My Bouknight analogy

[willie99]

Caron Butler

Not in terms of physicality, but in terms of court presence and leadership.

He can seemingly score whenever he's needed to, that's going to be special to watch in March

 

[willie99]

The real question is this, who's going to be his Johnny Selvie?

We happen to have a left handed transfer don'tchaknow

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

the special silver lining about Bouk’s injury is that it allowed everyone else to find their roles and confidence. Feel like we saw that on display against Providence where Cole and Martin were still big threats to score. Wasn’t very excited to watch this team continue to gel.

 

[8893]

Caron Butler

Not in terms of physicality, but in terms of court presence and leadership.

He can seemingly score whenever he's needed to, that's going to be special to watch in March

And didn’t Caron get hurt in one of the last games of the season and then return for stellar BET and NCAA performances?

I’ll take that.

 

[TheChamps990411]

If the big 3 Cole/Martin/Bouk really get it clicking together this team becomes extremely dangerous. It just sucks they dont have a lot of games to build on that chemistry but we have seen more unlikely stories play out in recent years so anything is possible.
Let me just add Cole has seemed to figure out how to attack the basket successfully and that is really going to open things up for our shooters. Dealing with a guy like Cole is a huge problem for opposing teams especially in March when you dont have a lot of time to prepare and its one and done.

 

[Chin Diesel]

If the big 3 Cole/Martin/Bouk really get it clicking together this team becomes extremely dangerous. It just sucks they dont have a lot of games to build on that chemistry but we have seen more unlikely stories play out in recent years so anything is possible.
Let me just add Cole has seemed to figure out how to attack the basket successfully and that is really going to open things up for our shooters. Dealing with a guy like Cole is a huge problem for opposing teams especially in March when you dont have a lot of time to prepare and its one and done.

Going to a single big, usually when Whaley is in the game, has opened up the paint for Cole. Part of his problem with the over penetration was help defense because of the double big lineup. One big was always in the paint. Not necessarily the case as Whaley can hang around the perimeter.

 

[gtcam]

He has one thing in common with Caron - they both are/were scorers
But so wasn't Rip, Chris Smith, Ben Gordon, Kemba, Shabazz, Tony Hanson, Corny Thompson, Lamb....
Make no mistake about it, Bouk is a talent and if he gets stronger and bigger, his best days are ahead of him. I am elated to be watching him play in a UConn jersey.
But I'm not putting him in the same category with just about all these others without seeing him play a full season. My biggest concerns center around his ability to withstand the physical elements of a full college season never mind NBA. But then again he could be blessed with a Tre Young ability to stay healthy
I wish him all the best but please save some of the good stuff for the rest of the season and you can hang your shingle next Kemba et al.

 

[HooperScooper]

I wish him all the best but please save some of the good stuff for the rest of the season and you can hang your shingle next Kemba et al.

Dom Amore with an article today saying something similar. Says he has an opportunity in front of him the rest of the season to leave his mark on the program. It's an interesting point. What if he only finished the season average, the team goes out early in the BET, and doesn't make the NCAA Tournament? Would most fans remember much about him in 5 or 10 years? If he takes this team on his back, like Caron in 2002, or Kemba in 2011, he leaves a legacy with the program. He's then the guy who led UConn back from a tough few years.

Fate, never known as a fair dealer, has handed James Bouknight this moment. It’s hardly what he would have imagined the day he chose UConn, marked himself to be the player to lead a fallen program back to its old heights.

But in the very bizarre and inequitable nature of these times, the elbow injury that had much of the state out of joint, the pandemic that has truncated the season, the opportunity there for Bouknight’s taking is a unique one, an opportunity to leave an indelible mark.

Dom Amore: James Bouknight has arrived for his moment, now he must master it for UConn men

Fate, never known as a fair dealer, has handed James Bouknight this moment. It’s hardly what he would have imagined the day he chose UConn, marked himself to be the player to lead a fallen pr…

www.courant.com

Alternate free access: James Bouknight has arrived for his moment, now he must master it for UConn men

 

[UconnU]

If the big 3 Cole/Martin/Bouk really get it clicking together this team becomes extremely dangerous. It just sucks they dont have a lot of games to build on that chemistry but we have seen more unlikely stories play out in recent years so anything is possible.
Let me just add Cole has seemed to figure out how to attack the basket successfully and that is really going to open things up for our shooters. Dealing with a guy like Cole is a huge problem for opposing teams especially in March when you dont have a lot of time to prepare and its one and done.

I think our best lineup moving forward is Cole, Bouk, Jackson, Martin, Whaley. That 5 can play uptempo and while slightly undersized can really defend and rebound.

 

[Austin316]

Bouk is a mesh between Jeremy Lamb, Jalen Adamsand Caron Butler.

When in the game he is a fantastic push guard (push tempo/transitional d-o) and shot creator. A smooth criminal.

Basketball gods gave him a wonderful gift.

 

[bendm]

I think our best lineup moving forward is Cole, Bouk, Jackson, Martin, Whaley. That 5 can play uptempo and while slightly undersized can really defend and rebound.

agreed. martin doesnt block shots but he's still our leading rebounder and can do everything else. bouk at 6'5 and AJ at 6'7 also have great size on the wing. this lineup will run anyone off the court. cant wait for saturday.

 

[rcarj]

I think our best lineup moving forward is Cole, Bouk, Jackson, Martin, Whaley. That 5 can play uptempo and while slightly undersized can really defend and rebound.

Agree, but I really don’t mind Cole coming off the bench as a scorer. Also it gives Gaffney (who I don’t think played well last game, but had been solid for the couple games prior) a little confidence.

 

[Kolumbo]

Bouk could be one of the best players to accomplish the least due to two shortened seasons and injury. Rudy Gay was an awesome talent but he hardly ever gets mentioned when we talk about the greats. Bouk could lead UConn to some post season wins in both tournaments but it would be awesome to see him play an entire season at UConn.

 

[Chin Diesel]

agreed. martin doesnt block shots but he's still our leading rebounder and can do everything else. bouk at 6'5 and AJ at 6'7 also have great size on the wing. this lineup will run anyone off the court. cant wait for saturday.

I was looking at this the other day. Martin is not just the leading rebounder, he is an amazingly consitent rebounder for a swing player. Here's his game by game rebounding numbers.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I think our best lineup moving forward is Cole, Bouk, Jackson, Martin, Whaley. That 5 can play uptempo and while slightly undersized can really defend and rebound.

Agree this is the best standard lineup. In end of game situations you probably have to pull Martin for Gaff to get a better ball handler and FT shooter in there. You could pull either Martin or Jackson but I feel much more comfortable with Jackson handling the ball than I do with Martin.

 

[HooperScooper]

Bouk could be one of the best players to accomplish the least due to two shortened seasons and injury. Rudy Gay was an awesome talent but he hardly ever gets mentioned when we talk about the greats. Bouk could lead UConn to some post season wins in both tournaments but it would be awesome to see him play an entire season at UConn.

Yeah I was thinking about Rudy when I was writing my post above with Dom Amore's article. Rudy was a tremendous talent but never led the Huskies to much. 2004-2005 season wasn't great and they went out of the NCAA Tournament in the 2nd round. 2005-2006 was the devastating loss to George Mason. Rudy was an All American but I agree with you that most UConn fans don't put him up there with the other great Huskies. Would his legacy be different if he was great in the NCAA Tournament and led them to the Final Four in 2006?

 

[AuRevoirAAC]

For a successful run next month, the role players will be especially important. Need Tyler Phommachanh to hit some threes, need guys like BA and JG to play with confidence, and need our bigs to be in sync. We have enough depth to bust some brackets.

 

[87Xfer]

Agree this is the best standard lineup. In end of game situations you probably have to pull Martin for Gaff to get a better ball handler and FT shooter in there. You could pull either Martin or Jackson but I feel much more comfortable with Jackson handling the ball than I do with Martin.

Interesting, I had to look it up and surprised to see Martin is a 65% FT shooter. I actually feel pretty comfortable when he goes to the line. Or, at least I did.

 

[Get a Job]

For a successful run next month, the role players will be especially important. Need Tyler Phommachanh to hit some threes, need guys like BA and JG to play with confidence, and need our bigs to be in sync. We have enough depth to bust some brackets.

Adams needs to not see the floor again this year. I feel bad for him personally that he's been relegated to the bench, and he's a fine ball player. It's just that he's not better than the alternatives available to Hurley. If he plays anymore this season, something has gone wrong (or we are blowing a team out).

 

[Chin Diesel]

Interesting, I had to look it up and surprised to see Martin is a 65% FT shooter. I actually feel pretty comfortable when he goes to the line. Or, at least I did.

He's been consistent over three years of college basketball of being a mid-60's FT shooter. His percentage is water that has found its level.

 

[AuRevoirAAC]

Adams needs to not see the floor again this year. I feel bad for him personally that he's been relegated to the bench, and he's a fine ball player. It's just that he's not better than the alternatives available to Hurley. If he plays anymore this season, something has gone wrong (or we are blowing a team out).

Nah, Brendan Adams is a solid role player when he hangs his hat on defense and makes smart decisions with the ball. We need all the depth we can get in March, in fact that’s the name of the game if you’re looking to win a title.

 

[jibsey]

Bouk is unique, his own man. The one thing about him is that I know is that on this team we will be in every game with him on the floor. He makes everyone better in their roles.

 

[jdb50]

Rudy Gay was an unreal talent but there is a level of toughness that the UConn greats have had that is the reason we remember them. Players that dominated multiple games and never backed down. Two who did not win a title are Caron and Nadav. Jimmy Foster back in the day. Corny T. And Chris Smith.

As for Bouknight when we go 5 out and he gets the ball the other coach is not in a good place.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I think the Caron comp is fair. I also would throw in junior year Ray. Again, because of his later years in the NBA and just being so good from behind the arc, even though he is a HOF'er, many remember him as just a 3-point specialist. During his junior year, Allen was a beast. He was often looking to score and many times looking to put someone on a poster.

Regardless it's fun to talk about. Enjoy it while we can.

 

[Kolumbo]

Rashad also comes to mind although he was much more a role player because of the the talent on his teams. Bouk is a combo between Caron and Rip. Bouk and Rip have the finesse and can play off contact, Bouk and Caron both attack the rim.