Next year

[CardiacAndre7]

He literally cannot shoot from anywhere on the court. Tough to make an impact as a guard when all you can do is dunk on breakaways.

And he never even attempts to drive. Currently, when he’s on the court its 4v5 on the offensive end, and we already don’t have many options.

 

[TheRealKBuks]

There are excuses left and right that can be applied to this year. Whether it's injuries or covid you can find one, but this has to be the last year of it. I'm sick of 7 straight years of excuses regardless of the coach. 2022 is time for UConn to reclaim march

 

[KembaMan15]

You’re joking right? I see a physical freak who will be one of the best overall players in program history when he learns how to stay out of foul trouble and gain confidence in his shot. We were a much better team when he was on the floor. You’ll eat your words on him for sure.

The best players in our program history are NBA HOF level players. I think AJ is going to be great, but we can't ASSUME he will be one of the best ever to go through our program.

 

[rip7774]

Unless Hurley figures out you need good shooters to win games no I am not excited. We looked and played like crap the last 2 games. From layups to freethrows to 3's. Forget about it. Big guys hitting some layups does not win the big games. You need great guards.

Told my kids who are under 15 these guards/wings aren’t UConn guards outside Bouk.

need a jet and a shooter next year. Cole should not be a primary scorer on a very good team but a super sub or 4-5 option.

Good thing about this is - it’s so obvious they have to see offensive deficiencies of this group.

 

[jdb50]

He’s a physical freak. Full stop, at least right now. He needs SERIOUS work this offseason. If he can’t hit like even 25% from 3, he simply cannot be on the floor much.

If Jackson can't hit 25% from 3 he should be on the baseline and that is not where he wants to play it seems. We need to figure out how every player can get better at free throws. We lose games because the ball does not go through the basket when we take open shots and layups. Rinse and repeat.

 

[UCDaveD]

You’re joking right? I see a physical freak who will be one of the best overall players in program history when he learns how to stay out of foul trouble and gain confidence in his shot. We were a much better team when he was on the floor. You’ll eat your words on him for sure.

One of the best in program history? LOL

 

[tentoes4rings]

The best players in our program history are NBA HOF level players. I think AJ is going to be great, but we can't ASSUME he will be one of the best ever to go through our program.

I’m talking overall impact on a game, both ends of the floor: I see a guy who can defend 1-4, rebound, bring the ball up the floor, be phenomenal in transition and at the rim and who is already our best passer. As an overall player, not just offensively, I think he has the ability to be as good as we’ve had. Might take two years to see it but the ability is clearly there.

 

[tentoes4rings]

One of the best in program history? LOL

Let’s revisit this by the time he leaves. It’s easy to be the guy who laughs at someone for defending a kid who just struggled in a tourney game his freshman year. If he plays three years yes, Andre Jackson will be one of the most well rounded players we’ve had. The only great scorers we had that also impacted the game in so many other ways we’re probably Emelia, Kemba, Donyell with his shot blocking and maybe Bazz. Give the kid a chance, my God.

 

[peyton1211]

andre jackson will remember this sucky feeling and be extremely hungry next year with some tourney experience

 

[UCDaveD]

Let’s revisit this by the time he leaves. It’s easy to be the guy who laughs at someone for defending a kid who just struggled in a tourney game his freshman year. If he plays three years yes, Andre Jackson will be one of the most well rounded players we’ve had. The only great scorers we had that also impacted the game in so many other ways we’re probably Emelia, Kemba, Donyell with his shot blocking and maybe Bazz. Give the kid a chance, my God.

There’s a lottt of middle ground between thinking a kid will be a good player and saying that he’ll be one of the best in program history.

 

[tentoes4rings]

The best players in our program history are NBA HOF level players. I think AJ is going to be great, but we can't ASSUME he will be one of the best ever to go through our program.

You realize Ray is the only Hall Of Famer with Rip and maybe Drummond having a shot, right? I’m just saying he has the potential for sure.

 

[bertieboy]

We’re gonna be good. Anyone else excited?

This Maryland game was very hard to watch. Hurley has done a good job getting us this far. It's obvious he has a lot more work to do.

 

[EastConn'er]

With the number of players transferring this year, yes. There's already multiple guys in the portal who would fit that description

Wishful thinking! Don't think we are going to score a transfer who's going to be our go to guy. Have we ever had one of those?

 

[tentoes4rings]

The foul machine part literally negates everything you said.

He was a freshman! Do we think Sanogo isn’t good because he’s also a foul machine? If we gave up on every player who committed far too many fouls as a young player we’d probably have very little success as a program. Young players commit bad fouls and usually learn how to play D without getting in foul trouble. Both of these guys will be much more reliable next year defensively.

 

[98Uconn]

I just don't quite get why AJ even got second half minutes today. I mean I love his athleticism and potential.. but we needed to score and he doesn't even need to be defended. I don't quite get him as I just don't see how he's an offensive threat in any way b

 

[Chin Diesel]

People love acting like the world is ending. Biggest loss IMO is Whaley. Dudes a lockdown defender and elite shot blocker. Bouk got buckets for us, but I don’t think he’ll be as sorely missed as some people are painting it. We have big time scorers coming in + a healthy Akok + a more developed Ajax. We’ll be a tournament team next year.

Sanogo became a much better shot blocker second half of the season. Akok is an above level shot blocker. Add in Samson and I'm not worried about rim protecting next season.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

He was a freshman! Do we think Sanogo isn’t good because he’s also a foul machine? If we gave up on every player who committed far too many fouls as a young player we’d probably have very little success as a program. Young players commit bad fouls and usually learn how to play D without getting in foul trouble. Both of these guys will be much more reliable next year defensively.

I wouldn’t compare AJ and Sanogo if I was you, it won’t work well. They aren’t in the same atmosphere in terms of impact.

 

[tentoes4rings]

I wouldn’t compare AJ and Sanogo if I was you, it won’t work well. They aren’t in the same atmosphere in terms of impact.

Dude, you are so wrong on this kid and I will remind you constantly of this next year. You’re making yourself look like a complete fool right now.

 

[Ratso]

boatright should be in the nba

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Dude, you are so wrong on this kid and I will remind you constantly of this next year. You’re making yourself look like a complete fool right now.

I would love to be wrong, but you are wrong about him RIGHT NOW. He can make a jump, he certainly has the ability and the work ethic. But i’m referring to this season. I’m not saying he won’t have a great impact ever. You’re changing my words.

 

[Billxon]

We’re gonna be good. Anyone else excited?

This year overall ;we are a very poor shooting team.
We can't consistently make 3's, make putbacks, make layups and make free throws.
We cannot play man defense without getting into foul trouble.
What is Hurley going to do?; import correction water?
We will find out how good a teaching staff we have and how they will remedy these very obvious
deficiencies. Jackson shot free throws well; why were not plays designed to get him into free throw area for these type of jumpers?
Finally, all of these guys need a remedial course in Basketball 99;
in all my years of coaching I have never seen so many STUPID plays by individuals playing at a high level of college basketball.
Before, I am accused of some form of something, I did not say stupid players but stupid plays.
Back in my time, games were played in the Quonset Hut and we could not beat Holy Cross( Togo Palazzi) or Fordham but we played tough and smart and games went down to wire and big Art Quimby
was really learning the game as a true freshman and soon became a force and led NCAA in rebounding as a junior. Art was only 6'5" or 6'6".
but a very muscular and strong guy and the coaches staff of Hugh
Greer worked with Art to make him a great defensive player( he was pretty good on offense also).
Ok, Dan H., you should have
a plan in place to begin to remedy the deficiencies of this years team.
Ciao

 

[tentoes4rings]

I would love to be wrong, but you are wrong about him RIGHT NOW. He can make a jump, he certainly has the ability and the work ethic. But i’m referring to this season. I’m not saying he won’t have a great impact ever. You’re changing my words.

My original assertion was that by the time he leaves, he will be one of the most impactful players to ever don the uniform, in terms of all the areas of a game he’ll impact. I could be wrong but the physical tools, passing ability and work ethic give me confidence I’m right. Apologies if I directed anything intended for UCDave at you.

 

[Milo65]

A lot of things have to happen for us to be as good as this year. Jackson has to start having an impact and not just impress people with his athleticism. Akok has to come back and be an impact player. Sanogo has to be able to play 30 minutes a game without fouling himself to the bench. And Hurley has to realize that the guy who can get his shot is Sanogo, and quit starting with the bigs out high and play more inside out.

That’s a lot of ifs. If it all goes right we could be better, but if Jackson still can’t shoot and Akok isn’t a better version of Whaley and Sanogo can’t stay on the court ....

I don’t understand the love affair with Jackson. I watched the Maryland defense literally leave him alone on the perimeter when he got the ball. He gets a lot of minutes for someone who shoots a single digit 3pt percentage as a guard, he’s a foul machine and his handle needs some work. He has great athleticism and is a great passer, but his skill set didn’t serve him well against the Terps.

 

[3rdbass]

No way in hell are we are we a Tournament team... unless something changes drastically...We just shot 32% with our best player leaving. Our best win of the entire season was USC. We lost to bottom feeder programs in the big east and not a single player on the team has shown that they can consistently shoot. How in the hell can anyone even remotely fathom this program going NCAA next year ... UNLESS someone comes in next year and is a hero.

What was our bottom feeder loss in the Big East? I think we lost to 4th place St. Johns's and Providence who was middle of the pack. We just couldn't beat any good teams besides USC like you mentioned. We have to be able to compete against Villanova next year if we want to be considered a serious threat to do well.

 

[Deadrody]

I know Hurley says defense is our hallmark, but screw that. What good is defense if you can't score. I'd rather lose a game after game in the 80s than watch the game we just witnessed ever again

To be fair, against Maryland, we weren't good at either

 

[Deadrody]

I don’t understand the love affair with Jackson. I watched the Maryland defense literally leave him alone on the perimeter when he got the ball. He gets a lot of minutes for someone who shoots a single digit 3pt percentage as a guard, he’s a foul machine and his handle needs some work. He has great athleticism and is a great passer, but his skill set didn’t serve him well against the Terps.

He's a freshman

 

[mauconnfan]

I'm going to expand on this: wasn't it the case after 1994 everyone thought we'd fall off without Donyell Marshall?

We were a better team in 1995.

There are certainly examples of a team losing their best player and coming back better.

I hear what you’re saying here and believe maybe they can be better next year. But let’s be honest there’s no Ray Allen who stayed for another year and Bouk is well short of Donyell Marshall. But I get the analogy and hope they can find a way to grow as well as individually improve. We will need an impact transfer I believe to be real good though.

 

[Umami Zen]

Need bucket-getters and shooters for next year. Already have a lot of the pieces with the potential for some of our seniors returning. Will know soon on that front.

A normal off season of skill development and SnC will be beneficial to the returnees.

Would be appreciated if Dan Hurley embraced Steve Nash FT shooting drill for our team.. FT shooting cost us too many games this year.

 

[ScuderiaDiU]

I would love to be wrong, but you are wrong about him RIGHT NOW. He can make a jump, he certainly has the ability and the work ethic. But i’m referring to this season. I’m not saying he won’t have a great impact ever. You’re changing my words.

They are being Obtuse. You are, of course, correct. I think you know he is a freshman and MIGHT develop into a great player. I think we all understand the freshman thing. Like you, I just haven't seen him do much to deserve the assumed greatness. Not yet. But we all hope it will happen.

 

[ScuderiaDiU]

To be fair, against Maryland, we weren't good at either

Yeah, that was the problem. If it were two teams struggling to score, he could have thrown Polley out there and told him to shoot until they start going down. And that would have worked. But Maryland would probably have scored more too. Probably. Hard to imagine them shooting better than they did.

Did this bring back memories of watching them lose to Maryland in the Dome? Thanks again for giving me your extra ticket for that game. 😉