Hurley on next year's team

[StepbackCity]

Hurley doesn’t want anyone to leave. Had one transfer in 6 years at URI. Wants to have a culture of brotherhood, can’t do that while forcing kids out or letting them go.

 

[ToolzieFan]

Was thinking similarly. If you're a poor shooting team, it's a difficult strategy to employ. Offensive possessions with an outside shot become practically turnovers.

Hard to win with little perimeter shooting in today's game. One of the main reasons KO's teams weren't very successful, is that he failed to recruit superior outside shooters.

Yeah, common sense a team either has to score really efficiently, or get more shots than their opponents, whether that comes through offensive rebounding or having a large, positive turnover differential. KO's post-Shabazz teams didn't get easy shots within the offense, and to make it worse, we never got second chance opportunities. With more talent, buy-in from players, and better health, let's hope we can improve in all aspects of our offense.

 

[NJHoops]

I’ve run down Hurley’s history with transfers before, but there was a guy he brought to URI who had committed to him at Wagner. He played some but was eventually declared medically ineligible at URI (history of concussions- two in off court “incidents,” one in high school and one in college). The original plan was for him to stay on with a scholarship, but not a roster spot, and assist with team-related duties. This never completely materialized, as he was deemed eligible by another school’s medical staff and went there to play.

 

[ToolzieFan]

I’ve run down Hurley’s history with transfers before, but there was a guy he brought to URI who had committed to him at Wagner. He played some but was eventually declared medically ineligible at URI (history of concussions- two in off court “incidents,” one in high school and one in college). The original plan was for him to stay on with a scholarship, but not a roster spot, and assist with team-related duties. This never completely materialized, as he was deemed eligible by another school’s medical staff and went there to play.

If Diarra is unable to play due to his knees, I hope we work out something like this with him. He seems like a solid dude and good teammate who has run into some bad luck, and I don't think we want to burn any bridges with him. For his sake, I'd obviously rather he be healthy, but if he is going to be in constant pain, I don't want him to jeopardize his future well-being.. I can't wait until we all know next year's roster so every thread will stop turning into a debate about the merits of forcing players out, etc.

 

[superjohn]

I’ve run down Hurley’s history with transfers before, but there was a guy he brought to URI who had committed to him at Wagner. He played some but was eventually declared medically ineligible at URI (history of concussions- two in off court “incidents,” one in high school and one in college). The original plan was for him to stay on with a scholarship, but not a roster spot, and assist with team-related duties. This never completely materialized, as he was deemed eligible by another school’s medical staff and went there to play.

Staff seems to be working on something like that.

 

[UconnU]

Staff seems to be working on something like that.

I wonder what the plan for Whaley is. He’s definitely not a 4 in Hurley’s offense. I guess beef him up a little and use him as a backup center?

 

[Chief00]

Yes, this is the trend. NBA especially. You’ll see most teams retreat on the shot and not even go for offensive rebounds. But, those teams have very efficient shooters. They don’t miss all that often and yes, get some long rebounds.

There’s a real question as to whether college teams have the ability to play that way on a consistent basis. Nova did with their last NC team, with an extraordinary level of talent. Their sixth man was a first round pick. Honestly, thinking back 2014 UConn played that way. Stifling half court D, and never allowed transition. They didn’t get many offensive boards.

On the other hand. Anybody who showed up right now with the kind of post game that the Ewing Georgetown teams had would be all but unstoppable by these modern teams. They’d rebound and score inside almost at will. Look at the leap USF made last year. To my eye test they did it by going old school and being bigger and more physical than everyone they played, even though their skill and talent level was low. There are lots of ways to win. Shooters are in great demand. Traditional post players are currently undervalued.

Some good points - Chief still thinks it’s a simple game. If you aggressively go after offensive rebounds that can slow the transition too - even if the opponent gets the rebound. What you don’t want is guys standing around in the corners when a shot goes up. Just a GPS map exercise - they have the longest to go to stop the fast beak at the rim.

 

[Chief00]

2011: 18-11
2012: 15-16
2013: 20-12
2014: 15-15
2016: 9-21
2017: 10-21

This is Tom's record over the last six seasons at Quinnipiac. When taken in combination with Ken Pom's numbers on offensive rebounding percentage combined with the numbers for Virginia this season the argument can be made that Chief is overstating the importance of offensive rebounding as a must have.
It's a potential for winning games, depending on many other factors.

Although it is the ideal it will be rare that a team can have strengths at every aspect of the game and no weaknesses. Outside of an elite (perhaps cheating) few, most coaches will try to recruit players that they believe will give them a tactical advantage against other teams because they cannot be assured which of the players they are recruiting will commit.

As an example:
The full court press employed during "The Dream Season" was successful for a variety of reasons. But imo the major reason was Nadov's ability to anticipate and intercept passes when we trapped opposing players. Henefeld was not the most athletic player UConn has had at his position. But he certainly was one of the most cerebral. We have had quicker players since that season. But we never had a cerebral player to complement the quickness of the guards trapping opposing players. Hence the full court press has never been as sucessful.

Q had an unusual thing happen though - they switched conferences - and did not have the star power to compete at a higher level. Tom still got them to battle - but that along with a couple recruiting misses at the wrong time spelled trouble. The change in conference competition was an unusual circumstance. Given that though, Tom did not make excuses.

 

[Walker11]

The best and 3rd best offensive rebounding teams in the NBA recently finished Game 1. Both teams play 4 out. Food for thought, @Chief00

 

[Scrutineer]

Akok looks like Slenderman.

And that's after three months in Sal's program. Some guys just don't have the body type to bulk up.

 

[Scrutineer]

2011: 18-11
2012: 15-16
2013: 20-12
2014: 15-15
2016: 9-21
2017: 10-21

This is Tom's record over the last six seasons at Quinnipiac. When taken in combination with Ken Pom's numbers on offensive rebounding percentage combined with the numbers for Virginia this season the argument can be made that Chief is overstating the importance of offensive rebounding as a must have.
It's a potential for winning games, depending on many other factors.

Although it is the ideal it will be rare that a team can have strengths at every aspect of the game and no weaknesses. Outside of an elite (perhaps cheating) few, most coaches will try to recruit players that they believe will give them a tactical advantage against other teams because they cannot be assured which of the players they are recruiting will commit.

As an example:
The full court press employed during "The Dream Season" was successful for a variety of reasons. But imo the major reason was Nadov's ability to anticipate and intercept passes when we trapped opposing players. Henefeld was not the most athletic player UConn has had at his position. But he certainly was one of the most cerebral. We have had quicker players since that season. But we never had a cerebral player to complement the quickness of the guards trapping opposing players. Hence the full court press has never been as sucessful.

"But imo the major reason was Nadov's ability to anticipate and intercept passes when we trapped opposing players."
So true. You could see it coming when we'd trap someone on the sideline just past mid-court and yet we haven't had players capable of that anticipation since Henefeld. Is it that the players just don't understand how limited the options are when an opposing player is trying to pass out of a double team?

 

[AdamaNation]

Unless you have a Dre, which we don’t, Chief doesn’t buy the 4 out and 1 in thing.
For our talent you need two dudes regularly going to the boards on offense. Often one creates disruptions and the other gets the ball. Poor offensive rebounding was one reason we lost last season. In several key games our opponents killed us in that category. We have no one guy who is going to change that statistic that makes us lose.

Offensive rebounds..... this guy.
Ever hear if providence?

Joking. We so need to be a traditional 2 big 3 swing/small line up. We won our rings that way. Yes 14 featured going small ( Steve Kerr sure rhyme bited) but we are a defensive, shot blocking ,defensive rebounding , guard manufacturing plant. Yes some May change but the formula is there.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

And that's after three months in Sal's program. Some guys just don't have the body type to bulk up.

A 6'10" lanky high school basketball prospect doesn't just turn into Shaq after three months in a weight training program.

Sal's plan with Akok was to start off with small basic weight lifting, and work up gradually from there. You have to build muscles patiently and cautiously, especially with young basketball players. My understanding is you have to build a foundation for muscle growth before you can actually make noticeable gains.
I think Akok and Carlton will be adequately built come November.

 

[Walker11]

And that's after three months in Sal's program. Some guys just don't have the body type to bulk up.

I am guessing you are either naturally very strong, or have never lifted weights. That's not how it works...

 

[Hurleyman216]

Look at the teams in the Elite Eight - As I recall, they all had guys who could rebound and defend in the paint.

Looks like Chief needs to post less on the BY and watch more college hoops. Literally every team in the Final 4 aside from Michigan State started lineups that played 4 out, 1 in and even Mich St. played that style for at least 50% of the game. You might want to take a seat on this argument because having 4 guys capable of hitting a 3 is way more valuable than offensive rebounding and if you knew anything about analytics you would know this.

 

[polycom]

Looks like Chief needs to post less on the BY and watch more college hoops. Literally every team in the Final 4 aside from Michigan State started lineups that played 4 out, 1 in and even Mich St. played that style for at least 50% of the game. You might want to take a seat on this argument because having 4 guys capable of hitting a 3 is way more valuable than offensive rebounding and if you knew anything about analytics you would know this.

It's chief he just makes stuff up, everyone knows this. Enjoy chief for what he is don't take him too seriously.

 

[HuskyHawk]

"But imo the major reason was Nadov's ability to anticipate and intercept passes when we trapped opposing players."
So true. You could see it coming when we'd trap someone on the sideline just past mid-court and yet we haven't had players capable of that anticipation since Henefeld. Is it that the players just don't understand how limited the options are when an opposing player is trying to pass out of a double team?

It's certainly true that he had incredible court awareness and an instinct for those passes. But what made us great was that several other guys were doing it too. So much length with Nadav at 6'7", Burrell at 6'7", Tate at 6'5", Murray Williams at 6'6" and Lyman at 6'5" or so. Smith was also a great on ball defender, forcing those passes.
1989-90 UConn Huskies Roster and Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

That team looks a lot like what I think Hurley wants.

 

[ctchamps]

"But imo the major reason was Nadov's ability to anticipate and intercept passes when we trapped opposing players."
So true. You could see it coming when we'd trap someone on the sideline just past mid-court and yet we haven't had players capable of that anticipation since Henefeld. Is it that the players just don't understand how limited the options are when an opposing player is trying to pass out of a double team?

Sending two players to trap the ball leaves three players to guard 4 opposing players. Opposing teams space players to handle traps trying to make it difficult for those three players. Nadav was like an incredible free safety. He either studied film and knew players passing abilities or he was adept at observing them in the game. As soon as the ball handler moved his arms, and before the ball was released, Nadav would break towards the anticipated area the ball was intended to go.

Comprehension has limits. Nadav was wired (cerebral cortex, cerebellum) for this. He was in the top 1% with this ability. His mind would rapidly process the height and position of the players trapping the opposing player, the height of the opposing trapped player, the time remaining for a violation, the positions of the remaining opposing players, the positions of his non trapping team mates, the angle of the opposing players arm movements in relationship to the prior conditions and the opposing players ability to throw. At the most you have 3-4 seconds to assess this and usually only a split second. And since the situation is fluid, trappers shifting around the trapped player, opposing non ball handlers moving to different positions, non trapping team mates doing the same, the rate of computation required to correctly anticipate a play becomes overwhelmingly difficult.

 

[Chief00]

It's chief he just makes stuff up, everyone knows this. Enjoy chief for what he is don't take him too seriously.

You and Hurleyman216 are in a circular “Like” formation, only problem is it’s tough for two dudes to form a circle. LOL

 

[Hurleyman216]

You and Hurleyman216 are in a circular “Like” formation, only problem is it’s tough for two dudes to form a circle. LOL

You're wrong again (as usual). But what else is new?

 

[polycom]

You and Hurleyman216 are in a circular “Like” formation, only problem is it’s tough for two dudes to form a circle. LOL

New phone who dis?

 

[Scrutineer]

A 6'10" lanky high school basketball prospect doesn't just turn into Shaq after three months in a weight training program.

Sal's plan with Akok was to start off with small basic weight lifting, and work up gradually from there. You have to build muscles patiently and cautiously, especially with young basketball players. My understanding is you have to build a foundation for muscle growth before you can actually make noticeable gains.
I think Akok and Carlton will be adequately built come November.

I understand what you're saying and that makes sense for someone who is so slender.

A physical therapist once told several of us about the various body types and pointed out how I could never bulk up because my makeup was always going to be lean. So, that made me reflect on all the talk here about Sal working with guys and putting on lots of muscle. For some it won't happen because they're not genetically able to become an Adrien or Okafor. They'll be stronger for sure but not the type that bumps guys out of the paint. If they can finish through contact that may be all we need.

 

[superjohn]

I understand what you're saying and that makes sense for someone who is so slender.

A physical therapist once told several of us about the various body types and pointed out how I could never bulk up because my makeup was always going to be lean. So, that made me reflect on all the talk here about Sal working with guys and putting on lots of muscle. For some it won't happen because they're not genetically able to become an Adrien or Okafor. They'll be stronger for sure but not the type that bumps guys out of the paint. If they can finish through contact that may be all we need.

The physical therapist lied to you. While everyone is built differently and it's a lot harder for some, everyone can bulk up.

 

[husky429]

I understand what you're saying and that makes sense for someone who is so slender.

A physical therapist once told several of us about the various body types and pointed out how I could never bulk up because my makeup was always going to be lean. So, that made me reflect on all the talk here about Sal working with guys and putting on lots of muscle. For some it won't happen because they're not genetically able to become an Adrien or Okafor. They'll be stronger for sure but not the type that bumps guys out of the paint. If they can finish through contact that may be all we need.

No decent physical therapist told you that.

Physical therapists are not all strength coaches or even close to it. I live with a physical therapist/strength coach who works with athletes recovering from injuries mostly. Her classmates? Work in school with special needs kids, someone else does relearning motor function after brain injury. Another works at a senior home. They are lucky to get to yoga with retired women 2x a week.

Like asking a math teacher about Shakespeare. Just because you're in the profession, doesn't mean you have a clue more info than your average Joe. I expect that is the case with the person who gave you this info.

 

[olehead]

Good luck losing then

35% 3 point shooter. = pretty good
53% 2 point shooter = close to excellent

Worth the same amount of points come game time. Much easier to win with shooters on the perimeter.

Our 3 point shooting has been suspect dating back to 2014 with Vital, as the only true 3 knockdown shooter we've had in that time frame. So, until we begin to get shooters at a 35%/3 or better clip with sufficient volume, I'll take high volume and high proficiency 2 point scorers. Nova's top 6 last year were all reliable 3 shooters, which is not surprising given a program culture of good and at times great three point shooting. Im hoping we can build in a similar fashion while maintaining a commitment to getting longer more athletic players who finish at or near the rim at a high rate.

 

[husky429]

Our 3 point shooting has been suspect dating back to 2014 with Vital, as the only true 3 knockdown shooter we've had in that time frame. So, until we begin to get shooters at a 35%/3 or better clip with sufficient volume, I'll take high volume and high proficiency 2 point scorers. Nova's top 6 last year were all reliable 3 shooters, which is not surprising given a program culture of good and at times great three point shooting. Im hoping we can build in a similar fashion while maintaining a commitment to getting longer more athletic players who finish at or near the rim at a high rate.

I was just messing with it. All good.

Hurley is clearly recruiting shooters to get to that model when possible. All 4 guys he has brought in so far were solid shooters in hs. Obviously Badams hasn't panned out just yet

 

[UconnU]

Our 3 point shooting has been suspect dating back to 2014 with Vital, as the only true 3 knockdown shooter we've had in that time frame. So, until we begin to get shooters at a 35%/3 or better clip with sufficient volume, I'll take high volume and high proficiency 2 point scorers. Nova's top 6 last year were all reliable 3 shooters, which is not surprising given a program culture of good and at times great three point shooting. Im hoping we can build in a similar fashion while maintaining a commitment to getting longer more athletic players who finish at or near the rim at a high rate.

With AG, CV, Bouk, Polley, Gaffney, Akok our shooting is the least of my concerns for next year, we’ll have the best shooting team we’ve had in a while. More concerned with Rebounding, physicality, toughness, staying healthy.

 

[olehead]

With AG, CV, Bouk, Polley, Gaffney, Akok our shooting is the least of my concerns for next year, we’ll have the best shooting team we’ve had in a while. More concerned with Rebounding, physicality, toughness, staying healthy.

UConn love wants to be as optimistic about our three point prowess as you. Of the players you mentioned, only one thus far has a significant 3 pt body of work at the d1 level and that's Vital.

 

[Scrutineer]

The physical therapist lied to you. While everyone is built differently and it's a lot harder for some, everyone can bulk up.

No decent physical therapist told you that.

I always did manual labor in high school and college and had a great deal of strength but, at 6'1", I didn't get to 170 pounds until my 30's. So maybe I'm just an anomaly or she saw I wouldn't be motivated to spend the time and energy needed to become the Scott Lutrus of my day.

 

[Crank]

The physical therapist lied to you. While everyone is built differently and it's a lot harder for some, everyone can bulk up.

Totally agree.
Certainly, there is a range of "how rapidly" can a dude add muscle.
But it's complete nonsense to argue that some guys "just can't add muscle." Load of silliness.
Every normally hormoned dude can add muscle, given enough time and effort. You might not look like Arnold when you're done, but putting on 5-10 pounds of muscle a year for 3 years is completely doable for virtually every 18 year old male who has the inclination.
I spent a lot of time in the weight room when I was in my 20s, and the guys who "couldn't" gain were almost to a person the guys who quit a set well before they were breaking down sarcomeres.

Just sayin. If you have the will, you can build.

Never ever saw a motivated dude not have gains. Never.