Jayden Ross Returning!!!

[3rdbass]

If this summer goes right roster wise, get your hopes up buddy.

Ross is next in line in that Jackson, Castle shutdown defender and secondary playmaker role.

Based on this past year where he was at best an average defender? Even Stewart who people said wasn’t playing good D stole his role and minutes by end of the season.

 

[ctchamps]

Freescooter is not posting a lot on here like 611. I wouldn’t put 611 in Freescooter region as he still likes UConn and Hurley. Freescooter I think is a Syracuse fan pretending to like UConn. LOL! That is why I went with Nelson who has some off the wall takes.

Freescooter is a fan of UConn bb but loves UConn football more and has hated that UConn is known as a basketball school.

He hates this forum because many of the posters don’t care about the football program. So he comes here to aggravate posters. He was intolerable during the JC years.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

lol let’s wait until the roster shakes out then. All transfers aren’t built the same. I’ll be more sure what’s what after the roster is set.

I just know neither Mullins nor Furphy are playing over him.

If he is as good as you think, Hurley would not be bringing a transfer in over him. Bringing a transfer to play ahead of him would be a sign that you were wrong….

 

[3rdbass]

That’s because Stewart provided offense. Ross was the better defender but literally wouldn’t look at the rim.

Stewart’s defense was passable and a threat to actually score. He also played a bigger position of need at the 4.

His defense was better by the end of the year than Ross for sure. He was keeping players in front of him. Something he didn’t do earlier in the year. No way was Ross better defender than Stewart at the end of the year.

 

[superjohn]

With post #122 and post #123 this has to be trolling. His posts are somehow getting even more insane.

 

[3rdbass]

Freescooter is a fan of UConn bb but loves UConn football more and has hated that UConn is known as a basketball school.

He hates this forum because many of the posters don’t care about the football program. So he comes here to aggravate posters. He was intolerable during the JC years.

He was also fine when Ollie was here too as we all knew that was the wrong hire after KO got too full of himself but then when he piled on Hurley even when winning he lost his credibility. Doesn’t he know that a strong basketball program is probably our only avenue into a better conference even if Football becomes average.

 

[ctchamps]

I truly hate posts like this. So a coach who won two championships in the last three years isn’t enough for you? You need one who also will never once make a personnel decision that is later regretted?

gtcam knows KO personally. He’s been upset with how posters attacked him in this forum. He was not alone but those few of us that agreed with him have moved on. He unfortunately hasn’t.

It must stick in his craw that Hurley has done so well following KO’s ending and that posters treat Hurley with such high regard. He has made several digs at Hurley over the years. He hasn’t had the opportunity to attack Hurley during the back to back championship seasons. This is his first chance in a while. I wish he would move on.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I think there's a path to 10 minutes between the 1 and 2 spots for him even with a backup PG coming in, assuming he's ready. And there's no reason to think he won't be even if he's a little skinny

I think the 2 is completely accounted for unless solo or Mullins is injured. I also don’t know where the minutes come from at the 1, assuming Demary is locked into 25-30 minutes? Wouldn’t his backup take whatever minutes are left?

 

[ctchamps]

He was also fine when Ollie was here too as we all knew that was the wrong hire after KO got too full of himself but then when he piled on Hurley even when winning he lost his credibility. Doesn’t he know that a strong basketball program is probably our only avenue into a better conference even if Football becomes average.

Of course he knows. He gets irrational pleasure trolling this forum. Irrational because it hardly moves the needle impacting most of us. But in his mind he believes otherwise.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Of course he knows. He gets irrational pleasure trolling this forum. Irrational because it hardly moves the needle impacting most of us. But in his mind he believes otherwise.

Irrational is using Hurley’s national championships as a justification for bashing Ollie almost a decade after Ollie left.

 

[ctchamps]

With post #122 and post #123 this has to be trolling. His posts are somehow getting even more insane.

He’s passionate, opinionated, stubborn and argumentative.

And he enjoys posters who engage with him.

I can’t decide if it’s funny or pathetic that so many people need to defend a position repeatedly. There is no tangible value obtained in continuous arguing when parties are entrenched in their opposing positions. Unless someone enjoys arguing for the sake of arguing. 611 is one of those people.

Posters refuting him with what they consider are “more” rational points of view and then getting aggravated because he is unwilling to agree should ask themselves two things. Why is it so important to get him to agree? And if he doesn’t why is it aggravating? His opinion has no impact in this universe.

 

[ctchamps]

I came here to celebrate Ross’s announcement. I’m in the camp that believes he has potential to be an impactful player. That Hurley is not blowing smoke with his assessment of Jayden.

I can’t argue with those posters who have a more skeptical opinion. The evidence is against my belief. But every once in a while I feel something about a player that makes me excited in spite of the evidence. Hopefully my spidey sense is correct about Ross.

 

[3rdbass]

Adams has to play at least 10mpg or he’s the next Nowell. There is enough PT for him and a transfer PG in the backcourt. I agree Ross has more opportunity for PT if he can split his time at stretch 4.

Silas 25 / Transfer PG 15
Ball 25 / Mullins 5 / Adams 10
Stew 15 / Mullins 10 / Furphy 10 / Ross 5
Alex 25 / Stew 10 / Ross 5
Reed 25 / Reibe 15

25: Silas / Ball / Stew / Alex / Reed
15: Transfer PG / Mullins / Reibe
10: Adams / Furphy / Ross
B: Transfer C

I really don’t see how Silas, Ball, Stew, Alex and Reed play only 25 minutes each. Maybe Reed due to foul trouble. I think most of those other guys will be in the 30-35 minute range when we get into the tough part of the schedule were some of these open minutes get squeezed. That will make it hard for Darius to see time if we find a backup portal PG.

 

[ctchamps]

Irrational is using Hurley’s national championships as a justification for bashing Ollie almost a decade after Ollie left.

Irrationally is in the eyes of the beholder. On this matter we agree.

 

[3rdbass]

This is regular season averages. Take advantage of legit depth until tourney time then cut it to 8 guys.

Yeah but that never has really happened under Hurley. I doubt it starts this year. Even in 2022-23 when we had a deep team we had 5 guys averaging 29 minutes for the season. 2023-24 we had 3 guys playing 32-33 minutes 1 27 minutes. Obviously with both teams they played more minutes against the best teams so those averages are on the lower side. So even if we have 5 guys averaging 29 minutes that eats up 20 minutes of the time you can give to the others. In the 2023-24 scenario that would be closer to 25 minutes taken away.

 

[bendm]

Yeah but that never has really happened under Hurley. I doubt it starts this year. Even in 2022-23 when we had a deep team we had 5 guys averaging 29 minutes for the season. 2023-24 we had 3 guys playing 32-33 minutes 1 27 minutes. Obviously with both teams they played more minutes against the best teams so those averages are on the lower side. So even if we have 5 guys averaging 29 minutes that eats up 20 minutes of the time you can give to the others. In the 2023-24 scenario that would be closer to 25 minutes taken away.

If youre adamant about 11 then take Furphy out of the rotation but I’m equally adamant that Adams and Ross will be in the regular season rotation or Adams will be gone as a sophomore and Ross would not have retuned. That’s a conceivable 10 man rotation compromise.

 

[Mike Honcho]

If youre adamant about 11 then take Furphy out of the rotation but I’m equally adamant that Adams and Ross will be in the regular season rotation or Adams will be gone as a sophomore and Ross would not have retuned. That’s a conceivable 10 man rotation compromise.

Much like scholarship math, this tends to sort itself out over the year. Put me in the camp that says we will not have a 10 man rotation next season.

That being said, I would like to see us pick up the pace a bit and play more transition basketball. I think we have the horses to do it but it really depends on our rebounding, outlet passing, and finishing ability, all areas we struggled in this past year. It didn't help that we couldn't reliably spell Hass either.

With 23-24, we were elite in transition even though our pace was slower than average due to our half court offense execution. This past season we barely got any easy buckets. If we do start running more often, I could see a rotation stretch to 8 or 9 guys playing decent minutes.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Bama and Auburn both went 10-11 deep. Come tourney time sure there’s a clear 8 man rotation. But Ross isn’t coming back to get his PT cut in half. Adams is in the regular season rotation or he’d be at a different school this year and certainly next year. Furphy i don’t feel as strongly about but bfield said he’s getting more than 5mpg

I knew this wasn’t true but I went to check some late season box scores just in case. Bama played 8 main rotation guys and their 9ths minutes went up or down game by game for the few games I checked. None of those box scores contained a 10th man, let alone 11th.

It’s just rare to have enough playable talent to even pull it off, despite how much I believe in all our guys. It’s also just dumb to play all conference caliber players, which we have a minimum of 4, less than 30 minutes per game, you get the most out of those dudes for understandable reasons.

Also we’re teetering into thread locking territory with your predictions, so I hope mods don’t go that route because this Ross conversation finally has a suitable home.

 

[Huskyforlife]

If youre adamant about 11 then take Furphy out of the rotation but I’m equally adamant that Adams and Ross will be in the regular season rotation or Adams will be gone as a sophomore and Ross would not have retuned. That’s a conceivable 10 man rotation compromise.

Furphy and Adams probably need a year to get their bodies right anyway. I’d imagine these conversations took place before their commitments, but they’ll be given the same chance everyone gets to play their way ahead of the incumbents and presumed rotation staples if they’re ready. 9 is the maximum number most top seeds will play in non blowouts, so some guys will be left out.

But also, this is just college basketball now. You commit to a school, if the school doesn’t play you enough to your liking, you can choose to leave at the end of the year. We thought Ross was leaving because he didn’t play much for 2 years, sometimes guys stick around, so I wouldn’t write off whomever doesn’t crack the rotation as a Husky. But some kids will go the way of Nowell and Abraham, they also had pedigree and didn’t play, it’s hard to predict.

And fwiw from the quotes Adams gives, he feels like a culture guy who will buy into the process imo, even if that means barely missing the rotation his freshman year. I won’t be shocked if he’s back in a Solo Ball type fashion his Sophomore year.

 

[mauconnfan]

Does if not perfectly not mean pretty much did exactly what he was suppose to do? On a play so many Ross detractors tried to use as a bad play.

It’s one thing to think something, it’s another to when being shown that wasn’t the case to still double down on something. (And that goes for way beyond you, unfortunately you were the only person who had the gumption (good way) to actually try to find an example).

Hate to say his supposed great defense was much closer to the opposite unless you’re seeing what you want. He was beaten off the dribble as much as anyone that I know for sure. Is there potential, heck yeah he has the physical tools but he wasn’t close to the guy we heard about in practice during his short stints.

 

[UConnSwag11]

I will bet any amount of money Ross will get more playing time than Furphy and another bet that Furphy won’t play lol.

Very happy to get Ross back!

Depending on how the portal shakes out I’m willing to take wagers on Ross starting.

If we don’t bring in a transfer at his position he'll start. We arent starting an undersized freshman (for thr 3) or a lowly ranked one at a position we need size and defense at.

And Ross will end up just fine offensively in large part because he will have a bigger role and more rope and the confidence of being one of the upperclassman leaders.

There’s been a lot of hopium on this board over the years, but you take the cake.

 

[UConnSwag11]

You saw the wrong thing when there’s literally film breakdowns that say otherwise.

Wherethedove and Ruff posted a play they thought Ross did horrible in and when someone who actually breaks them down stepped in to say Ross actually did everything perfect (not me) and someone else messed up there was no response.

But people will still ignore that to say this lie that he was a bad defender.

So maybe people don’t know what they are watching with their eyes lol

How come his minutes didn’t increase towards the end of the year? He was a liability and didn’t improve. We’re wondering if we watched the same season

He’ll have the same minutes and role, possibly less, unless he explodes over the summer.

 

[TheRogers]

We are getting a seasoned player who knows the system well. I see him only getting better. If AK comes back we will have a veteran core with promising freshman. That’s a natty contender in my book.

 

[lateralous]

In this day in age where every team seems to be starting over with a new squad each year, I love to see the (relatively) high amount of continuity on our roster. Hopefully Ross and Stewart both make big jumps in year 3.

 

[ucp990411]

Like I said I’m willing to do any wagers.

The staff playing a low ranked freshman (no matter what reports say) and not play the junior they spent a year talking about would be completely off pattern.

Hurley does seniority. Ross is going to play and most likely start if we don’t add someone from the portal. And we’ll all end up happy for it.

I’d be shocked if Furphy didn’t get the same minutes as Abraham and a freshman Jayden Ross.

And it has nothing to do with how good I think he is or isn’t and everything to do with that he’s a freshman.

It is a coaches responsibility to play the players he thinks will help a team win. If it is Furphy he will play. If it is Ross he plays. Ross may have a longer rope but if he does not produce, guess what, he won’t play. The better players play regardless of what class they are in.