Jayden Ross Returning!!!

[husky429]

I trust your bball IQ. I am clearly on the "bigger role for Ross" side. Dan Hurley has made it somewhat clear that he sees Ross as a defensive stopper. He definitely has the athleticism. If this part of his game comes around as the staff expects, given how valuable wing defenders have been for this program, do you think they'll keep him at 10min/game if he ends being the guy we put on the opponent's best scorer?

I'm not going to tell you you're wrong--no one really knows, including the staff TBH. Until the new guys show up on campus and the returners do (or don't) show improvement in their workouts, it's tough to predict. Even then, until games happen, you could always have a Mahaney situation where they choke under the lights.

It's easy to say Solo, Demary, Reed, and AK are going to command 25-30 minutes a game. Past that, there are a few guys you can likely pencil in. Past that? Predicting your 9th man's minutes is going to be tough to do. How many of us had Nowell, Abraham, or Singare in our lineups this time last year?

I'm just a guy who really believes in the Euro (or, well Australian) basketball system and will give those kids the nod more often than not.

 

[ec33]

I agree with this.
It is shortsighted to count Ross out.

The staff and Ross clearly had conversations this offseason. Either they agree with the BY and think Ross is a low minute guy with little potential, and they told him as much..... but he's still coming back.

Or... they lied to him, doubled down on their "fake belief" in him, fed him BS about his future only to relegate him to the bench and lose an open roster spot that is still costing the school money.

If I were to believe either of the 2 above scenarios it would suggest that I have questions surrounding the best staff in the country. I don't

It is always possible that the staff are wrong in their assessment. The staff is great, not infallible (I won't recap the recent misses other pointing out that the misses include Ross making a sophomore leap).

 

[Huskybass]

I know you weren't speaking to me but can you please address why the staff wants him back and why he wants to be back? That is as relevant a consideration as these stats.

The coaching staff clearly wanted him back. I just don't see him getting significant minutes with Stewart, Ball, and Mullins all being more skilled and very likely more productive. Add Furphy to the mix and the # of minutes for Ross could get squeezed a bit more.

I hope Ross is a stud as a Junior, but that would require a tremendous leap over what we have seen from his first two seasons.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I trust your bball IQ. I am clearly on the "bigger role for Ross" side. Dan Hurley has made it somewhat clear that he sees Ross as a defensive stopper. He definitely has the athleticism. If this part of his game comes around as the staff expects, given how valuable wing defenders have been for this program, do you think they'll keep him at 10min/game if he ends being the guy we put on the opponent's best scorer? (Also, it seems as if the staff let's him shoot 3s with some confidence when he's in)

The challenge with Ross is that he has the physical attributes to be a really good perimeter defender, and yet he's actually not been good at it so far. I say the same for Solo, long arms, strong, great hops, and he just doesn't seem to get it. Both got better, but they need to make a leap to really becomes good. Solo puts the ball in the bucket, so he's playing anyway. Ross will need to defend much better, show he can make a shot, show he can pass the ball and hit the boards better than he has. I hope he does all of that.

 

[ucp990411]

I suspect it will boil down to Furphy vs Ross for those last 5-15 wing minutes. While they aren't similar plays, the wing is PACKED when you consider Solo and AK are going to command 25-30 a piece.

I can't see a world where Mullins and Stewart aren't getting a lot of wing minutes. And I don't think we're going 10-deep or playing guys a max or 20 minutes or something. Players always separate themselves in practice.

PG: Demary (25), Smith (15)
SG: Solo (25), Demary (5), Mullins (10)
SF: Stewart (15), Mullins (15), Ross/Furphy (10)
PF: AK (30), Stewart (10)
C: Reed (25), Reibe or a transfer (15)

When we play the iron I expect Demary, Solo and AK to be playing more minutes than your projections

 

[aboogieee]

Hm.

 

[husky429]

When we play the iron I expect Demary, Solo and AK to be playing more minutes than your projections

Correct. This is averages. In a close tournament game, those guys are playing as many minutes as injury/conditioning can handle.

 

[CL82]

I suspect it will boil down to Furphy vs Ross for those last 5-15 wing minutes. While they aren't similar plays, the wing is PACKED when you consider Solo and AK are going to command 25-30 a piece.

I can't see a world where Mullins and Stewart aren't getting a lot of wing minutes. And I don't think we're going 10-deep or playing guys a max or 20 minutes or something. Players always separate themselves in practice.

PG: Demary (25), Smith (15)
SG: Solo (25), Demary (5), Mullins (10)
SF: Stewart (15), Mullins (15), Ross/Furphy (10)
PF: AK (30), Stewart (10)
C: Reed (25), Reibe or a transfer (15)

I don't see Solo dropping down to 25 minutes per game. I think he averaged 30 minutes a game last year.

 

[alphasigko]

A few points, rebounds, steals and some assists. He's capable of each.

Not every player grows the same pace, but as a Champion and playing with many current pro-players daily he has an idea of what's needed, and he has D1/BE experience.

He's an asset not a liability.

He can and will contribute, why is there an argument?

There is an argument because of the lack of production his numbers have shown to date. What do you not understand about that? Everyone is "hopeful". That is great... I am hopeful that I win the lottery the next time I buy a ticket.

 

[mauconnfan]

The challenge with Ross is that he has the physical attributes to be a really good perimeter defender, and yet he's actually not been good at it so far. I say the same for Solo, long arms, strong, great hops, and he just doesn't seem to get it. Both got better, but they need to make a leap to really becomes good. Solo puts the ball in the bucket, so he's playing anyway. Ross will need to defend much better, show he can make a shot, show he can pass the ball and hit the boards better than he has. I hope he does all of that.

This ^^^^…. Although I will say Solos improvement on the defensive end last quarter of the year was rather noticeable. It seemed something hit home he did a much better job keeping his man in front of him. But what he didn’t improve on was help, caught often with his back to the play in help situations. That was a problem with many on the team last year, even some returnees.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Assume Solo and AK each play 30 minutes. That leaves 60 minutes at the 2, 3, 4 for Stewart, Ross, Mullins, Furphy.

Furphy is most likely odd man out but I guarantee it's not going to be near even split for minutes between Ross, Stewart and Mullins.

 

[mauconnfan]

Assume Solo and AK each play 30 minutes. That leaves 60 minutes at the 2, 3, 4 for Stewart, Ross, Mullins, Furphy.

Furphy is most likely odd man out but I guarantee it's not going to be near even split for minutes between Ross, Stewart and Mullins.

Mullins will be 20-25 at the very least minus foul trouble etc.. People will be working hard in practice for sure. If we don’t get a back up 5 and play smaller a lot then Stewie gets even more there. Gonna be fun to see the minutes evolve.

One question for a few minutes as well would be will Ross be more valuable on D than what Furphy may bring on O with his shooting and passing? That will separate those 2.

 

[Husky Alien]

View attachment 109285

Perhaps all these zeros clouded my judgement.

Apparently they haven't clouded Hurleys and that's who Ross needs to impress.

 

[Kitaman]

View attachment 109285

Perhaps all these zeros clouded my judgement.

Nah same glass, your part is just half empty.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Mullins will be 20-25 at the very least minus foul trouble etc.. People will be working hard in practice for sure. If we don’t get a back up 5 and play smaller a lot then Stewie gets even more there. Gonna be fun to see the minutes evolve.

One question for a few minutes as well would be will Ross be more valuable on D than what Furphy may bring on O with his shooting and passing? That will separate those 2.

Still too early for me to definitely state who is getting minutes other than no way Mulllins, Stewart, and Ross all average 20+ mpg. Most likely one of those three is closer to 12-15 and the other two are closer to 25.

 

[alphasigko]

Nah same glass, your part is just half empty.

Being Half Empty is always confused with being Realistic.

 

[freescooter]

He’s got the tools to be a real nice bench piece. Time to put in the work. If I’m him, I’m living in the gym and putting up an insane amount of threes this off-season.

I agree. Without him a piece of pine might get chilly. Dodged a bullet for sure.

 

[Huskybass]

Nah same glass, your part is just half empty.

My part is absolutely half empty, because the stats he put up were anemic. It's called reality. Let's be realistic, Mullins is a 5 star Top 20 talent and an absolute baller who will easily play more than Ross. That shouldn't be difficult to comprehend. Ross averaged 11 and 4 as a Senior in high school and hasn't done much his first two years at UConn. McNeeley played far more than Ross last season and Mullins should also play far more this coming season.

 

[freescooter]

My part is absolutely half empty, because the stats he put up were anemic. It's called reality. Let's be realistic, Mullins is a 5 star Top 20 talent and an absolute baller who will easily play more than Ross. That shouldn't be difficult to comprehend. Ross averaged 11 and 4 as a Senior in high school and hasn't done much his first two years at UConn. McNeeley played far more than Ross last season and Mullins should also play far more this coming season.

I think that is right unless Mullins is much much less than advertised which I don’t expect. Ross wasn’t that good. I can’t even imagine how much he’d need to improve to be a major part of the rotation.