On to next year

[Jimdish255]

Just about all of the suggestions of transfers and expectations of guys making great leaps forward were made at this time last year. At this point I see no reason to assume that many or any of these things will happen. AJ had a year to work on his shot and that stroke will never be effective from 3. Coach had all year to bring in guys but told us he liked what he had already. Wishful thinking is great but until Coach indicates a change in approach there's really no reason to expect one.

 

[bendm]

ball handlers = success. WIthout RJ our next PG up is gaffney and ......... two HUGE question marks. My confidence level isn't exactly.. high.

We might have to replace our first team all BE PG, our best defensive player / PF and our third best player / SF.

Can’t wait to see who the all conference-level transfers we bring in that will make us even better are!

 

[Tiamat7]

Seasons over so I can say this… I fully expect Gaffney and Akok to transfer out. Gaffney really isn’t good enough to be a serious contributor, and Akok… I really don’t know. I just think he needs a fresh start, I don’t think Hurleys opinion of what he is will change.

We take a step back next year in order to take 2 steps forward in 2023. I’m ok with Cole and Martin moving on, have to let the kids play and develop. Having an experienced Sool, Hawkins, floyd, Karaban, Johnson and Clingan in 2023 is worth the lumps in 22 for me. Even with Martin and Cole back, I only see a bubble type team (unless something unforeseen occurs). But I see I final 4 contender in 23 with that same griup with experience.

You make a lot of sense. Should be a fun team with growing pains. Heck, young teams like Marquette and Creighton exceeded expectations and made the tournament.

Unfortunately, if Hawkins makes the jump most expect next year, he might not be around for that '23 team.

 

[BrysonDeMan]

Love them …. But finally no more Ollie guys left
bad juju be gone

crappy ending but I will be cheering them on again next year
keep adding talent and will eventually get there again

 

[AdamaNation]

Whaley playing out of position points to a bigger picture of stubbornness of our coach. It was clear as day from day 1 that Whaley and Sanogo are both 5s. He forced a round peg through a square hole. If he recognized it earlier and developed better chemistry with our lineups he would put them in a better position to succeed.

I can’t harp enough on this but Akok was reason for this ,this year. His development has been such a mystery.

 

[USNavyDog]

I see Hawkins, Ajax and Sampson taking a leap next year. If Sanogo can lose like 10 pounds and become more explosive he'll be definite first team BE selection. If Cole doesn't come back, we need to get a PG from the portal. That's a sweet 16 team in my opinion

Do you think Rasool Diggins will finally live up to his expectations? I know it wasn't this year, but now that he's a sophomore...

 

[3rdbass]

We need a guard that can shoot and can handle. AJ can be that guy if he learns how to knock down a 3 consistently.

Or any jump shot for that matter.

 

[Deleted at users request]

The reason I’m hopeful for next year is that the roster should just fit better and have better ball handlers. Our experienced guys were EXTREMELY limited this year. Our young guys were talented, but Hurley refused to develop them and take the growing pains that would come from them being young. Next year he will have no choice.

Akok is a real stretch 4 unlike Whaley. Gaffney, even though he’s no where near as consistent as Cole, does have the talent to play well when he’s confident. Maybe being forced to be a starting PG can help that. Hawkins is an NBA 2 guard. Hopefully Floyd and Diggins can provide some much needed ballhandling.

We will go from leaning on Cole, Martin, and Sanogo to Hawkins, Jackson, and Sanogo. The latter 3 have a MUCH higher ceiling. It’s just about Hurley getting them there.

 

[Deleted at users request]

We had nobody this year who can get their own shot. Never seen anything like that from a UConn team. Even the Ollie era had a Jalen Adam’s. Incredible to think we were a 5 seed with such a bad offensive roster.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Also, I do NOT want to bring in a transfer. Develop the talented players that we have dammit. Why even recruit guys if we’re just going to bring in transfers to play over them.

 

[bendm]

Also, I do NOT want to bring in a transfer. Develop the talented players that we have dammit. Why even recruit guys if we’re just going to bring in transfers to play over them.

I know you must be kidding because we need to bring in at least TWO transfers. Gaff, akok, and springs, in particular, have all been here 3+ years with very little to show for it. time to move on.

 

[Drfla]

The offense would have been more than fine in a different system. The motion offense we try to run needs to be thrown in the garbage

Disagree. The starting 5 would not have been fine offensively in any system.

 

[Drfla]

You sound like a true Mets fan -- the constant optimist! Except you're always disappointed because you're expecting too much.

We don't have any ball handler next season. Maybe Jackson? Diggins couldn't even see the court this year and Floyd redshirted, even though we badly needed another guard. Gaffney only saw spot minutes because his play regressed. I don't think hitting the portal for your starting point guard is necessarily the best way to win.

My one hope is that Cole is sufficiently angry about how the season ended that he's going to change his mind and come back. Maybe Martin too. But based on the post-game conference, I don't think that's happening.

Love Cole but he’s not a point guard. if He’s our starting point next year and AS is our focus on offense ( and still a black hole when the ball goes into him) the team won’t get any further than this year.

Love RJ, love Martin but time to move on.

 

[Drfla]

Your argument is Adama is the fourth best player on this team. OK.

AS seems like a player who puts up stats but limits the team upside. All Big East stats but doesn’t do the little things to make the team better due to limited BBIQ.

definately In the pros, but even in college, it’s generally not a winning proposition to build your offense around a center.

 

[AdamaNation]

I see Hawkins, Ajax and Sampson taking a leap next year. If Sanogo can lose like 10 pounds and become more explosive he'll be definite first team BE selection. If Cole doesn't come back, we need to get a PG from the portal. That's a sweet 16 team in my opinion

Akok?

 

[bendm]

I can’t harp enough on this but Akok was reason for this ,this year. His development has been such a mystery.

Akok?

I agree he was the missing piece but There’s no mystery as to why, it was the Achilles injury. Unfortunately Without his freak athleticism he just wasn’t an effective player anymore.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I know you must be kidding because we need to bring in at least TWO transfers. Gaff, akok, and springs, in particular, have all been here 3+ years with very little to show for it. time to move on.

When have we ever done well with a transfer led squad. Develop the guys we have. Cole and Tyrese stepped up in a MAJOR way this year when the reigns were given to them. I’m hopeful next years squad can do the same thing. Akok getting consistent time to play through mistakes as a stretch 4 can do wonders.

Some really underestimate how guys play when they aren’t on a short leash. It’s really hard to play freely when you feel like one mistake can get you pulled and limit your playing time. Being able to learn and play through your mistakes is important.

Calhoun mastered when to let guys do that and when to pull them though.

 

[Deleted at users request]

AS seems like a player who puts up stats but limits the team upside. All Big East stats but doesn’t do the little things to make the team better due to limited BBIQ.

definately In the pros, but even in college, it’s generally not a winning proposition to build your offense around a center.

He should spend all off-season learning how to read defenses that attack him. If he can become a good passer who can read a defense he would be deadly.

 

[Apollo]

Do they have to order new “47:10” posters, or can they just use last year’s?

 

[bendm]

When have we ever done well with a transfer led squad. Develop the guys we have. Cole and Tyrese stepped up in a MAJOR way this year when the reigns were given to them

Didn’t you just answer your own question?

 

[gsmooth]

We had nobody this year who can get their own shot. Never seen anything like that from a UConn team. Even the Ollie era had a Jalen Adam’s. Incredible to think we were a 5 seed with such a bad offensive roster.

Oh jalen adams was a baller. He would easily be the best player on this team

 

[GHSWolverines]

Start recruiting plauers who know how to shoot,

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.

 

[GHSWolverines]

When have we ever done well with a transfer led squad. Develop the guys we have. Cole and Tyrese stepped up in a MAJOR way this year when the reigns were given to them. I’m hopeful next years squad can do the same thing. Akok getting consistent time to play through mistakes as a stretch 4 can do wonders.

Some really underestimate how guys play when they aren’t on a short leash. It’s really hard to play freely when you feel like one mistake can get you pulled and limit your playing time. Being able to learn and play through your mistakes is important.

Calhoun mastered when to let guys do that and when to pull them though.

Cole and Martin

 

[Banta55]

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.

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.

No chance of moving on from him next year..Everyone needs to take a deep breath .

 

[Lefty2one]

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.

 

[navery12]

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.

I think Karaban will also play on the wing, he'll get minutes as a 3. But in either case, that's an 11 man team you listed so would still have 2 scholarships to bring in transfer wings to help immediately

 

[Fairfield_1st]

We had nobody this year who can get their own shot.

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

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Also, I do NOT want to bring in a transfer. Develop the talented players that we have dammit. Why even recruit guys if we’re just going to bring in transfers to play over them.

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.

 

[gtcam]

Whaley playing out of position points to a bigger picture of stubbornness of our coach. It was clear as day from day 1 that Whaley and Sanogo are both 5s. He forced a round peg through a square hole. If he recognized it earlier and developed better chemistry with our lineups he would put them in a better position to succeed.

Sanogo is no more a 5 than my 8 yo grandson
He better develop a midrange game in a damn hurry or his basketball career ends after UConn
Next years team is going to miss IW tremendously

 

[Phoenixhusky]

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

Cole did a good job getting his own shot.