Malachi Smith commits to UConn

[gtcam]

The first sentence is fine. The third sentence is defensible.

The second sentence is factually wrong and weird.

Please share
Dan Hurley knew coming in that UConn was joining the NBE - it was verified by someone very high up in UConn basketball family - he would not have come to UConn if there was no word of an AAC exit - FACT

Also, Dan Hurley took over UConn when they were still in the AAC.
No kidding-
Please see above

 

[gtcam]

"was handed the New Big East" is just a weird thing to say

again, not if you know the inside story
maybe weird to you - so be it - he came in knowing the change was coming, unlike KO who was blindsided with the AAC situation. Had no effect on recruiting, right?
most know what I mean - dont be so darn literal

 

[Inyatkin]

Please share
Dan Hurley knew coming in that UConn was joining the NBE - it was verified by someone very high up in UConn basketball family - he would not have come to UConn if there was no word of an AAC exit - FACT

Also, Dan Hurley took over UConn when they were still in the AAC.
No kidding-
Please see above

Tell me more about Jim Calhoun and the Yankee Conference, Oh Great Knower of Things

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I was not inside the discussions on rejoining the BE and I've heard from many on here that Hurley was told we were rejoining while interviewing for the job.

There is one part of this that doesn't make a whole lot of sense: Edsall was blindsided when he found out, which wasn't long before the general public was informed. How is it that they would tell someone that they are hoping to hire fifteen months in advance of the announcement yet would not tell someone who was already working for them until they were ready to go public with the information?

 

[Fan1978]

Comparing JC's first 7-8 years at UConn vs Dan Hurley's in the same span is pure stupidity
Dan Hurley was handed the NBE, Calhoun was given a nearly impossible task going from Yankee Conference to the OBE.
JC was and still is the face of UConn basketball

Calhoun is the best program builder in college basketball history period. He is the goat period. Danny can win 6 natties and then maybe he is better in a different way. Calhoun made nothing something. The goat!

 

[Hoophound]

I was not inside the discussions on rejoining the BE and I've heard from many on here that Hurley was told we were rejoining while interviewing for the job.

There is one part of this that doesn't make a whole lot of sense: Edsall was blindsided when he found out, which wasn't long before the general public was informed. How is it that they would tell someone that they are hoping to hire fifteen months in advance of the announcement yet would not tell someone who was already working for them until they were ready to go public with the information?

Because telling Hurley, we were rejoining the Big East would help get him in the fold. Telling Randy we were leaving the American for the Big East would’ve just made him whine. Randy quickly found out that players preferred being on an independent than they did being on a team in the American. He was taken by surprise. Unfortunately, the game had passed him by.

 

[jibsey]

Very nice compliment. There has been very little talk about this kid with our team stacked the way it is. Does he have the skill and impact of Diarra?

 

[BFieldHusky]

Because telling Hurley, we were rejoining the Big East would help get him in the fold. Telling Randy we were leaving the American for the Big East would’ve just made him whine. Randy quickly found out that players preferred being on an independent than they did being on a team in the American. He was taken by surprise. Unfortunately, the game had passed him by.

Hurley was told the BE was a possibility, but nothing was definite.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Mora was telling football recruits we were going to the B12, I’m sure the school will say anything to keep these guys interested/motivated.

 

[Inyatkin]

Hurley was told the BE was a possibility, but nothing was definite.

Weird, some guy on here told me it was a FACT

 

[Lafayette]

Gotta love the new strategy of limiting the starters minutes:

• keeps them fresher
• potential to avoid injury
• gives bench players 10-12 min

So Malachi will spell Demary Jr. Only issue there is both are catch and shoot guys not dribble shoot. Also Diaby is around if needed.

Mullins can spell Ball and also if he is a 2-3 capable player get ~20 min combined.

AK can rest with Karoma filing in, Stewart gets Ross or Furphy.

Reed gets Reibe.

Jacob Ross can shine in practice and get major minutes next year with so many departures

 

[CL82]

Mora was telling football recruits we were going to the B12, I’m sure the school will say anything to keep these guys interested/motivated.

It's not like Mora just randomly made that up to falsely entice recruits. I think the athletic department indicated to him that our joining the big 12 looked very likely. Remember that Brett Yormark had actually come to Storrs to tour the campus and athletic facilities and left impressed. As it turned out, it didn't work out.

There's a life lesson there. You don't have a deal, until the papers are signed. We did not come off looking great in that process. Whomever leaked that we were in the process of negotiating with the big 12 to the idiot Zanetto, did the university a huge disservice, and, in my opinion, ought to be fired. Unless it was Geno, in which case he should just be left out of the loop until it's a done deal in the next go round. If there is a next go round.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Very nice compliment. There has been very little talk about this kid with our team stacked the way it is. Does he have the skill and impact of Diarra?

Very different players.

Smith doesn't have Diarra's defensive ability and is smaller, but he is versatile enough to be a pure PG (14th highest assist rate in the nation, 2.5 A:TO), but shoots well enough from deep (39%) to play off ball and is also capable at getting to the rim (347th highest FTRate nationally). He can be the backup PG and also play alongside Demary. If Demary even gets hurt, Smith would easily slot in as the starting PG.

 

[3rdbass]

Looking good going to the basket. It will be nice when he and Demary are on the court together. They will break down some opponents.

 

[Huskybass]

I think lots of us don't realize just how good this kid is. My prediction is that he will pleasantly surprise.

 

[jibsey]

Love the step back.

 

[Lafayette]

He isnt just Demary’s backup, he will have some minutes with Demary and Ball if we want guard heavy O like we have loved with Newton and Castle and Spencer.

Hits different but same concept.

 

[caw]

He isnt just Demary’s backup, he will have some minutes with Demary and Ball if we want guard heavy O like we have loved with Newton and Castle and Spencer.

Hits different but same concept.

I mean, Diarra played with two of Newton/Spencer/Castle some. Not a ton but it did happen. I imagine it will be similar to Diarra's role from that team which was near 20 a game. Probably not that much considering Mullins probably eats some of those minutes.

 

[Lafayette]

I mean, Diarra played with two of Newton/Spencer/Castle some. Not a ton but it did happen. I imagine it will be similar to Diarra's role from that team which was near 20 a game. Probably not that much considering Mullins probably eats some of those minutes.

A lot will depend on lineups (not starting, but in game switches) - meaning sometimes we do 3 G, sometime 3 Bigs.

I see Smith as a bit more polished than Diarra...probably gets 10 backing up Demary and another 5-7 with Demary.

We literally went from a team with a semi-hobbled 6' PG and backup by committee to 3 PGs of experience so that problem is fixed and is in line with the coachs' want for "no big minute guys" meaning playing 35-40 is how they see injury - late season fatigue, etc (AK is prime example of minutes clocked).

This is why we are 2-3 deep at each position now with capable bench players rotating in. Need one more C and this is a pretty complete, deep, team who can offer small or large lineups depending on the opponent.

 

[Palatine]

Because telling Hurley, we were rejoining the Big East would help get him in the fold. Telling Randy we were leaving the American for the Big East would’ve just made him whine. Randy quickly found out that players preferred being on an independent than they did being on a team in the American. He was taken by surprise. Unfortunately, the game had passed him by.

Randy wanted to use "Connecticut" on the jerseys because he thought that UConn didn't represent the state. One could spend hours recalling the many things that took Edsall "by surprise."

 

[gtcam]

Weird, some guy on here told me it was a FACT

it is

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Weird, some guy on here told me it was a FACT

The timelines don't add up unless we intentionally wanted to spend additional money on exit fees from the AAC.

Hurley was hired in the spring of 2018 once URI's season was over. We officially announced that we would rejoin the BE late June 2019 (a few days before the academic/athletic year ended), paying an additional fee in order to join the BE one year early (2020-2021 season).

If we knew we were joining ~14 months before we announced it and we were determined to be a member of the BE in 2020-2021, why wouldn't we have just made the announcement a year earlier? It would have saved us a decent amount of cash.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The timelines don't add up unless we intentionally wanted to spend additional money on exit fees from the AAC.

Hurley was hired in the spring of 2018 once URI's season was over. We officially announced that we would rejoin the BE late June 2019 (a few days before the academic/athletic year ended), paying an additional fee in order to join the BE one year early (2020-2021 season).

If we knew we were joining ~14 months before we announced it and we were determined to be a member of the BE in 2020-2021, why wouldn't we have just made the announcement a year earlier? It would have saved us a decent amount of cash.

We probably knew that it was likely, very high likelihood, but not with absolute certainty. A done deal that isn't officially a done deal. Might still be enough to persuade Hurley.

 

[HooperScooper]

The timelines don't add up unless we intentionally wanted to spend additional money on exit fees from the AAC.

Hurley was hired in the spring of 2018 once URI's season was over. We officially announced that we would rejoin the BE late June 2019 (a few days before the academic/athletic year ended), paying an additional fee in order to join the BE one year early (2020-2021 season).

If we knew we were joining ~14 months before we announced it and we were determined to be a member of the BE in 2020-2021, why wouldn't we have just made the announcement a year earlier? It would have saved us a decent amount of cash.

Exactly my thoughts but I didn't feel like taking the time to explain that. So thanks.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[boog204]

He sounds like such a perfect addition. Talented, experienced, a creator (something we completely lacked last year), and someone who should bring some spunk and toughness to replace Hass.

 

[husky99]

He sounds like such a perfect addition. Talented, experienced, a creator (something we completely lacked last year), and someone who should bring some spunk and toughness to replace Hass.

Agree. Sounds like a good fit

 

[Umami Zen]

Got some big city toughness coming off the bench at G with Malachi-The Bronx and Millender-Chicago.