RJ Cole Expectations | Page 2 | The Boneyard

RJ Cole Expectations

I'm pretty optimistic, mostly because I think Hurley knew exactly what he was getting with Cole given that he played for his father and was willing to spend a schollie for a year in which we were shorthanded to get him. Add to that that Hurley sees him in practice and didn't show any interest in bringing a guard in for 20-21. Could care less what that translates to in stats.
 
Honestly I’m not expecting a lot. He was player of the year for a really low mid major. If he had t played for aDaddy Hurley I suspect he doesn’t get a return phone call. My guess is he is a depth player. 5-10 minutes/game to spell the starting point.
 
JimHurley said:
You are badly mistaken.
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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.
 
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polycom said:
He'll average 11 and 5 in 28 mins by the end of the season. He'll have to prove that he can hoop at this level. Big East isn't the conference he played in.
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If he put those numbers up id be over the moon excited.
 
freescooter said:
Honestly I’m not expecting a lot. He was player of the year for a really low mid major. If he had t played for aDaddy Hurley I suspect he doesn’t get a return phone call. My guess is he is a depth player. 5-10 minutes/game to spell the starting point.
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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.
 
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Just for some perspective...

PGs at UConn in my lifetime to average 15+ and 5+ assists...
Earl Kelley 85-86 - 19 and 6
Doron 95-96 - 16 and 6
Khalid 99-00 - 16 and 5
Bazz 13-14 - 18 and 5 (4.9)

so expecting that from Cole will put him statistically as one of our all-time great PGs and be an accomplishment that AJ (14.5 and 5.8 and 14.7 and 4.7) Marcus, Kemba (23 and 4.5), Boat, or Jalen (18.1 and 4.7) were unable to do (without rounding.)
 
Tenspro2002 said:
Projecting stats is kind of silly, but what would be a reasonable comparison for his game?

Sterling Gibbs with a little more athleticism?
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Sterling was not a true PG but could shoot some and was a tough kid.
I worry Cole has been a tad overhyped but Gaffney is there if he fails.
Hope he is as good as advertised that would be great.
 
I'm very leery of expecting too much. I'm not sure how being the POY in the MEAC will translate to his performance in the Big East. I am cautiously optimistic.
 
Tenspro2002 said:
If Gilbert leaves, both Gaffney and Cole will get a ton of minutes next year, and will spend a lot of it playing together.
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I really hope Gilbert stays. Can never have enough guards. Not sold on Gaffney at all. Can’t depend everything on cole
 
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freescooter said:
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.
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Ja Morant sucks because he played in the Ohio Valley
 
freescooter said:
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.
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Well this confirms you’ve never seen him play. He was the best player on his team by a mile. Almost every team they played focused their defensive efforts on him. Let’s not make believe there aren’t any players in low major schools that aren’t capable of playing high D1.
 
JimHurley said:
Well this confirms you’ve never seen him play. He was the best player on his team by a mile. Almost every team they played focused their defensive efforts on him. Let’s not make believe there aren’t any players in low major schools that aren’t capable of playing high D1.
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UConn seems to get torched by a few of them every year.
 
This is what I wrote in another thread:

"We're not getting Ja Morant. He's not an explosive athlete. Cole is crafty, deceptively quick and strong, has a very high basketball IQ and strong handle. Quick release on his jump shot and can create space for his shot but is a streaky shooter."

He can absolutely play against top level competition. He dropped 27 against Indiana and Georgetown. I think 15 and 5 is a bit much to expect, but 12-13 and 4 or 5 is reasonable. His ceiling will depend on whether he can consistently finish in traffic against high major bigs. Those thinking that we're getting another Tarin Smith or that he's a backup at this level are too dumb to engage with.
 
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superjohn said:
That college basketball players improve year to year.
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You don’t think he’s been underwhelming? Sure if he has an unreal offseason he should be in the rotation. But if he’s competing for a starting spot? We are in trouble. One cause I dont Think he’s good enough and two it means Cole isn’t that good.
 
Burnsbros23 said:
You don’t think he’s been underwhelming? Sure if he has an unreal offseason he should be in the rotation. But if he’s competing for a starting spot? We are in trouble. One cause I dont Think he’s good enough and two it means Cole isn’t that good.
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There was a great deal of hope for "how great Gaffney was going to be this year" and there may be some fear being expressed that he won't be the player we wanted him to be.
 
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.
 
Point guard is tough for freshmen and Gaffney seems to be the type who defers a bit. I think for him the jump he needs is more mental than physical, he has adequate physical tools, when he makes the mental leap and gets comfortable with the college game, he could jump in performance very quickly.
 
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The kid is a player. Funny how his 3 point shot reminds me of the guy from Fairleigh Dickinson we ran into in the first round of the 1998 NCAA's, Elijah Allen. We won but he dropped 43 on us. 9 for 11 on three's.

I also expect all the freshman to show improvement the rest of the season and break out next year.
 
Some info for you all. Gilbert is gone next year. Cole is solidified starting at point guard. Gaffney can push him all he wants, I know for a fact that he is starting next year. He is a really really good, and has been dominating practice. There is a reason Hurley was quoted saying, "We need RJ," there is a reason he was on Cliff's instagram post representing UConn. He's good, and we should expect good things.
 
Based on the Georgetown video, he’s hands down our best player right now. His jukes remind me of a young Kemba.
 
HanDurley said:
Some info for you all. Gilbert is gone next year. Cole is solidified starting at point guard. Gaffney can push him all he wants, I know for a fact that he is starting next year. He is a really really good, and has been dominating practice. There is a reason Hurley was quoted saying, "We need RJ," there is a reason he was on Cliff's instagram post representing UConn. He's good, and we should expect good things.
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Also they know each other from Jersey. Chief00 knows the Grind.
 
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