Richie Springs - Anyone else think we should give him some run Saturday?

[UconnU]

Anyone else think we should give him some run Saturday? Program needs new life injected into it and Whaley needs his minutes cut with his play and conditioning. No Akok. Martin being used on the perimeter. This opens up some minutes at the 4. Xavier has some young front court players he can match up against. Kid was a top 100 recruit at one point. 2nd on the EYBL in rebounding. He’s no slouch.

 

[olehead]

I guess provided an insider is interested in responding, why doesn't Richie play?

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I guess crazier things have happened but Hurley has been pretty upfront about the fact that Springs is a long term project. If he could help presumably he would crack the rotation.

 

[ucawn]

I guess provided an insider is interested in responding, why doesn't Richie play?

He probably doesn’t play because Josh is better than him in practice, and clearly Josh is not a priority to get on the court.

 

[Kenny11]

Hurley has called him the best offensive rebounder he’s ever coached after Tristin Thompson. I don’t expect him to light up the world if he gets some playing time but I would like to see what he has.

 

[cohenzone]

If you play him, he is no longer a secret weapon.🙄

 

[navery12]

If he was ready to contribute he'd be getting minutes, no interest in forcing things

 

[Hey Adrien!]

No. Unless:

• Major foul trouble between Sanogo, Whaley and Carlton
• We're up or down by a ton in the last few minutes of the game

He'll get his PT next year. Remember, bigs are the position most likely to have a developmental bench-riding first year. Top-50 recruits like Walker Kessler, Mark Williams, Mady Sissoko aren't even getting 10 mpg this season.

 

[husky429]

He is going to get many minutes as Andrew Hurley.

 

[CL82]

If you play him, he is no longer a secret weapon.🙄

You can only play a trump card once, right? Personally, I’d consider giving him some time at point guard.

 

[Hogoff]

No. Unless:

• Major foul trouble between Sanogo, Whaley and Carlton
• We're up or down by a ton in the last few minutes of the game

He'll get his PT next year. Remember, bigs are the position most likely to have a developmental bench-riding first year. Top-50 recruits like Walker Kessler, Mark Williams, Mady Sissoko aren't even getting 10 mpg this season.

Isn’t this his second year on the bench? I know last year was a red shirt year, but...

 

[weo777]

I was hoping I wouldnt have to begin this season of UCONN basketball to face the same type negatives I suffered through with my NY Giants...bare with me for a tangible point,,,at least Judge played a lot of players so we can see exactly what we have. Hurley..not so much...this isnt a tournament team without a healthy Bouk...let the rooks like Jackson play,,,let Springs get his feet wet , we already know what we have with Whatley, with Adams and Polley and it isnt winning basketball.

 

[DayDayTFS]

Put him in, this year is spiraling out of control. And we aren’t going anywhere without Bouk.

 

[HuskyFich]

Isn’t this his second year on the bench? I know last year was a red shirt year, but...

Yes, but he also came here a year early on purpose. I think this is an understood part of the plan

 

[ColchVEGAS]

While I am interested to see what Springs can do, I trust the coaching staff from an evaluation standpoint. If he is not getting minutes there is a really good reason for it.

We have hit a tough stretch but the season is not over by any means. I find it hard to believe Springs will suddenly outperform any of the bugs that are getting minutes ahead of him. We need to find a way to be productive up front with a Whaley, Carlton, and Sanogo (lots of Sanogo) rotation. Mix in Tyrese at the 4 if we need to go small.

 

[Hogoff]

Yes, but he also came here a year early on purpose. I think this is an understood part of the plan

That’s right. Thanks.

 

[Get a Job]

Could Springs be the first college basketball player ever to be on a team for 6 years?

 

[Fantana]

No I know there is one who had injuries a year or two ago who played six years of college ball.
But can we just go with the premise on this board that if a guy is getting zero burn each and every game there is probably a good reason for that. The guy throwing guys towels is not gonna come in and all of a sudden be the answer to our prayers

 

[BlueDogs]

This team went from “loaded” to a real problem with one guy down. It goes to show you how important one top level player can be to a team. Right now we are at dangerous inflection point where we the season could go downhill real fast. Dan Hurley has to right the ship and get this team in a position to perform without Bouk as their safety blanket.

 

[Palatine]

Wonder what's going on with Richie. Hasn't seen the floor in a long time.

 

[Huskybass]

Could Springs be the first college basketball player ever to be on a team for 6 years?

Carl Krauser was on Pitt for at least 6 years it seemed.😃

 

[UConnSwag11]

If he was ready to contribute he'd be getting minutes, no interest in forcing things

That would be true if we were playing well and winning

 

[navery12]

That would be true if we were playing well and winning

What does Springs do that we're struggling with, and who's minutes are you giving him?

 

[weo777]

Is Polley really contributing at this point, or Carlton? hell use the fouls up

 

[UConnSwag11]

What does Springs do that we're struggling with, and who's minutes are you giving him?

He can take Polley’s until Polley can hit an open three. He can play the 4 with Sanogo or Whaley.

Our defense has been atrocious the last few games. It won’t hurt to see if he can defend, rebound, and give us an extra 5 fouls

 

[ColchVEGAS]

He can take Polley’s until Polley can hit an open three. He can play the 4 with Sanogo or Whaley.

Our defense has been atrocious the last few games. It won’t hurt to see if he can defend, rebound, and give us an extra 5 fouls

Polley and Springs are completely different players and different positions. Springs is competing for minutes with Sanogo, Whaley, and Carlton.

 

[navery12]

He can take Polley’s until Polley can hit an open three. He can play the 4 with Sanogo or Whaley.

Our defense has been atrocious the last few games. It won’t hurt to see if he can defend, rebound, and give us an extra 5 fouls

Couldn't disagree more, he hasn't even been able to get minutes even when all our bigs are in foul trouble or when we had 9 healthy players. He's clearly not ready to contribute at this level yet

 

[UconnU]

If he was ready to contribute he'd be getting minutes, no interest in forcing things

Hurley has been wrong before. Remember Whaley was the only scholarship player on the roster he wasn’t playing until he got in and became our best forward.

 

[Caronimo]

If Richie could bring in some high level energy I would put him in solely to prove a message (if we get off to a slow start or show a lack of hustle/focus). Talent wise he likely isn't ready but he could be used to prove a point if nothing else, and if he shines, even better!

 

[CTBasketball]

Could Springs be the first college basketball player ever to be on a team for 6 years?

I feel like Robbie Hummels was on Purdue for like a decade too.