RJ Cole Expectations

[Excalibur]

Jesus, will this KO stuff never stop. He tried to "cram him" into the point? He didn't have another point. The only other option he had was freshman Jalen Adams, who was also a combo guard and it's not like Gibbs and Adams didn't spend a bunch of time on the court together sharing the duties, as we basically went with the two of them and Purvis in a 3-man, 2-position rotation. And Daniel Hamilton was a point forward because that is who he was. He was a point forward the year before when we didn't have Gibbs also.

I beg some of you -- we know you think KO is the worst thing since the AIDS virus, but could we please stop trying to fit every evaluation of everybody into that one lens? He's been gone for almost 2 years now. I don't even care if you get over it -- just stop forcing it into everything.

I think the 2016 team majorly underperformed its talent level, but that’s not really relevant to the discussion here.

 

[Huskybass]

I think the 2016 team majorly underperformed it’s talent level, but that’s not really relevant to the discussion here.

The 2016 team underperformed in a major way. A big part of that was the fact that we didn't really have a point guard and in my mind that is simply terrible roster construction.

 

[Huskybass]

Honestly, KO was able to attract one of the best players in the Big East in a year when we didn't have a PG. That was a freaking amazing get to be honest. As BL says, he's a combo, like Smith or frankly Boatright. Hamilton became point forward because he was great at it. Does Golden State really have a point guard? Both Durant and Draymond Green had more assists than Curry last year.

I fully expect and hope that Andre Jackson plays some point forward for us next year. I think Hurley is counting on it.

There should have never been "a year where we didn't have a point guard". That is simply terrible roster construction. Getting Sterling Gibbs was good, relying as on him as our primary point guard didn't work out all that well though.

 

[Apollo]

Himself aka Dan Hurley.

He said that? I must’ve missed it. Good to know!

 

[bazz&boujee]

I think the 2016 team majorly underperformed it’s talent level, but that’s not really relevant to the discussion here.

they underperformed but i’d literally do anything for a road win at a good texas team, a conference tournament championship and a NCAA tournament win right about now.

 

[Lefty2one]

Probably 10/3/2 with shooting % in the low 40s. I hope he can up his percentages since he'll be shooting at a lower volume. Really I just want another consistent 3PT threat on the floor who shows good shot selection.

 

[Chin Diesel]

So long as he has a high bb iq, I will be overjoyed.

This. A floor general who makes his teammates better (Or at least the best they can be). Some outside shooting and ability to shoot layups without falling down are gravy.

 

[Huskybass]

Jesus, will this KO stuff never stop. He tried to "cram him" into the point? He didn't have another point. The only other option he had was freshman Jalen Adams, who was also a combo guard and it's not like Gibbs and Adams didn't spend a bunch of time on the court together sharing the duties, as we basically went with the two of them and Purvis in a 3-man, 2-position rotation. And Daniel Hamilton was a point forward because that is who he was. He was a point forward the year before when we didn't have Gibbs also.

I beg some of you -- we know you think KO is the worst thing since the AIDS virus, but could we please stop trying to fit every evaluation of everybody into that one lens? He's been gone for almost 2 years now. I don't even care if you get over it -- just stop forcing it into everything.

Coming off of a National Championship in 2014, we should have had a true point guard through normal recruiting. Instead we got a grad transfer who was better suited playing off the ball as a spot up shooter. I had season tickets that year and went to almost every home game and it was clear that Daniel Hamilton was more of a point guard than anyone else on the roster, including Gibbs.

 

[businesslawyer]

There should have never been "a year where we didn't have a point guard". That is simply terrible roster construction. Getting Sterling Gibbs was good, relying as on him as our primary point guard didn't work out all that well though.

God, stop it already. So we won our conference championship and made the last 32 of the NCAAs, with a team by your own words you said majorly underperformed its talent. So by your own words, read in context with facts, the construction of the team couldn't have been that bad, since we already won the conference and one more tourney win would have taken us into the Sweet 16.

So which is it? Was KO incompetent developing the team or was the roster inadequate? Because given the results on the floor, it can't with any intellectual honest whatsoever be both. (I know, I know, you're going for anger and superiority, not intellectual honesty.)

 

[navery12]

God, stop it already. So we won our conference championship and made the last 32 of the NCAAs, with a team by your own words you said majorly outperformed its talent. So by your own words, read in context with facts, the construction of the team couldn't have been that bad, since we already won the conference and one more tourney win would have taken us into the Sweet 16.

So which is it? Was KO incompetent developing the team or was the roster inadequate? Because given the results on the floor, it can't with any intellectual honest whatsoever be both. (I know, I know, you're going for anger and superiority, not intellectual honesty.)

Read closer, he said they majorly underperformed not outperformed

 

[Com'rGordon]

10-4-2 45% shooting, 33% 3pt

 

[businesslawyer]

Read closer, he said they majorly underperformed not outperformed

Sorry. It's fixed. I obviously read it correctly -- hence, my point. My typing, however, is another matter entirely.

 

[Huskybass]

God, stop it already. So we won our conference championship and made the last 32 of the NCAAs, with a team by your own words you said majorly underperformed its talent. So by your own words, read in context with facts, the construction of the team couldn't have been that bad, since we already won the conference and one more tourney win would have taken us into the Sweet 16.

So which is it? Was KO incompetent developing the team or was the roster inadequate? Because given the results on the floor, it can't with any intellectual honest whatsoever be both. (I know, I know, you're going for anger and superiority, not intellectual honesty.)

That team had a lot of talent ( Hamilton, Adams, Facey, Gibbs, Brimah, Shonn Miller, Purvis and Omar Calhoun), and underperformed finishing 6th in the AAC. That shouldn't be hard to understand. With a true point guard the regular season record would have been better and UConn would have gotten a better seed in the tournament and wouldn't have had such a tough game in the second round of the NCAATournament, in which they got thumped by a very good Kansas team. I maintain there was plenty of talent on that roster but it wasn't constructed properly as there was not another good facilitator to go along with Daniel Hamilton.

I am not angry, I am simply stating the truth. Honestly, it looks like you're the one who's angry.

Back to the original thread, it will be nice to have two point guards in Cole and Gaffney next year and I think we will do very well as a result.

 

[JB75]

Boneyard all over the place with Gaffney. I'm one who believes Gaffney will be a good player for us as early as next year. Got off to a slow start missing practice and just can't quite catch up. I like the kid and want to believe in him. Some seem to be giving up on a kid who has only played in about 12 games.

Not giving up. I understand he’s a freshman but let’s be honest , I thought he’d be showing me at least a little something by now. If people ARENT disappointed in his play this year so far , that’s crazy, I expected at least a little bit more from him - he really hasn’t show me anything, Especially since he’s gotten more playing time than he would’ve got with Gilbert having such a rough year

 

[freescooter]

I don't have very high expectations immediately but you're logic is stupid. Like breathtaking stupidity. Anyways, you think Danny just threw RJ a bone because his dad coached him? More like the exact opposite situation. Danny wouldn't have offered unless the intel was great.

No he will need some back court guys next year. His 2 starters are gone and so far he hasn’t landed a true point guard. Plus it isn’t the First of daddy’s guys he brought in. The last one was “the best player in New Jersey” too. It’s fine but does anybody actually believe a guy was so incredible that nobody, not Seton Hall, no Rutgers, not Temple, not UConn, not St Joes, not Fairfield or Manhattan, or Central Connecticut or Robert Morris...nobody in the entire country saw his talent and he landed in a league that is ranked lower than any of the ones those schools are in. Only Hurley Sr saw it? Is he better than most MEAC players? Sure. High Major level? I am skeptical.

 

[JimHurley]

I think the 2016 team majorly underperformed its talent level, but that’s not really relevant to the discussion here.

I'm not sure how this has anything to do with RJ Cole, but I'll chime in. Under Calhoun, 2016 is an E8 team at a minimum. Sterling Gibbs, Rodney Purvis, Jalen Adams, Omar Calhoun, Daniel Hamilton, Shonn Miller, Kentan Facey, Amida Brimah, Steven Enoch. Talent galore.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Gibbs was a 1.5, a "second" point. Like Chris Smith next to Tate George. He was never a pure 1. That's not a knock -- just the way it is.

If Jalen was given PG from day 1 and Gibbs a shooter off the bench the last 4 years could have been different. Of course the assumption at the time was Sterling was promised he could run point to improve his pro stock if he came here.

 

[imno1]

From what I’ve been told and read RJ is a scorer. Always has been. I expect at least 14 & 4 from him

 

[businesslawyer]

I'm not sure how this has anything to do with RJ Cole, but I'll chime in. Under Calhoun, 2016 is an E8 team at a minimum. Sterling Gibbs, Rodney Purvis, Jalen Adams, Omar Calhoun, Daniel Hamilton, Shonn Miller, Kentan Facey, Amida Brimah, Steven Enoch. Talent galore.

No. Not even close. No pure point guard, and we always had a pure point to win (even if, in Taliek's case, he didn't score as much as the Boneyard wanted). No go to scorer, and when we won we always had a go to scorer. And third, that's a roster deep with fair talent, but how many of those players had more than a cup of coffee in the NBA? How many even had a cup of coffee.

The '16 team was much better on the court than our first round exit '12 team, and that team had Drummond, Oriakhi, Lamb, Shabazz, Boat, Daniels and others. Could the '16 team have won a few more regular season games? Probably, but if you're outside the Top 20 that's always the case. Elite 8? That's absolutely absurd.

 

[Bonk]

No. Not even close. No pure point guard, and we always had a pure point to win (even if, in Taliek's case, he didn't score as much as the Boneyard wanted). No go to scorer, and when we won we always had a go to scorer. And third, that's a roster deep with fair talent, but how many of those players had more than a cup of coffee in the NBA? How many even had a cup of coffee.

The '16 team was much better than our first round exit '12 team, and that team had Drummond, Oriakhi, Lamb, Shabazz, Boat, Daniels and others. Could the '16 team have won a few more regular season games? Probably, but if you're outside the Top 20 that's always the case. Elite 8? That's absolutely absurd.

Sterling Gibbs was the pure point guard and Adams was an excellent backup. That team drastically underachieved in the regular season. Should have been at least a 6 seed or higher. Got an unfortunate matchup against Kansas otherwise I could've seen them winning a couple more games. That team had no major holes, we'd do backflips for that roster rn.

 

[businesslawyer]

, we'd do backflips for that roster rn.

Yes, we would. But having a roster better than what we have right now has literally zero to do with having a roster that can challenge for the Elite 8.

 

[BFieldHusky]

No he will need some back court guys next year. His 2 starters are gone and so far he hasn’t landed a true point guard. Plus it isn’t the First of daddy’s guys he brought in. The last one was “the best player in New Jersey” too. It’s fine but does anybody actually believe a guy was so incredible that nobody, not Seton Hall, no Rutgers, not Temple, not UConn, not St Joes, not Fairfield or Manhattan, or Central Connecticut or Robert Morris...nobody in the entire country saw his talent and he landed in a league that is ranked lower than any of the ones those schools are in. Only Hurley Sr saw it? Is he better than most MEAC players? Sure. High Major level? I am skeptical.

You really do post some dumb stuff.

 

[Excalibur]

You really do post some dumb stuff.

Some? Try only . . .

 

[Shine33]

Yeah the MEAC is the lowest rated conference in the country. It is generally among the bottom 3 or 4. It’s possible but unlikely that a kid who starred there will star in a major conference. More likely he will be a back up. The gap in level of play is huge. He is playing against teams we would crush night in and night out. If we get competent play from him that would be a huge bonus.

I know guys I grew up playing with who played low level D1 and D2 who made the NBA G league.

That means they made it further than a lot of great UConn players.

There are great players at all levels.

A lot of schools look over great 3 dimensional players like RJ bc of size or other physical qualities.

He will surprise you. He’s going to be a better starter for us then CV and Gilbert. Calling it now

 

[Bonk]

Yes, we would. But having a roster better than what we have right now has literally zero to do with having a roster that can challenge for the Elite 8.

Think the team had the talent and depth to be an elite 8 team. Wasn't well coached from the beginning. Had Enoch been better developed early on and KO put Gibbs in a better position we could've made a run. We were most effective when DHam was at the high post making 8-10 footers, then drawing the defense for Brimah/Miller oops and 3 pt kickouts. DHam in the high post was a FORCE. For some reason we didn't do that all the time, KO had DHam run point and Gibbs on the wing a lot which made little sense.