Jon Rothstein's Day in Storrs

[Mooch82]

I'm rooting this to be the starting lineup; hoping that lineup shoots well enough to avoid those early game droughts that have plagued us in the past...then bringing Alleyne and Karaban in as shooters off the bench can give us that additional spark. On the surface, I'm excited for our quality depth this year.

 

[Candyman]

Jackson was lock down for most of last year and Hawk made huge leaps defensively at the end of the season. With the addition of Diarra and Newton’s size, I’ll take our chances.

He's not wrong tho. We have scorers and shooters but lost defense and rebounding. We lost one of the best defensive players in College, plus Martin and Cole who both played hard nosed D. We also lost Martin and Whaley's offensive rebounding. With the 4 Out offense you have to concern yourself with offensive rebounding.

Truth is we don't know how Samson/Karaban are going to be on the boards. Yes I know Newton and Jackson are very good rebounders but it is fine to be concerned which big will help Sanogo on the boards.

 

[BGesus4]

I'm rooting this to be the starting lineup; hoping that lineup shoots well enough to avoid those early game droughts that have plagued us in the past...then bringing Alleyne and Karaban in as shooters off the bench can give us that additional spark. On the surface, I'm excited for our quality depth this year.

An assertive hawk and a Dre with one or two more offensive tricks in his bag would go a long way

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Jackson was lock down for most of last year and Hawk made huge leaps defensively at the end of the season. With the addition of Diarra and Newton’s size, I’ll take our chances.

Jackson was good, but certainly not lock down. He stretched his defense too far out very often, and got driven by a lot because of this.

 

[navery12]

Jackson was good, but certainly not lock down. He stretched his defense too far out very often, and got driven by a lot because of this.

He was a lock down defender. He was statistically one of the best defenders in the whole Big East last year

 

[Kenny11]

He was a lock down defender. He was statistically one of the best defenders in the whole Big East last year

Yeah, he does get blown by sometimes because he still stands too high but hes so athletic that he can recover and play defense from behind very well

 

[Slick]

Karaban shrinking already. He'll be down to 6'4" by opening tip.

????

 

[Luna]

Good to hear Samson is looking like a starter. His observations seem right in line with the expectations of what we need for the year.

That Hawkins jump is going to be CRUCIAL.

( that Hawkins jump is going to be CRUCIAL) and also how good is Newton going to be

 

[husky429]

If Hawkins can actually score 15ppg or better the big east is in a hell of a lot of trouble. It was obvious the kid had star potential at Dematha but just needed a bit of skill and the mindset to take more risks scoring it.

He's unique in that way... he came in pretty polished and effecient at what he does (3s and pull ups), but his scoring package was pretty limited. If he can expand it just a bit, he's going to be a star.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Based on what? The 5 minutes he played last year?

He played about 65 minutes or so, and was just as good as Hawkins was in his first 65 minutes (not good). But we had no options at SG, and we had Whaley/Akok (and Springs) at the 4. Had he played almost 400 minutes I think we'd all be very high on him.

 

[aburks41]

He was a lock down defender. He was statistically one of the best defenders in the whole Big East last year

EvanMiya had him ranked as a top 30 defender in the entire country last year. And Barttorvik has him top 50 amongst high major teams. He was very very good on defense

 

[CardiacAndre7]

He was a lock down defender. He was statistically one of the best defenders in the whole Big East last year

I stand corrected. I just seem to remember him overextending too much on the perimeter, and seemed like for no reason. I guess the staff told him to guard guys 40ft out, just seemed unnecessary.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I stand corrected. I just seem to remember him overextending too much on the perimeter, and seemed like for no reason. I guess the staff told him to guard guys 40ft out, just seemed unnecessary.

He definitely did overextend a bit too much but as @Kenny11 mentioned, he is just so long and athletic that he was effectively able to recover and play defense too much. I will agree with you that he plays far from the most polished defense, but very effective.

 

[Stinger92860]

Andre Jackson and "point" in the same sentence. It's about to go down...

He also called him a utility player. What does he mean?

 

[Palatine]

He also called him a utility player. What does he mean?

It means Swiss Army Knife.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I stand corrected. I just seem to remember him overextending too much on the perimeter, and seemed like for no reason. I guess the staff told him to guard guys 40ft out, just seemed unnecessary.

His lowlights on defense were more noticeable than anyone else on the team. Guys like Cole and Martin didn’t give up points from letting the offensive player blow by them. But the stats are undeniable about his impact.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

His lowlights on defense were more noticeable than anyone else on the team. Guys like Cole and Martin didn’t give up points from letting the offensive player blow by them. But the stats are undeniable about his impact.

Yeah that must be it. No issue in getting driven past sometimes, it happens. But it just seemed unnecessary a lot of the time due to overextension. I’m sure it’ll be fixed.

 

[navery12]

Yeah that must be it. No issue in getting driven past sometimes, it happens. But it just seemed unnecessary a lot of the time due to overextension. I’m sure it’ll be fixed.

Hopefully it does get fixed because it would make him a much better player. I almost feel like it's a feature and not a bug in Hurley's defense though. Seemed like he wanted the defense funneling guys into the paint, which may not work as well when Whaley isn't waiting in the paint

 

[Tiamat7]

I stand corrected. I just seem to remember him overextending too much on the perimeter, and seemed like for no reason. I guess the staff told him to guard guys 40ft out, just seemed unnecessary.

You are forgiven for remembering his less than stellar performance against Teddy Buckets in the tournament. Of course, others will blame Hurley.

 

[businesslawyer]

I stand corrected. I just seem to remember him overextending too much on the perimeter, and seemed like for no reason. I guess the staff told him to guard guys 40ft out, just seemed unnecessary.

Don't back down so easily. I agree with Jim Boeheim on this. It's nonsense that a computer can measure a player's defensive performance when the computer has no friggin idea what the coach is asking the player to do in terms of staying with his man, leaving to help others or guarding the rim.

 

[superjohn]

You are forgiven for remembering his less than stellar performance against Teddy Buckets in the tournament. Of course, others will blame Hurley.

Teddy Buckets scored 6 points with Jackson guarding him.

 

[444JR]

This is the ideal starting lineup, but I still worry about how raw and lacking in awareness/ strength Samson was on defense last year. If he’s made/making the leap and is a +starter we are in for a damn good run. That lineup is long and athletic: 6’5, 6’6, 6’7, 6’10, 6’9

Alleyne
Calcaterra
Karaban
all providing shooting off the bench

more plus athleticism and experience from Diarra

Rare size and hopefully passing from Clingan

Many have said it here before, but Springs looks game ready and willing to attack when he gets minutes. Hopefully this team will be ready and mature enough to tough out close games. Make veteran savvy plays and keeps it’s composure from the coaching staff down.

Let’s get it. Excited for this team

 

[aburks41]

Hoping for more Newton talk.

Yeah kinda strange we haven’t heard really anything about him. I think no news is good news with him…he is probably the most polished player on the team and isn’t expected to have to make a big leap like Jackson, Hawkins, Sanogo, Karaban, Sampson, etc.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Don't back down so easily. I agree with Jim Boeheim on this. It's nonsense that a computer can measure a player's defensive performance when the computer has no friggin idea what the coach is asking the player to do in terms of staying with his man, leaving to help others or guarding the rim.

If Jim Boehiem could work his computer, his team wouldn’t be stuck in mediocrity.

 

[sdrouin]

Kinda random and couldn’t find when I briefly googled. Does anyone know when the last time UConn did a foreign basketball tour? We have to be due.. I thought it was allowed every four years