Karaban still weighing decision whether to return or go pro | Page 9 | The Boneyard

Karaban still weighing decision whether to return or go pro

Alex was please come back! We need your leadership, talent and drive to win. You have already talked about how much you love UConn. You will never again have the chance to play for the Huskies after this coming season and you will be paid very handsomely.
If you declare, you may or may not make more money. You may or may not get a multi-year contract and make an NBA roster.
You likely would struggle to get playing time and the travel will become a grind over time. You would have a much better time at UConn!
 
Fishy said:
First, we have to acknowledge that this is now purely a business. These guys are on seven figure contracts and we have to sign a million dollar player to replace Alex if he leaves because the competition is out there pitching these kids right now.

As for Samson Johnson…meh. Feels like they’re building another Memphis where they run people in and out and get nowhere in the end.
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I have been on that end of the spectrum and I do agree but even in business culture is important even if it comes with consequences but only in the most rare of occasions. If you put loyalty first all the time in business scenarios then it will negatively impact performance. I completely agree that this is a business as you note, but just in my experience loyalty at times can carry a significant plus side when you are building something long term.

Pitino has what three four years left. With how he is doing it they will be a dumpster fire as soon as he leaves imo. I mean he benched his best player because he realized halfway through his last game that he was not the player that could lead them to a chip. Have to be three dimensional and Louis Jr just cannot shoot the three and for a wing that is more important than the mid range game. I am not one of those fans who think no mid range game is ok but for a wing position to be optimized the player has to shoot the three at 40% or better and they have to be able to get to the rim and either score or draw fouls. Slick Rick saw that was going to be too big an issue for St Johns to overcome because of the athleticism they were playing against. Hurley was ahead of Pitino in figuring that one out.

Which brings me back to the point that although I agree with your statement that these players are now pro, because jeez they are making 7 figures to play and Alex won’t even have to go to class. He will have a degree although I am guessing he will work towards a masters in one of his majors whatever those might be. So you really can’t be more pro than that.

But I think he is one of those special cases where this level of loyalty may look bad for the team currently, somehow it will be an overall plus for the program.
 
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bendm said:
How did I not address your post? You said players are automatically eligible for the nba draft. In response I said that’s not true they have to actually declare for the draft and then gave an example illustrating how crazy your alternative realty would be
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Post 220 says it all, it’s the actual rule
 
Did everyone realize Silas Demary is also going through the draft process? Assume nothing to be concerned about but just saw an interview where he said he’ll decide whether to go pro or back to school by Mid May. Also said he’d only go if guaranteed first round and not seeing him on any draft boards. Just had no idea he was going through the process.
 
Husky15 said:
Did everyone realize Silas Demary is also going through the draft process? Assume nothing to be concerned about but just saw an interview where he said he’ll decide whether to go pro or back to school by Mid May. Also said he’d only go if guaranteed first round and not seeing him on any draft boards. Just had no idea he was going through the process.
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He is definitely testing the NBA Draft which I didn't see anywhere he declared. I wonder why nothing was mentioned in the media?
 
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Hurley is a loyal guy and is loyal to Alex. If Alex needs until the last second, Hurley will give it to him. I’m putting blind trust that all the people on the inside are on the exact same page and are acting accordingly

But as a person on the outside, it’s hard not to assume that really good forwards are hesitant talking to UConn because they don’t know if a 30 MPG starter will be on the roster or not

Hoping the insiders are right and outsiders are wrong. I guess we won’t know for sure until next years F rotation is settled
 
djct1999 said:
This idea that Alex has put UConn in a bind is ludicrous. I am sure he is transparent w his intentions and the staff is well equipped. It’s not like any of this is coming out of left field and blind sighting them.
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This.
What’s transpired has not been some hugely unlikely outcome. If this has torpedoed our roster somehow, then that’d be brutal mismanagement by the staff. I’m confident they have a plan for the very scenario that’s playing out that they feel good about.
 
I do not know if the St. John's mercenary approach will work but the best comparison for this is Kansas. Bill Self is a good coach, but it is not going well by their standards given how much money has been deployed and the talent at their disposal.

It's undeniable you need talent to win, but you also need continuity. In a normal Big East, that St. John's team is a 3rd or 4th place finisher so I do feel they got a bit lucky.

Next year's team will be more talented but less roster continuity and more top line guys that aren't used to being 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th options. There's only one basketball.

There roster construction is also kinda weird especially for a Pitino team, like he overcorrected from last year, but we will see.

Suffice to say I think they will be good, but not as good as they should be.
 
This is getting ridiculous with Alex. He’s had plenty of time. The belief that everyone on the inside is informed is blind hope. If he’s coming back, just announce it, if he’s not, we have undoubtedly lost opportunity to replace him.
 
Beowulf said:
when he does decide, half of us will say he should have stayed, half of us will say he should have gone. so sorta makes sense why it's taking so long
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Late to this conversation, but I think there are very few who actually don't want him to come back. I think most do actively want him back, while the rest would welcome him back but thinks he's done enough for UConn and would be good with him leaving if the situation is best for him and we can get a good player in the portal.
 
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Storrs South said:
I do not know if the St. John's mercenary approach will work but the best comparison for this is Kansas. Bill Self is a good coach, but it is not going well by their standards given how much money has been deployed and the talent at their disposal.

It's undeniable you need talent to win, but you also need continuity. In a normal Big East, that St. John's team is a 3rd or 4th place finisher so I do feel they got a bit lucky.

Next year's team will be more talented but less roster continuity and more top line guys that aren't used to being 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th options. There's only one basketball.

There roster construction is also kinda weird especially for a Pitino team, like he overcorrected from last year, but we will see.

Suffice to say I think they will be good, but not as good as they should be.
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Their starting guard trio averaged a combined 3 assists per game last year. 3. That team is going to be a whole bunch of iso hero ball from guys who do not like passing or being the 2nd or 3rd option. I think you nailed it with the KU comp. Lotta talent, awful roster construction.
 
BGesus4 said:
This.
What’s transpired has not been some hugely unlikely outcome. If this has torpedoed our roster somehow, then that’d be brutal mismanagement by the staff. I’m confident they have a plan for the very scenario that’s playing out that they feel good about.
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They might have a plan…but the options are changing.

If they knew he was leaving last week there would be more options to replace him.
 
aburks41 said:
Their starting guard trio averaged a combined 3 assists per game last year. 3. That team is going to be a whole bunch of iso hero ball from guys who do not like passing or being the 2nd or 3rd option. I think you nailed it with the KU comp. Lotta talent, awful roster construction.
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It is also going to be impossible to score against them
 
Husky15 said:
Did everyone realize Silas Demary is also going through the draft process? Assume nothing to be concerned about but just saw an interview where he said he’ll decide whether to go pro or back to school by Mid May. Also said he’d only go if guaranteed first round and not seeing him on any draft boards. Just had no idea he was going through the process.
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Wasn’t aware of that. He’s not listed on Givonys top 100 prospect list, so he should be at UConn. I’m not even sure he’d get a combine invite. Alex remains a top 40 prospect for Givony as of today. Will be interesting to see how it shakes out. Wonder what’s going to happen with RJ Luis, still crazy to me they ran him off. Hes a fringe top 60 prospect, he should come back to college. If Alex is gone, curious if they’d look his direction. It’s not an exact fit, but he’s a good player.
 
Storrs South said:
I do not know if the St. John's mercenary approach will work but the best comparison for this is Kansas. Bill Self is a good coach, but it is not going well by their standards given how much money has been deployed and the talent at their disposal.

It's undeniable you need talent to win, but you also need continuity. In a normal Big East, that St. John's team is a 3rd or 4th place finisher so I do feel they got a bit lucky.

Next year's team will be more talented but less roster continuity and more top line guys that aren't used to being 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th options. There's only one basketball.

There roster construction is also kinda weird especially for a Pitino team, like he overcorrected from last year, but we will see.

Suffice to say I think they will be good, but not as good as they should be.
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Pitino is far better than self and has won in a variety of ways. He will figure it out and continue to help UConn keep big East relevant
 
NJHusky said:
They might have a plan…but the options are changing.

If they knew he was leaving last week there would be more options to replace him.
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There hasn't been anyone who committed in the last week that they missed out on while waiting on Alex to decide
 
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I read somewhere that there are 10 schools with $10mil rosters. St. Johns is one of them. We can hate all we want, but the reality is that kind of money means we cannot make recruiting mistakes. And not having Alex as a 4 and /or not having a high end alternative to replace him if needed would qualify as a huge mistake.
 
Hungryhusky99 said:
It is also going to be impossible to score against them
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I could be wrong but at least since the shot clock was implemented I don't believe a team has ever been shut out in a college basketball game.

I'm confident that with the players that we know we will have in 25-26 we should be able to score at least six or seven points against St John's.
 
Storrs South said:
Everyone they have brought in is offensive oriented. Sure they are long, but I do no think anyone is particularly known for their defense.
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Dillon Mitchell is a force defensively. Pitino will get his team to defend; they’re long, athletic, and physical. It’ll come together for them defensively, I’m just not sure what to expect offensively. Lot of guys who can score but no one to really facilitate.
 
St. John's has a shot to be good. There's also a decent chance they pull a Kansas and fall flat on their face. Not sure I would make an assumption one way or the other on them
 
Fatroony5 said:
Dillon Mitchell is a force defensively. Pitino will get his team to defend; they’re long, athletic, and physical. It’ll come together for them defensively, I’m just not sure what to expect offensively. Lot of guys who can score but no one to really facilitate.
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Mitchell yes, but Jackson, Sellers, Sanon, Hopkins are not defensive weapons. Pitino will coach them up but I do not expect a top 10 or possibly even 20 defense again.
 
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Storrs South said:
Mitchell yes, but Jackson, Sellers, Sanon, Hopkins are not defensive weapons. Pitino will coach them up but I do not expect a top 10 or possibly even 20 defense again.
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I will guarantee you they are a top 20 defense lol
 
Storrs South said:
Mitchell yes, but Jackson, Sellers, Sanon, Hopkins are not defensive weapons. Pitino will coach them up but I do not expect a top 10 or possibly even 20 defense again.
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I’d be pretty surprised if they aren’t a top 20 defense. With their size, athleticism, rebounding ability, they will be really tough to play against, he’ll coach them up to be a good unit again. I’m more curious to see how they fit together offensively.
 
Fatroony5 said:
I’d be pretty surprised if they aren’t a top 20 defense. With their size, athleticism, rebounding ability, they will be really tough to play against, he’ll coach them up to be a good unit again. I’m more curious to see how they fit together offensively.
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It is impossible for them not to be with Zuby and Mitchell
 
I have no doubt that Pitino will get that team to play defense. I also think there’s a chance they finish the season with like four assists.

Also, Alex needs to decide already. Whatever he’s gonna know about where he stands, he already knows it by now.
 
djct1999 said:
This idea that Alex has put UConn in a bind is ludicrous. I am sure he is transparent w his intentions and the staff is well equipped. It’s not like any of this is coming out of left field and blind sighting them.
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Completely agree with this
 
navery12 said:
There hasn't been anyone who committed in the last week that they missed out on while waiting on Alex to decide
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We don't know what we missed out on or if we missed out at all until he announces his decision. What we do know is any big time starting level 4 isn't committing here until they know what the guy who averages 36 minutes per game is going to do. He's pulling an Aaron Rodgers.

If he comes back, great. If he leaves and is replaced with a big time replacement from the portal, great. If he doesn't come back and we just get a depth piece, not good at all.
 
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