If we get back Hawkins and go game by game

[Scrappy3]

We have just as much chance to win the whole thing as any other team. We play solid team defense and great rebounding. That will Not help us win 6 in a row. But if we get somewhat reasonable additional output game by game from Polley and Hawkins THEN we can certainly beat anyone

 

[buddy]

I don't think UConn should rely on Hawkins at this point. Polley and Gaffney yes. He really is a boy against men at this time and is not ready. Hopefully, in a year or two he may be ready for this level of competition.

 

[Hoophound]

Our team continues to have issues putting teams away and it lacks a real go to scorer, but it is still a very good team. UConn has had a way of playing it’s very best at winning time and I would never say never regarding this team going deep. Momentum plays a huge part in how teams perform down the stretch. We are playing good ball. We can make a run if we find one more gear.

 

[BGesus4]

Would be great if Houston could beat Memphis by 50 and somehow snag a 4 seed in our bracket

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I don't think UConn should rely on Hawkins at this point. Polley and Gaffney yes. He really is a boy against men at this time and is not ready. Hopefully, in a year or two he may be ready for this level of competition.

Your hope is that in two years Hawkins is ready for the Big East?

 

[gtcam]

Yeah it might look like boy vs man and in some cases it is but if he gets hot and hits shots, I will gladly let him contribute. DH has said more or less the same

 

[jibsey]

What Hawkins are we getting back? Hurley can't afford to give him much rope if he's not full strength.

 

[MexicoHusky]

We matched up better against Nova with Hawkins in the lineup. With Hawkins in the lineup i think we were a bit less susceptible to the iso plays that Nova runs. His D has improved that much.

How we match up with Nova isn't the only thing that matters, but they are a solid team. Probably a national title contender.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Zags vs. UConn in the Regional Semi-Final in the West? Could happen! I know many here want a piece of the Zags.

If Zaga can survive the 8/9 winner game on!

 

[aburks41]

Zags vs. UConn in the Regional Semi-Final in the West? Could happen! I know many here want a piece of the Zags.

If Zaga can survive the 8/9 winner game on!

If Gonzaga's 8/9 is Creighton...watch out

 

[superjohn]

Nobody wants to play the Zags or Zona.

 

[Huskyhoops25]

Zona looks less formidable minus Kerr Kris’s.

 

[Huskyhoops25]

Kriisa

 

[Edward Sargent]

I don't think UConn should rely on Hawkins at this point. Polley and Gaffney yes. He really is a boy against men at this time and is not ready. Hopefully, in a year or two he may be ready for this level of competition.

Nope he's a sophomore by now according to some

 

[Dabutlerdidit]

I don't think UConn should rely on Hawkins at this point. Polley and Gaffney yes. He really is a boy against men at this time and is not ready. Hopefully, in a year or two he may be ready for this level of competition.

When we relied on him vs. Auburn in November, he came in and knocked three 3 pointers…

 

[willie99]

Nobody wants to play the Zags or Zona.

Zona? Who's ever afraid of a PAC 12 team?

They only look good against left coast teams

They still are the PAC 12, right?

 

[yungdowork]

Prior to the injury, Hawkins was starting to prove himself and Hurley was rewarding that by giving him some extra minutes. I think he was finally recovering from the Battle for Atlantis, where a few tough turnovers impacted his confidence.

If he can play good enough defense to earn minutes, he improves the lineup through his versatility. We have a lot of guys who are specialists (i.e. Polley as a shooter, Whaley as a defender, Sanogo as a beast in the post), but Hawkins has the athleticism and skill to be a tough matchup for opposing guards on both sides of the floor. Whoever is defending Hawkins has to respect him because he can catch-and-shoot, shoot off the dribble, or attack the rim. Obviously, he has to keep putting it together, but I'm very excited to see him return.

 

[Tenspro2002]

The only 1-seed I want to avoid is Gonzaga.

This is a strange year where teams #2-10 are basically interchangeable (Auburn, Nova, etc.), with a big gap between them and teams #11-20 (Providence, Illinois, etc.), and then a gap after that.

This is why, unlike most years, there's not a huge difference between being a 4/5 or a 6 -- the most 1 seeds are not much better than most 2/3 seeds.

This is the year where being a 4/5 seed doesn't put a hard ceiling on how far you can go.

 

[jibsey]

Prior to the injury, Hawkins was starting to prove himself and Hurley was rewarding that by giving him some extra minutes. I think he was finally recovering from the Battle for Atlantis, where a few tough turnovers impacted his confidence.

If he can play good enough defense to earn minutes, he improves the lineup through his versatility. We have a lot of guys who are specialists (i.e. Polley as a shooter, Whaley as a defender, Sanogo as a beast in the post), but Hawkins has the athleticism and skill to be a tough matchup for opposing guards on both sides of the floor. Whoever is defending Hawkins has to respect him because he can catch-and-shoot, shoot off the dribble, or attack the rim. Obviously, he has to keep putting it together, but I'm very excited to see him return.

This is the X factor.

 

[UConnSwag11]

He has unlimited potential and a beautiful shot. Run him like Calhoun did with Lamb. But it also depends on who is on the floor with him and how much Hurley uses him in the second half. Same with Polley. If we play like we did against Auburn, first half Xavier, and Nova at home, we should be good to go. We need buckets.

 

[buddy]

Your hope is that in two years Hawkins is ready for the Big East?

Possibly, if he can bulk up some. I want him to succeed. I don't think it is worth him getting a third concussion in a matter of weeks.

 

[Bonamassa]

Bulking up would be great but he's not exactly a scrawny weakling either.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Would be great if Houston could beat Memphis by 50 and somehow snag a 4 seed in our bracket

Houston is without Fabian White

 

[coachn]

Zags vs. UConn in the Regional Semi-Final in the West? Could happen! I know many here want a piece of the Zags.

If Zaga can survive the 8/9 winner game on!

Right on correct. Bring on the Zags

 

[connVA]

Cole and Sanogo are exponentially better than last year but what I fear is that we haven't fully addressed our biggest weakness (shooting) and we've now lost our 1-on-1 breakdown/safety valve guy in Bouknight since last year. Let's hope Polley and Hawkins bring their A-games but, even if we get him back, Hawkins is going to be coming in cold and both of them are going to be shooting in an unfamiliar, cavernous arena. If Martin's outside shot is also off, we'll probably need to gear up for another rock fight down the stretch a la Maryland,