tempo and attacks more when he’s in.

He does need to avoid the temptation to bite on pump fakes though. But in fairness to him, he’s also blocked a few big perimeter shots & gotten steals with his aggressiveness.

 

[RuffRuff]

Really like how he runs the court in transition too. I think the team plays more up tempo and attacks more when he’s in.

He does need to avoid the temptation to bite on pump fakes though. But in fairness to him, he’s also blocked a few big perimeter shots & gotten steals with his aggressiveness.

Have to take the good and the bad - he brings something unique to the floor that brings good balance.