Josh Carlton our go-to guy appreciation thread

[jibsey]

Fantastic game for him and think about what today could have been if not for 0-15 from 3. Josh needs another big guy and quality power forward for next year. It’s not Sid, sorry with his size, strength and shooting ability. Josh cannot do this by himself next season so it’s all on Hurley to get this done.

 

[ToolzieFan]

He has improved so much, and he's really having a nice season. Per KenPom.com, he's currently 45th in the country in offensive rebound percentage and 39th in block percentage. He's shooting 59.4% from 2 (and I think there's room for improvement there). He's going to be a solid player for the next two years.

 

[intlzncster]

If I wasn’t so lazy I’d put up a picture of him from November next to a picture of him now. He has put on a TON of muscle in season which I’m not sure I’ve ever seen.

You think? Would be cool if so. Very unusual thing to do.

 

[intlzncster]

I hope we only need 11/7/2 from Josh. I think he’ll be a double double guy for sure as a senior. Very impressive year for him.

That would be ideal. I'd be ecstatic for him if so. In order to get where we want to go, we won't need more than 10-12 pts from him. I'm not worried about firepower his senior year.

What I'd love to see is 8-10 rbds, and 3blks. That would be the ideal and we'd be in really good shape there.

 

[intlzncster]

You beat us to the punch. Again. I promise I didn't cheat.

Not for nothing, those two did that against far superior opponents.

 

[cohenzone]

Ok. Role player at best. Also a big contributor to our academic issues if I remember correctly

He only has to be a role player. A starter can be a role player. See Voskuhl and Freeman on the same team.

Edit. Quoted the wrong reply, but the point remains.

 

[intlzncster]

Fantastic game for him and think about what today could have been if not for 0-15 from 3. Josh needs another big guy and quality power forward for next year. It’s not Sid, sorry with his size, strength and shooting ability. Josh cannot do this by himself next season so it’s all on Hurley to get this done.

Akok will be playing PF.

 

[intlzncster]

Hurley loves Josh. Mentioned it was one of the reasons he took the job. I mean Hurley flips houses like...oh never mind!

He'd probably rather have Kofi tho!

 

[husky429]

Akok with be playing PF.

Precious.

 

[Palatine]

We really need another 6-11 or 7-0.

 

[Jimdish255]

I've been pretty hot and cold on Josh because his moments were too few and far between and his aggression seemed a little too restrained. I think he's just generally a nice young man, but a guy who needs some time to develop even further. He had to push to bring his game to where it is but it looks like he's putting the work in because every part of his game is improved.

 

[tcf15]

UConn men’s notebook: Alterique Gilbert continues to show the ‘it’ factor for UConn men
“Inspiring,” said Hurley. “When Josh gets an off-season to work on his body, that guy’s gonna be a really good player. He’s not as physically-developed as their front-line guys. They had some serious size and length and athletes and men out there today, and he kinda battled them.”

 

[gtcam]

Josh played very well today
He has on occasion this year - mainly at home
But that is the thing that he has to avoid - occasional goodness and mainly at home
I feel that if there is another big who can bang the boards with him, he will be more consistent
Not taking anything away from todays performance - it was wonderful to see
A Hilton Armstrong/Josh Boone like jr and sr years would be great

 

[Chin Diesel]

Seems to me there is combination of a coach who knows how to develop big men and a player willing to listen and put in the work.

The big change the second half of the season is Josh staying vertical in his offensive moves and defensive positioning. His base is more balanced and it results in fewer offensive fouls (especially the hook) and defensive fouls.

I've been real big on his development the second half of the season and, as Hurley said, with a full off-season to work with coaches, I don't see any reason he can't average a double/double the next two seasons.

 

[AdamaNation]

Wait a minute...I thought it was CV?

CV has become Uconn's go-to guy by far.

/s

Been waiting for a Carlton post after that game today. People are tough on him, but I think the majority of them forget that Carlton is only a sophomore. Get some solid depth behind him for the next couple of years and we'll be good.

I’m one. But well played against a rather big front line to boot. Best game of career by far. The passing was Cobb-esque. Showed some real awareness and iq. The last time we had passing bigs is back to josh and Hilton.

 

[Mokum]

I was wrong, dead wrong about Josh. I didn’t think he had what it takes. His improvement has been phenomenal under Hurley. He is a damn good player and will be a great asset as a junior and senior. Needs to do some serious work with coach Sal in the off season. If he can get some more muscle , watch out for this guy.

 

[Sphinx]

Josh is certainly the best offensive "operator" underneath that UConn has had in memory. And he is still developing game-by-game. The return of AG and Josh next year gives UConn all-conference strength at the two key positions on any team -- PG and center. If you're rebuilding a team, you couldn't ask for a better foundation. The story of this year is what's been going on behind the won-lost record. We've been developing tournament-class strength at PG and C, while grooming next year's bench. By next year at this time, we could be starting AG, Gaffney, Bouknight, Josh and Akok , with CV, Polley, Wilson and Adams as backup. It's going to be fun to watch.

 

[mauconnfan]

He was really good for the most part yesterday for sure. He is battling that's for sure, would be better with some space to work but for now without a 4 that can score the ball he will get doubled on occasion. But he's getting it, working hard to be better think he did a lot if that in the summer too because he came in looking good. Add to that some coaches who are adding to his wisdom and he's learning daily, showing signs all the time. Like the Hurley punch on the "summer to get stronger" needs that to get to another level. Not as worried about him elevating as much as getting stronger, finding a better power dribble, using the backboard to finish shots and just a little quicker with the rotations. But all in all very nice sophomore season considering year 1!!!

 

[Waquoit]

Something I never understood with my fellow boneyarders. Why so much love for Gavin Edwards?

For one, his high school coach said he's never make it in the Big East.

 

[mauconnfan]

I’m one. But well played against a rather big front line to boot. Best game of career by far. The passing was Cobb-esque. Showed some real awareness and iq. The last time we had passing bigs is back to josh and Hilton.

He just missed Sid on the baseline with his back to him but it was nice to see him recognize the double and find the open guy. Unfortunately a bit too low of a delivery.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Getting in early on the "Carlton is a bum" analysis after he posts a 3 point, 2 rebound and 4 fouls in 18 minutes next game.

 

[Rico444]

He's getting more consistent as the year goes on. He rarely puts up a complete stinker of a game anymore - he's had a few bad halves lately but always seems to turn things around later in the game. He could turn into a really good player for us as soon as next year if he keeps improving and gets bigger this off-season.

 

[imno1]

Before this season you’d have to go back a ways to see one of our bigs pass the ball once they got it. It could be because they rarely ever got the ball passed to them or they just didn’t know what to do with it once it was in their hands. Nice to see the effort

 

[Chin Diesel]

Before this season you’d have to go back a ways to see one of our bigs pass the ball once they got it. It could be because they rarely ever got the ball passed to them or they just didn’t know what to do with it once it was in their hands. Nice to see the effort

What I like when I see Josh making those passes is it means he has been able to slow down the game enough to not only understand what he should be doing but where his teammates should be open based on the defense.

His execution of those passes? Needs some work on touch and location. Some too high, some too low, some too fast, some too slow.

As I said in the Section 121 thread, by next year I expect to see some to Josh to Polley or Josh to Sid alley oops when those players rush the hoop along the baseline from the weakside.

At this point it's apparent Josh has a good touch around the hoop and is showing he can score in a couple of different ways around the rim. He's bordering on becoming crafty.

 

[Waquoit]

Before this season you’d have to go back a ways to see one of our bigs pass the ball once they got it. It could be because they rarely ever got the ball passed to them or they just didn’t know what to do with it once it was in their hands.

Yes