Ideal 2018-19 Roster

[UConnDan97]

Adams hasn’t shown that he has a jumper. I mean, I agree he can play the 2 but we can’t have a 2 with no perimeter game. Also if those two are starting who with come in off the bench?

This is the problem with impressions. You may have the impression that Vital is the better 3-point shooter. He's not.

Last year, Jalen was 32.5% from three versus Christian's 31.8%. Not a big difference, but one that is in Jalen's favor. He was also 43.0% from 2 versus Christian's 38.3%. And all of that was while he was the focus of the opposing defense and after he played the entire game every game.

I love Christian, but I'll take Jalen over him at the 2 every day and twice on Sundays...

 

[YoungFree]

For the yard basketball experts; does it seem like we are headed towards;

For 2018: B. Adams and grad transfers T. Smith and the St Johns kid.

For 2019: Leque (spelling), Mulcahy, Delaire and Cockburn or Akok?

Still think we are dreaming about Lecque...

 

[Matt1010]

This is the problem with impressions. You may have the impression that Vital is the better 3-point shooter. He's not.

Last year, Jalen was 32.5% from three versus Christian's 31.8%. Not a big difference, but one that is in Jalen's favor. He was also 43.0% from 2 versus Christian's 38.3%. And all of that was while he was the focus of the opposing defense and after he played the entire game every game.

I love Christian, but I'll take Jalen over him at the 2 every day and twice on Sundays...

I agree that I'd take Jalen over Vital if forced to pick (fortunately we have both), but your facts are off base. Jalen did shoot better on 3 PT FG attempts but Vital shot slightly better on 2 PT FG attempts and Vital shot better on FT attempts. Vital finished with a 54.8 True Shooting Percentage (accounts for all three of the above mentioned) compared to 51.1% from Jalen.

I expect both guys to show major improvement this year from a percentage standpoint since they will be playing in a more structured offense with less hero ball.

 

[UConnDan97]

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I agree that I'd take Jalen over Vital if forced to pick (fortunately we have both), but your facts are off base. Jalen did shoot better on 3 PT FG attempts but Vital shot slightly better on 2 PT FG attempts and Vital shot better on FT attempts. Vital finished with a 54.8 True Shooting Percentage (accounts for all three of the above mentioned) compared to 51.1% from Jalen.

I expect both guys to show major improvement this year from a percentage standpoint since they will be playing in a more structured offense with less hero ball.

Yup, looks like I got Christian's overall percentage rather than 2pt percentage, although there again Jalen is the better shooter (.430 vs .383).

Like you said, both should improve next year (I hope), mostly because we should have better depth and experience, and hopefully Jalen will actually be able to take a 1-minute rest every now and then...

 

[Exit 4]

Still think we are dreaming about Lecque...

Get the other three to publicly commit and then lets see how it goes next fall. If the others commit, the momentum might be compelling.

 

[YoungFree]

Maybe 20 is optimistic but I don't think it's unreachable...even going 18-12 would be a noticeable improvement.

I'll take 18-12 every day of the week compared to the last two years.

 

[InKembaITrust]

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I agree that I'd take Jalen over Vital if forced to pick (fortunately we have both), but your facts are off base. Jalen did shoot better on 3 PT FG attempts but Vital shot slightly better on 2 PT FG attempts and Vital shot better on FT attempts. Vital finished with a 54.8 True Shooting Percentage (accounts for all three of the above mentioned) compared to 51.1% from Jalen.

I expect both guys to show major improvement this year from a percentage standpoint since they will be playing in a more structured offense with less hero ball.

I expect Jalen to double his FTA per game next season. Needs to take a page out of CV's book and go to the hole harder looking for contact. He's athletic enough and has great body control to convert a lot of contact into And-1's.

Sure feels like he avoided a lot of contact this past season in fear of getting hurt. Coaching staff knew how valuable he was to the team and were probably in his ear about avoiding injuries at all cost. Not an excuse anymore and I expect Hurley to push him to create more contact.

Shabazz's senior year he was averaging around 6 FTA per game. Would like to see Jalen take some onerous and do the same...

 

[YoungFree]

Why arent you sold on delaire? Hes state POY.

Lack of elite athleticism?

I get it he is state POY but the few tapes I saw weren't impressive compared to say Lecque. I am sold on him in the sense that I'll take him over other folks but compared to Lecque, I'd rather spend the time pursuing Lecque.

 

[JMick]

I get it he is state POY but the few tapes I saw weren't impressive compared to say Lecque. I am sold on him in the sense that I'll take him over other folks but compared to Lecque, I'd rather spend the time pursuing Lecque.

They play completely different positions

 

[ZenConn]

Maybe 20 is optimistic but I don't think it's unreachable...even going 18-12 would be a noticeable improvement.

I agree. I'm optimistic with 20+ wins. I think 18 to 20 wins is more reasonable.

Looking back at last years scores, there's 3 losses decided by less than 5 points (forgive me if I miscounted). There were also 5 losses decided by 10 or less points. If we can snag half of those games with better coaching, experience and depth, we're looking at 18 wins. If we get better defensively and limit a handful of players going off on us, that might give us an extra win or two. I'd be interested to see if we'd still see blowouts though.

 

[intlzncster]

I love Christian, but I'll take Jalen over him at the 2 every day and twice on Sundays...

I don't think you're going to drum up much of an argument with that statement.

I'm hoping CV's % goes up once he cuts down on all the bad shots under Hurley.

 

[intlzncster]

Get the other three to publicly commit and then lets see how it goes next fall. If the others commit, the momentum might be compelling.

We'll be fortunate to get two of them imo. And with another couple guys, it would still be a nice class.

 

[UConnSwag11]

I don't think you're going to drum up much of an argument with that statement.

I'm hoping CV's % goes up once he cuts down on all the bad shots under Hurley.

Vitals form makes him a better catch and shoot player. Adams is a standstill shooter, almost Purvis like shot. I don't look at the % because Vital had to jack so much because we didn't have an offense

 

[KembaStepback]

I don't think this is a good argument to have until we see AG on the court. Minus the shoulder, AG is talented aggressive player. The shoulder set him back 2 yrs. Hopefully he can start fresh now and start his growth now. Hopefully he has grown in the mental aspect of the game. When to go fast, when to pull back, etc. This took Kemba a few years to figure out, but when he did he became a master. If Gilbert plays, he will make a HUGE difference.

 

[husky429]

I get it he is state POY but the few tapes I saw weren't impressive compared to say Lecque. I am sold on him in the sense that I'll take him over other folks but compared to Lecque, I'd rather spend the time pursuing Lecque.

They are completely different positions.

And one is a 5*, most likely one and done... the other is a 4* four-year player...

Recruiting one does not mitigate the other AT ALL. AT ALL.

 

[KingAG]

I’m not really worried about another big. I want a proven knock down shooter(grad transfer)

 

[JimHurley]

I’m not really worried about another big. I want a proven knock down shooter(grad transfer)

I agree. I like Mamadou and Carlton to start with Whaley, Cobb, and Kwintin off the bench in the front court. Give me a 2/3 who can shoot the 3 and I’m happy.

 

[JMick]

I agree. I like Mamadou and Carlton to start with Whaley, Cobb, and Kwintin off the bench in the front court. Give me a 2/3 who can shoot the 3 and I’m happy.

I keep forgetting about Diarra. I think he has a chance to thrive under Hurley.

 

[YoungFree]

I agree. I like Mamadou and Carlton to start with Whaley, Cobb, and Kwintin off the bench in the front court. Give me a 2/3 who can shoot the 3 and I’m happy.

I miss 3-pointers. Remember when they went in a lot? Vital got better as the year went on and Adams had his stretches too but I miss the constant threat.

 

[JimHurley]

I keep forgetting about Diarra. I think he has a chance to thrive under Hurley.

I think Diarra could thrive under any good coach. The guy has a great motor, can rebound, goes up strong. Obviously is at a disadvantage being a 6’6 PF but he will have a good career with us.

 

[JimHurley]

I miss 3-pointers. Remember when they went in a lot? Vital got better as the year went on and Adams had his stretches too but I miss the constant threat.

I think Vital threw up a lot more 3s than he had to this year because there was no offense. In a functioning offense, I can see him hitting 40%.

 

[intlzncster]

I think Vital threw up a lot more 3s than he had to this year because there was no offense. In a functioning offense, I can see him hitting 40%.

To a degree perhaps, but Vital's a gunner at heart. He looks for his shot whenever he touches the ball, and has tunnel vision on the break.

What'll help him most is having accountability. Hurley will provide more of that than previous years, both due to coaching style and having more available options on the bench.

 

[GHSWolverines]

I think Diarra could thrive under any good coach. The guy has a great motor, can rebound, goes up strong. Obviously is at a disadvantage being a 6’6 PF but he will have a good career with us.

Charles Barkley was 6'6 and was a bruiser under the boards and had a pretty good NBA career. A terrible commentator though.

 

[3rdbass]

I think Diarra could thrive under any good coach. The guy has a great motor, can rebound, goes up strong. Obviously is at a disadvantage being a 6’6 PF but he will have a good career with us.

Don't you mean 6'6" center? That is where he played most of last season. Though with his long arms and jumping ability he wasn't as much of a liability there as your normal 6'6" center. Though to put him at PF in the college ranks is fine as he has enough height to play it there. I mean Draymond Green with less athletic ups plays PF and sometimes Center in the NBA and he is roughly the same height. I do agree though if Diarra can make that 10 footer he would be an ideal PF for us. He did make a few times while he was on the court and has a nice stroke. The problem is he needs to learn to play better positional defense and not try to block everything as he was a fouling machine. Hopefully Dan Hurley will instill better habits into him as he can be a key contributor upfront for us next year.

 

[Huskybass]

My prediction of the starting lineup to begin the season:

Jalen Adams PG
Christian Vital SG
Sid Wilson SF
Mamadou Diarra PF
Josh Carlton C

AG first guard off the bench, TP first wing off the bench. Log jam at the 4 with KW, IW and EC all fighting for minutes. Transfer big KY backs up Carlton or adds to the log jam at the 4.

Assuming AG is healthy, it looks like there is good depth at all positions except Center, but I guess backup Center will be by committee.

 

[pj]

My prediction of the starting lineup to begin the season:

Jalen Adams PG
Christian Vital SG
Sid Wilson SF
Mamadou Diarra PF
Josh Carlton C

AG first guard off the bench, TP first wing off the bench. Log jam at the 4 with KW, IW and EC all fighting for minutes. Transfer big KY backs up Carlton or adds to the log jam at the 4.

Assuming AG is healthy, it looks like there is good depth at all positions except Center, but I guess backup Center will be by committee.

As long as we're reviving the thread:
Alterique Gilbert / Tarin Smith PG tag team while Alterique shakes the rust off
Jalen Adams SG
Sid Wilson SF
Mamadou Diarra / Kassoum Yakwe / Josh Carlton PF/C tag team on the inside

Bench: Brendan Adams, Christian Vital, Tyler Polley, Isaiah Whaley, Kwintin Williams, Eric Cobb. Hard to handicap these. Hope Tyler Polley steps up. Think Vital might be squeezed for minutes by Polley and Adams. Big men, it's going to be a dogfight for limited minutes. We're overloaded at forward.

 

[Balker]

My prediction of the starting lineup to begin the season:

Jalen Adams PG
Christian Vital SG
Sid Wilson SF
Mamadou Diarra PF
Josh Carlton C

AG first guard off the bench, TP first wing off the bench. Log jam at the 4 with KW, IW and EC all fighting for minutes. Transfer big KY backs up Carlton or adds to the log jam at the 4.

Assuming AG is healthy, it looks like there is good depth at all positions except Center, but I guess backup Center will be by committee.

I think this is realistic. I'd assume AG is the second guard you put in for big games/crunch time with JA, but Hurley limits minutes to try to prevent injury. JA and AG still has "best in the country" backcourt potential. But it has to be structured properly. Ideally, with the guards we have, no one has to play more than 30 minutes, and JA doesn't look flat for half of every game.

Should be interesting to see how Dan Hurley balances minutes. There is a lot of talent on this roster despite the narratives floating around that the team "didn't have enough talent". Let's just say I'm relieved to have a coach that will understand how to create rotations and prioritize minutes over the course of a season.

 

[Huskybass]

As long as we're reviving the thread:
Alterique Gilbert / Tarin Smith PG tag team while Alterique shakes the rust off
Jalen Adams SG
Sid Wilson SF
Mamadou Diarra / Kassoum Yakwe / Josh Carlton PF/C tag team on the inside

Bench: Brendan Adams, Christian Vital, Tyler Polley, Isaiah Whaley, Kwintin Williams, Eric Cobb. Hard to handicap these. Hope Tyler Polley steps up. Think Vital might be squeezed for minutes by Polley and Adams. Big men, it's going to be a dogfight for limited minutes. We're overloaded at forward.

My thinking is that Vital starts. He averaged 15 points last season (yes, I realize shot selection was bad) and had games of 30 and nearly 30 points. I think he will improve substantially in a better offense. Also, I think Jalen HAS to play point to get ready for his pro career. Just my opinion, but seems to make sense.

 

[Hurleyman216]

Charles Barkley was 6'6 and was a bruiser under the boards and had a pretty good NBA career. A terrible commentator though.

I think you meant turrible announcer not terrible. I’m just going to assume you wrote turrible and it autocorrected...

 

[UconnU]

I think you meant turrible announcer not terrible. I’m just going to assume you wrote turrible and it autocorrected...

Remember when he picked against us every single game in the 2014 tournament?