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Message: [QUOTE="rip7774, post: 3542661, member: 320"] I was definitely in favor of being honest with kids and absolutely making room for Ntambwe, because we needed a talent infusion so badly. I don't remember if I indicated who could be pushed out, but when you hear about a kid like Whaley adding 25 lbs in one offseason, those are the types you NEVER want to get rid of. They're willing to do what it takes and build that culture that made UConn great. That said, we had so many non-UConn level talent players I just didn't see how the talent level could turn on a dime. But it has. Simply amazing job by the staff. I have followed UConn recruiting since the mid-90s and Sanogo is up there with some of the biggest surprises we've landed (never seemingly being the "favorite" throughout). It feels so good to win those important recruiting battles. Cole, Akok, Jackson and Sanogo are those kinds of battles you have to win to go with the Gaffneys who are strong prospects in their own right but favor UConn already. Great programs continue bringing in talent. They reload and kids don't have bad attitudes about guys coming in that could hurt their PT. Because there isn't a scarcity mindset in high-quality programs, no one is entitled to anything!!!! We are doing that. If someone at my spot gets better, it forces me to get better. I think the underrated aspect of Sanogo is with Josh. He put up a historically bad season last year. He was really strong as a sophomore so he has to come back as a quality player or he's relegated to the bench. I think he will come back much improved. Competition does that. I think that's something that hurt Jalen Adams in addition to lack of a supporting cast being huge. He was always our best player but wasn't pushed to be all he could be. I don't think I've been this excited about a season since Drummond committed and reclassified during a fantasy football draft many years ago. [/QUOTE]

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