Hurley meeting media today

[bigknight3]

I want AJ to develop an "in your face", posterizing dunk that can be used once or twice a game. Enough of this floater and contested lay up crap. Use his athletic skills to embarrass and deflate the opponent.

Only in practice apparently...

 

[MDHuskFan]

Akok lost his lateral quickness and his jumping ability which was his main strength. He could not put the ball on the floor and create his own shot. Essentially, after his injury, he became a taller Polley. He’s a good guy but we need more. One dimensional players aren’t going to cut it

If he was a taller Polley he would have played more

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

That's rich.

Akok was hitting 3's better than 50% and Hurley wouldn't play him.

Akok was the easiest to see as a transfer.

46% on less than 30 attempts. I think he made 13 all season. Just for comparisons sake Rashad Anderson took more than 200 in a season twice.

 

[SeattleHoop]

If he was a taller Polley he would have played more

And he probably would have if he decided to stay. But he would have maintained a bench role as a tall, one dimensional, 3 point threat. He probably envisions himself doing more but the reality is he cannot

 

[SeattleHoop]

If he was a taller Polley he would have played more

Maybe calling him a taller Polley was a bit of a stretch but what else could he really do other than catch and shoot a three offensively? Nothing really. Defensively he used to be a menace but not so much anymore

 

[WhereistheDove?]

That's rich.

Akok was hitting 3's better than 50% and Hurley wouldn't play him.

Akok was the easiest to see as a transfer.

Can we stop this? He sat because he couldn’t play man defense and his offensive game consisted of low volume wide open corner threes only. I get why he left but this narrative that he was screwed by Hurley just doesn’t hold any water.

 

[HooperScooper]

We had 15 available scholarships this year, Whaley and Polley didn't count since they used their Covid year. That's why he was able to enroll, we had a scholarship available for him. Akok took a ton of loopholes and was NOT eligible to play because he walked on. Karaban could have played since he was given a scholarship

All true except I'm certain Akok was on scholarship when he got to UConn. And he could have played that 2nd semester even if he walked on. Why wouldn't he have been eligible to play? I'm pretty sure as long as you're taking classes full time you can play for a school, whether you're on scholarship or not.

Just looked up the roster from 2019-2020 and he was definitely on scholarship.

2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster - University of Connecticut Athletics

The official 2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster for the University of Connecticut Huskies

uconnhuskies.com

 

[navery12]

All true except I'm certain Akok was on scholarship when he got to UConn. And he could have played that 2nd semester even if he walked on. Why wouldn't he have been eligible to play? I'm pretty sure as long as you're taking classes full time you can play for a school, whether you're on scholarship or not.

Just looked up the roster from 2019-2020 and he was definitely on scholarship.

2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster - University of Connecticut Athletics

The official 2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster for the University of Connecticut Huskies

uconnhuskies.com

I could be misremembering, I thought there was an issue where he wanted to enroll for 2nd semester but we didn't have any open scholarships and were trying to find a way to get him on campus

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Can we stop this? He sat because he couldn’t play man defense and his offensive game consisted of low volume wide open corner threes only. I get why he left but this narrative that he was screwed by Hurley just doesn’t hold any water.

Agreed - he could shoot a three from the corner and block shots but only from the help side. So, he was really one dimensional on both sides of the ball. Certainly, a good guy but that limited a game doesn't position you to be a starter or in a 7 man rotation on last season's roster or our go-forward rosters.

 

[HooperScooper]

I could be misremembering, I thought there was an issue where he wanted to enroll for 2nd semester but we didn't have any open scholarships and were trying to find a way to get him on campus

Your memory is better than mine! Here's the article. Kwintin Williams had that 13th scholarship even though he was suspended and couldn't play (that's why he wasn't on the roster I saw).

As a recruited player — Akok took official visits to UConn — he cannot play as a walk-on as he will be getting institutional financial aid. Andre Drummond, a recruited player, played as a walk-on for UConn in 2011-12, without institutional financial aid. UConn will have a scholarship available for Akok at the end of the academic year. Senior Kwintin Williams, though suspended from the team, is still on scholarship and is working to earn his degree in the spring.

Akok Akok enrolls at UConn, will begin practicing, working toward next season

Akok Akok has enrolled at UConn and will be joining the men’s basketball program as a nonscholarship player. Akok, who withdrew from Putnam Science Academy, where he was playing as a postgrad…

www.courant.com

 

[Jimdish255]

but his point still stands, the 9th through 13th guys on the team have to be content with not playing much if at all, like springs has been. otherwise they have the option to just pack up and leave now.

i think there is/was a 99% chance floyd entered this season as the 9th man on the roster. sure he coulda played ~10 mpg but the players we'll have can easily absorb that time.

1) sanogo, 2) newton, 3) jackson, 4) hawkins, 5) transfer guard?, 6) johnson, 7) karaban, 8) castle?, 9) floyd, 10) clingan, 11) springs

whatever developmental depth piece we get to replace floyd shouldnt be the difference between winning a tourney game or not this season

So he was 9th behind players to be named later and others with basically no minutes or no outside shot? Okay I'll buy that.

 

[Storrs South]

 

[Madmannsucks]

This can be spun any way he/you want. Losing 4 players is not a good look. Some holes to fill. I am not saying this is the beginning of the end by any means. He did get the ECU transfer and there are some good players to be had. we'll see when the dust settles. Even if he fills the gaps, there will still be the post season issue to make a real move in the tourney. Work to be done for sure.

 

[Storrs South]

 

[Storrs South]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[bendm]

“I’m going to tell them where they are at in their careers and what we are thinking in terms of adding to the program”

This says it all. Hurley might not have all the incoming transfers he wants locked down like Newton was, but for the current players’ benefit he lets them know what he’s thinking even if it might end up biting him on the ass.

At the end of this season he communicated to the team that he wanted a couple new Gs, which Floyd, diggins and gaffney didn’t like hearing so they all left. Doesn’t Hurley deserve credit for not catching the current players off guard before recruiting over them?

 

[3rdbass]

Intersting the article states bringing in 4 more players. Will be interesting who we bring in.

 

[AdamaNation]

Il

this is the balancing act Hurley needs to figure out but it's not going to happen overnight. with the new transfer rule it remains to be seen if even a coach like Wright can keep holding on to guys like antoine and patterson without playing them, as he's notorious for.

for now i tend to agree with you. any given year i want the top 8 guys in the rotation to be 4 and 5 star recruits and immediate impact transfers and the rest of the guys to be 3* depth pieces that either grow into upperclassmen contributors or transfer without much consequence.

next year floyd was looking like the 9th guy in the rotation, at best. in other words, as a top 100 RS frosh on the edge of the rotation he's exactly the type of guy that's likely to transfer out due to the new rule and it shouldnt come as a surprise going forward

l take a 3* 4 year player who starts senior year with a stud freshman behind him. Hurley needs to hit the gas and tap the brakes as to not overcook those types of recruits. But his development of low ranked has yet to be seen. Personally I hope Hurley just lets his staff do what they do best and know his place is to manage ALL the talent and personalities.

 

[AdamaNation]

but his point still stands, the 9th through 13th guys on the team have to be content with not playing much if at all, like springs has been. otherwise they have the option to just pack up and leave now.

i think there is/was a 99% chance floyd entered this season as the 9th man on the roster. sure he coulda played ~10 mpg but the players we'll have can easily absorb that time.

1) sanogo, 2) newton, 3) jackson, 4) hawkins, 5) transfer guard?, 6) johnson, 7) karaban, 8) castle?, 9) floyd, 10) clingan, 11) springs

whatever developmental depth piece we get to replace floyd shouldnt be the difference between winning a tourney game or not this season

Just find a senior who loves college too much to leave.

 

[bendm]

Intersting the article states bringing in 4 more players. Will be interesting who we bring in.

i think we still need 5, but that's not as daunting as it sounds. should mean 2 more rotation players, 2 depth pieces, and 1 reclass redshirt.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

alla youse, talking aboot typo ex post facto, and by a lot of wasted years.
and now aj, above, talking 'I really think we're going to have one of the best backcourts in the country, if not the best"
then danny, blathering on aboot
'Not a lot a of schools in the country that wouldn’t want to trade their best four for our best four.'
it's all just getting to be a bit much.

 

[AdamaNation]

I think we can all agree now that Gaffney's minutes were going to decline and he wanted to play somewhere. Would have liked him to finish his career here mentoring younger guys but it's his life, no issues with him looking for a new home.

Same for Diggins, it was clear he wasn't anywhere near this level. It certainly showed in games and it's a near certainty it showed up in practice. If he minds his mouth, No one should hate on him.

As for Akok, but I think he may be looking for an opportunity to make his case for the NBA. That wasn't happening here as a 3rd center and part-time stretch 4. I think it a real longshot, but again, it's his life.

Floyd is the interesting one, it looks a lot like he thought he was getting the keys and he got scared/offended of Hurley bringing in a proven PG in addition to the competition from a higher rated recruit in Castle, whether he shows up this year or next. I would hope after a year of practice, Hurley was straight with him on his projected status. A RSFr really shouldn't expect to play 35 minutes a game unless you are killing it in practice. (cue the Ferrari in the garage quotes). It would have been malpractice if Hurley didn't bring in a starting caliber transfer and the best one he could find. I think this has more to do with Castle and his behind the scenes performance than Newton, but then again, these are kids who come in with very high opinions of themselves so it's anyone's guess. I have no reason to think he won't be good wherever he ends up. Dan just needs to avoid a Ryan Gomes situation.

You say Ferrari and he is literally a lower end version of purvis

 

[3rdbass]

i think we still need 5, but to me that means 2 more rotation players, 2 depth pieces, and 1 reclass redshirt.

I just don't see us bringing in 5 especially with how many players we have now and know we are going to keep spots open for 2023 players too.

 

[bendm]

I just don't see us bringing in 5 especially with how many players we have now and know we are going to keep spots open for 2023 players too.

we have 8 players now dont we? no reason not to use all 13 schollys. we could also land another senior transfer or grad transfer that would only be here for a year (like newton) and we'll prob lose another player or two to the portal next offseason! roster turnover is a given.

 

[AdamaNation]

Akok lost his lateral quickness and his jumping ability which was his main strength. He could not put the ball on the floor and create his own shot. Essentially, after his injury, he became a taller Polley. He’s a good guy but we need more. One dimensional players aren’t going to cut it

He had no defensive awareness aside from a good block. He was always getting barked at for being out of position and was constantly out muscled despite adding some size. I loved Akok. But the fact he stopped improving led to our bench weakening as a whole. The dream line up if adama Akok Ajax Hawkins and ?? Never came to pass.

 

[bendm]

The dream line up if adama Akok Ajax Hawkins and ??

and Cole but now Newton. i thought that was gonna be our starting lineup that made it to the final 4 next year...sigh.

 

[UKemba15]

 

[Jbirdp5]

Hurley was definitely surprised by the cfj transfer. You would have to assume that the article pumping him up would have been squashed had they known about the transfer.

 

[BlueMAB]

No it’s different. One semester v and entire year. And summer. You are equating things that aren’t equal

They don’t need to be equal, they are similar. At a minimum, Floyd and Karaban both came here knowing that redshirting was a possibility.