Pitino at the Half

[superjohn]

I wouldn't be surprised that Reed is one of the players Hurley is vaguely referencing regarding having one foot out the door. He likely hasn't played as much as he expected to play this year, and with Riebe next year he might see that trend continue. I wouldn't bank on Reed being here next year.

That's my worry, Reed is really talented and has been underutilized IMO.

 

[RuffRuff]

Ross was rated as high as top 50 by On3. He was a gem of a find. They are only a problem when the staff refuses to actually use these guys.

If Nowell, Abraham, and Ross got the kind of opportunity Mahaney had to prove themselves this wouldn’t be an issue. But only transfers are allowed to have the rope to actually develop in this program these days.

Everyone else has to earn it in practice first and be spot up 3 point shooters before earning more responsibility.

Uhhhn, I just listed our competition. So you're saying us, George Mason and Temple discovered this "gem", but the wide variety of local P4 programs couldn't? He was 81 on 247 composite, 113 on their ranking. He got plenty of chances to play this season. Not sure if you just like a good argument. Cue the Tatum Invite.

 

[superjohn]

I don't think the solution is moving on prematurely with regularity, it's not overdoing roster spots on developmental high school recruits. Why even put yourself in the situation of pushing kids out? It's not something you want to do more than you have to as it has an odor. Unless you see something really under the radar unique about an 80th ranked HS recruit, pass.

Take Jayden for instance - he wasn't even recruited by top programs, list was George Mason, Temple, Penn State. Why bring him in? Let him go to Temple, watch him for 1-2 years and if you see something, grab him in the portal, as you have the relationship. There is literally no reason for Uconn to recruit low 4 stars under Hurley. Save it for a minted college contributor.

I'm not sure what ends up happening with Nowell and I hope it works out. It's great that he is a gritty Philly PG, but also not sure what we were doing recruiting little guards for this system. It made me wonder when we were actively recruiting Acaden Lewis when we were anticipating Nowell/Mahaney as PG's for 2026. Please no one splash the Kemba/Shabazz bologna.

This season was a hope & a prayer when you look back on it. Much more on the coaching staff being genius that it was on the roster itself. Bruce Pearl is by no means a genius. Talent wins, every time.

Hurley wanted Pettiford who is also small but can clearly play, he pivoted to Nowell when Pettiford was going to Auburn.

 

[superjohn]

Ross was rated as high as top 50 by On3. He was a gem of a find. They are only a problem when the staff refuses to actually use these guys.

If Nowell, Abraham, and Ross got the kind of opportunity Mahaney had to prove themselves this wouldn’t be an issue. But only transfers are allowed to have the rope to actually develop in this program these days.

Everyone else has to earn it in practice first and be spot up 3 point shooters before earning more responsibility.

Ross has gotten plenty of chances. I see a player with a shaky handle, a shaky jumper and good athleticism that isn't translating on the court. I see him as a guy Hurley took a chance on when he was scouting Solo.

 

[Kolumbo]

These kids fall for it? When I was in college my coach talked like this and all I thought was, “He’s using reverse psychology and he’s insinuating my parents did a bad job”. It totally pissed me off. I liked a coach that attacked my ability, not my mind. That was a challenge I wanted to meet.

It was strange. I'm thinking his wording was off. I think what he was trying to do was tell them he knows they are better than that, so start playing like that. It's not like these are exhibition games and he is just getting to know the roster. He knows the kids. He knows they are capable of playing through adversity, so start freaking doing it to win THIS game. Maybe.

I disagree about ability vs mind though. Attacking my ability makes me question whether I'm good enough to be on the team. Attacking my mind tells me I need to toughen up, be stronger mentally and not wilt under pressure. Intestinal fortitude.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Uhhhn, I just listed our competition. So you're saying us, George Mason and Temple discovered this "gem", but the wide variety of local P4 programs couldn't? He was 81 on 247 composite. He got plenty of chances to play this season. Not sure if you just like a good argument. Cue the Tatum Invite.

He committed to us so early who knows what other offers he got. This staff does a great job of identifying talent.

Solo’s offer list wasn’t all that impressive and only visited USC and DePaul before committing to us.

Stewart didn’t visit anyone.

Our main competition for Castle was Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, and Auburn.

Our staff just ID players super early. Hell did you see who our competition was for Hawkins?

https://247sports.com/Player/stephon-castle-46113025/TimelineEvents/

https://247sports.com/Player/solomon-ball-46130832/TimelineEvents/

https://247sports.com/Player/jaylin-stewart-46114406/TimelineEvents/

https://247sports.com/Player/jordan-hawkins-46086193/TimelineEvents/

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Ross has gotten plenty of chances. I see a player with a shaky handle, a shaky jumper and good athleticism that isn't translating on the court. I see him as a guy Hurley took a chance on when he was scouting Solo.

He looked like a player playing his first round of college hoops this year. It’s normal.

Add on to the fact he’s an overall late bloomer and it’s not out of the ordinary that there are natural struggles for him.

Look how long it took Jeremy Lamb, someone who was a starter with all the opportunity, to finally turn it on consistently. But we expect Ross to do it with half the playing time and none of the rope to be aggressive in 1 year?

 

[superjohn]

Speaking of talent and kids who have that dog mentality we seem to currently be missing. This kid fits it all. He would be the best athlete on this year's team, he is super quick twitch which we are missing, he gets in the lane and attacks the rim off the bounce which we are missing, he's really confident which we are missing...He's one of the best in state players in many years and a kid we need to lock down.

 

[RuffRuff]

He committed to us so early who knows what other offers he got. This staff does a great job of identifying talent.

Solo’s offer list wasn’t all that impressive and only visited USC and DePaul before committing to us.

Stewart didn’t visit anyone.

Our main competition for Castle was Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, and Auburn.

Our staff just ID players super early. Hell did you see who our competition was for Hawkins?

https://247sports.com/Player/stephon-castle-46113025/TimelineEvents/

https://247sports.com/Player/solomon-ball-46130832/TimelineEvents/

https://247sports.com/Player/jaylin-stewart-46114406/TimelineEvents/

https://247sports.com/Player/jordan-hawkins-46086193/TimelineEvents/

These other guys at least had a handful of P4's on their list. When the top competition is George Mason, something doesn't add up, even if signed early. I also don't see it - didn't see it last year in his brief minutes, don't see it this year. Something looks really unorthodox to me in how he plays that I don't see being worked out. He doesn't look like a natural basketball player to me, but would love if I'm wrong. This doesn't change the strategy fact of letting him walk and grabbing him later, if he develops elsewhere.

Sitting on the Uconn bench for two years does jack. It's not building "Championship DNA", case in point this year. Go utilize your best resources for secure bonafide talent.

The concept of ID'ing and getting early signs is drying up fast anyway. We are also playing in a different caliber pool these days.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Sitting on the Uconn bench for two years does jack. It's not building "Championship DNA", case in point this year. Go utilize your best resources for secure bonafide talent.

The concept of ID'ing and getting early signs is drying up fast anyway. We are also playing in a different caliber pool these days.

My whole point has been play and develop these guys so that they are better than transfer portal players. But I guess we don’t believe the staff is good enough developers for this to be a thing.

The point of developing guys in your program used to be that you can coach up players better than another coach can. But yes, if you can’t actually do that then it’s an issue. Which is disappointing

 

[jesterman]

He looked like a player playing his first round of college hoops this year. It’s normal.

Add on to the fact he’s an overall late bloomer and it’s not out of the ordinary that there are natural struggles for him.

Look how long it took Jeremy Lamb, someone who was a starter with all the opportunity, to finally turn it on consistently. But we expect Ross to do it with half the playing time and none of the rope to be aggressive in 1 year?

Yes, we do. Liam is doing it now, because he's talented and better than Ross (and Stewart). We need to recruit more Liams, multiple Liams, every year, and then recruit top-25 portal guys. And we can and should at this point, being back to back champs, ostensibly with adequate NIL. (Also, Jeremy Lamb averaged 11.1 ppg on 49/37/80 his freshman year, what are you talking about?)

 

[RuffRuff]

My whole point has been play and develop these guys so that they are better than transfer portal players. But I guess we don’t believe the staff is good enough developers for this to be a thing.

The point of developing guys in your program used to be that you can coach up players better than another coach can. But yes, if you can’t actually do that then it’s an issue. Which is disappointing

What I believe is recruiting is really hard, especially when you're projecting out upside over multiple years at a juncture kids are still growing physically at 17-18 years old. Reduce risk, avoid the drama of playing time management, go grab yourself a kid that has filled out and shown he can play in college for 1-3 years, and contribute immediately.

This theory you are pitching out is basically saying that the staff are a trio of alchemists, and anyone they spot they can develop into a NC caliber player. That's not reality.

My view is this - unless you're a top 30-40 HS recruit (higher the better) and the staff is confident they can contribute immediately, pass and go portal. The obvious variable needing factoring is NIL.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Yes, we do. Liam is doing it now, because he's talented and better than Ross (and Stewart). We need to recruit more Liams, multiple Liams, every year, and then recruit top-25 portal guys. And we can and should at this point, being back to back champs, ostensibly with adequate NIL. (Also, Jeremy Lamb averaged 11.1 ppg on 49/37/80 his freshman year, what are you talking about?)

Yes, Liam the ready made lottery pick that you don’t have to develop much.

Why are yall obsessed with coaches not having to do their job of coaching and developing guys?

Lamb spent most of the year looking like Ross. It wasn’t until the end until he looked like one of the best guards in the country because he developed.

What I believe is recruiting is really hard, especially when you're projecting out upside over multiple years at a juncture kids are still growing physically at 17-18 years old. Reduce risk, avoid the drama of playing time management, go grab yourself a kid that has filled out and shown he can play in college for 1-3 years, and contribute immediately.

This theory you are pitching out is basically saying that the staff are a trio of alchemists, and anyone they spot they can develop into a NC caliber player. That's not reality.

My view is this - unless you're a top 30-40 HS recruit (higher the better) and the staff is confident they can contribute immediately, pass and go portal. The obvious variable needing factoring is NIL.

Hawkins was 55, Clingan was 73, Karaban 118, Andre 51, Sanogo 104, and Bouknight was 53.

These theories and philosophies about how these things should be approached are literally a threat to basketball. You’re telling coaches to avoid the hard work of developing and investing in the talent of young men that actually have bright futures if they do their job, to sell out for the portal to try and microwave a team together for a chance at winning.

And what do we do if another Mahaney situation happens? How about a 2022 season? Do we go reinvest in more players and turnover the roster again?

 

[superjohn]

Yes, Liam the ready made lottery pick that you don’t have to develop much.

Why are yall obsessed with coaches not having to do their job of coaching and developing guys?

Lamb spent most of the year looking like Ross. It wasn’t until the end until he looked like one of the best guards in the country because he developed.


Hawkins was 55, Clingan was 73, Karaban 118, Andre 51, Sanogo 104, and Bouknight was 53.

These theories and philosophies about how these things should be approached are literally a threat to basketball. You’re telling coaches to avoid the hard work of developing and investing in the talent of young men that actually have bright futures if they do their job, to sell out for the portal to try and microwave a team together for a chance at winning.

And what do we do if another Mahaney situation happens? How about a 2022 season? Do we go reinvest in more players and turnover the roster again?

That's not true about Lamb, you're just wong on that...

Over 6 games from January 15th to February 2nd of Lamb's freshman season he averaged over 18 ppg against DePaul, Nova, Tennessee, Marquette, Louisville, Syracuse. He was getting good #'s in December and then turned it on in mid January.

Ross is s sophomore who really only did anything in his first game of the season against Notre Dame and then against Maryland Eastern-Shore.

 

[RuffRuff]

Yes, Liam the ready made lottery pick that you don’t have to develop much.

Why are yall obsessed with coaches not having to do their job of coaching and developing guys?

Lamb spent most of the year looking like Ross. It wasn’t until the end until he looked like one of the best guards in the country because he developed.


Hawkins was 55, Clingan was 73, Karaban 118, Andre 51, Sanogo 104, and Bouknight was 53.

These theories and philosophies about how these things should be approached are literally a threat to basketball. You’re telling coaches to avoid the hard work of developing and investing in the talent of young men that actually have bright futures if they do their job, to sell out for the portal to try and microwave a team together for a chance at winning.

And what do we do if another Mahaney situation happens? How about a 2022 season? Do we go reinvest in more players and turnover the roster again?

The portal is here - kids can come and go whenever they want now. If they don't like something, they sulk or bolt. Why invest in something that isn't patient enough to develop? Why spend three years hoping someone develops, when they may not or they may leave before they do? Why subscribe to managing that drama, or wed yourself to it, it's exhausting?

Call me crazy, but I prefer reducing risk. I'm not saying to abandon it altogether, I'm saying minimize roster spots for it and be very selective about it. The class coming in is exactly how I see it working best, grab as many top 30 kids as you can and stuff in an interesting longer term guy like Furphy. Fill in with portal.

Long term development is a thing of the past. Not sure you've read about it, but it's why the old guard can't hack it anymore. Some guys are sticking to their guns about it (Shaka & Painter), but I see that strategy aging poorly in terms of being an NC contender longer term. They'll be forced to adapt at some point.

Look at Michigan - from an absolute bottom feeder to a top 12 team in one year, lead entirely by portal kids, and super fun. They'd be the team I pull for outside of BE this year.

Texas Tech - top 10 team out of no where, lead by JT Toppin (UNM transfer), with a starting lineup of nothing but transfers. I can go on and on.

Development - overrated. Get kids that have already proven they can develop elsewhere, and fine tune. It's where we are in the era of collegiate free agency. Development in 2 year chunks. GenZ doesn't have the patience to stare from the bench. What good did that do for the sophs watching 4 pros win a NC last year?

 

[CTBasketball]

Wow this thread really derailed.

We’re now comparing lottery pick Jeremy Lamb who averaged 11/4 his freshman year to Jayden Ross, who can’t even stay on the floor vs. DePaul.

In a thread discussing Pitino’s halftime comments.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

That's not true about Lamb, you're just wong on that...

Over 6 games from January 15th to February 2nd of Lamb's freshman season he averaged over 18 ppg against DePaul, Nova, Tennessee, Marquette, Louisville, Syracuse. He was getting good #'s in December and then turned it on in mid January.

Ross is s sophomore who really only did anything in his first game of the season against Notre Dame and then against Maryland Eastern-Shore.

Alright here’s Jeremy Lamb’s year.

Jeremy Lamb 2010-11 Game Log | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

2010-11 Game Log for Jeremy Lamb

www.sports-reference.com

In the month of November he had 1 game he scored in double digits and three games he only had 2 points. He then scored in double digits against the cupcakes in December (UMBC, FDU, Coppin St, and Harvard) before returning to his struggles during the big east season.

That portion you’re talking about was when he hit his stride after 2 months of being the second perimeter option playing starter minutes.

But this board is ready to give up on Ross when he’s coming off the bench as the 5th option when he does play taking 3 shots a game at max.

 

[superjohn]

Alright here’s Jeremy Lamb’s year.

Jeremy Lamb 2010-11 Game Log | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

2010-11 Game Log for Jeremy Lamb

www.sports-reference.com

In the month of November he had 1 game he scored in double digits and three games he only had 2 points. He then scored in double digits against the cupcakes in December (UMBC, FDU, Coppin St, and Harvard) before returning to his struggles during the big east season.

That portion you’re talking about was when he hit his stride after 2 months of being the second perimeter option playing starter minutes.

But this board is ready to give up on Ross when he’s coming off the bench as the 5th option when he does play taking 3 shots a game at max.

Again, Ross is a sophomore with only 6 regular season games left in his sophomore season and all he's had is a good game against UNH in his first game of the season and against Maryland Eastern-Shore. He's nothing like what Lamb was as a freshman up until this point in Lamb's freshman season.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Again, Ross is a sophomore with only 6 regular season games left in his sophomore season and all he's had is a good game against UNH in his first game of the season and against Maryland Eastern-Shore. He's nothing like what Lamb was as a freshman up until this point in Lamb's freshman season.

You’re completely ignoring the context of their two situations and the opportunity Lamb had to figure it out and make mistakes.

Not just through playing time, but Calhoun actively telling him to be aggressive and not be passive. Something Hurley doesn’t seem to do with Ross.

 

[superjohn]

You’re completely ignoring the context of their two situations and the opportunity Lamb had to figure it out and make mistakes.

Not just through playing time, but Calhoun actively telling him to be aggressive and not be passive. Something Hurley doesn’t seem to do with Ross.

I'm saying your example is terrible.

 

[cullaville]

Nope. My observation was more that, as an older dude, his halftime talk was pretty transparent. Trying to push their buttons.

We were playing horribly and at halftime our coach (great person, great coach) started talking about not playing for each other, how we would remember this for a long time etc.... Nothing about being outrebounded, lazy on defense not hustling etc.

A few minutes into this someone let out a very large farts and everyone, including coach, started laughing and couldn't stop. End of speech.

Went out and smoked the other team in the second half.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Here’s an article where Jeremy himself talks about how his freshman year went:

Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb gained confidence during last season's Final Four run

He averaged 16.2 points and shot 58 percent in the NCAA Tournament.

www.syracuse.com

It took Jeremy Lamb "a super long time" to get comfortable with his role as the Huskies' secondary scoring option last season. Kemba Walker kept urging Lamb to shoot, even through the early season misses, but Lamb succumbed to the typical freshman anxiety issues.

"Coach (Jim Calhoun) would always trust me," Lamb said during Wednesday's Big East media day, "but once I started knocking down shots, he'd leave me in there a little longer. I had a little longer leash than when I started, so I was more comfortable. I was in the gym every night. But it was after my shot started falling that I felt more comfortable."

"It was pretty crazy," Lamb said. "At the half of last season, that's when I started making shots. And then as time started going on, they were saying I was the second option. And by the end, I blew up a little more than I thought."

Confidence, trust, and opportunity from your coach goes a long way. That’s how you develop players. Ross and Lamb came in at similar places ranking wise and being late bloomers.

The comparison only looks funny because of hindsight and what one coach was able to get out of a player compared to the other who has shown over and over again he has a hard time trusting non-McD freshmen. Lamb would’ve never have became Lamb in this current setup.

 

[RuffRuff]

Here’s an article where Jeremy himself talks about how his freshman year went:

Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb gained confidence during last season's Final Four run

He averaged 16.2 points and shot 58 percent in the NCAA Tournament.

www.syracuse.com

It took Jeremy Lamb "a super long time" to get comfortable with his role as the Huskies' secondary scoring option last season. Kemba Walker kept urging Lamb to shoot, even through the early season misses, but Lamb succumbed to the typical freshman anxiety issues.

"Coach (Jim Calhoun) would always trust me," Lamb said during Wednesday's Big East media day, "but once I started knocking down shots, he'd leave me in there a little longer. I had a little longer leash than when I started, so I was more comfortable. I was in the gym every night. But it was after my shot started falling that I felt more comfortable."

"It was pretty crazy," Lamb said. "At the half of last season, that's when I started making shots. And then as time started going on, they were saying I was the second option. And by the end, I blew up a little more than I thought."

Confidence, trust, and opportunity from your coach goes a long way. That’s how you develop players. Ross and Lamb came in at similar places ranking wise and being late bloomers.

The comparison only looks funny because of hindsight and what one coach was able to get out of a player compared to the other who has shown over and over again he has a hard time trusting non-McD freshmen. Lamb would’ve never have became Lamb in this current setup.

There is no example worth pondering pre-portal era. If JC was coaching today, he'd be ripping off players left and right from the portal. He's more Pitino than he is Hurley. That guy was willing to recruit from the state pen to bring in great talent.

 

[djct1999]

I was one of them. Mad egg on the face there. Not saying that with Reibe. Just don’t think he starts as a freshman.

Idk who said anything about last year. Anybody with two eyes can see we were great last year.

If you weren’t drunk on Hurley can do anything kool-aid you can see we weren’t going to be as good this year either.

We are still drunk bruh. Turns out, Consecutive national titles is a hell of an intoxicant.

 

[djct1999]

Here’s an article where Jeremy himself talks about how his freshman year went:

Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb gained confidence during last season's Final Four run

He averaged 16.2 points and shot 58 percent in the NCAA Tournament.

www.syracuse.com

It took Jeremy Lamb "a super long time" to get comfortable with his role as the Huskies' secondary scoring option last season. Kemba Walker kept urging Lamb to shoot, even through the early season misses, but Lamb succumbed to the typical freshman anxiety issues.

"Coach (Jim Calhoun) would always trust me," Lamb said during Wednesday's Big East media day, "but once I started knocking down shots, he'd leave me in there a little longer. I had a little longer leash than when I started, so I was more comfortable. I was in the gym every night. But it was after my shot started falling that I felt more comfortable."

"It was pretty crazy," Lamb said. "At the half of last season, that's when I started making shots. And then as time started going on, they were saying I was the second option. And by the end, I blew up a little more than I thought."

Confidence, trust, and opportunity from your coach goes a long way. That’s how you develop players. Ross and Lamb came in at similar places ranking wise and being late bloomers.

The comparison only looks funny because of hindsight and what one coach was able to get out of a player compared to the other who has shown over and over again he has a hard time trusting non-McD freshmen. Lamb would’ve never have became Lamb in this current setup.

Thing is, if we had a freshman Jeremy lamb on this team surely he’d be playing. This is such a crazy arguement considering that our best player, our alpha, our go to guy is a freshman. Maybe it’s just that the other two kids aren’t ready or worse, aren’t UConn level. The staff knows far more than you.