Next Season’s Rotation

[Sphinx]

There is a simple question to ask about next year's team: who guards the opponent's alpha dog? Any candidates?

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

There is a simple question to ask about next year's team: who guards the opponent's alpha dog? Any candidates?

Think this is where Andre will be missed the most. Don’t think we have a perimeter lockdown guy currently. Even though Solo and Ross may have that potential in the future.

The defensive energy on the team was notably different whenever Andre was on the floor.

 

[jibsey]

As the OP as I think about it there are questions that have yet to be answered for this year’s team BUT… when has it been better for us fans? We’re coming off of #5 that ties us with Duke, we have a great coach and staff. We have veterans coming on board and returning. We have a loaded class where we could legitimately have a couple of superstars that shock us with their play. We should be at least very competitive all year with ups and downs as we prepare to do damage in March. There are a number of things that need time to work out and we can speculate on who’s going to emerge but what the hell else can we ask for? My only request would be health. That’s it. Have a nice summer.

 

[Tenspro2002]

My predication.

Starters:
Castle, Newton, Spencer, Karaban, and Clingan

Bench to start the season:
Diarra, Ball, Ross, Stewart, Johnson

3 man bench end of season rotation:
Ball, Ross, Johnson

Going with Ross over Stewart based on his defensive highlights and ability to play off ball.

We have A LOT of options to go in for the direction want to play with Samson being the wildcard. If he can start tapping in on that NBA potential he gives lineups a lot of versatility.

Pretty much exactly this. The starters are written in permanent ink, unless Castle really disappoints in practice.

I'm not sure which of the freshmen will emerge, but Ball is a good bet, Diarra will get spot minutes like last year, and Johnson in the frontcourt mainly because we don't have a choice. A lot hinges on whether the dropoff from Karaban/Clingan to Johnson is a lot or a little.

I don't see much from Singare or anyone else, and one of the other freshmen will probably be relegated to mop-up duty.

 

[QDOG5]

Does Miller Lite have to stay in the rotation?

 

[husky429]

There is a simple question to ask about next year's team: who guards the opponent's alpha dog? Any candidates?

Entirely depends what position the "alpha dog" plays.

 

[Palatine]

I think at the beginning of the year that Hurley will give Diarra every chance to grab the starting spot. When he goes out Spenser will provide instant offense of the bench. But Spenser will definitely be in at the end of games.

So Newton, Diarra, Castle, Karaban, Clingan.

Then Spenser for Diarra and Johnson for Karaban.

The next move is moving Johnson to center (where Hurey likes him). And taking out Newton. And perhaps Castle. Karaban comes back perhaps at the 3, and we will then see which freshmen are earning PT.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think at the beginning of the year that Hurley will give Diarra every chance to grab the starting spot. When he goes out Spenser will provide instant offense of the bench. But Spenser will definitely be in at the end of games.

So Newton, Diarra, Castle, Karaban, Clingan.

Then Spenser for Diarra and Johnson for Karaban.

The next move is moving Johnson to center (where Hurey likes him). And taking out Newton. And perhaps Castle. Karaban comes back perhaps at the 3, and we will then see which freshmen are earning PT.

If Newton hadn't come back, maybe Diarra gets that chance. Even then we'd have brought in a transfer PG to compete. With Newton? No chance.

 

[Palatine]

If Newton hadn't come back, maybe Diarra gets that chance. Even then we'd have brought in a transfer PG to compete. With Newton? No chance.

My guess is that both Newton and Diarra start. It gives the Huskies two ball handlers and allows Castle to begin his career playing off the ball at the three. That takes pressure off SC as he adjusts to the college game. Diarra is our best perimeter defender and a seasoned college player. Both those things are Hurley priorities.

It all just speculation but it seems like a Hurley move. Besides it's a more fun guess than the conventional wisdom.

 

[Sphinx]

My guess is that both Newton and Diarra start. It gives the Huskies two ball handlers and allows Castle to begin his career playing off the ball at the three. That takes pressure off SC as he adjusts to the college game. Diarra is our best perimeter defender and a seasoned college player. Both those things are Hurley priorities.

It all just speculation but it seems like a Hurley move. Besides it's a more fun guess than the conventional wisdom.

Tightly reasoned. One cannot but agree.

 

[Palatine]

Tightly reasoned. One cannot but agree.

Thank you. I would also like to add this comment by Newton made after the NBA combine.

“[I’m] working on my shooting, playing off the ball – I think next year I’ll play on the ball and off the ball,” Newton said.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

My guess is that both Newton and Diarra start. It gives the Huskies two ball handlers and allows Castle to begin his career playing off the ball at the three. That takes pressure off SC as he adjusts to the college game. Diarra is our best perimeter defender and a seasoned college player. Both those things are Hurley priorities.

It all just speculation but it seems like a Hurley move. Besides it's a more fun guess than the conventional wisdom.

Castle isn’t here to play primarily off the ball. He will start and share PG duties with Newton. Also, we brought in Spencer to start, we need shooters.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Thank you. I would also like to add this comment by Newton made after the NBA combine.

“[I’m] working on my shooting, playing off the ball – I think next year I’ll play on the ball and off the ball,” Newton said.

That's because Castle is a PG. But really he was off ball some last year with Jackson. Castle is going to have a similar role to Jackson as facilitator but bringing different skills to the role. Diarra isn't close to being one of our 5 best players.

 

[August_West]

Castle isn’t here to play primarily off the ball. He will start and share PG duties with Newton. Also, we brought in Spencer to start, we need shooters.

Hes not here to play primarily On ball either. I like that. He can and should do both, along with a couple others.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Hes not here to play primarily On ball either. I like that. He can and should do both, along with a couple others.

Kemba and Shabazz we're on and off ball a lot. Figure it's something like that.

He might be the best perimeter scorer we have to be able to do that.

 

[AntG168]

Diarra is not starting. Nor should he.

 

[Palatine]

That's because Castle is a PG. But really he was off ball some last year with Jackson. Castle is going to have a similar role to Jackson as facilitator but bringing different skills to the role. Diarra isn't close to being one of our 5 best players.

Castle isn’t here to play primarily off the ball. He will start and share PG duties with Newton. Also, we brought in Spencer to start, we need shooters.

No, but to ease him into his college careeer, playing him off the ball (at least early in the season) makes a lot of sense.

 

[navery12]

No, but to ease him into his college careeer, playing him off the ball (at least early in the season) makes a lot of sense.

And when that needs to happen it will be with Newton at PG. Diarra is not going to start for this team barring an injury

 

[Palatine]

That's because Castle is a PG. But really he was off ball some last year with Jackson. Castle is going to have a similar role to Jackson as facilitator but bringing different skills to the role. Diarra isn't close to being one of our 5 best players.

He doesn't need to be on of the best five to start. He is one of the best on ball defenders, probably the best on the ball defender on the team. So starting him for defensive purposes and then bringing in a high octane scorer like Spenser is a very good strategy.

It also means that Diarra can bring the ball up court while Newton begins the game as the shooting guard and then Hurley can move Newton to the primary point when Spenser comes in.

It would give Hurley a lot of flexibility.

 

[3rdbass]

Thank you. I would also like to add this comment by Newton made after the NBA combine.

“[I’m] working on my shooting, playing off the ball – I think next year I’ll play on the ball and off the ball,” Newton said.

Yeah he will play SG/SF while Castle plays PG. What has Diarraa done besides play good D to think he can start at that important position for us? Honest question.

 

[AntG168]

He doesn't need to be on of the best five to start. He is one of the best on ball defenders, probably the best on the ball defender on the team. So starting him for defensive purposes and then bringing in a high octane scorer like Spenser is a very good strategy.

It also means that Diarra can bring the ball up court while Newton begins the game as the shooting guard and then Hurley can move Newton to the primary point when Spenser comes in.

It would give Hurley a lot of flexibility.

Assuming Castle isn’t ready is a mistake

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Assuming Castle isn’t ready is a mistake

I'm happy we’re on the same page here with this freshman class Ant.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Some people really gotta go back and watch Diarras minutes. There is not a universe where he starts for a healthy, competitive UConn team. He’s a fringe rotation piece that can be used in certain matchups, and to eat innings mid season to keep the regular rotation guys fresh.

Great culture guy, who seems to understand his role for a championship contender isn’t going to be large, but plays hard anyways. You can’t have 13 guys who want to be “the man.” Hopefully he’s a good resource for the young guards.

 

[REB1094]

Diarra is a great defender and energy guy to come in when the team is struggling to get stops and is starting to drag their feet. His box score is horrendous - perhaps one of the most inefficient shooting splits in the country. But that's not what his game is, he knows it, and he still finds ways to be effective in situations where his strengths can shine

His statline wasn't great in these games but he was a major reason why we won vs. Creighton and Seton Hall last year. He was a key part in our game-winning runs in both games, by overwhelming Nembhard in the full court press against Creighton and putting on a 2 man defensive masterclass with Andre against Seton Hall (also a couple assists into Andre dunks, major momentum shifters)

There were other guys who starred in those games, but Diarra was an injection of energy when we needed it to get going before letting the starters close it out. That's his role and there are no misunderstandings about that

Would be nice if he could hit some threes though

 

[Huskyforlife]

Newton(30)
Castle(25)
Spencer(30)
Karaban(30)
Clingan(25)

Jobnson(20)
Ball(20)
Best of: Roumoglou/Ross/Stewart(20)

This rotation is for games against good teams, since guessing the average rotation would have to include the blowouts.

Newton/Spencer/Karaban are the candidates to lead us in minutes. Spencer and Karaban will need to stay on the floor as our only consistent shooters.

Don will not have the conditioning to play 30+ quality minutes at his weight. But I expect Samson to surprise everyone by breaking out as a very solid college big, allowing Don to rest as needed.

I think Ball is the most obvious of the remaining freshmen to earn a big role. This spot in the rotation as the first guard off the bench is either his or Diarras, and I expect him to show he’s on another level than Diarra talent wise.

I didn’t list him above, but Diarra will play in certain matchups. But I think the team would prefer Ball to simply absorb all those minutes.

The 8th and final rotation spot is impossible to project. 3 guys that we’ve never seen play real minutes, but all seem talented on paper.

Pasta intrigues me because he stayed. Was he told that his role on next years team would expand? The staff spoke glowingly about him when given the opportunity, he was given ball handling responsibilities during garbage time at 6’7. Everyone was sure him and Hasson were 1 year, practice guys, but it seems as though he exceeded those expectations.

I love Ross on paper. Great athlete, developed well as a shooter over the last year. Is he too raw for a serious rotation role in year 1? Finding athletic, 3nD guys at 6’6 is difficult, and we might’ve found a huge steal in Ross for that reason. He’ll play a lot if he is ready, but I’m guessing he might be a year two guy, along with Singare.

Stewart feels like the X factor. If he’s ready to make the kinda shots he was taking in high school, he could be a dangerous 6th man scoring threat. His ability to handle the ball at his size makes him another tough matchup for opposing teams on defense, subbing Newton/Castle for Stewart may feel like the Sanogo/Don dynamic of last season, how do teams deal with all that size? His ability to make shots off ball will be crucial, as he’ll need to adjust to not being the freelance artist he’s been for years in high school and AAU. This may be a more awkward adjust for JStew than people anticipate.

I’m not sure where he profiles to play on defense. Is he quick enough to guard dynamic playmakers? Tall enough to guard 4s? He’s gonna need to work hard not be someone who is targeted on this side of the ball. Especially because Dan does not have a high tolerance for poor defense. My gut tells me he’s still the leader for that 8th rotation spot.

Diarra and Singare round out as the fringe/occasional guys who get in due to foul trouble/injury/situation.

The Last scholarship guy I assume will be another practice body, but you never know.