Mahaney enters the portal…

[tzznandrew]

I remember when RJ Cole exhausted his eligibility, Gaffney and Diggins entered the portal and most of the Boneyard lost their collective minds.

Now it's Diarra. Nowell and Mahaney instead of Cole, Gaffney and Diggins. ASAP may not be neccessary. Let's see how this plays out.

Yeah, I'm sad to see anyone go, but I'm not begrudging them. I like seeing teams built over multiple years...and right now, as it stands (and who knows if anyone else portals...) our core next year will be:

Solo Ball (3 years)
Jaylin Stewart (3 years)
Jayden Ross (3 years)
Tarris Reed (2 years)

I'd like more foundation in theory, but in practice that's usually par for the course these years.

2025

Andre Jackson (3 years)
Adama Sanogo (3 years)
Jordan Hawkins (2 years)
Samson Johnson (2 years)

Richie Springs was there for his third year, but he would have been the equivalent of rooting for Singare, roughly, in terms of minutes. You like it, but it's not as though you developed a relationship.

Now, of course, the portal is still open...

 

[tzznandrew]

A lot of people leaving the team- we still can field a squad, right? Just checking. What will starting 5 look like?

Sweet 16.

(and to be fair, we actually have a team with some really really good players as it is...)

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

That clip makes me laugh every time.

 

[3rdbass]

That standard might have caused him to avoid Spencer. Not the quickest guy out there. And maybe Aidan would have been a better combo with Tristen than he was with Solo.

Just about everyone is going to have some deficiencies. You just want the jigsaw puzzle to come together. If you have Hawkins or Ball at the 2, who aren't great breakdown guys or facilitators, pairing them with good passers like Newton and Castle/Jackson is a better blueprint than putting a small 2 guard at the point.

Cam can play the Point as shown last year and I also mentioned strength as requisite which Cam had in spades compared to Aidan who looked like a scrawny teenager. Definitely Cam had more physical tools and also had quick hands on D and rebounded well for his position. Something Aidan doesn't have. I'm still puzzled why Hurley thought Aidan could fit at PG for us with those skills and us already being small at the guards. Just a weird pickup in retrospect. I always thought he would start at the 2 or backup ball as a scorer off the bench. I never thought Hurley saw him as a 1.

 

[Stinger92860]

Good luck Aiden. He was another nice kid. But, lesson learned . As of the moment we are without a PG ! Need to fill ASAP !

BTW, seems only 1 UConn player is able to declare to Portal on a single day. That's probably better than all at once. But, Hurley knew ahead ....

Could be 2+ more unfortunately

 

[Dutch Boyd]

He’s certainly a kid I’ll be rooting for regardless where he ends up.

 

[HuskyHawk]

That clip makes me laugh every time.

Who was the coach that went to Pitt a few years back and they literally had zero scholarship players left? This is a wild, wild era.

 

[tzznandrew]

That clip makes me laugh every time.

Me too. Almost makes me start to like him.

 

[huskyfan224]

Let’s sign George / Demary for PG slot and get another quality backup PG

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Who was the coach that went to Pitt a few years back and they literally had zero scholarship players left? This is a wild, wild era.

I think Indiana's got that now (although I assume his son's gonna be onboard).

 

[Marat]

Could be 2+ more unfortunately

Is that including one that wouldn't be going to the Portal but Pros ?

 

[REB1094]

Can’t blame him. Came in with high expectations, struggled all season, and probably wants major minutes for his senior year which won’t be achieved here with our portal targets and incoming class

Obviously not the year anyone wanted or expected from him, but I appreciate him keeping a positive attitude through it all. Best of luck Aidan!

 

[NJHusky]

BTW, seems only 1 UConn player is able to declare to Portal on a single day. That's probably better than all at once. But, Hurley knew ahead ....

Is it possible staff is having meetings with kids spread out over many days, so they portal/decide to stay after their sit down with staff? No way the staff could meet with all kids in one day

 

[3rdbass]

He couldn’t do a Joey California role on this team. Needs a mid major kid was overwhelmed at this level.

He was playing out of position at PG. He might of been fine if he could of backed up Ball at SG.

 

[back2BE4us]

I liked Muhumphrey. With him the best.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Could be 2+ more unfortunately

Thanks, Mark Z.

 

[HooperScooper]

A lot of people leaving the team- we still can field a squad, right? Just checking. What will starting 5 look like?

Ask that in about 8 weeks.

 

[gsmooth]

Really wished it worked out here. Still think it can as a role player but he is probably better suited to start at a mid major. Really proud of how he handled himself this year. Best of luck.

Best of luck to you Aidan and thanks for your time at UConn. I am proud of the way you handled yourself at UConn.

@djct1999
Me, too. It makes me sad he is most likely leaving, even though he can come back, but he has to do what is best for himself.

I have watched games at St. Mary's where has taken over the game. His freshmen year at home against Gonzaga he took over that game and the ESPN announcer said "Aidan is that dude". Even though he had his moments here at UConn, he never became that dude.

 

[Henry]

I wish Aiden the best. Too bad that this wasn't a better fit for him.

 

[upstater]

Because I always think the team needs players back who can handle the basketball (until noon today, Mahaney was our best ball handler) I do not like this. Would've taken him back as a backup PG who can get a few buckets and would improve from being in the system for a year.

Now we need as least 2 excellent ball handlers in the portal. Potential foul trouble and injury means the team is desperate for ball handlers.

 

[HooperScooper]

"Definitely (a tough decision)," Mahaney told CT Insider. "But it's what I needed to do."

Too bad it didn't work out but like others have said I really appreciate that he was a complete professional the entire year and never complained and was a good teammate. When his number was called he gave it his all. The staff just whiffed on this one. It happens. Can't bat 100%.

 

[uconn_jack]

Could be 2+ more unfortunately

Hurley said about half the team looking at the portal. Not including McNeeley and Karaban, we are already there. I think one more (and I think it's the one we'd expect), but 2+ would really suprise me, even in this environment, and frankly might make me no longer care about "college" basketball.

 

[navery12]

@AidanFan20

 

[LIuconn]

He was a pro in sticking it out and playing hard.
I’d love an honest post mortem from Dan Hurley in his assessment and where he saw AM fitting in, exactly

 

[knicksin7]

I think he will look back at his time, and maybe not love it, but he learned a lot. And Hurley stuck by him.