Our Offensive System for Next Season

[Fan1978]

I loved Andre Jackson and appreciated his unique skills, but that one personnel change from him to Stephon Castle made a huge improvement in the offense for the 24 team. Castle constantly looked to take the ball inside, which Andre was reluctant to do or just didn’t. And another change was getting Cam Spencer on the team- if I had to choose between having him or Hawkins, I would take Cam- he was so versatile scoring around the basket, plus Cam was just as good an outside shooter in my opinion.

Cam was much better player than hawkins in every aspect of game. Cam was an absolute stud. Hawkins was still green and young. Hopefully his full potential is realized in nba.

 

[ucp990411]

That's what people said last year in September.

I don’t think anybody with any basketball intelligence said that about a team that lost 8 games

 

[Uconn10922]

Personally I think on offense Hurley ups the tempo. He has very capable shooters as starters and reserves. They will get into their offense quicker and try to find the open shooter more deliberately. They will also utilize their increased athleticism. I think there is more of an emphasis on quick outlet passes leading to wide open 3s or at the rim finishes. If their sets break down I think you look to Mahaney, Ball, Stewart and Hass to go one on one. Reed can be a good option in the post for the second unit.

On defense I think they become super aggressive. I think you start Samson so they can start the season as business as usual and familiarity and you let him be aggressive. If he gets a couple of quick fouls, no big deal you have Reed who is much less foul prone. Also, you let the guards apply increased pressure leading to turnovers and making it hard to get into the post. Again the depth on the wing and guard allows you to expend energy and fouls without it hurting you.

I think this team leans into being aggressive on both ends and relies on depth each night to find the hot hand or overcome foul trouble.

 

[speckle]

Cam was much better player than hawkins in every aspect of game. Cam was an absolute stud. Hawkins was still green and young. Hopefully his full potential is realized in nba.

Nope. JH was superior at getting to the bucket in transition, and at least as good in 1v1 defense and, catch+shoot 3s wrapping screens. Cam was obviously the more complete and ultimately superior player but that's what you'd expect from a guy with an extra 3yrs of experience.

Not worried, just interested to see how we handle losing our top 3 lead guards. I imagine it'll be a team effort, but I'd like to see 1 or 2 of our guys become dribble/pass-out-of-anything type lead guards. If I'm an opposing coach, I'm attacking our point until proven otherwise.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I could be wrong but I'm going with the premise that our offense this past season was more intricate and provided more scoring options than the season before due to the fact that we had a number of players who were in their second year learning it. What we will see this upcoming season will be very dependent on how quickly some of the kids pick things up. This is where the returnees will have an advantage (albeit, possibly only a slight one) over incoming players.

I am looking forward to see what they can do, especially once we reach late February and beyond.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

When u r the backup u can play a little more aggressively than when u r the starter

Those SJ fouls weren’t aggressive, they were dumb. Big difference

 

[caw]

I could be wrong but I'm going with the premise that our offense this past season was more intricate and provided more scoring options than the season before due to the fact that we had a number of players who were in their second year learning it. What we will see this upcoming season will be very dependent on how quickly some of the kids pick things up. This is where the returnees will have an advantage (albeit, possibly only a slight one) over incoming players.

I am looking forward to see what they can do, especially once we reach late February and beyond.

Agreed with that first paragraph. I do think there are a good amount of returning players who should know the system by now.

Karaban, Diarra and Samson are all in year three+ and have shown they know the system offensively. Samson may be limited in how he scores but he has shown a pretty good feel for passing from the high post and dribble hand-offs.

Stewart played more the fifth man on offense last year but you could see his understanding of where to be increase game by game. Ball didn't seem to have any problems picking it up and was only overshadowed by who was in front of him. I think those five have a pretty solid understanding of the system.

I'm not worried about Mahaney at all. He comes from Saint Mary's. While not as intricate, they run some decent stuff as well.

The three high school kids will have to pick it up but all three seem to have good BBIQ.

Reed is the question mark. Michigan just ran pretty basic stuff and was bad at that. Love his highlights but he didn't do a lot that UConn bigs are asked to do (passing, screening, etc.) but he did show some athleticism that neither Sanogo, nor Clingan showed. That said, considering when he visited, I think Hurley has a good idea of what he brings.

Ross and Singare are also kind of question marks but I think both will show better than expected if given the chance (especially Ross).

 

[Drame]

Hurley has said his offensive has ten sets and there are around five options for each of these sets. So yeah, that is a system. It is a system that can be tailored to personnel because it so large and diverse.

And this year, you will see many teams imitating Hurley's system

He was talking about this years team. A system is playing the same basketball from year to year with different personnel. Like what Tony Bennet at UVA had done for the past 10 years.

 

[Drame]

Personally I think on offense Hurley ups the tempo. He has very capable shooters as starters and reserves. They will get into their offense quicker and try to find the open shooter more deliberately. They will also utilize their increased athleticism. I think there is more of an emphasis on quick outlet passes leading to wide open 3s or at the rim finishes. If their sets break down I think you look to Mahaney, Ball, Stewart and Hass to go one on one. Reed can be a good option in the post for the second unit.

On defense I think they become super aggressive. I think you start Samson so they can start the season as business as usual and familiarity and you let him be aggressive. If he gets a couple of quick fouls, no big deal you have Reed who is much less foul prone. Also, you let the guards apply increased pressure leading to turnovers and making it hard to get into the post. Again the depth on the wing and guard allows you to expend energy and fouls without it hurting you.

I think this team leans into being aggressive on both ends and relies on depth each night to find the hot hand or overcome foul trouble.

Im thinking along these lines. I think more switching on the perimeter.

 

[inWV]

I loved Andre Jackson and appreciated his unique skills, but that one personnel change from him to Stephon Castle made a huge improvement in the offense for the 24 team. Castle constantly looked to take the ball inside, which Andre was reluctant to do or just didn’t. And another change was getting Cam Spencer on the team- if I had to choose between having him or Hawkins, I would take Cam- he was so versatile scoring around the basket, plus Cam was just as good an outside shooter in my opinion.

Hawk’s super fast release was special, but Cam was perfectly adapted to the way the offense evolved. The top four guards could all create and that fact made Cam’s innate craftiness all the more dangerous.

 

[temery]

I loved Andre Jackson and appreciated his unique skills, but that one personnel change from him to Stephon Castle made a huge improvement in the offense for the 24 team. Castle constantly looked to take the ball inside, which Andre was reluctant to do or just didn’t. And another change was getting Cam Spencer on the team- if I had to choose between having him or Hawkins, I would take Cam- he was so versatile scoring around the basket, plus Cam was just as good an outside shooter in my opinion.

Andre Jackson had his own brand of basketball charisma that made the team better. I loved his attitude.

 

[Samoo]

I don’t think anybody with any basketball intelligence said that about a team that lost 8 games

About a team with the third highest average margins of victory in the NCAA tournament history?

 

[YoungFree]

Oh boy. You do realize last years team may have the most dominant team in college basketball since the UCLA days of the 1960’s

Yep.

 

[YoungFree]

I want whatever you're smoking

I am SUPER EXCITED for 2024-25 and I do believe we have a real chance at a 3-peat but, man, people seem to have no idea how hard it is going to be replace two lottery picks AND a 1st team All American. Oh, and Cam Spencer too.

I know...I ain't smoking. I'm normally pessimistic so I thought I'd be optimistic

 

[huskeynut]

Any coach worth anything adapts his offense and defense to the talent on the team.

People say Hurley has a system. Ok, fine. I think Hurley and Luke have specific principles that the offense must execute. Screens, pick and rolls, ally oops and the like. Continual motion of all 5 players on the court. Patience and someone gets loose for a layup, mid ranger jumper or a three. The key is to practice these principles to perfection. No hesitation.

 

[ucp990411]

Score more points than the other guys. Every game.

 

[Son of Robert]

In this thread I have to give props to Tristan Newton. You can make a case that we don't win without Clingan, or Karaban, or Castle, Spencer, Diarra,...... Jackson, Sanogo, Hawkins from the year before, but perhaps the strongest case for this 2 year run, alongside the coaching, is the play of Tristan Newton. He ran the team 30 minutes a game, perhaps our most complete player on the floor. Watch any other player's highlights, and you will see Tristan Newton everywhere, involved in every facet of the game. BIG EAST player of the year on one of the polls, All American, Final Four MVP twice, dude made it happen. If our backcourt leadership can somehow come together and fill the shoes of Tristan Newton, everything else having its place too, we may just contend for another title. I mean, it took Hurley like 10 minutes to put up a banner for Tristan, as a Husky of Honor alongside the greats once they returned victorious from Phoenix. That is some special stuff right there.

 

[HooperScooper]

In this thread I have to give props to Tristan Newton. You can make a case that we don't win without Clingan, or Karaban, or Castle, Spencer, Diarra,...... Jackson, Sanogo, Hawkins from the year before, but perhaps the strongest case for this 2 year run, alongside the coaching, is the play of Tristan Newton. He ran the team 30 minutes a game, perhaps our most complete player on the floor. Watch any other player's highlights, and you will see Tristan Newton everywhere, involved in every facet of the game. BIG EAST player of the year on one of the polls, All American, Final Four MVP twice, dude made it happen. If our backcourt leadership can somehow come together and fill the shoes of Tristan Newton, everything else having its place too, we may just contend for another title. I mean, it took Hurley like 10 minutes to put up a banner for Tristan, as a Husky of Honor alongside the greats once they returned victorious from Phoenix. That is some special stuff right there.

Would be even more special if people spelled his name right. T-R-I-S-T-E-N. Tristen.

 

[EricSD]

Would be even more special if people spelled his name right. T-R-I-S-T-E-N. Tristen.

Yeah, can't like a post where they can't spell the name correctly of a guy who not only won 2 NC's, but was an AA, and will be on the Huskies wall of honor. Not many players have achieved all that.

Not Donovan Klingen, Alex Caraban, Steven Castle, etc.

 

[Sphinx]

The Boneyard is a curious place. People so frequently say the exact opposite of what they intend, and yet everyone understands exactly what they intend. It's a phenomenon that can't be understated, by which, of course, I mean overstated. But you knew that.

 

[temery]

The Boneyard is a curious place. People so frequently say the exact opposite of what they intend, and yet everyone understands exactly what they intend. It's a phenomenon that can't be understated, by which, of course, I mean overstated. But you knew that.

What?

 

[alphasigko]

In this thread I have to give props to Tristan Newton. You can make a case that we don't win without Clingan, or Karaban, or Castle, Spencer, Diarra,...... Jackson, Sanogo, Hawkins from the year before, but perhaps the strongest case for this 2 year run, alongside the coaching, is the play of Tristan Newton. He ran the team 30 minutes a game, perhaps our most complete player on the floor. Watch any other player's highlights, and you will see Tristan Newton everywhere, involved in every facet of the game. BIG EAST player of the year on one of the polls, All American, Final Four MVP twice, dude made it happen. If our backcourt leadership can somehow come together and fill the shoes of Tristan Newton, everything else having its place too, we may just contend for another title. I mean, it took Hurley like 10 minutes to put up a banner for Tristan, as a Husky of Honor alongside the greats once they returned victorious from Phoenix. That is some special stuff right there.

Sonogo was MOP in the 2023 Final 4: Newton the same in 2024.

 

[James]

We arguably have more shooting than the last two teams, and a lot less in the post, pending seeing what Reed can do. I would expect this team to play at a faster pace than last year. It will be interesting to see if Dan let's Samson shoot.

Yeah I think Reed's assimilation into Hurleys complex offense and his ability on defense to protect the rim will be a real bellwether for the teams overall potential. I could see Reed being a great screener, but will he be able to make those split second reads to make the right pass from the post the way Clingan did? Then the same goes for Mahaney... he has a lot to live up to as far as recent guard transfers' team impact, but I think he can.

That JJ Redick Podcast was really an awesome look into Hurley's team building philosophy and how he coaches them to execute on offense.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

That's what people said last year in September.

However you had Clingan , Karaban , Newton , Johnson back Plus a consensus lottery pick in Castle coming with a top 10 recruiting class and a double digit Scorer in the B1G.. I loved our shooting ability
going in and it was the most potent starting 5 offensively in my memory.
My biggest concern were the bench and defense .Lesser concerns Castles integration into the team and Exactly what did have have in Sampson . Could Clingan give us 25 minutes of peak performance.
I though Diarra return was almost as important as Newton’s
This year replacement of Clingan is number 1 .He is a generational player
I think the bench will be better but the starting 5 is more of a concern for me than last year.
Every season has ? . How they‘te answered is the key to success .
We actually had more ? In Nov 2022 as only 3 guys came back Only one who had been a consistent scorer previously. 7 or 8 players either transferred or graduated.
That was a team completed by the portal
Alleyne , Disrra , Joey , and Newton .plus freshman Karaban , Clingan . 6 of 9 newcomers is a huge task .

 

[dennismenace]

Hawk’s super fast release was special, but Cam was perfectly adapted to the way the offense evolved. The top four guards could all create and that fact made Cam’s innate craftiness all the more dangerous.

There's that word again! It epitomizes Cam and he could leave everyone astonished any number of times a game. He will be missed along with his antics on the floor and with the fans. Considering he was new to Uconn makes it even more remarkable.

 

[Son of Robert]

Would be even more special if people spelled his name right. T-R-I-S-T-E-N. Tristen.

My bad for spelling Tristen's name wrong, misspelling anything not something I do very often. No disrespect to the player intended as you can see from the post commending his very excellent play on the court, and how difficult it will be to replace his leadership at the point. What is unfortunate is that it gave you an opportunity to marginalize what otherwise I considered a worthwhile post, which again for the sake of clarity I brought on myself. And yes @alphasigko you are right Sanogo was the 22/23 MOP.

 

[uconnyankee]

I don't even care. Hurley is freaking remarkable and he has proven he can make the best out of whomever is on the roster...and next year's may even be better than the last 2.

It’s not just Hurley…. Starts with Dan Hurley, but his staff is the best in CBB.
They’ve gotten the right players, developed them, and put them in positions to excel. It’s a system.
And it’s firing on all cylinders.

 

[jibsey]

It’s not just Hurley…. Starts with Dan Hurley, but his staff is the best in CBB.
They’ve gotten the right players, developed them, and put them in positions to excel. It’s a system.
And it’s firing on all cylinders.

What is our staff doing right now? They are tweaking that beautiful offense for the new team. We are playing with house money but we are all quite greedy, huh? We have the target on our backs again for sure.

 

[YoungFree]

It’s not just Hurley…. Starts with Dan Hurley, but his staff is the best in CBB.
They’ve gotten the right players, developed them, and put them in positions to excel. It’s a system.
And it’s firing on all cylinders.

Preach.

 

[CL82]

The Boneyard is a curious place. People so frequently say the exact opposite of what they intend, and yet everyone understands exactly what they intend. It's a phenomenon that can't be understated, by which, of course, I mean overstated. But you knew that.