Kisunas released from LOI

[Jaybird65]

Nobody can answer that right now. As it stands, we are not a tournament team. imo

That would seem to be the logical baseline as of now. The "potential" concept & "coach 'em up" concept is pretty much projection (and hope....)

 

[8893]

It's too soon to start worrying now.

Did you forget where you are? That's what we do best here.

 

[Ewekon]

Wow. We're defending Hurley by mocking a foreign born kid's presumed accent? Watching too much Fox News maybe?

 

[CL82]

Did you forget where you are? That's what we do best here.

Meh, I'm still in the HurleyWatch afterglow.

 

[intlzncster]

Is this really a surprise or hard to understand? Seems pretty obvious and expected to me.

Ollie’s strategy and objective was always “positionless basketball” and that is what he used to attract these recruits.

Hurley’s strategy and objective is the complete opposite. If you watch his teams, he has clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and positions for his players.

Ollie ran a lot of iso plays and individual focus. Hurley is more of a designed team plays offense.

It isn’t just the coaching change that is driving the change of plans with the recruits (although that would be enough reason in my opinion). But the completely different strategy and even culture of the program by definition will attract (and need) very different types of players and kids.

These decisions are best for both the UConn program AND the players in the long run.

Hurley's more of a guy who tailors his scheme to what he has. If it's 4 guards, he plays 4 guards. If he's got a stud inside, he's going inside out. He's not very complex.

That URI was often playing relatively positionless ball, but that's because they had nobody over 6'7 or whatever it was.

 

[JimHurley]

I agree, a core of Jalen (if back), Vital, Sid, AG, Diarra, and Carlton can be a competitive team with the right coaching. Not world beaters, but much better than 14-18. It seems realistically that Akinjo isn't interested in coming to UConn without Ollie, so be it. Beyond that, losing a couple of three-star recruits is not the end of the world when you're making a significant program transition.

Absolutely. A starting 5 of Jalen, Vital, Sid, Diarra, and Carlton with AG and Whaley (at the bare minimum) off the bench definitely has the potential to be a ranked team with good coaching.

 

[intlzncster]

Some people may not like this, but the ideal situation would be for Larrier to come back for one more year and get coached up. He would only take up a scholarship for one year.

I would not have been opposed to having him come back, but at this point, I'd rather have Wilson (and Pollie) get a lot of experience. That dividend will pay off.

 

[JimHurley]

People need to relax. It’s only been two weeks. As long as no one transfers, Adams comes back, and we get a guard we’ll be ok for next year. 2019 is when things will get rolling. He’s hopefully setting himself up for a big 2019 class.

Agree with everything you said. If we get the 10 returning guys from last year all back plus another PG/SG, this team will be good. Hurley will get the guys he wants beginning next year.

 

[intlzncster]

I'll amend the question.

How many of the current guys are starters or key bench players (think top 2 guys off the bench) for a final four contender?

Well, that's a big gap between tournament team talent level, and a FF powerhouse. I mean, look at Duke vs URI. And the diff in those players.

Adams might start, Wilson would get minutes on a FF team.

If he was guaranteed healthy, Gilbert would probably get minutes too.

 

[Matrim55]

Absolutely. A starting 5 of Jalen, Vital, Sid, Diarra, and Carlton with AG and Whaley (at the bare minimum) off the bench definitely has the potential to be a ranked team with good coaching.

I don't understand why so many of these types of posts omit Polley. Obviously he's a limited player who needs a lot of improvement, but the kid shot 42% from 3. When's the last time a freshman did that at UConn?

Even if his role never grows beyond "stand there and hit a shot every four minutes," that's a valuable rotation piece.

 

[JimHurley]

We need a guard who can stroke it and handle PG duties, a wing who can stretch the floor and another serviceable big. Then, maybe, we're a top 40 team. Lots of pieces to the puzzle to be fit in as of now. Our core of Adams, CV, Gilbert, Wilson, Diarra, Carlton must be kept in tact.

Disagree that we NEED another wing and big. A guard, definitely. But Sid/Polley can hold down the wing position. Diarra, Whaley, Cobb, and Carlton are "serviceable" I would say as well. Plus I'd rather have Hurley get a wing and a big in the 2019 class rather than filling the roster just to fill it.

 

[intlzncster]

That would seem to be the logical baseline as of now. The "potential" concept & "coach 'em up" concept is pretty much projection (and hope....)

I am 100% certain they will be better than last year. Maybe markedly. That's a projection I'm willing to make.

 

[8893]

Meh, I'm still in the HurleyWatch afterglow.

Personally, today of all days, I'm a little miffed that he hasn't won us another championship yet.

 

[JimHurley]

I don't understand why so many of these types of posts omit Polley. Obviously he's a limited player who needs a lot of improvement, but the kid shot 42% from 3. When's the last time a freshman did that at UConn?

Even if his role never grows beyond "stand there and hit a shot every four minutes," that's a valuable rotation piece.

Yes, my fault on that one. I have hope for Polley. So JA, CV, SW, MD, and JC with a backup guard in AG, backup wing in Tyler Phommachanh, and backup big IW is a solid roster.

 

[Jaybird65]

I am 100% certain they will be better than last year. Maybe markedly. That's a projection I'm willing to make.

Me too....just not sure if a tournament team but hoping like crazy....

 

[August_West]

Given that our season is over, it is incredibly difficult at the moment to guess whether we can have a decent team next year. On the one hand, if Adams comes back, Gilbert stays healthy, Carlton shows a big leap and we add at least decent depth with the open roster spots, we could have three AAC impact players (Adams, Gilbert and Wilson), decent play at the 4 and 5 and adequate depth, which could be enough to compete for an NCAA bid. On the other hand, if Adams leaves, Gilbert is not the player who signed with us and all we add with the open roster spots is talent at a level of our off season additions last year, we would have a substantially less talented team and would be relying on better coaching to even play up to last year's level.

Time will tell.

”The fundamental question is, Will I be as effective as a boss like my dad was?… Until I am, it's gonna be hard to verify that I think I'll be more effective.”.

 

[the Q]

Well, that's a big gap between tournament team talent level, and a FF powerhouse. I mean, look at Duke vs URI. And the diff in those players.

Adams might start, Wilson would get minutes on a FF team.

If he was guaranteed healthy, Gilbert would probably get minutes too.

I will say that Whaley and Vital could have roles as well. Ideally as key bench players. They were both extremely solid with BPM.

I think Vital is a better 3pt shooter than his numbers for 2 reasons 1) his FT% and 2) his shot selection is beyond abysmal right now.

Hurley providing some actual accountability and reigning that in will only see that number spike.

 

[3rdbass]

I will say that Whaley and Vital could have roles as well. Ideally as key bench players. They were both extremely solid with BPM.

I think Vital is a better 3pt shooter than his numbers for 2 reasons 1) his FT% and 2) his shot selection is beyond abysmal right now.

Hurley providing some actual accountability and reigning that in will only see that number spike.

I don't see the love for Whaley. He played well earlier in the season when he were playing smaller teams but as we got to the end of the year he could barely get off the bench due to his limited offensive skills and being outmuscled by almost all opposing players. He needs to hit the weights hard and gain a shot before we can talk about Whaley making an impact.

 

[Jaybird65]

Do we think we can get to 22 wins???? It just seems like 22 wins is the number of wins an AAC team needs to make the tournament without the automatic bid the last couple of years...

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Let’s just skip next season

 

[businesslawyer]

”The fundamental question is, Will I be as effective as a boss like my dad was?… Until I am, it's gonna be hard to verify that I think I'll be more effective.”.

??? Don't recognize the quote.

 

[ctchamps]

I don't understand why so many of these types of posts omit Polley. Obviously he's a limited player who needs a lot of improvement, but the kid shot 42% from 3. When's the last time a freshman did that at UConn?

Even if his role never grows beyond "stand there and hit a shot every four minutes," that's a valuable rotation piece.

If he could drive to the basket and not charge or lose the ball and if Jalen could shoot 42% from three next year could be interesting. Otherwise it’s easier for opposing teams to defend against their strengths.

 

[superjohn]

I don't understand why so many of these types of posts omit Polley. Obviously he's a limited player who needs a lot of improvement, but the kid shot 42% from 3. When's the last time a freshman did that at UConn?

Even if his role never grows beyond "stand there and hit a shot every four minutes," that's a valuable rotation piece.

Same people seem to be lamenting we lost a knock down shooter Jeremy Lamb clone in Emmitt Matthews who shot 29% from three in high school.

 

[August_West]

??? Don't recognize the quote.

Little Carmine Lupertazzi. The Sopranos.

 

[ctchamps]

We've already got two wings in Wilson and Pollie, so I don't think that's a problem.

One can shoot from outside but is really limited in driving to the basket and the other is the polar opposite. Can we surgically merge them and have one complete player.