Hypothetical- If you could add any one Former Uconn Player to this Teams Roster who would you Pick?

[champs99and04]

That's true. But we have much more talent on the perimeter than we do on the inside, and we have ball handlers/dominators. An ideal would be a stretch 4, which is why Daniels, Donyell, or Charvlie V are the only correct answers.

We probably do have more talent on the perimeter than on the interior, but it isn't a zero sum game. And as far as depth is concerned, it remains to be seen how much of it we have in the back court. As of now, the players that the addition of Napier would have the largest impact on would be Samuel and Cassell, and although I think those two can be good players later in the year, reducing their minutes isn't the worst of things. Purvis and Hamilton are capable of logging enough minutes at the three and four, respectively, to contribute meaningfully either way - essentially, you're just downsizing and sliding Facey out of the starting lineup. Hamilton can function as a stretch four on offense and hold his own defensively with some help.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Make it more interesting -- which non-all-American former player would you add. No Okafor, no Ray or Kemba.
Then you really might take a specialist, a Rashad or Giffey.

Gordon wasn't an All-American, but I don't think that's what you meant.

 

[BluffCityHsky]

Come on guys, Ben Gordon should not be forgotten. Opens the floor for the team, hits the big shot, inside/outside game and can take any game over.

Agreed, there is no "cold blooded" killer right now, why I like Ben. Also like Rashad Anderson. I know both have lower 3 pt percentages vs Ray, but those guys were cut throat in 2004. Also, what about a guy like John Gwynn coming off the bench. Has there been anyone on that second team providing a competent lift? I appreciate Samuels energy and I expect him to be under control by the end of the year but just looking like a fledgling out there. Of course 5 games is not much of a sample size.....

 

[UCweCONN]

I can't decide. Okafor or Donyell Marshall. Both would be a huge help.

 

[Inyatkin]

Gordon wasn't an All-American, but I don't think that's what you meant.

OK, no all-Americans or NBA lottery picks.

 

[selles]

OK, no all-Americans or NBA lottery picks.

I'll go with the sleeper pick of Albie Mouring then.

 

[Burnsbros23]

Thabeet.....

You play a 3-2 zone with Thabeet and Brimah on each block. Impossible to score.

 

[chapwilvaug72]

Never mind hypothetical fantasy rosters.

How about olliewood get off the stick to get some real players on the floor.

So far, without JC recruits, only one newrip has been added to the fold with a massive collection of projects.

This trend projects UCONN to the bottom of the heap shortly and singing "Yankee Conference is hear again."

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Wouldn't adding one of the many players who are staggeringly better than Donny Marshall improve the offense more?

Again, didn't say he would be my choice, I just threw it out there for discussion. It's not like I said Kirk King or Jeff King. Marshall had a good career and a cup of coffee in the NBA so he's no slouch.
Most of the offensive suggestions put forth address the half court offense. I'm suggesting that Marshall, one of the best we've ever had at getting out on the break and getting easy baskets, would address a different element of our offense. Ollie did say that he wants to run and get easy baskets. Who better to show the way.
Again, just tossing it out there for discussion. Ray Allen was the best offensive player I've seen at UConn (fan since around '77) so he'd be my choice with Rip a close 2nd. I just thought Marshall brought a different element and deserved to be in the discussion.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Again, didn't say he would be my choice, I just threw it out there for discussion. It's not like I said Kirk King or Jeff King. Marshall had a good career and a cup of coffee in the NBA so he's no slouch.
Most of the offensive suggestions put forth address the half court offense. I'm suggesting that Marshall, one of the best we've ever had at getting out on the break and getting easy baskets, would address a different element of our offense. Ollie did say that he wants to run and get easy baskets. Who better to show the way.
Again, just tossing it out there for discussion. Ray Allen was the best offensive player I've seen at UConn (fan since around '77) so he'd be my choice with Rip a close 2nd. I just thought Marshall brought a different element and deserved to be in the discussion.

I don't think that there's any rational argument that Donny Marshall would improve this team anywhere as much as Allen, Hamilton, Butler, etc.

 

[8893]

I don't think that there's any rational argument that Donny Marshall would improve this team anywhere as much as Allen, Hamilton, Butler, etc.

Depends on whether sarcastic clapping and Pam Webber's best season are also included in the Donny Marshall package.

 

[Palatine]

Ray.

 

[HuskyFich]

I just feel that 3 point shooting is not THE biggest weakness of this team. IMO, the main reason we are having difficulty hitting big/timely shots is due to poor spacing. When you start 3 sophs 1 frosh and 1 senior things like proper spacing and fast, efficient ball movement will take time. We all know RB, SCJ, Dan Hurley, OC can shoot the rock.

Without having a stretch four (Dan Hurley doesn't count even though he'll play there due to foul trouble issues with the bigs) you really need to take advantage of having 2 big bodies to bang down low for boards.

Granted, KF has shown tremendous growth. But when our second leading rebounder this year could very well be RB, this is clearly our #1 area of concern. Bigs open up fast breaks on defensive boards and force collapses from the D when we are on offense, which will lead to open 3s on a proper kick out, something no big on this team is capable of.

Unless PN and AB transform into a "PhilAmindatron" I'm sticking with Jeff Adriennnnnnnn as my choice.


I can't believe I just spent so much time on a "hypothetical post."


Stupid Finals Procrastination

 

[willie99]

Okafor, a solid inside presence would open everything up on offense, he would take away the paint on defense and he would rebound too

not even squid's platoon would stand a chance on any day, there's nothing they would have over us (except maybe more bodies)

 

[Tenspro2002]

If we could have current Andre Drummond..... good lord yes.

In theory we could -- he'd be a senior this year.

 

[auror]

We probably do have more talent on the perimeter than on the interior, but it isn't a zero sum game. And as far as depth is concerned, it remains to be seen how much of it we have in the back court. As of now, the players that the addition of Napier would have the largest impact on would be Samuel and Cassell, and although I think those two can be good players later in the year, reducing their minutes isn't the worst of things. Purvis and Hamilton are capable of logging enough minutes at the three and four, respectively, to contribute meaningfully either way - essentially, you're just downsizing and sliding Facey out of the starting lineup. Hamilton can function as a stretch four on offense and hold his own defensively with some help.

I understand your point, and it is not a zero sum game, but our weakest starter and weakest bench spot are both at the 4 (Lubin just isn't ready). By adding a star at that position and pushing Facey to the bench, we're also increasing our depth in the area we're weakest

On offense, there's only so much dribbling that can happen. You need versatility of skills and roles to be truly lethal. We won the title with Napier and Boatright last year, but we also had an inside-outside space-opening threat in Daniels (we won every game he scored 20+ points and he averaged 2 points less in losses) and a 3 who didn't need the ball to make an impact on offense (Giffey/spacing). Purvis at the 3 is just further reproduction of similar roles (and without an effective 3 point shot he's a waste of floor space alongside 2 other penetrators). I also have serious questions about Hamilton guarding a 4.

Not to mention Marshall may just be better than Napier. He averaged more points from a position that is harder to score a lot of points from. He was a 15-year NBA player for a reason. He might not bring the same leadership intangibles, but I think Boatright fills a lot of those same needs.

PG Shabazz \ Cassell Jr
SG Boatright \ Samuel
SF Purvis \ Hamilton
PF Facey \ Hamilton
C Brimah \ Nolan

PG Boatright \ Cassell Jr
SG Purvis \ Samuel
SF Hamilton \ Donyell
PF Donyell \ Facey
C Brimah \ Nolan

 

[uconn34]

Doron Scheffer, made everyone else better, best outlook pass into a fast break ever.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

I don't think that there's any rational argument that Donny Marshall would improve this team anywhere as much as Allen, Hamilton, Butler, etc.

Never said he would and I told you who my choice was. But I do think he got more easy baskets than any Husky I can remember. Rudy Gay also seemed to get a lot of easy ones. I realize we'd be in the half court offense more than we would be running and that minimizes his value compared to the others mentioned, but fast break points are critical when you don't have any zone busters on the team.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Doron Scheffer, made everyone else better, best outlook pass into a fast break ever.

100% agree there. His head was always up.

 

[3RingsCT]

Emeka. Simple...our front court is not as good as I thought it would be.
With his 17pts per game and 4 blocks per game during a period of Big East supremacy, I think he would dominate the AAC.

 

[patrick]

Thought about this the other day and my answer is definitely

RIP!

 

[patrick]

Everybody that thinks we need a big man is forgetting about somebody Mr. Andre Drummond!
Not to say that okafor wasn't a better uconn player but Drummond definitely would have been better with a couple more years under his belt!

 

[Fairfield_1st]

After watching tonight's game, there are too many issues for 1 player to fix. With that in mind, I was thinking about Henefeld. He would bring outside shooting, passing, some defense, some rebounding and a basketball IQ, many of which seems to be missing right now. I realize he's not Allen, Hamilton, Butler, etc, but I was looking at all the areas he could impact given his complete game. This team needs more than scoring which is all some of these guys mentioned would bring.