Open Practice 10/12

[Dove]

My God. Akok's thighs have no mass? What has Hurley done?!?

 

[GHSWolverines]

Was Gaffney on the sideline with a boot on today? When's that coming off?

in a week

 

[QuickDraw]

My God. Akok's thighs have no mass? What has Hurley done?!?

Thats why I believe they went after Springs, to shore up the inside girth. He is bigger than most thought and will give good minutes in a grind it out type game

 

[UConnFranklin]

Anyone have an idea of starting 5? I was there today and can't tell who it will be after Al, Vital, and Carleton. After those three, I like Polley and Whaley the most, but they are kind of the same player. My guess is it will be at least one of them in the starting 5, maybe both?

I attended the practice too. Was impressed with the speed of the team. It’s hard to tell right now who will be the starting five but my guess would be Carleton, Al, Vital, Akok Akok (even though I didn’t see him practice) and Bouknight. Hurley likes a 3 guard line up and this one is extremely fast.

 

[6xChamps]

I attended the practice too. Was impressed with the speed of the team. It’s hard to tell right now who will be the starting five but my guess would be Carleton, Al, Vital, Akok Akok (even though I didn’t see him practice) and Bouknight. Hurley likes a 3 guard line up and this one is extremely fast.

Polley is starting

 

[Son of Robert]

Some notes on practice.

Practice is relentless motion for 2.5 hours. Except for huddles and waiting to drill maybe, they are moving. All 4 coaches very involved, each coach commenting, teaching, encouraging, correcting, keeping the flow moving. Several defensive drills, emphasis on fast feet, hustle, teamwork, rotating, physicality. Offensive spacing, screening, passing, finding the open shooter, inside or out.

Lot of 5v5. Blue was AG, Bouk, Sid, Tyler, and Carlton. Grey was Cole, CV, Adams, Springs, Whaley. Some half court drills where a defensive player will step out for 2 seconds and then step back in to give offense the advantage, then finish the possession. Plenty of full court, very physical, AG is rock solid in the open floor.

AG Looks sharp with the ball, tough on D, will be the catalyst on offense, transition, initiating the half court offense, most of it runs thru him. Shares the ball, scores it, penetrates at will, with more talent around him he should be more effective with his assists.

CV Looks solid, expect veteran play, hustle, toughness, rebounding, transition, and outside shooting

Sid Much more comfortable on the court, most athletic defensively, hit some shots during scrimmage, flashes to the open spot, outside shot looks the same, a little flat, very involved though on both ends.

Tyler I thought he moved well, faster feet than I expected on D, stayed with his man, open on the perimeter, hits his shots, hustles, understands what Hurley wants him doing, we'll see how physical he is come gametime

Carlton Man sized, the shoulders, chest, hips, legs all have filled out. Josh is decidedly very solid, strong, and looks to be one of the more sizable players in the league. In a drill with Kenya and the other bigs, Carlton doesn't use finesse so much to get position, he creates it with his strength and body, then makes his move, and as most of us know he has a variety of back to the basket post moves. Big key to our season, will definitely be putting up numbers this year.

Whaley Looks way more comfortable, looks and plays much stronger, looks to score, has developed some back to the basket moves, shoots better than previous, does not turn it over, will prove to be a reliable backup to Josh. Still light on his feet.

Springs Will definitely play this year, and have a frontcourt impact. Has a knack for being around the ball down low, can score it from inside, rebounds, plays D, still learning Hurley's defense. He is more athletic than I thought, bigger and stronger also, and will be a very valuable player especially as he develops.

Adams Heavily part of the mix, will see plenty of minutes in Hurley's 3 guard mixes. Tough, physical guard, a big guard, plays 100% all the time. Dribbles well, not flashy, doesn't turn it over, will penetrate perimeter D and make decisions, good solid player. If he has his shot going they'll feed him.

Cole Solid with the ball, crafty, finds way to penetrate, gets his shot off from anywhere, plays AG tough, will grow as a point guard with all this talent around him. Plays smart, aware, and controlled.

Bouknight Has an excellent handle and body coordination with the ball. Having more length and dribbling thru and around traffic, his athleticism and his sense of vision with what is peripheral to him, enables him to get to the hoop and score with dexterity. You shake your head and go wow, that was good. Difficulty level 8-10, but he makes it look, not so hard. Really good looking shot, shoots at a high percentage, will play major minutes and really be good in February. Does not look that strong right now, but has everything else going for him.

Would have liked to have seen Akok and Jalen Gaffney but they were held out.

First time going, recommend to anyone this as an opportunity to get a good close look at the team. You are pretty much courtside, there are not that many people there, a couple of hundred at best, and I have a much better idea of what the player's skill levels are this year. Very cool experience.

Comments from Hurley at the end. Will not play full court pressing D, does not feel he quite has the talent or horses for it. Would work against lesser teams but not against the North Carolinas of the world.
Wants to play 4 out.

Season is coming right up. Everyone enjoy the ride.

 

[Ricker]

Liked hearing about Whaley's improvement which could make a real difference, Bouknight is exciting offensively, and that Springs offers hope.

Hated hearing Polley isn't rebounding, Adams can't handle the ball well enough to play any effective PG minutes in a pinch, shooting is suspect, Gaffney & Akok are losing important development time due to injury, and Gilbert can't be hit without fear of reinjury. Health has been a huge setback for men's BB in recent years.

 

[UconnU]

Adams can't handle the ball well enough to play any effective PG minutes in a pinch, shooting is suspect, Gaffney & Akok are losing important development time due to injury, and Gilbert can't be hit without fear of reinjury. Health has been a huge setback for men's BB in recent years.

With AGs injury history and JG in a boot right now our PG situation scares the crap out of me.

 

[HooperScooper]

The Courant said there were about 500 people there. Surprised there weren’t more. I would have definitely gone if I wasn’t away for the weekend. How many times do you get a chance to watch a real practice? I think I paid $150 once at a charity event to watch practice back in 2004. This was free.

 

[superjohn]

We need another good guard for next year with some point guard skills.

 

[soxfan23]

The Courant said there were about 500 people there. Surprised there weren’t more. I would have definitely gone if I wasn’t away for the weekend. How many times do you get a chance to watch a real practice? I think I paid $150 once at a charity event to watch practice back in 2004. This was free.

They used to have a team scrimmage at the Civic Center and draw a decent crowd back in the day, I can remember going as a kid and being blown away by Ray Allen his freshman year.

 

[QuickDraw]

They used to have a team scrimmage at the Civic Center and draw a decent crowd back in the day, I can remember going as a kid and being blown away by Ray Allen his freshman year.

It was called the Blue White scrimage. JC used to do it every year. I was there the year when Ray was a frosh & still have the team pic that was handed out that day, it had the big class from the yr before with the Marshals, Travis, Rudy, Boo, KO. I used to go every year because Calhoun was not a fan of midnight madness.

 

[alexd]

They used to have a team scrimmage at the Civic Center and draw a decent crowd back in the day, I can remember going as a kid and being blown away by Ray Allen his freshman year.

yep.....the old Blue White Scrimmages. Nice event....I used to take our daughters. They loved the cheerleaders, the husky dog who would take pics with the families....it always felt like the true start to the season.

 

[ToolzieFan]

Thanks to everyone who provided recaps for those of us who couldn't make it. There is a lot of nonsense on The Boneyard dot com sometimes, but this was a very worthwhile thread that I appreciated.

 

[Huskyfan4evr]

We need another good guard for next year with some point guard skills.

I’m hoping AG returns for another year!

 

[Huskies4ever]

They used to have a team scrimmage at the Civic Center and draw a decent crowd back in the day, I can remember going as a kid and being blown away by Ray Allen his freshman year.

I remember that, too. I was in high school. I remember telling my friend, "This Ray Allen kid is gonna be special.".

 

[intlzncster]

Hated hearing Polley isn't rebounding, Adams can't handle the ball well enough to play any effective PG minutes in a pinch, shooting is suspect, Gaffney & Akok are losing important development time due to injury,

This is the only detailed report of Adams I saw in this thread and it's not saying that at all:

​

Adams Heavily part of the mix, will see plenty of minutes in Hurley's 3 guard mixes. Tough, physical guard, a big guard, plays 100% all the time. Dribbles well, not flashy, doesn't turn it over, will penetrate perimeter D and make decisions, good solid player. If he has his shot going they'll feed him.​

and Gilbert can't be hit without fear of reinjury. Health has been a huge setback for men's BB in recent years.

That's just being smart. Why bump a kid around when you don't have to? You never want your QB taking any unnecessary hits, even more so if he's had injury problems in the past. I don't think this says anything about his current health.

 

[husky429]

This is the only detailed report of Adams I saw in this thread and it's not saying that at all:

​

Adams Heavily part of the mix, will see plenty of minutes in Hurley's 3 guard mixes. Tough, physical guard, a big guard, plays 100% all the time. Dribbles well, not flashy, doesn't turn it over, will penetrate perimeter D and make decisions, good solid player. If he has his shot going they'll feed him.​

That's just being smart. Why bump a kid around when you don't have to? You never want your QB taking any unnecessary hits, even more so if he's had injury problems in the past. I don't think this says anything about his current health.

Gilbert is just unlucky too. He runs in a screen hard... Most guys get the wind knocked out of them, sit for a minute and they're fine. He just happens to take a bone to the eye socket and literally can't see for a month. How often does that happen? He has earned every $$ he'll make professionally more than anyone.

 

[Mooch82]

We need another good guard for next year with some point guard skills.

I’m still very confused why we haven’t gone after Hassan.

 

[MSGSeven]

This is the only detailed report of Adams I saw in this thread and it's not saying that at all:

​

Adams Heavily part of the mix, will see plenty of minutes in Hurley's 3 guard mixes. Tough, physical guard, a big guard, plays 100% all the time. Dribbles well, not flashy, doesn't turn it over, will penetrate perimeter D and make decisions, good solid player. If he has his shot going they'll feed him.​

That's just being smart. Why bump a kid around when you don't have to? You never want your QB taking any unnecessary hits, even more so if he's had injury problems in the past. I don't think this says anything about his current health.

I was at the practice that's not an accurate description of Adams. He's got good size yes but the talent is not there. His talent is clearly below the other guards and based on what I've seen from YouTube highlights it's below Gaffney's as well. If Adams is playing meaningful minutes it means we're in trouble.

 

[Son of Robert]

I was at the practice that's not an accurate description of Adams. He's got good size yes but the talent is not there. His talent is clearly below the other guards and based on what I've seen from YouTube highlights it's below Gaffney's as well. If Adams is playing meaningful minutes it means we're in trouble.

Regarding my comments on Brendan Adams, we won't all agree on this or that. The season will prove it out.

 

[superjohn]

I’m still very confused why we haven’t gone after Hassan.

I think he wants more shooting but a lock down defender at the point who can handle and attack the rim sounds pretty good to me. I'm hoping we do some real damage next year but the idea of having just Gaffney and Cole at point scares me a bit.

 

[Mooch82]

I think he wants more shooting but a lock down defender at the point who can handle and attack the rim sounds pretty good to me. I'm hoping we do some real damage next year but the idea of having just Gaffney and Cole at point scares me a bit.

Agreed. But both of those guys can shoot, as can Bouk. Don’t feel like we NEED a knock down shooter with that spot.

 

[superjohn]

Agreed. But both of those guys can shoot, as can Bouk. Don’t feel like we NEED a knock down shooter with that spot.

Good point.

 

[80shusky]

I think he wants more shooting but a lock down defender at the point who can handle and attack the rim sounds pretty good to me. I'm hoping we do some real damage next year but the idea of having just Gaffney and Cole at point scares me a bit.

We won't have Gilbert next year? I thought he had a year of eligibility left I'm guessing I'm wrong or missed where it was a foregone conclusion that he would leave?

 

[microfich]

I remember that, too. I was in high school. I remember telling my friend, "This Ray Allen kid is gonna be special.".

You weren’t the only one saying that. My jaw froze open. He was so clearly athletically above anyone else we’d ever had.

Those early scrimmages were at the Field House with the floor to ceiling court-surrounding nets with ten foot high opaque plastic ‘walls’ to block practices from let’s say casual fans. After we had a dinner where player or coach was at each table. Can you imagine? I sat next to Perno holdover Cliff Robinson that first year. That was all before the day the dam first broke.

 

[mauconnfan]

Southington HS back on the day also. Was fun to get an early peek especially the new kids.

 

[superjohn]

We won't have Gilbert next year? I thought he had a year of eligibility left I'm guessing I'm wrong or missed where it was a foregone conclusion that he would leave?

He will have another year of elgibility but he graduates this year and it's been hinted at he'll leave. It's not a foregone conclusion but most think he'll leave.

 

[JB75]

We won't have Gilbert next year? I thought he had a year of eligibility left I'm guessing I'm wrong or missed where it was a foregone conclusion that he would leave?

I agree. I don’t get why everyone is writing Gilbert off for next year. He’s barely played a full year of hoops combined for us. Why wouldn’t he stay next year with the potential to be an all American on a husky team that can do some real damage and get back in the national spotlight. People seem to think when we picked up RJ Cole it was near automatic that Gilbert was leaving after this year- I don’t believe that at all. Ok back to nfl red zone. Lol

 

[navery12]

I agree. I don’t get why everyone is writing Gilbert off for next year. He’s barely played a full year of hoops combined for us. Why wouldn’t he stay next year with the potential to be an all American on a husky team that can do some real damage and get back in the national spotlight. People seem to think when we picked up RJ Cole it was near automatic that Gilbert was leaving after this year- I don’t believe that at all. Ok back to nfl red zone. Lol

It's always possible but this was a quote from Gilbert, that's why people think he's leaving. "“I’m going into my senior year and I’m approaching it as my senior year,” he said. “But that decision will be later on down the line.”"