No Polley?

[navery12]

So, 700 guys cover the team, but nothing yesterday (or today) about this?

They all tweeted it out before the game yesterday

 

[Lefty2one]

Not so much that bench press even matters, but I mean. It’s 185 pounds (nfl is 225) and he had like 6 weeks to train for it.

The weight room is a whole different world when you've got a 7'5" wingspan.

 

[the Q]

The weight room is a whole different world when you've got a 7'5" wingspan.

Sure. But we are talking about one.

A single rep.

Less than his body weight

 

[Caronimo]

I don't understand the "Polley wasn't ready to return" people. He was literally cleared by doctors and has looked good physically. We could have used a shooter and a versatile 4 yesterday...

 

[krinklecut]

A lot of NBA players can't bench 185 lbs.

That's bonkers. I'm not very in shape and when I was lifting 3x a week I could bench 225. If someone in the NBA can't bench 185 that's a problem lol

 

[Edward Sargent]

I don't understand the "Polley wasn't ready to return" people. He was literally cleared by doctors and has looked good physically. We could have used a shooter and a versatile 4 yesterday...

Cleared by doctors and looking good physically is a whole different animal than playing defense, shooting and otherwise being the versatile 4 you are looking for.

 

[navery12]

I don't understand the "Polley wasn't ready to return" people. He was literally cleared by doctors and has looked good physically. We could have used a shooter and a versatile 4 yesterday...

Also he was literally not cleared by the doctors to play yesterday, which is why he sat out

 

[Edward Sargent]

Also he was literally not cleared by the doctors to play yesterday, which is why he sat out

True, we don't know he may be symptomatic

 

[Dabutlerdidit]

I think UConn athletics is bumping in to the stringent state regulations… And naturally some friction, so Hurley needs to play the politics, which is why he is slow to answer those questions to media

 

[glastonbury50]

True, we don't know he may be symptomatic

Pretty sure he was at the game.

 

[8893]

Pretty sure he was at the game.

Yes.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Pretty sure he was at the game.

Well then he likely isn't symptomatic - thats good

 

[ChickenJoe9]

Polley did test positive but 3 days later he was already negative. Maybe he wasn’t able to practice though? Similar to Springs earlier in the season.

Maybe they found some sort of Covid related irregularity and they are trying to prevent another Keyontae Johnson scenario? I hope that's not the case but I understand why the medical staff would want to be extra cautious.

 

[David 76]

I assume he didn't get his final negative test in time.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Maybe they found some sort of Covid related irregularity and they are trying to prevent another Keyontae Johnson scenario? I hope that's not the case but I understand why the medical staff would want to be extra cautious.

Good to hear Keyontae is continuing to improve, but still remains unclear why he collapsed

 

[mauconnfan]

Back to Polley, need him in the line up and get him some shots. I wasn't sure because depth seemed like a gift this year but early on, he and Akok will be welcomed back for so many reasons. Maybe we will even have 2 guys over 6'3 occasionally on the court again beginning in 2021.

By the way while I'm thinking of it, Whaley did such a great job of avoiding foul trouble last year when he realized we had no depth at the bigs - he needs to get back there. His 3rd foul was plain ol stupid for him, he's smarter than that and once again needs to realize we need him on the court more than on the bench!!!!

 

[superjohn]

That's bonkers. I'm not very in shape and when I was lifting 3x a week I could bench 225. If someone in the NBA can't bench 185 that's a problem lol

People benching 225 lbs. at commercial gyms isn't all that common. Here is a list of like 25 players at the NBA combine who couldn't bench 185 lbs.

The worst players ever at the Draft Combine's bench press test

Physical strength is important for the average NBA player, but nowhere near as important as it is for NFL players. As such, at the annual NBA Draft Combine, players are tested for the number of times they can bench 185 pounds (roughly 84…

hoopshype.com

 

[Slick]

Back to Polley, need him in the line up and get him some shots. I wasn't sure because depth seemed like a gift this year but early on, he and Akok will be welcomed back for so many reasons. Maybe we will even have 2 guys over 6'3 occasionally on the court again beginning in 2021.

By the way while I'm thinking of it, Whaley did such a great job of avoiding foul trouble last year when he realized we had no depth at the bigs - he needs to get back there. His 3rd foul was plain ol stupid for him, he's smarter than that and once again needs to realize we need him on the court more than on the bench!!!!

Tyler is moving very slowly on defense which is why he had 4 fouls in 4 minutes. He has been wide open on a bunch of shots and can't seem to make them. I hope he can come around,we really need the shooting.

 

[mussels]

On Polly's return, it appears that heart testing is done only after everything else. Time frames are unclear to me but here is a quote from Jay Wright that appeared in yesterday's Philly Inquirer “When you hear like a 14-day quarantine, it’s not. It was 23 days, with the heart test."

 

[the Q]

People benching 225 lbs. at commercial gyms isn't all that common. Here is a list of like 25 players at the NBA combine who couldn't bench 185 lbs.

The worst players ever at the Draft Combine's bench press test

Physical strength is important for the average NBA player, but nowhere near as important as it is for NFL players. As such, at the annual NBA Draft Combine, players are tested for the number of times they can bench 185 pounds (roughly 84…

hoopshype.com

Some of those are really surprising.

Others are not.

 

[Dogdeacon]

People benching 225 lbs. at commercial gyms isn't all that common. Here is a list of like 25 players at the NBA combine who couldn't bench 185 lbs.

The worst players ever at the Draft Combine's bench press test

Physical strength is important for the average NBA player, but nowhere near as important as it is for NFL players. As such, at the annual NBA Draft Combine, players are tested for the number of times they can bench 185 pounds (roughly 84…

hoopshype.com

First of all the fact that Durant couldn't bench 185, proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that if you are a guy putting up numbers on the court, your bench doesn't matter. Not one little bit.

Second of all the people comparing Akok Akok's body type to KD's may be under the influence of hallucinogenic substances. Both are tall & skinny & had achilles injuries, one is among the best scorers in NBA history making 30MM++ /year with access to the best healthcare, trainers, nutritionists etc in the world. The other is a promising reserve in college with a cool name.

Third I looked at that list (since 2000) and there have to be a ton of guys missing. Scrolling thru 7 years I''ll take the under on: 2001 - Desagna Diop, Joe Forte, Sam Dalembert, 2002 - Dunleavy, 2003 - Darko, Marcus Banks, 2004 - Robert Smith, 2005 - Gerald Green, Hakim Warrick, 2006 - Adam Morrison, Renaldo Balkman
2007 - Yi Jianilin, Bellineli. Lot of Celtics or almost Celtics on the list so I think Danny Ainge might do the same thing as those comparing Akok to Durant, find two/100 similar traits (weak & play basketball) & assume this will create similar players.

 

[krinklecut]

People benching 225 lbs. at commercial gyms isn't all that common. Here is a list of like 25 players at the NBA combine who couldn't bench 185 lbs.

The worst players ever at the Draft Combine's bench press test

Physical strength is important for the average NBA player, but nowhere near as important as it is for NFL players. As such, at the annual NBA Draft Combine, players are tested for the number of times they can bench 185 pounds (roughly 84…

hoopshype.com

that's crazy - an athlete should be able to train to bench 185 relatively quickly if they can't already.

 

[HuskyHawk]

that's crazy - an athlete should be able to train to bench 185 relatively quickly if they can't already.

I am no expert, but my understanding is that long arms make bench presses much more difficult. Long legs the same with squats.

 

[the Q]

I am no expert, but my understanding is that long arms make bench presses much more difficult. Long legs the same with squats.

Doing multiple reps sure. Doing 1 single rep at likely less than your body weight? After having at least a month to train?

That’s concerning about simply work ethic at some level.

 

[mussels]

Doing multiple reps sure. Doing 1 single rep at likely less than your body weight? After having at least a month to train?

That’s concerning about simply work ethic at some level.

Maybe they worry about it affecting their shot, or the injury risk. Seems rational to me, assuming they've already demonstrated they have the speed, hops, and basketball IQ necessary.

 

[uconnfan68]

Tyler is moving very slowly on defense which is why he had 4 fouls in 4 minutes. He has been wide open on a bunch of shots and can't seem to make them. I hope he can come around,we really need the shooting.

I was hoping he'd look like the guy he did in his last game last year... the one that rebounded and scored... but it might be too soon.

 

[UconnU]

Once he’s able to play he needs to be out there with Bouknight to both open lanes/create space for Bouk and to hit drive and kick/in and out threes, that shot will always be open with Bouk on the court

 

[casual-yardin]

Doing multiple reps sure. Doing 1 single rep at likely less than your body weight? After having at least a month to train?

That’s concerning about simply work ethic at some level.

I'd bet a lot of money that Durant never performed one rep of a bench press prior to the combine. He was the number 2 pick by a mile and may have been number 1 if several different teams had that pick.

IIRC his vertical sucked also but again that didn't really matter either.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I was hoping he'd look like the guy he did in his last game last year... the one that rebounded and scored... but it might be too soon.

I was hoping but not expecting that. It was really the only game I can recall him playing that way in four years. I think he’s mostly a one dimensional catch and shoot player, with decent perimeter D and poor interior D and rebounding. Still useful, but he needs people to get him those shots.

 

[superjohn]

I am no expert, but my understanding is that long arms make bench presses much more difficult. Long legs the same with squats.

People say that but I don't really think there's truth to it. If you're tall and really skinny you are at a disadvantage but same if you're short and skinny. The bench press is all about mass, more than probably any other lift if you gain bodyweight your press will go up. The best bench presser ever is 6'6 but he's a house.