NBA Scout: UConn is better than you think

[CL82]

I don't mean TSam, I mean Cassell Jr. Lots of hype, nothing to back it up. I have no problems with TSam as my backup PG. He's somewhere with Taliek and Ricky Moore in my mind in what he brings, and may have more offense than either.

Oh, got it.

 

[DOZE860]

To me Nolan's issue his freshman year, was he made too many moves before he went to the basket, i.e. that gif of him spinning around in a circle..
last year, it seemed like he abandon making any moves and just went straight up, most of the time getting his stuff swatted.. this year i think the game will slow down enough for him to be effective scoring post player, pump fake when he needs to, and go up strong and finish through contact..at least that what i am hoping...

 

[pj]

Plenty of minutes for both. We're a guard heavy team, having a guy come off the bench who can create his own shot (Cassell) and a guy who can run the offense (TSam) is a great luxury to have. Imagine if we could meld the two of them into the same body? TSAMCASSELL? It would be phenomenal.

No flying cars yet, no way to combine two humans into one - science has really been letting us down lately.

When has TSam shown he can run the offense? He was a slasher last year. Sam Cassell seems like a better prospect at point than TSam.

 

[Husky25]

When has TSam shown he can run the offense? He was a slasher last year. Sam Cassell seems like a better prospect at point than TSam.

Only in practice. Napier rarely came out of games and when he did, Ollie made sure Boatright was in there. They were never on the bench together.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Everyone in the country is sleeping on Purvis.....they won't be soon

Are they? It seems like most people are assuming that Purvis is going to be successful.

 

[Husky25]

Everyone in the country is sleeping on Purvis.....they won't be soon

Which country? UConn country or some other foreign state?

 

[intlzncster]

Right, so like he said, nothing.

Eh, Juco AA is not remotely nothing. Also, pedigree and highly intelligent basketball mind (learning from his dad).

Ajou's problem was he didn't have the mental makeup to be a top shelf baller. Sam doesn't have that issue.

 

[intlzncster]

Are they? It seems like most people are assuming that Purvis is going to be successful.

He's been left off a few impact player lists, some impact transfer lists, and ranked what 83 (?) in the country I saw the other day.

This is a former high school AA in his 3rd year as a player. He's now under the tutelage of a fantastic stable of coaches, and has had nearly 2 years to work on his game.

If he plays near his potential, he's a top 20 player, maybe even scratching top 10. Of course, no one here knows if he will reach that potential.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Eh, Juco AA is not remotely nothing. Also, pedigree and highly intelligent basketball mind (learning from his dad).

Ajou's problem was he didn't have the mental makeup to be a top shelf baller. Sam doesn't have that issue.

The collegiate success rate for the eponymous sons of 90s NBA all-stars is pretty high. That's why I've wanted one for so long.

 

[intlzncster]

The collegiate success rate for the eponymous sons of 90s NBA all-stars is pretty high. That's why I've wanted one for so long.

I think Sam is a perfect compliment to the guys we have too. That basketball IQ thing is huge, given that we lost Shabazz and Niels.

 

[JesusAllen11]

I think this team is so underrated. Even by us. I am Obv bias. I think Brimah turns into lottery/1st round pick type of center this year. A lock DPOY this year. Boat will be top 5 PG this year. Purv will turn heads. Calhoun has bounce back season. Dham will be everything we imagined(i think he gone in two years) great backup guards in Tsam &Cassell. MY only worry is what facey and lubin give us. If facey has taken a leap ...we should be amazing.

 

[Deadrody]

Terrence Samuel will not be an NBA pro. He just won't be. He's a great guy to have come off the bench when you need a spark and could develop into a great college player, but the NBA is not in his future.

Thanks, nostradamus. I mean, WTF ? He was a freshman that didn't play a lot. That says NOTHING about his potential future. Sure, if he was a freshman and a star that would be an easy prediction. Plenty of guys have played a little as freshmen and ended up in the NBA.

In fact, the comparison with Ollie is right on.

 

[Deadrody]

Honestly, I don't care about the NBA comments, it will be what it will be. What excited me was...they're good. Really good. I think we expected/hoped that would be the case. But this outside corroboration is nice. National people seem to be discounting the Huskies as usual.

True, but...

I remember reading something in SI back in 1999 about the likely final four based on NBA caliber players on the roster. Think about it. You get 1 point for an NBA player, 1/2 pt for someone that could play over seas. Most teams can't get more than a couple. This team - according to this scout - already has 5 and counting. That bodes very well for the future (March that is)

 

[HuskyHawk]

Eh, Juco AA is not remotely nothing. Also, pedigree and highly intelligent basketball mind (learning from his dad).

Ajou's problem was he didn't have the mental makeup to be a top shelf baller. Sam doesn't have that issue.

I'm not saying he won't be good, I sure as hell hope he will. All I am saying is that he hasn't played a single game at this level, and he is not a Daniel Hamilton level stud recruit. Expecting him to come in and be a top shelf PG at this level out of the gate is a recipe for disappointment. I will be surprised if he is better than TSam this year.

 

[ctchamps]

I think this team is so underrated. Even by us. I am Obv bias. I think Brimah turns into lottery/1st round pick type of center this year. A lock DPOY this year. Boat will be top 5 PG this year. Purv will turn heads. Calhoun has bounce back season. Dham will be everything we imagined(i think he gone in two years) great backup guards in Tsam &Cassell. MY only worry is what facey and lubin give us. If facey has taken a leap ...we should be amazing.

There is a contest by a guy named Skinner who is giving away excellent tickets to the Duke-UConn game. You might want to find it and express your enthusiasm in that thread.

 

[pj]

I think this team is so underrated. Even by us. I am Obv bias. I think Brimah turns into lottery/1st round pick type of center this year. A lock DPOY this year. Boat will be top 5 PG this year. Purv will turn heads. Calhoun has bounce back season. Dham will be everything we imagined(i think he gone in two years) great backup guards in Tsam &Cassell. MY only worry is what facey and lubin give us. If facey has taken a leap ...we should be amazing.

Nolan and Facey will both step up and will have PF covered. Lubin has the training wheels on and won't see a lot of time, but can be a change of pace (load substituting for length). I feel more confident about Nolan and Facey at PF than I do about Omar bouncing back.

 

[JesusAllen11]

Nolan and Facey will both step up and will have PF covered. Lubin has the training wheels on and won't see a lot of time, but can be a change of pace (load substituting for length). I feel more confident about Nolan and Facey at PF than I do about Omar bouncing back.

I Just dont see Nolan getting much minutes at the 4 , we need him as our back up 5 for Brimah. Especially with the foul trouble we saw from both them last year. Things will get ugly if both brimah and Nolan are in foul trouble. depth in front court worries me , especially if injuries come into play. I feel we are a body short down there.

 

[MASSconn]

Are they? It seems like most people are assuming that Purvis is going to be successful.

Define "successful"

He has not been included in any pre-reason teams. If you follow the guy he is loving that nobody believes his HS recruiting hype.

 

[MASSconn]

Which country? UConn country or some other foreign state?

Do less

 

[mauconnfan]

I Just dont see Nolan getting much minutes at the 4 , we need him as our back up 5 for Brimah. Especially with the foul trouble we saw from both them last year. Things will get ugly if both brimah and Nolan are in foul trouble. depth in front court worries me , especially if injuries come into play. I feel we are a body short down there.

While I see your point I doubt KO and the staff sit their best 4 (if indeed it is Phil) if that's the best lineup, just because of foul trouble. We'll see but if he's playing well and needs to defend a big bodied PF then he and brimah will be in together.

 

[Palatine]

We're absolutely under rated.

Brimah is a top 5 defensive center right now. He could become an overall top 10/5 center if he ups his offense just a little.

Boatrights is a top 10 PG.

That's without Purvis and Hamilton were top national recruits.

Cassel, TSam and Calhoun give us depth and probably a lot more a guard

Inside Nolan is a proven starter from a national champion. Facey is athletic 6-9 depth. Rock gives us fouls and minutes inside.

To me this has the look of a top ten team.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I Just dont see Nolan getting much minutes at the 4 , we need him as our back up 5 for Brimah. Especially with the foul trouble we saw from both them last year. Things will get ugly if both brimah and Nolan are in foul trouble. depth in front court worries me , especially if injuries come into play. I feel we are a body short down there.

I think this is very dependent on the progress he and Brimah have made. Fouls were a huge problem last year but based on reports of his progress, that is up in the air this year.

 

[Doggie Style]

I think the backup PG is an interesting competition between Samuel and Cassell Jr. If Cassell is better than T-Sam, then he's a very good player.

I agree. Deciding between the two is a good problem to have.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Lots of hype, nothing to back it up.

Yeah, you know, other than JUCO AA and KO's constant praise

Right, so like he said, nothing.

Oops

 

[7774]

Oops

Oops, what?

 

[Rocktheworld]

Oops, what?

Oh I dunno... don't you feel just a little silly just waving off JUCO AA and KO's constant praise?

 

[7774]

Oh I dunno... don't you feel just a little silly just waving off JUCO AA and KO's constant praise?

Well, I'm not a moron, so no. Making definitive assumptions about what a player will be at UCONN based upon JUCO awards or KO's comments is moronic.

KO called Purvis a Ferrari about 500 times and hyped him 10x Cassell Jr., and it didn't translate to great play on the court. The Ferrari, whom many people said would be one year and gone, won't even be a starter on his own team if he doesn't shake off the rust quickly because Cassell Jr. looked so good. Which is the point. Hype doesn't matter. Only what happens on the court in a UCONN jersey matters.

This was one game, by the way. Against a DII team. That doesn't even count. Hopefully Sam keeps it up because we will be tough if he does.

 

[Hoophound]

Well, I'm not a moron, so no. Making definitive assumptions about what a player will be at UCONN based upon JUCO awards or KO's comments is moronic. KO called Purvis a Ferrari about 500 times and hyped him 10x Cassell Jr., and it didn't translate to great play on the court. The Ferrari, whom many people said would be one year and gone, won't even be a starter on his own team if he doesn't shake off the rust quickly because Cassell Jr. looked so good. Which is the point. Hype doesn't matter. Only what happens on the court in a UCONN jersey matters.

It is fearlessness and confidence. Cassell has it in his genetics. TSam seems to as well. You can never count guys like that out. Their presence on the floor brings everyone up because their moxie is contagious. I see a lot of minute distribution based on match ups and who has the hot hand with this group. That applies to both the front and back courts. We have a lot of tools to work with and KO has proven very good at using his weapons extremely effectively. It may be his greatest strength in his coaching after master motivator.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Well, I'm not a moron, so no. Making definitive assumptions about what a player will be at UCONN based upon JUCO awards or KO's comments is moronic.

KO called Purvis a Ferrari about 500 times and hyped him 10x Cassell Jr., and it didn't translate to great play on the court. The Ferrari, whom many people said would be one year and gone, won't even be a starter on his own team if he doesn't shake off the rust quickly because Cassell Jr. looked so good. Which is the point. Hype doesn't matter. Only what happens on the court in a UCONN jersey matters.

This was one game, by the way. Against a DII team. That doesn't even count. Hopefully Sam keeps it up because we will be tough if he does.

The most "definitive" statement made by anyone was HuskyHawk comparing him to Ajou Deng. Cassell seems an odd guy to target with this, since his "hype" is based on actual on-court performance. Yes, it's at the JuCo level, but guys who were elite at that level tend to be quality players at this one.

 

[Gringo]

The most "definitive" statement made by anyone was HuskyHawk comparing him to Ajou Deng. Cassell seems an odd guy to target with this, since his "hype" is based on actual on-court performance. Yes, it's at the JuCo level, but guys who were elite at that level tend to be quality players at this one.

Agree with this. Up until a month ago Cassell was the least talked about player on the boneyard. Purvis was a Ferrarri, Hamilton was baby Hamilton and Rock was a cross between Barkley, Malone and Blair.

In the last month or so every media member who has watched the team play has talked about how impressive Cassell has looked. He also played really well last night. The season has yet to start, but every indication is that the guy will be a good player for us.