On to next year

[weyuo]

This was a good team that needed one more starting guard. A Shabbaz type that could play good D, bring the ball up the court and give you a consistent 10+ points a game. Gafney is NOT the answer and I doubt he ever will be. Too slow, not a 3-pt threat, is unsure of what to do out there. And there was no one else on the bench that could run point and/or play lockdown D. So if Cole doesn't come back they need to find/develop two starting point guards that can play D and score at least 10 a game. I have faith Hawkins will get better and be that Ray Allen type of shooter this team sorely needs. But he needs to be able to play D and rebound. Jackson will most likely slide into Whalley's spot. Akok needs to add some weight and continue to work on his shot. If Cole and Martin come back that would be awesome but Cole needs another guard with him on the court and a reliable backup so he can get some rest. Martin just needs to stay healthy and work on his 3-pt shot. The reason why they lost to NM St? Cole was chased around and harassed the whole game and there was no one else on the court to help him or take the pressure off him. Bottom line: This year's team was one starting guard short.

GO HUSKIES!!

 

[Irishboy9780]

If we hand off the team to the kids and get them the experience then the reasonable expectation is a regression to not making the NCCAT. If Cole stays (which i'm doubting) and they hit the portal, sure they can have a similar team to this year, but what has that gotten us?

I don't make the choices obviously but i give Hurley this coming season and the next, if we don't atleast get to a sweet 16 in that time or show some massive improvement he needs to go.

 

[Yankees32123]

People are sleeping on Karaban. By the end of next year, I think our lineup includes a grad transfer/sharpshooting PG, Jordan Hawkins, Andre Jackson, Alex Karaban and Adama Sanogo, with Gaffney, Diggins, Akok and Samson coming off the bench. I think Clingan will contribute as much next year as Samson did this year.

If Cole comes back, that obviously solves the PG problem.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Lack of experience at the point will be tough if we don't get Cole back or add a transfer PG. But with experienced and strong offensive options in Sanogo, Hawkins, and Jackson (maybe not offense) that can make up for some of the PG dropoff.

Realistically, if we can get someone akin to Taliek Brown to run the point - strong and effective ballhandler and offensive general who doesn't need to score - we can be successful. Much will ride on the progress of Hawkins, Jackson, and the freshmen. With Sanogo at least we won't be completely reliant on that group.

 

[yungdowork]

Hurley has no choice but to give some of the young guys more responsibility next season. I'm really hoping that we schedule a tougher out of conference schedule next year to give the team some early season challenges and help them work out the kinks. Given how many minutes our freshmen played, big game experience will be huge heading into Big East play. I have faith that Diggins and Floyd can play some big minutes in the backcourt, but they'll undoubtedly make some big mistakes figuring out how to play at this level.

Grabbing another ballhandler in the portal would help us big time, but I think guys who have the tools are on the roster. Creighton and Seton Hall both lost their starting PGs and had combo guards running the offense with decent success. We have the talent, we've been recruiting well; now we just need the guys we went after to be ready to step up.

 

[JMick]

We don't know but they should be better. If we don't make the tournament next year we might be looking around for another coach.

Hurley will be on the hot seat this time next year. Book it. He's not the guy

 

[OkaForPrez]

Defense first guys. Whaley played out of position because of his ability to guard all 5.

That’s our identity. Defense, rebounding, toughness.

The guys who give you that play, even when it chokes out the offense. You can disagree with that approach but it’s the one Dan Hurley takes.

Let’s see what that approach looks like as we cycle through our high major talent pipeline. I am excited about the Sanogo Jackson class as juniors and I’m excited about Hawkins as a sophomore. He was just figuring it out when he went down.

 

[Huskymagic]

Hurley will be on the hot seat this time next year. Book it. He's not the guy

After getting embarrassed by NMSU after last year's debacle to Maryland that's pretty much confirmed. Shrinks when the lights are bright. He's a deer in headlights. Doesn't react well and there is no strategy on beating opponents other than to out-hustle them.

Next year's team looks worse unless we find some perimeter knock-down shooters. I would start Andre as point guard as I doubt Hurley can find someone better than Andre to run point for next year. It also would be good for AJacks and the team for him to run point.

Karaban could be an X-factor if he can shoot well and play big minutes right away. We need to look for an elite shooter and an extra point guard who can play regardless.

 

[Orc]

This has to be the most offensively inept team we had in awhile. Hurley was kind of forced to play experienced guys that couldn’t play well together because of fit. I’m excited to see what his defense can do with guys who can actually score the ball like Hawkins and hopefully Jackson can step up this off-season.

Cole, Tyrese, and Polley we’re good for what they did. But too many limitations. Whaley was just playing out of position.

Offensively challenged like some experts would say. Always prone to scoring droughts. The same thing will happen in the tourney next year if we don’t get more scorers

 

[Deleted at users request]

Didn’t you just answer your own question?

If you call a 1st round exit after getting upset by a 12 seed doing well, then we have different expectations.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

well, at least we won't be drowning in that swill of '45:07' or 23 skidoo, or whatever low rent motto of the minute that gets fed to us mutts.
that, and the insanity of ever playing typo, are my two beefs with coach.
i like danny. and iffn coach doesn't have an exit interview with jmoney sounding in 'here are the keys, it's urs to lose' then he should bolt.
donovan, alex, corey, and real growth from adama, aj, and hawk, hope for akok (unless he bolts), and mebbe samson too, will make us forget this years team in a new york minute.
sweeet. it's a beeyootiful day today, gonna grab the bikes, head to hammy,
and burn some sage over at meigs point, since i've never thought anyone but the zags are cutting down the nets.

 

[Orc]

I appreciate the sentiment, but when there are holes you have to plug them. Recruiting isn't an exact science, especially when watching high school games and you have highly skilled players versus filler. AAU should help with that, but having never seen an AAU, game I don't know if they play legit basketball or if it looks like an NBA all star game.

The recruits that weve brought in so far have been meeh. To much hype. They didnt live up to expectations

 

[Deleted at users request]

That's a bit much. Cole did it all season long.

Eh, Cole picked his spots very well. He wasn’t really a one on one beat his guy kinda guy because he doesn’t have the athleticism to do it. But he was smart as all hell in knowing how to pick his spots.

I appreciate the sentiment, but when there are holes you have to plug them. Recruiting isn't an exact science, especially when watching high school games and you have highly skilled players versus filler. AAU should help with that, but having never seen an AAU, game I don't know if they play legit basketball or if it looks like an NBA all star game.

You have to at least give the guys a chance though. You can’t develop players if you bring in transfer guys over them. We should have 3 ball handlers in Gaffney, Floyd, and Diggins to for next year. Hawkins as a go to guy and maybe Jackson develops there. Then a very talented front court. It’s time for Hurley to coach the talent he’s recruited.

 

[Com'rGordon]

This game made me really excited to get Floyd in the mix. A quick defensive stopper for guards. RJ too small and Andre is more for forwards

 

[bendm]

If you call a 1st round exit after getting upset by a 12 seed doing well, then we have different expectations.

oscar t was a transfer and he should be the POY. no reason we cant have a good team if our best player, or two, are transfers.

i'm not saying we recruit over everyone every year. we arent bringing in guys to take sanogo, aj, or hawkins's starting spots next season, but that's very different then saying we shouldnt recruit over guys that have fallen out of the rotation like gaff and akok.

 

[navery12]

oscar t was a transfer and he should be the POY. no reason we cant have a good team if our best player, or two, are transfers.

i'm not saying we recruit over everyone every year. we arent bringing in guys to take sanogo, aj, or hawkins's starting spots next season, but that's very different then saying we shouldnt recruit over guys that have fallen out of the rotation like gaff and akok.

Don't even bother, I had this discussion with him a few months ago and he's too stubborn to change his opinion. Teams like Baylor who won a championship with a transfer as their best player don't count since they're not UConn. And UConn teams led by transfers don't count unless they win a championship

 

[Horatio]

Just too many projects and misfit skill sets on the roster. It’s unbelievable how many we had this season with only ONE alpha guard. One more guard and we’re still playing

 

[Leebo]

It doesn't help to have guys who can shoot if they don't take shots. For huge stretches of the game, our best shooters weren't even trying to take shots.

 

[Conn6281]

It doesn't help to have guys who can shoot if they don't take shots. For huge stretches of the game, our best shooters weren't even trying to take shots.

On nbadraft.net, they have Hawkins as the 11 pick in the 2023 draft. Seems crazy to me lol

 

[UConnSwag11]

Start recruiting plauers who know how to shoot,

For that to happen, Hurley (and this board) will need focus on offense and not be ecstatic with scoring 60 points in the modern game

 

[UConnSwag11]

On nbadraft.net, they have Hawkins as the 11 pick in the 2023 draft. Seems crazy to me lol

Not really. He has the talent. He just need to put it together. This off-season and in game strategy next year will be telling

 

[Conn6281]

Not really. He has the talent. He just need to put it together. This off-season and in game strategy next year will be telling

I was just surprised he was that high. We need him to improve his ball handling asap

 

[Jholla2183]

I’ve always believed in college you need 2 PGs that play together a lot as well
As spell eachother. A la 99 with KEA and Moore. Different skill sets but both can handle the ball and run the offense. Especially when most wing players in college don’t have strong enough handles to bring the ball up under duress. I look forward go Diggins developing, but another true PG is absolutely necessary if Cole does leave. Floyd, Gaff and AJ cannot be the answers there

 

[uconnfan68]

As point guard continues to be an afterthought for Hurley, we are going to struggle. I wouldn't be surprised if we're a bubble team unless a couple of the young guys take a leap forward. If we can't find a solid PG in the transfer portal, the season could get ugly.

PG: Transfer/Diggins/Gaffney
SG: Hawkins/Floyd
SF: Jackson
PF: Samson/Akok/Karaban
C: Sanogo/Clingan

We're going to be an inexperienced team. Jackson and Sanogo will be the only ones with significant experience. At least we should be able to space the floor better and give Sanogo more room to operate. I don't see much production coming from Clingan or Karaban but I'm excited about Samson and I think Floyd will be a shot in the arm for this team. I don't love that Jackson is the only wing. Teams with a couple of 6'6" strong SFs will be a bad matchup for us.

From what I’ve seen, we don’t have a big to do a worthwhile hard hedge. Will we continue that defense? We have some good shotblockers, but not on ball. Will we figure out how to use their talents? I just don’t see us matching up well with any 5 out offenses with our lineups.

 

[Valleyfan]

I hope Hawkins majes a huge leap! Not only as a shooter but as a creater as well. Otherwise we may be doomed next year.

I hope Hawkins majes a huge leap! Not only as a shooter but as a creater as well. Otherwise we may be doomed next year.

Agree, need Hawkins to improve. He had periods where his ball handling and hands (catching passes) seemed off, and that might have impacted confidence on shooting

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Don't even bother, I had this discussion with him a few months ago and he's too stubborn to change his opinion. Teams like Baylor who won a championship with a transfer as their best player don't count since they're not UConn. And UConn teams led by transfers don't count unless they win a championship

I don't think UConn wins in 2014 without the contributions from Kromah.

There's 0 reason to not use the portal to our advantage, we have a high profile, play in a top league, and have pieces in Hawkins, Jackson, and Sanogo that should be attractive to a PG.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Do Ray Allen or Rashad Anderson have sons? Is Bronny James still open for recruiting?

 

[Deleted at users request]

oscar t was a transfer and he should be the POY. no reason we cant have a good team if our best player, or two, are transfers.

i'm not saying we recruit over everyone every year. we arent bringing in guys to take sanogo, aj, or hawkins's starting spots next season, but that's very different then saying we shouldnt recruit over guys that have fallen out of the rotation like gaff and akok.

Maybe, I just haven’t seen us have success relying on transfers as our best guys. Best transfers I’ve seen us have success with our guys who are small pieces. Like Kromah and Miller. Guys like Rodney, Terry, Gibbs, etc were all very frustrating to watch.

I’m in the minority here but I don’t want to give up on those guys just yet. They gave us big time play when they got a lot of playing time. I’m hopeful that if they were forced to step up they’d do so and they have the talent and athleticism to do it. I wouldn’t want to bring in a high floor low ceiling guy to play over them. That’s just my personal opinion.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Don't even bother, I had this discussion with him a few months ago and he's too stubborn to change his opinion. Teams like Baylor who won a championship with a transfer as their best player don't count since they're not UConn. And UConn teams led by transfers don't count unless they win a championship

What’s the farthest a transfer led team has taken us? Have we even made it to a sweet sixteen? That’s cool Baylor won one championship with them. We have 4 with our formula. Homegrown guards.

Bazz Boatright
Kemba Bazz
AJ Kemba
Marcus should’ve played with AJ (damn laptops)
Taliek and Ben

The list goes on. If only Jalen could’ve came in a year earlier to play with Boatright and Alterique could’ve stayed healthy enough for them to play together.

Gaffney, Diggins, and Floyd won’t be this list (maybe Diggins and Floyd later we’ll see) but we have enough talent where they don’t need to be the best guards in the country. I would happily accept freshman year Gaffney where he didn’t get a lot of pt until he was forced to start and played great with Bouknight.

 

[Deleted at users request]

On nbadraft.net, they have Hawkins as the 11 pick in the 2023 draft. Seems crazy to me lol

He gets his handle together and becomes the go to guy on our team I could see that. Handles has to be one of the easiest things to improve IMO. Look at Jaylen Brown.