Mahaney Visiting UConn this weekend | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Mahaney Visiting UConn this weekend

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navery12 said:
0% chance this happens. He is not a PF and we'd have 2 guys in Stewart and Abraham who are best suited as a 4 and another in McNeeley who may end up being more of a 4 than a 3
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Wasn’t he projected to start at 4 two seasons back? Got hurt then Karaban took over.
I could see it depending on matchups.
 
NH Husky said:
Wasn’t he projected to start at 4 two seasons back? Got hurt then Karaban took over.
I could see it depending on matchups.
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Nobody ever agrees on why that happened but he did start the first game there last year before Karaban came back from his injury. But I can't see Hurley abandoning what's made us the best offense in the country the last 2 years to play Johnson at the 4 and have 2 guys parked in the paint 3 feet from the basket
 
NH Husky said:
Wasn’t he projected to start at 4 two seasons back? Got hurt then Karaban took over.
I could see it depending on matchups.
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Can't have two non shooters on the court, Samson at the four would require Reed or Singare also on the floor. This would be a weak offensive lineup to say the least and I would expect there are 0 minutes any of those two are on the court together over the course of next season.

Multiple facilitators and scoring options is what makes this team click.
 
Did Hurley give this kid an extended bro hug after last year's tourney game?
 
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KemBuckets21 said:
Can't have two non shooters on the court, Samson at the four would require Reed or Singare also on the floor. This would be a weak offensive lineup to say the least and I would expect there are 0 minutes any of those two are on the court together over the course of next season.

Multiple facilitators and scoring options is what makes this team click.
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We've been playing combo forwards at the 4 the last couple years bc we had the luxury of elite centers and big studly backcourts. None of our current or incoming 4s are true power forwards, and we won't necessarily have the above luxuries anymore. I'm not particularly worried, but imo we're more likely to have a "where's the beef" problem this coming season than we have in the last 2. Still can't believe Maliq Brown went to freaking Duke.
 
speckle said:
We've been playing combo forwards at the 4 the last couple years bc we had the luxury of elite centers and big studly backcourts. None of our current or incoming 4s are true power forwards, and we won't necessarily have the above luxuries anymore. I'm not particularly worried, but imo we're more likely to have a "where's the beef" problem this coming season than we have in the last 2. Still can't believe Maliq Brown went to freaking Duke.
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He must be intrigued by the prospect of his 6mpg by the end of next season at dook
 
I think Mahaney provides more flexibility than Brea. Has a Cam-lite vibe about him
 
speckle said:
It's f
It's funny that people keep thinking Flagg is a 4 bc he's tall.
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Flagg is listed at 6'8 and McNeeley at 6'7 in some reports. Liam does not have a huge wingspan listed at 6'7. Flagg seems bigger, longer span.
 
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speckle said:
We've been playing combo forwards at the 4 the last couple years bc we had the luxury of elite centers and big studly backcourts. None of our current or incoming 4s are true power forwards, and we won't necessarily have the above luxuries anymore. I'm not particularly worried, but imo we're more likely to have a "where's the beef" problem this coming season than we have in the last 2. Still can't believe Maliq Brown went to freaking Duke.
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Maybe I'm wrong but I don't recall UConn facing many teams that play a true center and a true PF, if there is such a thing. Seems both the college game and NBA are going with stretch-4s.

Having enough bigs to man the post against those teams that have big 5s is important.

As long UConn continues their discipline team rebounding and help D, they'll be fine playing Stewart or Karaban type combo forwards (6-7 to 6-8 range) at the 4.

Having a team where they can play a lot of multi-position players is fine in Hurley's offense and defense. If AK doesn't return, adding another combo forward in addition to McNeeley would be good. I hope Stewart and Ross work hard in the weight room so they can fill some minutes at the 4 when needed.
 
If not for NIL money or fear that they'd have to earn a starting spot, why on earth would good players not want to come to UCONN over KY, Creighton and VA? If that is the case, we don't want them!
 
bendm said:
the samson at PF bandwagon needs to drive off a cliff already
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I’m not a bandwagon-er. I simply said I recalled Johnson was pencilled in as the starting 4 at the start of Karaban’s freshmen year and was displaced by injury.
 
KemBuckets21 said:
Good point?
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I just wanted Maliq Brown and I'm bitter. And I don't think he competes with Flagg for minutes positionally. Sorry for dragging this thread way the hell off topic.

I do like Mahaney, but I can also see it pissing Diarra off, even though a 4th ball handler from somewhere on the court is needed.
 
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DogMania said:
Maybe I'm wrong but I don't recall UConn facing many teams that play a true center and a true PF, if there is such a thing. Seems both the college game and NBA are going with stretch-4s.

Having enough bigs to man the post against those teams that have big 5s is important.

As long UConn continues their discipline team rebounding and help D, they'll be fine playing Stewart or Karaban type combo forwards (6-7 to 6-8 range) at the 4.

Having a team where they can play a lot of multi-position players is fine in Hurley's offense and defense. If AK doesn't return, adding another combo forward in addition to McNeeley would be good. I hope Stewart and Ross work hard in the weight room so they can fill some minutes at the 4 when needed.
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Our “weakness” with small 4s could be a strength at the same time as tall bulky 4s from other teams would have to chase our players all around and guard the 3 point line. Look what we did against Purdue. Yes Karaban had to guard Edey the last 6-8 minutes in the championship game, however this opened up the floor when Edey was stretched near the 3 point line trying to guard AK.
 
UCPharma11 said:
Bro have you watched ANY UConn games the last two years???
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Uh yeah bro. I’ve seen many.
Have you read any UConn articles the last two years???
I was referring to Hurley comments in the NH Register in May, 2022 regarding Johnson playing the 4.

One player Hurley is excited about is promising forward Samson Johnson, who appeared in only 13 games as a freshman.

Johnson will have a chance to make a big impact.

"He was close last year to getting an opportunity to play the four for us off the bench," Hurley said. "The whole offseason, he's staying on campus trying to get his body right and just make sure he has a great summer. Just be the best at getting better. If he does that, he's going to have a big impact.

"I'm excited to play a guy with his talent. I'm well-documented of what I think of his talent. So everyone is going to get a chance to see him next year."
 
NH Husky said:
Uh yeah bro. I’ve seen many.
Have you read any UConn articles the last two years???
I was referring to Hurley comments in the NH Register in May, 2022 regarding Johnson playing the 4.

One player Hurley is excited about is promising forward Samson Johnson, who appeared in only 13 games as a freshman.

Johnson will have a chance to make a big impact.

"He was close last year to getting an opportunity to play the four for us off the bench," Hurley said. "The whole offseason, he's staying on campus trying to get his body right and just make sure he has a great summer. Just be the best at getting better. If he does that, he's going to have a big impact.

"I'm excited to play a guy with his talent. I'm well-documented of what I think of his talent. So everyone is going to get a chance to see him next year."
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yeaaaaaaa, and then we settled into the most innovative 4 out 1 big offensive system in the modern era of college basketball. The days of a non-shooting 4 are long, long gone. Hence Why they transitioned samson to the 5.

Early in his career there was talk of Samson being able to stretch teh floor. But, have you looked at that free throw? I think those days might be in the past.
 
speckle said:
I just wanted Maliq Brown and I'm bitter. And I don't think he competes with Flagg for minutes positionally. Sorry for dragging this thread way the hell off topic.

I do like Mahaney, but I can also see it pissing Diarra off, even though a 4th ball handler from somewhere on the court is needed.
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I think they can coexist, diarra would likely have the most secure minutes on the team if he returns. Im more concerned about a guy like ball feeling like he’s getting squeezed for minutes.
 
Hope so. I already have Ball pencilled in for a bunch of minutes, in my mind maybe including the 3 spot, due to his length and athleticism. We are losing so many guard rebounds he might have the best path to cover some of that hole. If I'm being honest, I'd like our 4th on ball guy to be out at the 3, like Dell'Orso or Derkack could've punched that ticket nicely imo.
 
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jibsey said:
Flagg is listed at 6'8 and McNeeley at 6'7 in some reports. Liam does not have a huge wingspan listed at 6'7. Flagg seems bigger, longer span.
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McNeeley is pretty well put together but he's not a pterodactyl, he's very average in that regard. Flagg has him by 2 inches and he's a pterodactyl.
 
Samson obviously won't start at the 4 spot but it's not insane to think he couldn't get for or so 5 minutes of him at pf on the floor...

A lot of fans are pretending we were 4 out or always had 4 shooters on the floor the past two seasons. Jackson sucked so much at shooting that good coaches like McDemott were packing the paint daring him to shoot. Our season took off when Hurley moved him to the dunker spot. Castle was pretty much a non three point shooter as well. Obviously they were guards and Samson is a big but there seems to be a misnomer with some fans that we always had 4 shooters on the floor. Jackson and Castle weren't shooters and they were always on the court. We always had three shooters on the floor the past two seasons.
 
Shoulder god said:
If not for NIL money or fear that they'd have to earn a starting spot, why on earth would good players not want to come to UCONN over KY, Creighton and VA? If that is the case, we don't want them!
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Excited Aww GIF by TikTok
 
superjohn said:
Samson obviously won't start at the 4 spot but it's not insane to think he couldn't get for or so 5 minutes of him at pf on the floor...

A lot of fans are pretending we were 4 out or always had 4 shooters on the floor the past two seasons. Jackson sucked so much at shooting that good coaches like McDemott were packing the paint daring him to shoot. Our season took off when Hurley moved him to the dunker spot. Castle was pretty much a non three point shooter as well. Obviously they were guards and Samson is a big but there seems to be a misnomer with some fans that we always had 4 shooters on the floor. Jackson and Castle weren't shooters and they were always on the court. We always had three shooters on the floor the past two seasons.
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Those guys could dribble and pass whereas Johnson is the least skilled player that has gotten meaningful minutes since Yakwe. The only way I could see him playing the 4 at all is if they had gotten another center that could shoot like Wolf, Essandoko, Pryor. But to your point, maybe Johnson could get up to Whaley’s level of dribbling/passing this summer and then that might change. Based on what he showed this year though I’d doubt it. I think his days of shooting like he did in HS are gone.

Also I would argue that center projects as our weakest position next year, so I see no reason to play both of them simultaneously. I think if Karaban returns, we’re more likely to see him play the small 5 for 5-10 min than Johnson at the 4 given the depth of wings/guards we’d have.
 
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CardiacAndre7 said:
Not to get off topic…

But let’s lock up Mahaney. We have roster needs and don’t want to be caught with our pants down while waiting on someone else. Kid is good.
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Get Mahaney. Get McNeeley. Run it back for the three-peat.

And if Karaban comes back then we have the best roster in the country and it wouldn't even be close
 
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