2025 Recruiting: Niko Bundalo Update

[RuffRuff]

Karaban style 4 is the price you pay if you want to move to the spacing offense Hurley is looking to run, which is more about shooting than grinding. A classic 4 pounding 2's near block will be offset by a 4 that can efficiently hit the 3 ball - everything here is based on analytics these days. The biggest question right now is the one everyone is asking, and how does this team make the adjustment to not having an ultra elite rim protector, who covered up a ton of the defensive flaws in last years team (Newt, Cam & AK all less than great a defenders).

 

[3rdbass]

I don't disagree, but I'd also say give Mahaney time with Hurley before writing him off. You'd likely have been saying the same thing about Cam Spencer last year and Joey Calcaterra 2 years ago, and both of them got NBA chances. And Mahaney will have 2 years here to develop

I'm not writing him off but Joey C. never caught on besides the G-Leagues. I just don't think he will get drafted. Either way I do see him here for 2 years and not leaving early for the draft after this year.

 

[FearThePups]

Has Nico mentioned his announcement date?

 

[Fan1978]

I'm not writing him off but Joey C. never caught on besides the G-Leagues. I just don't think he will get drafted. Either way I do see him here for 2 years and not leaving early for the draft after this year.

I like joey c but he was not even close to mahany.

 

[KemBuckets21]

Has Nico mentioned his announcement date?

Don't believe so.

 

[ec33]

Now we will see what Hurley's next move.

I like Abraham as much as the next guy, but I don't think I would let him stop me from creating the nightmare Reibe-Bundalo frontline. Abraham could well fit in at the 3-spot (and will have to as a professional).

 

[3rdbass]

I like joey c but he was not even close to mahany.

Yeah I was just knocking that down too. Either way I don't see Mahaney leaving early as he isn't going to do as well in the NBA were you do need elite athletic ability or great shooting along with an NBA body. Unless Mahaney can transform his body into Cam Spencer I don't see him leaving early this year.

 

[JonnyRI]

Yeah I was just knocking that down too. Either way I don't see Mahaney leaving early as he isn't going to do as well in the NBA were you do need elite athletic ability or great shooting along with an NBA body. Unless Mahaney can transform his body into Cam Spencer I don't see him leaving early this year.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Solo is a one of a kind.

 

[Umami Zen]

Numero uno

 

[HungryHu5ky]

Abraham is a bit undersized for the 4. Closer to 6'6" in height. Would prefer him at the 3, And have more length at the 4.

whatttt ….Abraham is not a 4 he’s a solid 3

 

[HungryHu5ky]

I think ppl are putting way too much overthinking into roster positions & not paying attention to UConn‘s style of play… it’s really positionless hoops besides obvious players like sing reed johnson karaban hass nowell & Mahaney who are limited to 1 or 2 spots due to mobility & or size …the rest of the roster at 6’5-6’7 are very interchangeable versatile pieces at 3-4 positions that’s what makes these UConn teams so dangerous the make up of skill but with size …bc as they say you can’t teach height ( personally why im a big fan of big guards 6‘4/6’5)

 

[JerseyAlum]

Numero uno

And thankfully not part of the other Ball family.

 

[Lambeau]

Why don't we want Bundalo? We'll have to play teams with two bigs, like Alabama--he wouldn' help?
I guess Furphy may be Plan B if we lose Mullins, but Bundalo Plan B?
I can only think Danny thinks it's getting crowded; even if we lose two, I suspect one of Solo, Stewart, McNeeley returns.
If Bundalo and Abraham played 4, whoever returns shares 3 with Ross, leaving Adams and Mullins at 2, Nowell and Mahaney at 1.
That's a full ten man rotation--perhaps more than Danny can contemplate. Still, I like Bundalo a lot.

 

[Fan1978]

Now we will see what Hurley's next move.

I like Abraham as much as the next guy, but I don't think I would let him stop me from creating the nightmare Reibe-Bundalo frontline. Abraham could well fit in at the 3-spot (and will have to as a professional).

I agree, Bundalo is a workaholic and the combo with Reibe would be awesome. Playing time works itself out. injuries and a few guys dropping a level are inevitable. look forward to the Greek crushing it at Richmond this year. bottom line Bundalo is too good to pass on.

 

[AllHusky]

I think everyone on the Yard agrees on Bundalo, but Hurleys cryptic comment about playing Reibe as a stretch 4 with Tarris sometimes next year makes you wonder whether they were mutually exclusive recruits.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I think everyone on the Yard agrees on Bundalo, but Hurleys cryptic comment about playing Reibe as a stretch 4 with Tarris sometimes next year makes you wonder whether they were mutually exclusive recruits.

That would be an absolute nightmare for us defensively, it won’t happen.

 

[RuffRuff]

UConn's Bench Scoring Reveals Dan Hurley's Absurd Depth, Even Stronger Culture

The UConn Huskies overwhelmed Rhode Island with a 49-25 bench scoring differential during Monday’s exhibition. It indicates how deep Dan Hurley’s roster is this

www.si.com

 

[ec33]

I think everyone on the Yard agrees on Bundalo, but Hurleys cryptic comment about playing Reibe as a stretch 4 with Tarris sometimes next year makes you wonder whether they were mutually exclusive recruits.

Yes. You have to trust in Hurley's vision. He knows the roster he is trying to create and where the current players fit.

Still, coaches says lots of things that aren't meant to be taken all that seriously or aren't practical during in-game scenarios (Sanogo-Clingan).

 

[Drame]

whatttt ….Abraham is not a 4 he’s a solid 3

Agree. I was responding to someone else.

 

[RuffRuff]

whatttt ….Abraham is not a 4 he’s a solid 3

Defended Flagg a bunch at the HS relatively well, Flagg is a hard core 4 in college. Perhaps that’s out of default. That said wouldn’t be so sure he’s not a 4 in the position-less concept. I’d argue he’s more of a 4 than AK in many ways. If you saw him up close, he’s a strong/long athletic looking 6’7”.

 

[ec33]

Defended Flagg a bunch at the HS relatively well, Flagg is a hard core 4 in college. Perhaps that’s out of default. That said wouldn’t be so sure he’s not a 4 in the position-less concept. I’d argue he’s more of a 4 than AK in many ways. If you saw him up close, he’s a strong/long athletic looking 6’7”.

If by relatively well you mean "for a guy not big enough to do the job properly" then I agree.

There are not that many at Flagg's level in college though. And if we have learned anything from AK being undersized at the position the last two years, it is that there are few traditional power forwards these days and you can mostly get away without the size.

On the other hand, you can see where a guy like Bundalo would be a nightmare for opposing 4s. He is a poor man's Flagg and after a year of college his sophomore season will be "less poor."

 

[RuffRuff]

If by relatively well you mean "for a guy not big enough to do the job properly" then I agree.

There are not that many at Flagg's level in college though. And if we have learned anything from AK being undersized at the position the last two years, it is that there are few traditional power forwards these days and you can mostly get away without the size.

On the other hand, you can see where a guy like Bundalo would be a nightmare for opposing 4s. He is a poor man's Flagg and after a year of college his sophomore season will be "less poor."

The one thing I do wonder about is whether Hurley and staff, now that the brand is almighty and attracting top tier recruits, is if they’re willing to start pushing players out of the program that they’ve seen they can upgrade (ala Duke last season). It’s hasn’t happened much, given the player development model but if you’re attracting 5 stars year over year and you can see a glaring opportunity to upgrade talent, you move on it:

 

[ec33]

The one thing I do wonder about is whether Hurley and staff, now that the brand is almighty and attracting top tier recruits, is if they’re willing to start pushing players out of the program that they’ve seen they can upgrade (ala Duke last season). It’s hasn’t happened much, given the player development model but if you’re attracting 5 stars year over year and you can see a glaring opportunity to upgrade talent, you move on it:

And where do you draw the line? Reibe could block Singare PT. Mullins takes away minutes for the wing players (and Adams).

But they passed on Brea -- even with AK in doubt.

I guess we will see where Bundalo falls. We think that adding him will make Reibe and the others look better, but the coaching staff might see his being on the court with them at the same time as a detrimental.

 

[nomar]

And where do you draw the line? Reibe could block Singare PT. Mullins takes away minutes for the wing players (and Adams).

But they passed on Brea -- even with AK in doubt.

I guess we will see where Bundalo falls. We think that adding him will make Reibe and the others look better, but the coaching staff might see his being on the court with them at the same time as a detrimental.

The difference (IMO) is that Bundalo has more upside than every big not named Reibe, whereas the guards/wings we wanted to keep happy had more upside than Brea.