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For me everything UConn does from now, through the 2019-2020 season, and up until the first game of the 2020-2021 season, I will be looking at through the perspective of is the team/program in a better position to make a deep run (FF type run) in the 2020-2021 season.
We added 3 studs in '19 class and they will get a year's worth of experience before the key 2020-2021 season. By March 2020 our starting 5 could very well be:
1) Alterique
2) Bouknight (yes I know many think Vital will be a starter here, but based on talent Bouknight may take his spot by the end of the year)
3) Polley or Sid
4) Akok
5) Carlton
The big key will be whether Alterique decides to return one more year. If he is healthy and does return for one more year, we could return all of our starters on what should be a pretty good team, and we will be adding more firepower with the addition of RJ Cole, and potentially some other '20 stud recruits (we are in a good position with studs such as Andre Jackson, Cam Thomas, Cliff Omoruyi, Jabri Abdur Rahim, and Hassan Diarra).
We have not made the postseason in 3 straight years, and to return UConn to where it should be the team really does need to make a deep run in the tournament. UConn as a program is made for March/April (that is why Hurley came here). In my opinion we have that potential, if things align right and we add some more studs, to make that goal a reality as soon as March 2021. If we do make a FF type run, it would also have a tremendous immediate impact for our 2021 recruiting because we are going hard after top 10 recruits in the 2021 class like Kuminga, Griffin, and Moussa Cisse. Then UConn should be back back.
Yes, I am looking ahead by 1.5 years, but everything the team, coaches, and program does in between now and then can really build the hype for the 2020-2021 season and hopefully make a deep run more of an expectation and not a fantasy.
A few things to monitor (most of which we all know):
- Can Carlton continue to build on his growth he showed during his sophomore year
- Can Alterique stay healthy for a full season and will he come back one more year after this season
- Is the '19 class as talented as we expect them to be
- Can Sid play to his potential
- Can Polley continue to build off of his growth shown during his sophomore year
- Can we add a few more studs in the 2020 class
Those questions will be answered over the next 1.5 years (there are other questions as well), if most of the responses are positive then we should have a heck of a team.
At this point what UConn has accomplished to make a FF type run possible in March 2021 are:
- Hurley has positively changed the culture of the program
- Hurley was able to recruit a talented '19 class
- Hurley added a talented guard that can contribute right away starting in November 2020
I'm excited to see UConn continue to build up to the 2020-2021 season. This does not mean I don't think we will have a good season this year as well, but I think its more realistic to envision having a big year starting in November 2020.
We added 3 studs in '19 class and they will get a year's worth of experience before the key 2020-2021 season. By March 2020 our starting 5 could very well be:
1) Alterique
2) Bouknight (yes I know many think Vital will be a starter here, but based on talent Bouknight may take his spot by the end of the year)
3) Polley or Sid
4) Akok
5) Carlton
The big key will be whether Alterique decides to return one more year. If he is healthy and does return for one more year, we could return all of our starters on what should be a pretty good team, and we will be adding more firepower with the addition of RJ Cole, and potentially some other '20 stud recruits (we are in a good position with studs such as Andre Jackson, Cam Thomas, Cliff Omoruyi, Jabri Abdur Rahim, and Hassan Diarra).
We have not made the postseason in 3 straight years, and to return UConn to where it should be the team really does need to make a deep run in the tournament. UConn as a program is made for March/April (that is why Hurley came here). In my opinion we have that potential, if things align right and we add some more studs, to make that goal a reality as soon as March 2021. If we do make a FF type run, it would also have a tremendous immediate impact for our 2021 recruiting because we are going hard after top 10 recruits in the 2021 class like Kuminga, Griffin, and Moussa Cisse. Then UConn should be back back.
Yes, I am looking ahead by 1.5 years, but everything the team, coaches, and program does in between now and then can really build the hype for the 2020-2021 season and hopefully make a deep run more of an expectation and not a fantasy.
A few things to monitor (most of which we all know):
- Can Carlton continue to build on his growth he showed during his sophomore year
- Can Alterique stay healthy for a full season and will he come back one more year after this season
- Is the '19 class as talented as we expect them to be
- Can Sid play to his potential
- Can Polley continue to build off of his growth shown during his sophomore year
- Can we add a few more studs in the 2020 class
Those questions will be answered over the next 1.5 years (there are other questions as well), if most of the responses are positive then we should have a heck of a team.
At this point what UConn has accomplished to make a FF type run possible in March 2021 are:
- Hurley has positively changed the culture of the program
- Hurley was able to recruit a talented '19 class
- Hurley added a talented guard that can contribute right away starting in November 2020
I'm excited to see UConn continue to build up to the 2020-2021 season. This does not mean I don't think we will have a good season this year as well, but I think its more realistic to envision having a big year starting in November 2020.