No Point Guard

[navery12]

Yeah but Newton has played a ton of college games, which you'd think would be more revealing than the BS anecdotal stuff that leaks out during the summer about these other guys.

More useful definitely but I'm still surprised we haven't seen much leak about him. Not in a concerning way, there's lots of evidence of what we'll get from him based on East Carolina. Just in that as the starting PG of the team he'll be the key to a deep run this year

 

[auror]

New point guards likely take longer to get acclimated. New offense, new playbook, new teammates to learn preferences. We'll wait until a bunch of real practices before trying to gleam anything.

 

[BGesus4]

How is a PG that played 30+ mpg over three years in the AAC "the biggest unknown". I'm genuinely curious. I would put Samson, Hawkins, Karaban, maybe even Andre's development as bigger unknowns. It feels like Newton and Adama are probably the two most known quantities at this point. Is your point just that you haven't personally watched him?

Yeah I meant biggest unknown to me having not watched him or seen him play with anyone else on this team—in conjunction with seeming to have the ability to be one of the highest impact players. Ie I’m wondering if he has the ability to make us a top tier team in the country. Everybody’s saying if Hawkins handle is improved then x or if Jackson’s offense is better than y, but Newton seems like perhaps our biggest roster difference from last year that could totally change things. If he’s really an NBA-potential guy as a 6’5” pg as some reporters alluded to, then I think this season would be better than the consensus is projecting. But again, without having actually seen him in action and him being new to the team, it seems like a (high impact) unknown.

 

[jibsey]

Yeah I meant biggest unknown to me having not watched him or seen him play with anyone else on this team—in conjunction with seeming to have the ability to be one of the highest impact players. Ie I’m wondering if he has the ability to make us a top tier team in the country. Everybody’s saying if Hawkins handle is improved then x or if Jackson’s offense is better than y, but Newton seems like perhaps our biggest roster difference from last year that could totally change things. If he’s really an NBA-potential guy as a 6’5” pg as some reporters alluded to, then I think this season would be better than the consensus is projecting. But again, without having actually seen him in action and him being new to the team, it seems like a (high impact) unknown.

Yeah and how many players on our current roster have either not played for us or played insignificant minutes last year? So we don’t exactly know for certain what we will get from a big part of this year’s team, even though we think we know. 10 players with the only ones being Sanogo, Jackson and Hawkins, AND we are projecting Hawkins to have improved his handle, assertiveness and scoring ability. Probably will be great but we have a bunch of question marks.

 

[UC4L]

I do think turnovers will be a problem. Newton averaged 3.5! Jackson averaged a couple, Diarra had an even TO to assist ratio. No real safe guard of the ball on this team. Anyone saying they don’t foresee turnovers being a problem is lying. With that said we should play uptempo and force lots of turnovers so it shouldn’t matter as much..

Yeah but when you are on a bad team and are relied upon to a lot of the scoring and playmaking you may have more turnovers because of the high usage rate.

 

[MexicoHusky]

I'll wait to I see the team in person. I also suspect the o.p. was a bit of trolling.... all that said, if by chance we still don't have a legit pg after struggling in that area last year (arguably the year before as well). Then DH has some serious explaining to do. I'll seriously question his ability to evaluate talent and put together a team.

For now, this post is a non issue.

 

[navery12]

I'll wait to I see the team in person. I also suspect the o.p. was a bit of trolling.... all that said, if by chance we still don't have a legit pg after struggling in that area last year (arguably the year before as well). Then DH has some serious explaining to do. I'll seriously question his ability to evaluate talent and put together a team.

For now, this post is a non issue.

I know it's been a long offseason but did we really already forget that RJ Cole exists?

 

[MexicoHusky]

I know it's been a long offseason but did we really already forget that RJ Cole exists?

Oh please. Stop being petty and foolish. You know we had issues at PG. At the very least you know we had issues with the quantity of PGs who were able to actually earn playing time.

 

[mauconnfan]

Newton was fifth in the AAC in assist-to-turnover ratio last season.

Yeah but we still have no point guard ask coachn!

 

[NJHoops]

Oh please. Stop being petty and foolish. You know we had issues at PG. At the very least you know we had issues with the quantity of PGs who were able to actually earn playing time.

Ok. And then I could point out the specific recruiting challenges that brought them Diggins and Gaffney but where would that lead us on this beautiful Fall Saturday? Nowhere good, I’m sure.

Were they perhaps a bit overly loyal to a guy and his family who believed in them when the AAC team wasn’t what it was in the past or is now? Maybe, but I’ll take that for the time they were in. Diggins had so much of what they look for but couldn’t put it together at this level. If more in-person viewing was possible, would that have been easier to see? Perhaps.

Where I am at now is, the ‘23 class shows what this staff and this Big East program is aiming to achieve with each and every recruiting class. They won’t all be top 5ish, but I feel pretty ok about this staff’s recruiting and roster building.

 

[Umami Zen]

Don't get this hysteria about not having a classic- ball dominant-pass first PG.. The offensive system that DH has recruited to and is implementing benefits from multiple ball handlers who can pass/catch/assist/ get their shot when needed. Newton/Alleyne/Diarra/AJax can provide plenty of ball handling proficiency. Newton 's resume speaks for itself.. Is he a CG with excellent ball skills?Or a PG? Don't care--He can deliver the goods. Obviously, DH is comfortable with him/AJax(and others) initiating the offense when needed. More concerning to me would be.. Can we break a press thrown at us by a pressing team like ST Johns with the ball handlers we will have on the floor.. I believe DH has that covered with this roster. Can the four guys on the floor keep our Bigs happy by dumping/ooping balls down to them in their spots? Yes

 

[husky429]

Oh please. Stop being petty and foolish. You know we had issues at PG. At the very least you know we had issues with the quantity of PGs who were able to actually earn playing time.

We didn't have issues because of Cole. We had issues because we didn't have anyone to back him up. There's a reason why our two other PGs dropped down to mid-majors.

Cole was one of the best PGs in the conference despite being overworked all season.

Terrible take

 

[Chin Diesel]

Don't get this hysteria about not having a classic- ball dominant-pass first PG.......

In other words, you don't get the Boneyard.

 

[MexicoHusky]

We didn't have issues because of Cole. We had issues because we didn't have anyone to back him up. There's a reason why our two other PGs dropped down to mid-majors.

Cole was one of the best PGs in the conference despite being overworked all season.

Terrible take

True. I should have wrote "if by chance we still have pg issues" instead of "if by chance we still don't have a legit pg".

 

[imno1]

On post #115 and still waiting on who these insiders were who coachin say he heard from

 

[Huskyforlife]

The press break stuff is concern. But we have a pg, and we’ll see how much better Jackson/Hawkins are at pressure dribbling soon. Worst case Diarra sees more minutes against pressing teams.

 

[8893]

More useful definitely but I'm still surprised we haven't seen much leak about him. Not in a concerning way, there's lots of evidence of what we'll get from him based on East Carolina. Just in that as the starting PG of the team he'll be the key to a deep run this year

Interestingly, and perhaps what's behind @coachn 's concerns, I am hearing that Andre is running point in practices and appears to be positioned as the starting PG.

I don't know quite what to make of that.

 

[Huskybass]

Interestingly, and perhaps what's behind @coachn 's concerns, I am hearing that Andre is running point in practices and appears to be positioned as the starting PG.

I don't know quite what to make of that.

While Andre has some point guard skills, there has to be a starting spot for Newton given his averages of 17 plus and 5 last season. I would be really surprised if both aren't in the starting lineup, with Andre operating as a point forward in addition to Newton handling a portion of the point guard duties. I fully expect both to start.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

At the very least, Newton will be a serviceable point guard, and if not Diarra is a good a fallback plan for another serviceable guy. We’re not like Memphis here who had all the talent in the world last year but didn’t have a PG at all.

 

[dennismenace]

Interestingly, and perhaps what's behind @coachn 's concerns, I am hearing that Andre is running point in practices and appears to be positioned as the starting PG.

I don't know quite what to make of that.

We will find out if that is the experiment as soon as teams start pressing us.

 

[NJHoops]

It’s almost as if summer and fall practices are a time to try out some things and not lock yourself into a set rotation and usage pattern.

 

[8893]

While Andre has some point guard skills, there has to be a starting spot for Newton given his averages of 17 plus and 5 last season. I would be really surprised if both aren't in the starting lineup, with Andre operating as a point forward in addition to Newton handling a portion of the point guard duties. I fully expect both to start.

We will find out if that is the experiment as soon as teams start pressing us.

It’s almost as if summer and fall practices are a time to try out some things and not lock yourself into a set rotation and usage pattern.

It is also my hope and expectation that Hurley is trying stuff out, and that both Andre and Tristan will be starting.

But Hurley has also been much higher on Andre running point than I have been, and I think we are going to see that more than many people expect.

I also agree with @dennismenace that presses from opposing teams will tell us whether that is a viable plan.

 

[imno1]

It is also my hope and expectation that Hurley is trying stuff out, and that both Andre and Tristan will be starting.

But Hurley has also been much higher on Andre running point than I have been, and I think we are going to see that more than many people expect.

I also agree with @dennismenace that presses from opposing teams will tell us whether that is a viable plan.

The best way to break as press is passing out of it. Our length will help a lot. Attempting to dribble out of a trap is a recipe for turnovers for almost every ballhandler.

 

[HooperScooper]

Interestingly, and perhaps what's behind @coachn 's concerns, I am hearing that Andre is running point in practices and appears to be positioned as the starting PG.

I don't know quite what to make of that.

Not surprising since Hurley has said he'd do that.

Conventional wisdom dictates that Tristen Newton, the high-scoring senior who transferred from East Carolina in April, will be the Huskies’ starting point guard. Maybe so, but Newton may be more valuable as an elite scorer who can take the ball to the hole and/or knock down 3’s. Hassan Diarra, the gritty New Yorker with the clutch gene, would figure to be Newton’s back-up at point. But again, that’s narrowing down Diarra’s abilities a bit too much.

“The beauty of guys like Tristen and Hass,” said Hurley, “is they can play on the ball and get you into stuff, create for others, but they’re comfortable playing off the ball, letting Dre take it and create in transition, or create in the ball-screen game, where Dre is a really outstanding passer and creator.”

Ah yes, Dre. That’s Andre Jackson, the versatile, 6-foot-6 wing who can also man the point. He may not match Pistol Pete Maravich, one of his idols, as a ballhandler, but Jackson proved last season that he can facilitate on the fast break, find his big man on the low post and get his team into its offense.

“Dre will be on the ball a lot,” Hurley promised. “He’ll be facilitating around an outstanding 5-man (Adama Sanogo) and three other guys who can shoot and score. It’s going to create driving lanes for him, and passing options.”

Here’s why UConn men’s basketball team may look different this upcoming season.

Andre Jackson at point? Adama Sanogo shooting 3s? Dan Hurley's Huskies may have a very different look when this season gets underway.

www.ctinsider.com

 

[8893]

Not surprising since Hurley has said he'd do that.

Conventional wisdom dictates that Tristen Newton, the high-scoring senior who transferred from East Carolina in April, will be the Huskies’ starting point guard. Maybe so, but Newton may be more valuable as an elite scorer who can take the ball to the hole and/or knock down 3’s. Hassan Diarra, the gritty New Yorker with the clutch gene, would figure to be Newton’s back-up at point. But again, that’s narrowing down Diarra’s abilities a bit too much.

“The beauty of guys like Tristen and Hass,” said Hurley, “is they can play on the ball and get you into stuff, create for others, but they’re comfortable playing off the ball, letting Dre take it and create in transition, or create in the ball-screen game, where Dre is a really outstanding passer and creator.”

Ah yes, Dre. That’s Andre Jackson, the versatile, 6-foot-6 wing who can also man the point. He may not match Pistol Pete Maravich, one of his idols, as a ballhandler, but Jackson proved last season that he can facilitate on the fast break, find his big man on the low post and get his team into its offense.

“Dre will be on the ball a lot,” Hurley promised. “He’ll be facilitating around an outstanding 5-man (Adama Sanogo) and three other guys who can shoot and score. It’s going to create driving lanes for him, and passing options.”

Here’s why UConn men’s basketball team may look different this upcoming season.

Andre Jackson at point? Adama Sanogo shooting 3s? Dan Hurley's Huskies may have a very different look when this season gets underway.

www.ctinsider.com

Yep, he has said it, and he has done it.

I am definitely guilty of buying into the conventional wisdom.