Is This Our Team Pretty Much?

[lange10]

There is a difference between changing direction and a real turnaround. I think we will see a much improved team next season. Possibly competing for a bid. But it will take a while to get to the top 10 again with a high tournament seed. That will be the full turnaround.

I'm amazed that people think the team that went 1-7 without Jalen is suddenly in one offseason going to compete for a bid. As currently constructed, our team is lucky to finish middle of the pack in the AAC next year.

We have 1 scholarship available. I thought we'd have 3 but it's sounding like it may just be 1, possibly 2. If we're going to have any chance at sniffing the NCAA tournament that scholarship has to be an impact player.

 

[navery12]

I'm amazed that people think the team that went 1-7 without Jalen is suddenly in one offseason going to compete for a bid. As currently constructed, our team is lucky to finish middle of the pack in the AAC next year.

We have 1 scholarship available. I thought we'd have 3 but it's sounding like it may just be 1, possibly 2. If we're going to have any chance at sniffing the NCAA tournament that scholarship has to be an impact player.

I get where you're coming from, but this is also a team that's returning 4 starters and bringing in 3 really talented freshmen. It's not crazy to think this team takes a big jump in year 2, especially when you look at Hurley's track record

 

[lange10]

I get where you're coming from, but this is also a team that's returning 4 starters and bringing in 3 really talented freshmen. It's not crazy to think this team takes a big jump in year 2, especially when you look at Hurley's track record

I hope I'm wrong. Trust me

 

[Excalibur]

I hope I'm wrong. Trust me

It will depend on how good the three existing recruits are. I don't think this is even a bubble team, but an NIT bid is a reasonable goal if Gaffney and Akok have any game at all.

 

[UConnStats]

I hope I'm wrong. Trust me

I agree that people are underestimating the offensive loss Adams will be, but the team should still be much better on defense next year.

Jalen was the worst defensive guard we had, we were playing a PG at the 3 spot 80% of the time, Polley and Wilson we’re defending the 4 the whole game, and Cobb was one of the worst defenders we’ve ever had.

This year our guards should defend better, we can play Sid and Bouknight at the 3 to have average to better length there, and Akok will be a huge defensive upgrade at the starting 4 spot. So there should be a much better defensive product from this group.

 

[tcf15]

I get where you're coming from, but this is also a team that's returning 4 starters and bringing in 3 really talented freshmen. It's not crazy to think this team takes a big jump in year 2, especially when you look at Hurley's track record

I'd say there's also a difference between unexpectedly losing your best player mid-season and losing your best player to graduation. Think it's hard to look at the stretch of games that this year's team played without Jalen and extrapolate that to 2019-2020.

And, while UConn was 1-7 in games that Jalen missed, UConn went 3-5 in games that Alterique Gilbert missed. Take away games against USF and East Carolina, and that's 0-7 without Jalen and 0-5 without Alterique Gilbert.

 

[intlzncster]

I agree that people are underestimating the offensive loss Adams will be, but the team should still be much better on defense next year.

Jalen was the worst defensive guard we had, we were playing a PG at the 3 spot 80% of the time, Polley and Wilson we’re defending the 4 the whole game, and Cobb was one of the worst defenders we’ve ever had.

This year our guards should defend better, we can play Sid and Bouknight at the 3 to have average to better length there, and Akok will be a huge defensive upgrade at the starting 4 spot. So there should be a much better defensive product from this group.

People always underestimate it. They did the same post Shabazz, post Kemba, etc.

What compounds things is that we weren't even good on offense last year. Yet we are losing our best offensive player by a mile. Pretty much the only guy that could consistently manufacture his own shot.

I'm hoping, as you allude to, we'll be able to generate a lot more offense from defense. If we can do that, if players all develop, if shots improve, if new guys can contribute, if Gilbert can stay healthy.... There's a lot of 'ifs' going into the season again.

The scariest part about next year for me is that, we are thinner than we were this year! Both at the PG and down low. That's crazy

 

[lange10]

I'd say there's also a difference between unexpectedly losing your best player mid-season and losing your best player to graduation. Think it's hard to look at the stretch of games that this year's team played without Jalen and extrapolate that to 2019-2020.

And, while UConn was 1-7 in games that Jalen missed, UConn went 3-5 in games that Alterique Gilbert missed. Take away games against USF and East Carolina, and that's 0-7 without Jalen and 0-5 without Alterique Gilbert.

I expect us to improve and handle the loss of Jalen better than we did mid-season last year as you alluded to. I'm just saying as currently constructed I think we're looking at 18-20 wins which is a long way off of a NCAA bid that many are hoping for, some even predicting.

 

[UconnU]

It’s too bad his jumper is busted because if he had one he’d be a good backup 4.

If he’s going to be our backup center next year I hope sal puts 10-15 pounds on him. I can’t believe he was billed as a small forward coming out of high school.

 

[lange10]

Wondering if the staff is quietly confident about PA since we haven’t heard much on the grad transfer/juco/decommit front since the Ntwambe visit.

Although it was just a dead period for a bit, so who knows. Hopefully we hear something this week regarding our final scholarship and what the staff is thinking.

 

[jibsey]

Question. Carlton gets 2 fouls 7 minutes in. Our next move is what? Please don’t tell me Diarra. Or Sid. Or a Cobb alike. This is no knock on what’s coming so far next year but we are woefully undersized and strengthed to start next season and losing Jalen our record could be worse. I’m getting a drink.

 

[UconnU]

Question. Carlton gets 2 fouls 7 minutes in. Our next move is what? Please don’t tell me Diarra. Or Sid. Or a Cobb alike. This is no knock on what’s coming so far next year but we are woefully undersized and strengthed to start next season and losing Jalen our record could be worse. I’m getting a drink.

Well we have one open scholarship you would have to think that will be used on a grad transfer, most likely a big. But I share your frustration I don’t like how the team is comprised as of right now. I don’t like AG being our only true primary ball handler either or the teams lack of strength/toughness. On the bright side I think we can shoot the ball and when you can shoot you always have a chance.

 

[Son of Robert]

Well we have one open scholarship you would have to think that will be used on a grad transfer, most likely a big. But I share your frustration I don’t like how the team is comprised as of right now. I don’t like AG being our only true primary ball handler either or the teams lack of strength/toughness. On the bright side I think we can shoot the ball and when you can shoot you always have a chance.

Patience men, we all know that Hurley and staff are doing the best that they can. There are at least one, maybe two scholarships available, signing period is right around the corner, give it a minute, see how it shakes out. A power 4/5 plus one more player maybe. Kind of intriguing really.

 

[Bonk]

If Whaley does stay he better come in like 25 pounds heavier and much stronger or else I will be very grumpy

 

[businesslawyer]

Calhoun never pulled a scholarship if a kid wouldn't leave on his own. How else do you explain Jonathan Mandledove?

And Antric Klieber. And Donnell Beverley.

People are conflating encouraging folks to leave with forcing them to leave, and it's intellectually dishonest. There are many coaches out there who, absent disciplinary issues, don't force players to leave. And if they do, word gets out and it makes it harder to recruit. But forcing someone out is entirely different than encouraging them out by letting them know they are simply not going to get playing time and if they ever want to earn money in the minor leagues or overseas they need to get their butt to a lower level where they can play. But leaving the final decision to the player

There is no reason to think Hurley isn't taking the latter approach with obvious candidates. But while it is not shockingly unusual to flat out not renew a scholarship for someone whose nose is clean but talent level is too low, that is not something that every coach does. And it's not something most coaches can do without it being turned into a recruiting weapon against you.

 

[jibsey]

And Antric Klieber. And Donnell Beverley.

People are conflating encouraging folks to leave with forcing them to leave, and it's intellectually dishonest. There are many coaches out there who, absent disciplinary issues, don't force players to leave. And if they do, word gets out and it makes it harder to recruit. But forcing someone out is entirely different than encouraging them out by letting them know they are simply not going to get playing time and if they ever want to earn money in the minor leagues or overseas they need to get their butt to a lower level where they can play. But leaving the final decision to the player

There is no reason to think Hurley isn't taking the latter approach with obvious candidates. But while it is not shockingly unusual to flat out not renew a scholarship for someone whose nose is clean but talent level is too low, that is not something that every coach does. And it's not something most coaches can do without it being turned into a recruiting weapon against you.

I think that would be Hurley’s approach. We have to remember that these are kids who were promised not playing time but playing for a university in exchange for their education. No question he is sensitive to that yet we have cold hard cruel reality staring us and him in the face, which means he knows exactly what we lack and what we need to get.

 

[HuskyHawk]

What an ugly thread. I'm totally with @businesslawyer and @Pmurph678 that you don't force out kids that came in, worked hard and just didn't have the talent. The coach must be honest with them and if they won't play much, they tell them and help them move where they will play more, if that is their choice.

If Whaley wants to stay at UConn and come off the bench for four years, he can. He rebounds well and can block shots. It's not impossible that he contributes, he did those last two games. He is just way behind Akok and Polley at PF and is too small to play Center against most teams.

Diarra, love his game and energy. Wish he was healthy. If Doctors think he will be fine, then he probably stays as well. I don't see him wanting to miss another season. If not, find a non playing role and give him a non athletic scholarship.

As for the team. If we land a talent like Precious, we can make do at center by shifting Akok there at times. He has the height and shot blocking, if not the bulk. Aside from that, we need a backup center. If we can get both fine. Or if we can get a backup center and Ntwambe, fine. I don't think we'd be in the hunt for Ntwambe and Precious, but maybe. I'm not worried about guards. We'll be fine. PG is a top 2020 priority, although I think Gaffney is being groomed as a PG.

 

[Pmurph678]

In a sense it has to be good news for the program's health that we can't get players to leave even if we tell them they won't be seeing the court.

Under Ollie we lost half our projected starting 5 by April 1st.

What a change culturally for the program, the future is bright.