Koby Brea entered the portal. Please please Coach Hurley

[caw]

My worry with Brea was that he shot 7 FTs his entire junior year and then 16 last year. He’s 21-23 in two years … so he should be trying to get to the line (and Dayton has won a lot so some of those 23 were probably deliberate last minute fouls where you figure Dayton would try to inbound the ball to him). He seems allergic to the territory inside the arc - just one 2 attempt a game. Theres the Joey C role he could have filled nicely, but is that what he wants? It feels like he’s not multi-dimensional enough to fit our offense the way we like to run it - perhaps he was held back by Dayton’s system, but with only one year to work with him, could he get up to speed?

His 3 percentage last year was an outlier for his four-year career. Perhaps he has developed and is simply that good now ... but it also could be an anomaly. Shooting can be prone to slumps. When Cam was cold from 3, he brought other things to the table. There isn't anything in the numbers that would give me hope that Brea is not a one-trick pony. When he played Houston he had 0 in 30 minutes. Wasn’t so much an off night as he didn't even get shots up.

I have a few worries with Mahaney too - feel like his assist numbers should be higher, but get him in our offense and out of the St. Mary’s one, and I feel like he has a higher ceiling there. And we lose so much with Newton and Spencer, just with their improvisation skills and triple-threat qualities - I feel like Mahaney gives us a better chance of filling that vacancy and I’d have prioritized him too.

Time might show I’m wrong and that Brea will show more of a multi faceted game with a new lease on life. But I figure our staff has evaluated tons of film and can give an expert opinion.

Could be wrong on this too - but I also think some of the “we aren’t recruiting him any more” leaks could be for Ball’s sake - a vote of confidence that they expect him to step up and have a big role in our rotation and that we aren’t recruiting multiple people to get in his way.

I wouldn't worry about Mahaney's assist numbers much. He wasn't their PG and they run a super slow offense. The fact his A/TO ratio was solid is good.

 

[husky429]

You could not use AI to mold a 2024 UConn player any more perfect than Liam McNeeley.

I'm late to the party on this comment, but you're spot on. IQ through the roof for his age, good size, dynamite shooter, great culture fit. Doesn't turn the ball over, does everything else pretty well. Coachable. Winner.

 

[ctbro1999]

Could be wrong on this too - but I also think some of the “we aren’t recruiting him any more” leaks could be for Ball’s sake - a vote of confidence that they expect him to step up and have a big role in our rotation and that we aren’t recruiting multiple people to get in his way.

I'm very eager to see Ball take a leap next season. I'd be shocked if he doesn't.

 

[MDHuskFan]

Brea is Jack Gohlke who gets to the line less, but a better shooter.

Great bench spark plugs, but not a guy worth upsetting some valuable young pieces with, nor promising a role/minutes that he was likely looking for.

 

[7774]

Actually simply an opinion. Not a criticism. I'll move on to other subjects but I stand by my opinion that Dan got his priority targets.

LOL @ not a criticism.

 

[husky429]

I differentiate between talking about someone as a player and as a person. Criticism of his game is fair, doing the same to his character isn’t, especially when it is unfounded and based on unsubstantiated “word is...”

The attacks on his game are being linked to his person too. Being a less-than-stellar defender doesn't mean you are selfish. It means you lack athleticism, haven't been coached up, or just don't process the game really well.

Brea is a good kid. We wouldn't have been so close to signing him if he wasn't. Yes, he wants NIL money like everyone else. That isn't a crime or a bad character move.

And he isn't a BAD player either, he's just limited. He's like Tyler Polley with a 50% 3-ball. He's not good at much else, but he is damn talented as a specialist. He's going to be really good for some team.

 

[ctbro1999]

The attacks on his game are being linked to his person too. Being a less-than-stellar defender doesn't mean you are selfish. It means you lack athleticism, haven't been coached up, or just don't process the game really well.

Brea is a good kid. We wouldn't have been so close to signing him if he wasn't. Yes, he wants NIL money like everyone else. That isn't a crime or a bad character move.

And he isn't a BAD player either, he's just limited. He's like Tyler Polley with a 50% 3-ball. He's not good at much else, but he is damn talented as a specialist. He's going to be really good for some team.

If we invited him to campus for a visit, obviously we thought he was a player good enough to be on the team. Just happened we didn't need his services in the end. That's no indictment on his character, bball skills, or anything. GL to wherever he lands (and hopefully collects a nice bag).

 

[August_West]

The attacks on his game are being linked to his person too. Being a less-than-stellar defender doesn't mean you are selfish. It means you lack athleticism, haven't been coached up, or just don't process the game really well.

Brea is a good kid. We wouldn't have been so close to signing him if he wasn't. Yes, he wants NIL money like everyone else. That isn't a crime or a bad character move.

And he isn't a BAD player either, he's just limited. He's like Tyler Polley with a 50% 3-ball. He's not good at much else, but he is damn talented as a specialist. He's going to be really good for some team.

Here is the way iot works in a nutshell:

Brea is signed to UConn = He is Jordan Hawkins
Brea is not signed to UConn = He is (insert your mid level mid-major underachiever name here)

 

[superjohn]

Why are we still talking about him? He would be here if Hurley wanted him and he's always been Polley with a better three point shot whether he came here or not.

Lock it up

 

[Hi-Low]

Brea is off our radar it appears....so truly best of luck to him but please lock this thread.

Only roster issue left for next season is AK....if he stays in draft then back to the portal for a spot.

 

[Orc]

It will be so hilarious if he says no to Kentucky .

 

[2014DualCs]

He just committed to UK

 

[nomar]

He just committed to UK

We're in a good place when we can tell a rich man's Tyler Polley that we don't need him

 

[Bboy Lace]

Good for him. He'll have a lot of open looks in Pope's offense.

 

[Shine21]

Helluva pick up by Kentucky. I think we made the right choice with Mahaney, though. With Newton moving, we needed another guard that could handle the ball more, as well as provide shooting, and Mahoney provide that for us.

Plus, the extra year he has, allow us to have a strong core of Mahaney, Stewart, Ball, Nowell and Reed going into 25-26 season.

 

[Supes]

He just committed to UK

Good for him. He'll flourish in Pope's offense.

 

[husky99]

Best of luck.... lock this dumpster fire of a thread please.

 

[Orc]

Basically he picked Kentucky over nada . All the other schools dropped out. Lol Kentucky

 

[bjc42]

We're in a good place when we can tell a rich man's Tyler Polley that we don't need him

Kentucky fans will say they cooked us and we still suck at recruiting.

 

[Bboy Lace]

Kentucky fans will say they cooked us and we still suck at recruiting.

And we have flat pockets. We couldn't afford Brea's NIL

 

[Methalius]

Kentucky fans will say they cooked us and we still suck at recruiting.

Who cares what Kentucky fans say? If UCONN wanted him they could have had him....

 

[Tenspro2002]

Mahaney is a lot better than Brea, he fills a need, and he has two seasons. Hurley will probably turn Mahaney into an NBA player. Trust the staff.

I think Hurley realizes that a guy like Spencer -- a good shooter, but also a versatile game inside the paint -- is actually more valuable at the college level than a guy like Hawkins -- an elite shooter, but who you have to basically structure your offense around to take advantage of.

Mahaney is like a slightly-poor-man's Spencer. Brea is a poor man's Hawkins.

 

[Huskyforlife]

yall know there's an ignore thread feature right? Let people continue conversation here if they want, they aren't breaking any rules.

 

[tuvent08]

Who cares what Kentucky fans say? If UCONN wanted him they could have had him....

Yup. Kentucky has won one national championship since 1999; we have won six. I genuinely don't care what they say.

 

[Ha Who]

Dan Hurley says 'no way' he would have left UConn for Kentucky to replace John Calipari

Hurley addressed the rumors of him being a top candidate for the Kentucky job

www.cbssports.com