Preliminary Big East’s Best Teams

[AZHuskiePop]

Yup, we were close on a lot of stuff last year, even the eventual National Champion, and that was with us being compromised at PG.

Imagine that team with another stud true combo guard who was a good 1v1 defender and a three peat although difficult certainly was a possibility.
McNeeley consecrating on a speciality role and an additional three point threat gives better shots to AK ,Ball and McNeeley Better shots = higher % . Even losing ;4 starters all drafted and all who have seen the floor at the next level .that’s amazing. But the success in the portal can ease the pain of graduation that freshman recruits could never do .

 

[RuffRuff]

Imagine that team with another stud true combo guard who was a good 1v1 defender and a three peat although difficult certainly was a possibility.
McNeeley consecrating on a speciality role and an additional three point threat gives better shots to AK ,Ball and McNeeley Better shots = higher % . Even losing ;4 starters all drafted and all who have seen the floor at the next level .that’s amazing. But the success in the portal can ease the pain of graduation that freshman recruits could never do .

Tue

Ifs and buts. Candy and nuts. Accept , if you can, that last year St John’s was better in regular season. As successful as UCONN has been , just learn that not every season will be a Natty. As for Creighton, I find this 6’8” PG from Howard to be VERY intriguing.

The McNeeley “ifs” can go so many ways. He was an inconsistent frosh when it all came down to it. Once the the tape was out and he starting forcing things it got ugly quick. I’m honestly not sure his injury avoided would have resulted in anything close to a BEC. Perhaps a couple games.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Ifs and buts. Candy and nuts. Accept , if you can, that last year St John’s was better in regular season. As successful as UCONN has been , just learn that not every season will be a Natty. As for Creighton, I find this 6’8” PG from Howard to be VERY intriguing.

Oy vey he went to Creighton? Well that stinks. That kid is going to be problematic.

 

[Blades]

As the rosters are finalized in the Big East...... UConn has so far 6 players who will see a lot of floor time with college competitive experience. Reed, Solo, Stew, Ross, Silas and Smith. Karaban would make the 7th. Without injuries in March or April crunch time Hurley pulls back to using 8 players.

Here's a shout out and current look today at the roster from a former Daily Campus guy. Nothing groundbreaking and some opinion stuff, ( a FR starter over a JR...and AK ? ) but anyway.....

UConn Hoops: The Huskies' depth chart a month into the offseason

Who is currently slated to start for the Huskies for the 2025-26 season? Who comes off the bench?

connecticut.rivals.com

 

[MCNPA]

Believe it or not, rumor out there is SJU likely to land 6’10” HS senior forward/C and McD’s AA Niko Gundalo to the roster. He’s committed to Washington but it’s being said that he has already de-committed but hasn’t made it public yet. Stay tuned.

 

[Lafayette]

Here's a shout out and current look today at the roster from a former Daily Campus guy. Nothing groundbreaking and some opinion stuff, ( a FR starter over a JR...and AK ? ) but anyway.....

UConn Hoops: The Huskies' depth chart a month into the offseason

Who is currently slated to start for the Huskies for the 2025-26 season? Who comes off the bench?

connecticut.rivals.com

Not a bad list but I doubt Furphy is 10th on the list. He comes off like a transfer with a lot of experience of playing against older players. He is also becoming a pest on defense.

Guards: 4 (Demary, Ball, Smith, Mullins)
Centers: 2 (Reed, Reibe)
Forwards: 4 (AK, Stewart, Ross, Furphy)

But Furphy is more a 2-3 and this year I think we'll see more 3 guard combos Demary / Ball / Mullins with Reed and Stewart/AK as we have decent height now at the guard spot so similar to Newton / Spencer / Castle though not 1:1 comparisons but similar lineup.

Big decisions still: AK, AK replacement...are we really going to stay at 10 when 15 is the max? When it was 13, we had 12.

 

[UconnU]

Xavier might finish last. Their only returning player is a red shirt and their portal kids all have question marks. Not a good situation for Pitino jr.

 

[Greg]

They lost the best guy in the portal. Although he may be NBA bound

I don’t think RJ was happy sitting the last 4 minutes of the season

Is that getting any play? Ricky choked

I wonder what their NIL is. Someone e told me UCONN has a 10 million dollar NIL. Not sure if that is true or not but I bet the Johnnie's have a nice budget too.

 

[MJ1]

I wonder what their NIL is. Someone e told me UCONN has a 10 million dollar NIL. Not sure if that is true or not but I bet the Johnnie's have a nice budget too.

St. John’s budget is currently unlimited! No cap necessary.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

I'm really curious how much "outside" influence some of these NIL donors have over incoming players. Are they on the phone telling coaches which players they'd donate "X$" if they go after them?

 

[gtcam]

Tue

The McNeeley “ifs” can go so many ways. He was an inconsistent frosh when it all came down to it. Once the the tape was out and he starting forcing things it got ugly quick. I’m honestly not sure his injury avoided would have resulted in anything close to a BEC. Perhaps a couple games.

Despite the injury, and beyond that phenomenal game vs Creighton, I felt that McNeeley looked somewhat lost on the court. I don't think he ever felt all that comfortable to be honest. He looked like he wanted to be the answer, but it didn't quite gel that way. He has an NBA body and I think that he will have a nice career as long as he fits in well with the team who grabs him at the draft. Top 10 - unlikely but definitely a lottery pick (if not, he should stay in school).

 

[auror]

I'm really curious how much "outside" influence some of these NIL donors have over incoming players. Are they on the phone telling coaches which players they'd donate "X$" if they go after them?

I imagine this is highly program dependent.

 

[RuffRuff]

Despite the injury, and beyond that phenomenal game vs Creighton, I felt that McNeeley looked somewhat lost on the court. I don't think he ever felt all that comfortable to be honest. He looked like he wanted to be the answer, but it didn't quite gel that way. He has an NBA body and I think that he will have a nice career as long as he fits in well with the team who grabs him at the draft. Top 10 - unlikely but definitely a lottery pick (if not, he should stay in school).

Couldn’t agree more - too much hero ball once he came back. It was off balanced and out of the flow way too much.

His best non hero game of the year was Gonzaga. Played within himself, was passing well. Creighton was an adrenaline filled anomalie.

He’ll be a solid role player in the league - plays hard, has the right frame, will develop given work ethic.

 

[Samoo]

I don’t think the Boneyard grasps how close we were to a least a share of the BE
even with the injury to McNeeley .
Simply reverse
Improbable road losses to Nova 68-66 and SH 69-68
and a home loss to St John’s 66-62 and were tied with them .
Plus either Sweep Cteighton 68-63 or win at Xavier 76-72 in two other winnable games.
and we’re in sole possession

And if my aunt had a set she'd be my uncle...

 

[jibsey]

Couldn’t agree more - too much hero ball once he came back. It was off balanced and out of the flow way too much.

His best non hero game of the year was Gonzaga. Played within himself, was passing well. Creighton was an adrenaline filled anomalie.

He’ll be a solid role player in the league - plays hard, has the right frame, will develop given work ethic.

Who did we have to take it to the rim off the dibble last year? Not much. Not Alex. Not Solo. Not Diarra. Liam tried and was better than the others but not enough. We better have more this year.