Hurley’s Deepest UConn Team

[Hunt for 7]

When I look at Reed I see a player who is big enough…..I thought he played and looked bigger than 6’10” last year…..who moves well enough to cover a player like KAT or even Jokic. Now does he have a lot of work to put in and improve defensively yes of course but he has the athleticism to become a real good defensive player.

His offense is what separates him from being a player like Drummond. He has such soft hands for his size and I know he can shoot the ball. You can see that by watching him shoot.

Nothing against Adama but you could see his was more of a mechanical shot while Taris shot is fluid and more natural looking.

I posted earlier this summer that I thought Taris could play his way into first round pick that he has that type of talent and skills. If he emerges and Mullins is the star I think he is the other pieces will have less pressure to have to fit right away.

Man I am looking forward to watch this team play.

 

[RuffRuff]

When I look at Reed I see a player who is big enough…..I thought he played and looked bigger than 6’10” last year…..who moves well enough to cover a player like KAT or even Jokic. Now does he have a lot of work to put in and improve defensively yes of course but he has the athleticism to become a real good defensive player.

His offense is what separates him from being a player like Drummond. He has such soft hands for his size and I know he can shoot the ball. You can see that by watching him shoot.

Nothing against Adama but you could see his was more of a mechanical shot while Taris shot is fluid and more natural looking.

I posted earlier this summer that I thought Taris could play his way into first round pick that he has that type of talent and skills. If he emerges and Mullins is the star I think he is the other pieces will have less pressure to have to fit right away.

Man I am looking forward to watch this team play.

I went into 2024 feeling really good about the blend in the roster, really good. It played out. Not quite at that level this year, but not that far off. Much of it’s going to hinge on how good Mullins & Demary/Smith are, particularly on defense. I think this team is going to be laser focused after last year. Between the continuity, the depth, the talent, I really like this teams chances to make another run.

 

[HW611]

Stephon was a freshmen out with an early season injury at the time. Reed fits the NBA profile, I know a former NBA scout, who’s very high on Reed.

Reed is a former 5* so the talent is there. He went to a bad program at first with Michigan and last year he played limited minutes. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was able to play himself into a draft spot if he got consistent starter minutes last year.

This year he’s ready to put all his talent on display for the NBA scouts. Sticking with my Jalen Duren comp.

 

[Hunt for 7]

I went into 2024 feeling really good about the blend in the roster, really good. It played out. Not quite at that level this year, but not that far off. Much of it’s going to hinge on how good Mullins & Demary/Smith are, particularly on defense. I think this team is going to be laser focused after last year. Between the continuity, the depth, the talent, I really like this teams chances to make another run.

Agreed I find myself forgetting about the best shooter in America (Ball) when I start writing things about this team. My goodness he is more than likely a first team all BE player and might get some consideration in the all America race.

And I don’t even mention him when posting about the keys for this team’s success during the upcoming year.

 

[HooperScooper]

Reed is a former 5* so the talent is there. He went to a bad program at first with Michigan and last year he played limited minutes. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was able to play himself into a draft spot if he got consistent starter minutes last year.

This year he’s ready to put all his talent on display for the NBA scouts. Sticking with my Jalen Duren comp.

Not quite a former 5* (ranked in the 27-40 range in the 2022 class) but I get your point, he wasn't ranked so high for nothing.

 

[Inyatkin]

I'm hoping for a big season from Reed but my god, you read this stuff and you realize how it is we manage to fall into despair so easily. He'll be a lottery pick! He can guard KAT and Jokic! He can shoot the lights out!
Then when he plays like a quality college center we'll get the "sky is falling" posts.

 

[Chief00]

I'm hoping for a big season from Reed but my god, you read this stuff and you realize how it is we manage to fall into despair so easily. He'll be a lottery pick! He can guard KAT and Jokic! He can shoot the lights out!
Then when he plays like a quality college center we'll get the "sky is falling" posts.

I don’t have a history of overrating guys or our teams preseason / I am just being realistic about Reed’s ability, assuming he can stay out of the high hedge foul minefield.

 

[Waquoit]

5. UConn.​

Top reserves: F Jaylin Stewart, G Malachi Smith, F Eric Reibe, G/F Jayden Ross, G Jacob Furphy

Am I wrong or could those five start and win the A10? Better? And JStew looks much bigger in person than he does on TV to me.

 

[Inyatkin]

I don’t have a history of overrating guys or our teams preseason / I am just being realistic about Reed’s ability, assuming he can stay out of the high hedge foul minefield.

Hey are you a fan of the high hedge? Not sure I've seen you mention it before

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Depth is overrated. You can only play 5 at a time.

The most dominant team this generation went 7 deep.

Having the most talented #10 player on the roster just doesn't impact winning.

We need an elite starting lineup and solid guys at 6-7-8.

As with any team under consideration for a National Championship, key players need to remain illness & injury-free or heal in timely fashion from such. And good team chemistry built & maintained throughout the season is essential.

Each year's team has questions surrounding the roster, giving rise to optimism and rebutting skepticism. Threads like this are a showcase for posters to work out such energy.

It's been a marvel and joy in recently years to go further & further into each season before concluding that the team has no chance of winning it all. That wasn't even on the table not too long ago.

The pleasure of not closing a season with any loss at all (twice in a row!) distorts the reality that even last year ended with a sense that variable performance by an imperfect roster compromised further by impactful injuries was quite competitive with the eventual tournament winner that came together in the tournament to defeat other teams doing much the same.

 

[Chief00]

Hey are you a fan of the high hedge? Not sure I've seen you mention it before

I am not a fan of a 6-11, 265 pound big guy switching onto a 6-1 point guard 25 feet away from the basket, inevitably leading to fouls that should be used, if needed in the paint.

 

[husky429]

I am not a fan of a 6-11, 265 pound big guy switching onto a 6-1 point guard 25 feet away from the basket, inevitably leading to fouls that should be used, if needed in the paint.

Hedges and switches are not the same thing.

 

[prankster]

Ma

As with any team under consideration for a National Championship, key players need to remain illness & injury-free or heal in timely fashion from such. And good team chemistry built & maintained throughout the season is essential.

Each year's team has questions surrounding the roster, giving rise to optimism and rebutting skepticism. Threads like this are a showcase for posters to work out such energy.

It's been a marvel and joy in recently years to go further & further into each season before concluding that the team has no chance of winning it all. That wasn't even on the table not too long ago.

The pleasure of not closing a season with any loss at all (twice in a row!) distorts the reality that even last year ended with a sense that variable performance by an imperfect roster compromised further by impactful injuries was quite competitive with the eventual tournament winner that came together in the tournament to defeat other teams doing much the same.

Matchups! Consider matches.

Lots of people talk about how you can only play5.

Yes!

Absolutely. You can only play 5 at a time.

But then we focus on small matchups v. big matchups.

"What about a twin tower set?

Look, this is what coaching is all about. What look is the coach able to put on the floor to get the best advantage over an opponent?

That is precisely what depth gives you.

 

[Chief00]

Hedges and switches are not the same thing.

They are in the context of the High Hedging, true the assumption is you hedge and you stop them with their defender nearby to pick them up again. Where you are wrong is too often that’s where the play ends with the overmatched Big hedger fouling a point guard or the hedger’s former matchup rolling to the basket against a man 6 inches shorter. A defense should only assume this additional risk against a clear deep shooting threat, too often that’s not the case. At the scrimmage, Hurley said our defense was bad last season, so you are not arguing against just me but against our coach.

 

[HW611]

They are in the context of the High Hedging, true the assumption is you hedge and you stop them with their defender nearby to pick them up again. Where you are wrong is too often that’s where the play ends with the overmatched Big hedger fouling a point guard or the hedger’s former matchup rolling to the basket against a man 6 inches shorter. A defense should only assume this additional risk against a clear deep shooting threat, too often that’s not the case. At the scrimmage, Hurley said our defense was bad last season, so you are not arguing against just me but against our coach.

I agree that if you don’t have the personnel for it, don’t use the high hedge.

When we have a Whaley or even a Drummond, let’s do it. Because those guys were elite at defending out there and hedging. With guys like Clingan and Reed, would definitely prefer a drop coverage.

Especially if the team we’re playing against doesn’t need high hedging against them.

 

[husky429]

I agree that if you don’t have the personnel for it, don’t use the high hedge.

When we have a Whaley or even a Drummond, let’s do it. Because those guys were elite at defending out there and hedging. With guys like Clingan and Reed, would definitely prefer a drop coverage.

Especially if the team we’re playing against doesn’t need high hedging against them.

Why are you assuming we can only use one type of coverage with one big? Reed can play any number of coverages effectively. Drop, weak, ice, hedge, even strong a screen... and more. He's a smart kid and will need it for the league.