Name this year's starters | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Name this year's starters

Who will start for UConn this year?

  • Jalen Gaffney

  • RJ Cole

  • James Bouknight

  • Tyrese Martin

  • Isaiah Whaley

  • Brendan Adams

  • Akok Akok

  • Tyler Polley

  • Richie Springs

  • Adama Sanogo

  • Josh Carlton

  • Javonte Brown

  • Andre Jackson

  • Matt Garry

  • Andrew Hurley

Results are only viewable after voting.
I voted for Cole, Bouk, Martin, Whaley, Josh. It is possible that on day 1, Polley starts over Martin due to senior status.

I don't expect anybody but Bouk to log much over 20 minutes. There is just too much depth, and not much separation. I am sure Hurley has a SE grin when he thinks about the variety of lineups he can throw out, especially if Akok comes back. I think too many here aren't thinking about defense. Dan is going to prioritize defense.

C It will be interesting to see how much freshman Sanogo can push slimmer senior Josh. Whaley can play here a bit when we go small, or perhaps with Springs at the 4 so they can switch 4-5 defensive roles. Javonte Brown Ferguson garbage time minutes.

PG Cole and Gaff, by the end of the year Gaff is going to be solid. Maybe pushing to start. Adams in deep reserve (or Jackson?).

SG. Bouk is the one guy far better than anybody else for this spot. Gaff and Adams can chip in a bit. Maybe even Jackson.

SF. Toughest spot on the team to pick. Polley a senior who was just "getting it" when he got hurt. Which Polley will we see? Martin and experienced player with ideal size, who shoots and can crash the boards. Jackson, the athlete who can handle and distribute. I expect him to start slow and then come on. Adams getting some time here too when we need his D.

PF. Whaley, Springs, Akok when healthy. Polley or Martin if we are behind and need 3s. Akok is the most talented, but who knows what he can give us and when. If either Polley or Jackson locks down the SF spot, and Akok isn't back, then Martin could get a longer look here.
 
HuskyHawk said:
I voted for Cole, Bouk, Martin, Whaley, Josh. It is possible that on day 1, Polley starts over Martin due to senior status.

I don't expect anybody but Bouk to log much over 20 minutes. There is just too much depth, and not much separation. I am sure Hurley has a SE grin when he thinks about the variety of lineups he can throw out, especially if Akok comes back. I think too many here aren't thinking about defense. Dan is going to prioritize defense.

C It will be interesting to see how much freshman Sanogo can push slimmer senior Josh. Whaley can play here a bit when we go small, or perhaps with Springs at the 4 so they can switch 4-5 defensive roles. Javonte Brown Ferguson garbage time minutes.

PG Cole and Gaff, by the end of the year Gaff is going to be solid. Maybe pushing to start. Adams in deep reserve (or Jackson?).

SG. Bouk is the one guy far better than anybody else for this spot. Gaff and Adams can chip in a bit. Maybe even Jackson.

SF. Toughest spot on the team to pick. Polley a senior who was just "getting it" when he got hurt. Which Polley will we see? Martin and experienced player with ideal size, who shoots and can crash the boards. Jackson, the athlete who can handle and distribute. I expect him to start slow and then come on. Adams getting some time here too when we need his D.

PF. Whaley, Springs, Akok when healthy. Polley or Martin if we are behind and need 3s. Akok is the most talented, but who knows what he can give us and when. If either Polley or Jackson locks down the SF spot, and Akok isn't back, then Martin could get a longer look here.
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Agree with a lot of what you're saying here, but remember that Tyrese is not known as a shooter like Polley. He averaged around 32% his sophomore year. Which is not TERRIBLE, but also not someone I'd consider a shooter. For that reason (and his strength being tremendous), I'd expect some minutes for him at PF
 
I just don't see IW and JC playing together alot with how Hurley likes to play.
 
husky429 said:
Agree with a lot of what you're saying here, but remember that Tyrese is not known as a shooter like Polley. He averaged around 32% his sophomore year. Which is not TERRIBLE, but also not someone I'd consider a shooter. For that reason (and his strength being tremendous), I'd expect some minutes for him at PF
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Unless things have changed from last year, I don't expect to see Whaley and Carlton on the floor together much. Neither are big scoring threats so that allow defenders to lay off of them. They'll both see minutes, but not much together.
 
husky429 said:
Agree with a lot of what you're saying here, but remember that Tyrese is not known as a shooter like Polley. He averaged around 32% his sophomore year. Which is not TERRIBLE, but also not someone I'd consider a shooter. For that reason (and his strength being tremendous), I'd expect some minutes for him at PF
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Completely fair. I don't know how much he will improve as a shooter. He may well get a lot of minutes at the 4, especially of Polley or Jackson have played their way into the lineup. The one scenario I don't expect (that some here do) is that Bouk plays at the SF spot often in a 3 guard lineup. Maybe with Adams at SF in a 3 guard lineup. I don't expect much Cole, Gaff, Bouk. This team is loaded with big depth and not much guard depth.
 
With talented two deep roster this year I don’t see any need or want for Hurley playing anyone out of their natural position. Why play small ball when you can play talented bigs at the 3 and 4?

That said, you play Bouk at the 2 guard spot, not the 3. Adams backs up Bouk.

PG is between Cole and Gaffney, Go with Gaff over the shorter Cole.

SF is between Polley, Martin and Jackson. Go with Martin.

PF is between Polley, Whaley, Sanago. Go with Whaley.

Center between Carlton, Sanago. Go with Carlton.
 
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MuchoDogYears said:
With talented two deep roster this year I don’t see any need or want for Hurley playing anyone out of their natural position. Why play small ball when you can play talented bigs at the 3 and 4?

That said, you play Bouk at the 2 guard spot, not the 3. Adams backs up Bouk.

PG is between Cole and Gaffney, Go with Gaff over the shorter Cole.

SF is between Polley, Martin and Jackson. Go with Martin.

PF is between Polley, Whaley, Sanago. Go with Whaley.

Center between Carlton, Sanago. Go with Carlton.
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Because playing "small ball" (and I use that hesitantly because Martin and Polley aren't even really small to be at the 4) isn't a decision based on a lack of talent, but because it maximizes the talent of our players
 
CL82 said:
Unless things have changed from last year, I don't expect to see Whaley and Carlton on the floor together much. Neither are big scoring threats so that allow defenders to lay off of them. They'll both see minutes, but not much together.
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I agree you won't see both on the floor together, but I consider Whaley to have become a bit of a scoring threat. He definitely showed a face up game and ability to score off offensive rebounds. I expect somewhere around 12 and 8 for Whaley this year.
 
Maybe this will finally stop the insane arguments about Hurley not viewing Polley as a 4
 
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navery12 said:
Maybe this will finally stop the insane arguments about Hurley not viewing Polley as a 4
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liberal definition of insanity given Hurley didnt always used to view him as a 4
 
Don't understand the consensus that Cole will start over Gaffney. Cole is undersized and his stats at Howard will not translate in a high major conference (think Tarin Smith). Last year showed that Hurley really likes Gaffney's game (more than I do, anyhow) and after a year of conditioning I don't see any way he doesn't start.

For me there are 4 spots that are locked, Gaffney, Bouk, Polley and Whaley (who will play at the 5). By the end of the year I'm guessing that Jackson, who will be the hub of the team next year after Bouk leaves, will definitely be a starter, but Hurley could start Cole, Adams or Martin early in the year.

At any event this is the best talent that we have seen since we last made the tourney.
 
Onions said:
Don't understand the consensus that Cole will start over Gaffney. Cole is undersized and his stats at Howard will not translate in a high major conference (think Tarin Smith). Last year showed that Hurley really likes Gaffney's game (more than I do, anyhow) and after a year of conditioning I don't see any way he doesn't start.

For me there are 4 spots that are locked, Gaffney, Bouk, Polley and Whaley (who will play at the 5). By the end of the year I'm guessing that Jackson, who will be the hub of the team next year after Bouk leaves, will definitely be a starter, but Hurley could start Cole, Adams or Martin early in the year.

At any event this is the best talent that we have seen since we last made the tourney.
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Okay comparing Tarin Smith to Cole is disrespectful we're talking about a conference POY who averaged over 20 and put up 28 on Villanova. Gaffney is very good and it's gonna be a hell of a battle but Cole is a very good player.
 
Onions said:
Don't understand the consensus that Cole will start over Gaffney. Cole is undersized and his stats at Howard will not translate in a high major conference (think Tarin Smith). Last year showed that Hurley really likes Gaffney's game (more than I do, anyhow) and after a year of conditioning I don't see any way he doesn't start.

For me there are 4 spots that are locked, Gaffney, Bouk, Polley and Whaley (who will play at the 5). By the end of the year I'm guessing that Jackson, who will be the hub of the team next year after Bouk leaves, will definitely be a starter, but Hurley could start Cole, Adams or Martin early in the year.

At any event this is the best talent that we have seen since we last made the tourney.
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I get what you are saying, but Cole and Tarin Smith are not good comparisons. Cole is much better offensively, and while the MEAC is an extremely weak conference I do not see how we can doubt 20 points per game and 40% from the field as not translating in some form to higher levels of competition. I do not expect 20+ points from him, but 12ish and 5 assists will be more than enough with how many weapons we potentially have.

I like Gaffney as a floor general, but Cole has more experience and by all accounts is more polished right now that Gaffney. I still see Cole as the PG to start the year and would not be surprised to see Gaffney, Cole, and Bouk on the floor together at some point.
 
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Psolo12 said:
Okay comparing Tarin Smith to Cole is disrespectful we're talking about a conference POY who averaged over 20 and put up 28 on Villanova. Gaffney is very good and it's gonna be a hell of a battle but Cole is a very good player.
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ColchVEGAS said:
I get what you are saying, but Cole and Tarin Smith are not good comparisons. Cole is much better offensively, and while the MEAC is an extremely weak conference I do not see how we can doubt 20 points per game and 40% from the field as not translating in some form to higher levels of competition. I do not expect 20+ points from him, but 12ish and 5 assists will be more than enough with how many weapons we potentially have.

I like Gaffney as a floor general, but Cole has more experience and by all accounts is more polished right now that Gaffney. I still see Cole as the PG to start the year and would not be surprised to see Gaffney, Cole, and Bouk on the floor together at some point.
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Didn't Smith play in the A10? Much better conference.
 
Going off Hurleys comments recently and his evaluation of the roster, here’s my guess for the season opener:

Cole
Bouknight
Martin
Polley
Whaley

Hurley said Polleys best position is stretch 4 and Whaley played his best minutes as a small ball 5. Hurley said Whaley and Bouk are starters and I just don’t see why they would need to put Josh/Whaley starting together with the depth they now have. I’m sure the starting line up will change around a bit throughout the season. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Gaffney, AJ, and Sanogo starting at some point but that’s my guess for opening night. Cheers to the first practice :)
 
Psolo12 said:
He was like a 6th man in the A10. Cole was the best player in the MEAC by a good margin.
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For the record, if my memory serves me , Tarin Smith was voted best 6th man in his conference the year before he came here.
 
Son of Robert said:
For the record, if my memory serves me , Tarin Smith was voted best 6th man in his conference the year before he came here.
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a 6th man none the less, Cole was POY.
 
Yup, I hear ya. I was just adding some info to the commentary. I thought Tarin Smith was a decent player, filled a role here that needed filling which was a backup ballhandler, occasional scorer, extra guard/defender. Other than that, I'm not trying to insert myself into your conversation any further.
 
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Carlton is starting. Don’t know how long he’s in for but he’s starting.
 
Bouk and Whaley only two identified as guaranteed starters by Hurley.

Who the other 3 starters are will depend on whether Carlton or Sanago show they should be starting at center.

If neither one plays up to that then Whaley will be starting center instead of being the starting PF. That will have a domino effect on who fills the 4, 3 and 2 spots.

Ideally we want Bouk to play 2 guard and Whaley to play the 4, their natural positions.
 
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