Looks like Abraham is in line to start at Georgetown.

[HW611]

If I recall going to bat for Solo was "Solo should play point guard."

There’s endless receipts of people thinking Mahaney was going to be better than him last year and that Solo probably wasn’t going to start. Especially at the beginning of summer.

Let’s not do this though please.

 

[RuffRuff]

You're never letting this go, are you

I'm not that attached to it tbh - last year is over, just applying it to this year.

Let me ask you, when you have a MUCH higher upside guy coming off the bench on a poorly built roster and need every advantage you can get, why wouldn't you realize at some point during the middle of the year that you have to pull that lever? It's not just me brother, it's every analyst slightly close to the Uconn program.

I will never agree that starting doesn't matter - different matchups, different emotional approach. It 1000% does and if you don't realize that you didn't play sports at any meaningful level.

 

[Inyatkin]

I'm not that attached to it tbh - last year is over, just applying it to this year.

Let me ask you, when you have a MUCH higher upside guy coming off the bench on a poorly built roster and need every advantage you can get, why wouldn't you realize at some point during the middle of the year that you have to pull that lever? It's not just me brother, it's every analyst slightly close to the Uconn program.

I will never agree that starting doesn't matter - different matchups, different emotional approach. It 1000% does and if you don't realize that you didn't play sports at any meaningful level.

Your "you don't understand if you didn't play" thing is sad.

There were many analysts who found our most effective lineups last year had Samson Johnson in them. I'm not digging them up, but they were out there for anyone to read. I understand Reed passed the eye test, but there's actually more to it than that.

As for "every analyst slightly close to the UConn program," Dan Hurley is pretty close to the situation. I think his take on these questions matters.

 

[Fishy]

What did he do mindset-wise that affected him last year?

Nothing.

 

[LetsGoUC]

Cooley did a good job with PC, but if he doesn't make the tournament its a massive let down for him and Gtown....Pitino entered a similar situation at ST Johns and won the big east and was a 2 seed while Cooley hasnt even sniffed the NCAAs

 

[RuffRuff]

Your "you don't understand if you didn't play" thing is sad.

There were many analysts who found our most effective lineups last year had Samson Johnson in them. I'm not digging them up, but they were out there for anyone to read. I understand Reed passed the eye test, but there's actually more to it than that.

As for "every analyst slightly close to the UConn program," Dan Hurley is pretty close to the situation. I think his take on these questions matters.

The whole point Inyatkin is that Dan has some blind spots - catch up. They may have purpose in the grand scheme, but the man can be questioned.

 

[Inyatkin]

The whole point Inyatkin is that Dan has some blind spots - catch up. They may have purpose in the grand scheme, but the man can be questioned.

He can be questioned. But he has also pivoted when things aren't working. He did it last year. Just not at the position you think he should have.

 

[Waquoit]

@husky429 I was genuinely asking, no snark. I didn't know if I missed stuff or if you knew something specific - just curious.

He’s not a psychologist but he did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

 

[bmayuc]

Ross can give some defensive minutes. That’s how he gets on the floor.

He was the worst defensive player on the floor last year when he was out there.

I am not gonna add to the kid getting bagged other than to say - there are players who have great awareness and feel and their games elevates/translates practice to game. Its clear that for whatever reason JRoss for all his gifts just really has struggled with translating comfort to games.

With this roster, I'll be surprised if he sees the court more than mop up duty. He just doesn't do anything that other players can't do more reliably.

 

[RuffRuff]

He can be questioned. But he has also pivoted when things aren't working. He did it last year. Just not at the position you think he should have.

If you're referencing the AM experiment, that one went so badly that Dom Perno could have come to that conclusion.

 

[DFW HOYA]

Cooley did a good job with PC, but if he doesn't make the tournament its a massive let down for him and Gtown....Pitino entered a similar situation at ST Johns and won the big east and was a 2 seed while Cooley hasnt even sniffed the NCAAs

Georgetown has structural issues beyond a head coach.

As for Pitino, he's got Mike Repole.

 

[HW611]

Georgetown has structural issues beyond a head coach.

As for Pitino, he's got Mike Repole.

Care to explain more about the structural issues?

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

There’s endless receipts of people thinking Mahaney was going to be better than him last year and that Solo probably wasn’t going to start. Especially at the beginning of summer.

Let’s not do this though please.

There are "endless receipts" of people thinking Mahaney was going to be better that Solo and that Solo wasn't going to start? That sounds . . . not true.

 

[RuffRuff]

Care to explain more about the structural issues?

Cooley has some arthritis between his C5 and C6.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I tend to think Ross didn’t come back to not be in the rotation, but I also don’t know if Furphy being awesome was part of the plan when they sold Ross on coming back. Now I think it’s a battle for the last rotation spot between them, and so far Ross probably has the advantage.

That being said, if Smith continues dealing with injuries, I do wonder if Furphy is being considered ahead of AM for third string point guard. That could be a way Furphy and Ross crack the rotation down the road.

But Furphy looked so good in the U19s that I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s simply ahead of Ross by game 1, I think Furphy is one of those foundation pieces we build around for the next few years.

 

[HW611]

Well Ross has shown no ability to handle the ball under pressure, and is shooting less than 20% from 3 for his career, so those are probably a couple why nots. Furphy made 5 more 3s in a 7 game tournament than Ross has made in 2 years, and in those 7 games Furphy had a game where he went 0-4 from three, and another one where he went 0-7.

You're just going to clog up the board with this stuff again? It's impossible to ignore you because it makes the board a mess.

I’m going to blame the fandom to not be able to think about very obvious context or have any foresight when it comes to Furphy.

Like do you think Furphy will even get a chance to go 0-4 or 0-7 this season in a game? Do you really not think about how different it’s going to be from being the star of your team to the 9th man who has to try to make a play happen in 2 minutes of game time? He won’t have anywhere near the rope to go 0-4 let alone 0-7 and still play through that to end up having a good game.

Do you genuinely not think about those things and understand just how different his role here will be and how it will affect him? Do you think he’ll be mentally different from any other freshman that’s played here with a short leash?

I will blame the fandom for being blind to this obvious situation.

 

[Lafayette]

Furphy has said he does not care if if plays much - he is a great kid that wants to do what we can but is not a me first player.

I do not worry about kids like that - playing is like Christmas to them and he is playing hard in practices

On the other hand the UConn players that have played against AJ Dybantsa expressed as a number is one: Jacob Furphy.

 

[ctchamps]

Ross can give some defensive minutes. That’s how he gets on the floor.

According to Silas in his interview Solo only scored four points in the third blue gray scrimmage because of Ross’s defense. Ross has the physical tools to become a stud defensive stopper. It just has to click for him.

 

[Waquoit]

According to Silas in his interview Solo only scored four points in the third blue gray scrimmage because of Ross’s defense.

That sounds like something a team leader would say.

 

[ctchamps]

That sounds like something a team leader would say.

I just posted in another thread that I believe Silas will be the team leader this season. And I get a feeling that he can be a catalyst for Ross’s development.

 

[pj]

I’m going to blame the fandom to not be able to think about very obvious context or have any foresight when it comes to Furphy.

Like do you think Furphy will even get a chance to go 0-4 or 0-7 this season in a game? Do you really not think about how different it’s going to be from being the star of your team to the 9th man who has to try to make a play happen in 2 minutes of game time? He won’t have anywhere near the rope to go 0-4 let alone 0-7 and still play through that to end up having a good game.

Do you genuinely not think about those things and understand just how different his role here will be and how it will affect him? Do you think he’ll be mentally different from any other freshman that’s played here with a short leash?

I will blame the fandom for being blind to this obvious situation.

You keep arguing that players will only play well if they are starting, or playing starters' minutes. Well, that has never been acceptable to Jim Calhoun or Dan Hurley - players have be ready to perform at every moment they are on the court, and they need to get past any of those mental blocks to performance.

We'll see how Furphy does, but I don't think he'll need to be starter to play well.

 

[Son of Robert]

Just to add a couple things here on both Ross and Furphy. Ross has been guarding Solo for going on three years now which surely is an advantage defensively, but props for being athletic enough to shut Solo down, and on another note, Furphy is not your everyday freshman based on his talent and international playing experience, and may get the chance to play thru his early learning curve mistakes, plus you know, the 'real' practice season has not even started yet.

 

[RuffRuff]

Just to add a couple things here on both Ross and Furphy. Ross has been guarding Solo for going on three years now which surely is an advantage defensively, but props for being athletic enough to shut Solo down, and on another note, Furphy is not your everyday freshman based on his talent and international playing experience, and may get the chance to play thru his early learning curve mistakes, plus you know, the 'real' practice season has not even started yet.

Also 19 so a little older than the standard frosh. Flagg was 17 when he entered college.

 

[gsmooth]

Cooley did a good job with PC, but if he doesn't make the tournament its a massive let down for him and Gtown....Pitino entered a similar situation at ST Johns and won the big east and was a 2 seed while Cooley hasnt even sniffed the NCAAs

Exactly. Cooley did a really good job with reviving PC in his time there. I thought he would do the same at Georgetown, and I am not writing him off, but his grace period at Georgetown is done. They have to at least make the NCAAT IMO. To be honest, I have been disappointed in Georgetown the last 2 years. But I will say this, if Thomas Sorber did not have the injury problems last year, I think they make the NCAAT. Plus with his unexpected departure to the NBA after his 1 and only year was not expected by Cooley or anyone else for that matter.

 

[UConniki]

If you're referencing the AM experiment, that one went so badly that Dom Perno could have come to that conclusion.

Now let’s not get a head of our selves here. Perno probably wouldn’t have made the NCAAT the two years that we won the championship. Perno was my freshman coach at South Catholic High School and we won 3 games that year and the same team which played the same schedule as a JV team ( back in the old days) went something like 19-3 ( Gary Palladino was our coach and went on to become head coach at U of Hartford). Just saying.

 

[HooperScooper]

Also 19 so a little older than the standard frosh. Flagg was 17 when he entered college.

Furphy just turned 19 last week (August 6) and Flagg turned 18 in December of his freshman year. So basically Furphy is a year older entering his freshman season. Didn't want anyone to think Furphy was 2 years older as you insinuated.

Many players enter college at 19 these days. Not that unusual. Reibe just turned 19 2 months ago, as did Jacob Ross. Jayden Ross turned 19 in July before his freshman season. Mullins turned 19 this past April. Reed turned 19 in August before his freshman year.

Karaban turned 19 in November of his first season. Ball turned 20 in December of his freshman season so he was even a year older. I could keep going but you get the idea that Furphy just turning 19 is not unusual.

 

[superjohn]

Also 19 so a little older than the standard frosh. Flagg was 17 when he entered college.

All our freshmen are 19, it's pretty standard. Flagg was really young for his class.

 

[Son of Robert]

Furphy just turned 19 last week (August 6) and Flagg turned 18 in December of his freshman year. So basically Furphy is a year older entering his freshman season. Didn't want anyone to think Furphy was 2 years older as you insinuated.

Many players enter college at 19 these days. Not that unusual. Reibe just turned 19 2 months ago, as did Jacob Ross. Jayden Ross turned 19 in July before his freshman season. Mullins turned 19 this past April. Reed turned 19 in August before his freshman year.

Karaban turned 19 in November of his first season. Ball turned 19 in December of his freshman season. So only 3 or 4 months different than Furphy. I could keep going but you get the idea that Furphy just turning 19 is not unusual.

How do you even know all this stuff ?

 

[aceboon]

Furphy just turned 19 last week (August 6) and Flagg turned 18 in December of his freshman year. So basically Furphy is a year older entering his freshman season. Didn't want anyone to think Furphy was 2 years older as you insinuated.

Many players enter college at 19 these days. Not that unusual. Reibe just turned 19 2 months ago, as did Jacob Ross. Jayden Ross turned 19 in July before his freshman season. Mullins turned 19 this past April. Reed turned 19 in August before his freshman year.

Karaban turned 19 in November of his first season. Ball turned 19 in December of his freshman season. So only 3 or 4 months different than Furphy. I could keep going but you get the idea that Furphy just turning 19 is not unusual.

Solo turned 20 in his freshman season, combo of him doing a postgrad year and having a late birthday

 

[HooperScooper]

Solo turned 20 in his freshman season, combo of him doing a postgrad year and having a late birthday

Yup, you're right. Turned 20 in December 2023. I'll edit my post. Thanks.