Palpable buzz

[BigEastLuva]

There’s no talk of CV. His name was in the middle of the pack on those competition sheets during the summer. I think he might be feeling the heat. A healthy Rique, a talented B. Adams, and an improving Carlton means less minutes/points to go around. CV looks like he isn’t too happy about taking a step back.

 

[Stinger92860]

What we really need is a 5* commit ASAP.

Dam. Quite frankly you need some patience.

 

[goskis2018]

This is his third year at UConn. While he has not played more than 3 games in any of his first 2 seasons, the time maturing as a person, watching film, being at practice, and participating at practice has given him valuable experience. One of the byproducts of this experience can be seen through the reports coming out of Storrs (and having witnessed it myself) of how good his shot is right now, including his form and technique...that was not the case when he first came to Storrs.

I am sure that with the past two seasons he has also learned to be a better leader. After Adams, I think Alterique is the guy the rest of the team will be looking up to provide leadership.

At the same time he's essentially had two redshirt years in the two of the program's most dysfunctional years in decades. I hope he's great and all but I want to see this backcourt be the best in the 7th best conference in the country before even dreaming of it being the best in the country.

 

[CL82]

There’s no talk of CV. His name was in the middle of the pack on those competition sheets during the summer. I think he might be feeling the heat. A healthy Rique, a talented B. Adams, and an improving Carlton means less minutes/points to go around. CV looks like he isn’t too happy about taking a step back.

Yeah I hope he accepts whatever role Hurley has for him. CV is good player, but I'm not sure that his self-perception lined up with our prior staff's sense of him. We'll see. Genuinely like the kid and feel like Hurley can improve his overall game if CV buys in.

 

[husky429]

There’s no talk of CV. His name was in the middle of the pack on those competition sheets during the summer. I think he might be feeling the heat. A healthy Rique, a talented B. Adams, and an improving Carlton means less minutes/points to go around. CV looks like he isn’t too happy about taking a step back.

He's been in the gym a lot this summer. There have been no indications he is upset with his role; on the contrary, he seems quite bought in. But that's just on the surface.

If CV realizes for the team to succeed his ego will need to be in check, we'll be fine. He is a smart kid and we have a great staff. I expect nothing less.

 

[LIuconn]

Hurley will nail him to the pine if he's not in check

 

[Waquoit]

CV is good player, but I'm not sure that his self-perception lined up with our prior staff's sense of him.

His self-perception is Steph Curry. He's won't be allowed to jack 'em up at will anymore.

 

[UofCT]

Dam. Quite frankly you need some patience.

Dam? Is it breaking?

 

[MadDogRevival]

I’m not claiming this team is good enough to win a national championship. I’m saying it’s good enough to make the tournament. Relax

We are relaxed. But that's not what you said.
What you said is: "I really don’t understand how anyone thinks this team won’t make the tournament."
Big difference.
Pretty much everybody on the board believes this team is "good enough to make the tournament." Pretty much only the blind fanatics don't understand how this team might not do so.

Difference.

 

[superjohn]

I really don’t understand how anyone thinks this team won’t make the tournament this season. To say the talent isn’t there is absurd. The talent is there and now we have a staff who’s going to get the most out of it.

We have a really talented starting backcourt (should be best in the AAC) with a healthy Alterique but from top to bottom the roster is lacking in talent. Hurley knows he needs to seriously upgrade.

 

[MadDogRevival]

Veteran alterique? He's played like 5 games for us

Lol. So true.

 

[MadDogRevival]

Yeah I hope he accepts whatever role Hurley has for him. CV is good player, but I'm not sure that his self-perception lined up with our prior staff's sense of him.

You are all underselling this kid.
On a team playing clown ball he was the only kid who brought it 100% of the time, no plays off. He led the team in rebounds because he had the biggest heart and the best motor. He wanted it more. You can't teach that.
Also, he was on a terrible offensive team. His numbers will improve within a better offense, as will others.
He shot .318 from 3. Jalen shot .324. Pretty much the same. Only Larrier did better, shooting a lot of 3s.

I think that CV is going to be a critical part to this team. Moreso than Alterique or any newly added player or transfer. We'll see.

 

[UConnStats]

We have a really talented starting backcourt (should be best in the AAC) with a healthy Alterique but from top to bottom the roster is lacking in talent. Hurley knows he needs to seriously upgrade.

The front court is a wasteland, and to make their lives harder, we're so bad at shooting that they get less space than they would for most other teams.

 

[GemParty]

Leaps by Whaley, Cobb, Josh.
Using Sid & Polley to our advantage.
Strong, heathy, & disciplined CV & AG
Jalen as conference POY.
September is for dreaming. Right?

 

[businesslawyer]

In 2011 our front court was Alex Oriakhi, Charles Okwandu, Tyler Olander, and Enosch Wolf. We won a national championship with that front court. In 2014 our front court was Tyler Olander, Phil Nolan, freshman Facey, and freshman Brimah. We also won a national championship with that front court. Our guards are good enough to lead us to a tournament in 2019.

Our best team in '11 was with Roscoe Smith at the 4. Our starting team in '14 had Deandre and Giffey sharing the 4 spot. I don't know how you define "front court," but you need to check your definition.

We -- one -- can get by with one true big and one stretch 4. Coming off last year, we have neither at an acceptable level. If Carlton becomes one acceptable big, our past history does not imply we can get by without either a second big or a stretch 4.

 

[HawkHusky]

The front court is a wasteland, and to make their lives harder, we're so bad at shooting that they get less space than they would for most other teams.

Yup. The back-court needs shooters and the front-court needs a pulse. Without either, we're looking at another .500 season.

 

[AfgHusky15]

You are all underselling this kid.
On a team playing clown ball he was the only kid who brought it 100% of the time, no plays off. He led the team in rebounds because he had the biggest heart and the best motor. He wanted it more. You can't teach that.
Also, he was on a terrible offensive team. His numbers will improve within a better offense, as will others.
He shot .318 from 3. Jalen shot .324. Pretty much the same. Only Larrier did better, shooting a lot of 3s.

I think that CV is going to be a critical part to this team. Moreso than Alterique or any newly added player or transfer. We'll see.

I have no idea what sport you are watching if you really believe that CV will be more critical to the team than a healthy Alterique... CV is a likable guy and a fan favorite for good reasons, but you can generally tell which posters know the game and which posters are just fans of the team by a poster's take on CV...

 

[AfgHusky15]

The front court is a wasteland, and to make their lives harder, we're so bad at shooting that they get less space than they would for most other teams.

I actually think Carlton is a pretty talented center, who can play a positive and significant role in providing points in the paint and rebounding... I also think Polley will surprise folks. I think he has the best shot on the team, and can be used effectively as a stretch 4.

 

[Stainmaster]

I have no idea what sport you are watching if you really believe that CV will be more critical to the team than a healthy Alterique... CV is a likable guy and a fan favorite for good reasons, but you can generally tell which posters know the game and which posters are just fans of the team by a poster's take on CV...

News flash: people whose opinions differ from yours are just as capable of knowing and understanding the game as you are...

 

[pj]

Yup. The back-court needs shooters and the front-court needs a pulse. Without either, we're looking at another .500 season.

Exaggerate much?

We were within an inch of .500 each of the last two years and we'll have better talent (adding Alterique, Sid, etc, plus players a year more advanced) and better coaching. We'll be well above .500.

As for your implication that the backcourt can't shoot and the frontcourt isn't alive ... well, I hate "fans" who underrate their own players.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think the team will be much better than most prognosticators are suggesting. The back-court of Adams, Gilbert, Smith, CV and Adams is the best since 2014. And it's deeper than that team's was. Gilbert is healthy and will be fine. He is being completely under-sold by many. If he was coming in as a freshman everyone would be touting him as a major impact player. He's going to be better than any freshman guard. Age matters. Experience isn't gained merely by playing.

The front-court is not a strength, but there are bodies and if they can defend, rebound and finish what the guards create we will be fine. Wilson could be a spark, Polley showed he can shoot (if not defend), Whaley could block shots (if not score) and the slimmed down Cobb could be a huge factor. He has some real skills. Wish we had Diarra. Not sure what Yawke can bring, but he is physical and can defend the post.

 

[HawkHusky]

Exaggerate much?

We were within an inch of .500 each of the last two years and we'll have better talent (adding Alterique, Sid, etc, plus players a year more advanced) and better coaching. We'll be well above .500.

As for your implication that the backcourt can't shoot and the frontcourt isn't alive ... well, I hate "fans" who underrate their own players.

I didn't imply anything. I said we need shooters in the back-court and a pulse in the front-court in order to be successful. That pretty much applies to any team. I'd like to think our front-court has improved with Carlton and we have shooters with Gilbert and the 2 Adams.

 

[AfgHusky15]

News flash: people whose opinions differ from yours are just as capable of knowing and understanding the game as you are...

If there is a difference of opinion between who is a better shooter Ray or Rip (at UConn) or who was a better shooter between Niels and Rashad, then yes differing opinions would not make you wonder whether the other guy really understands the game.

If someone was of the opinion that Phillip Nolan was a better big than Drummond, then yes it is reasonable to question that guy's knowledge of the game...

Its great when fans share their opinions, but also expect to have an opinion called out if its a head-scratcher... its part of the game when it comes to posting

 

[Stainmaster]

If there is a difference of opinion between who is a better shooter Ray or Rip (at UConn) or who was a better shooter between Niels and Rashad, then yes differing opinions would not make you wonder whether the other guy really understands the game.

If someone was of the opinion that Phillip Nolan was a better big than Drummond, then yes it is reasonable to question that guy's knowledge of the game...

Its great when fans share their opinions, but also expect to have an opinion called out if its a head-scratcher... its part of the game when it comes to posting

The opinion that CV's value to the team exceeds "likeable guy" and "fan favorite" is not a head-scratcher by any reasonable definition of the word.

 

[superjohn]

The opinion that CV's value to the team exceeds "likeable guy" and "fan favorite" is not a head-scratcher by any reasonable definition of the word.

MadDog said he thinks Vital is more critical to UConn than Alterique.

 

[UConnStats]

Yup. The back-court needs shooters and the front-court needs a pulse. Without either, we're looking at another .500 season.

That wasn’t my point, just that we need to see material progression from the guys who are returning. But adding Gilbert and Wilson to the mix is a big influx to start.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The opinion that CV's value to the team exceeds "likeable guy" and "fan favorite" is not a head-scratcher by any reasonable definition of the word.

I find it odd how many people over and under value CV. He isn't an elite shooting guard, or a guy who will put up 18 a game for a quality team. He's also not some scrub who won't get off the bench. He has some bad mental habits he needs to change, but effort level isn't one of them. From all indications Hurley laid out the changes he wants to see, and Vital bought in.

I expect him to be a valuable contributor, who, due to our depth at guard, gets less time than he has in the past. I don't expect him to start, although he could on occasion. In 2019-20 I think he has a chance to be the starting SG.

 

[CL82]

You are all underselling this kid.
On a team playing clown ball he was the only kid who brought it 100% of the time, no plays off. He led the team in rebounds because he had the biggest heart and the best motor. He wanted it more. You can't teach that.
Also, he was on a terrible offensive team. His numbers will improve within a better offense, as will others.
He shot .318 from 3. Jalen shot .324. Pretty much the same. Only Larrier did better, shooting a lot of 3s.

I think that CV is going to be a critical part to this team. Moreso than Alterique or any newly added player or transfer. We'll see.

I hope so. I haven't checked but I wonder about the efficiency of those points, given that our offense scheme was pretty much pass around arc until the clock winds down and then have CV or JA chuck up a prayer.

You are preaching to the choir though. I like CV. He could have a really good year, if he accepts his role, which isn't going to be the #1 option. I think his 3 pt percentage will increase as shot selectivity improves and he gets more opportunities to shoot in rhythm.

 

[Husky25]

In 2011 our front court was Alex Oriakhi, Charles Okwandu, Tyler Olander, and Enosch Wolf. We won a national championship with that front court. In 2014 our front court was Tyler Olander, Phil Nolan, freshman Facey, and freshman Brimah. We also won a national championship with that front court. Our guards are good enough to lead us to a tournament in 2019.

The 2011 front court had height and thickness. Oriakhi is 6'-9" (240 lbs). Wolf is 7"-1" (260), and Okwandu is 7'-0" (255).

The 2014 front court had only height (Olander and Nolan are 6'-10" (230 and 212, respectively) Facey is 6'-9" (200), and Brimah is 7'-0" (217)), but the 1, 2, and 3 could move and shoot and Brimah was a great goal keeper. Daniels sometimes played a stretch 4 and was a match-up problem because at 6'-9" (tall for a wing), he could move and shoot.

Both teams had guards who could consistently make an NBA mid-range shot (which counts for 3 points in college) or drive on demand. No one on the 2018-19 team is taller than 6'-9" on paper (i.e. 6'-7" in reality + the 2" media guide bonus) and as was mentioned, the best 3-point shooter forewent his remaining eligibility.

 

[TheChamps990411]

Good guards know how to get bigs involved. 8-12 points would be nice from Carlton

If Carlton averaged 12 points this season id lose my mine! Averaging 12 points is a lot for a 5 as soph is great. I think reality is more like 7/5/2 which will be enough if everything else falls into place.