- Joined
- Aug 24, 2011
- Messages
- 3,030
- Reaction Score
- 3,760
I agree, IBB. Between the two, adding the big, Stone, fills the greater need since we'll still have a lot of talented guards on the team in 2015/16.
Also, elite freshman guards that teams heavily rely on tend to shoot their team out of tournament at some point along the way. For that reason if we're going to add a one or even two-and-done type player, I'd prefer it to be a big than a guard. Bigs don't have the ball in their hands nearly as much as the guards, so the issue where an elite player is trying to showcase his abilities to gain some NBA Draft traction, is less damaging from a Big than it is from a guard.
UConn is not going to attract the type of elite recruit that expects to be playing 35 to 40 minutes right out of the chute. But if a guard like Newman is willing to work hard and compete for PT with a bunch of other talented guards, UConn would be a great destination. No matter how good he is, KO is going to give guards such as Purvis, Samuel, Cassell and even Calhoun (if he bounces back), PT if they prove they can be productive. UConn will never be like UK where the Squid will give most of the PT to his favored freshman.
Bottom line, Experience usually wins out, assuming the talent is there. I'd love to see KO recruit the right mix of talent, most who will stick around 3 to 4 years. I'm okay with one or two short-timers, but based on what I've witnessed since I've been following college hoops, rarely does a team led by a freshman PG and/or backcourt have the maturity to be the last team standing.
I think this board too often labels highly ranked recruits as entitled or lazy, when a kid's recruiting ranking has little to do with how good a kid someone is. Not saying that's what you're necessarily saying here, but I've seen that notion bandied about on here in the past. UConn's had a few bad apples who were highly ranked, and a few that weren't highly ranked. I don't think it really matters. In fact, almost all of the recent "one and done" players in years past have been lauded as being good kids who work hard and are good teammates.
But I totally agree with your point about freshmen point guards. Unless you have an incredible talent like Anthony Davis or Carmelo Anthony, freshmen PG's just don't win in March.
malik newman @iammaliknewman
