RJ Cole expectations?
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Good question. He won't be the leader from Day 1, Bouknight will.
Let's assume that Gaffney, Cole and Bouknight are the team's three starting guards and Adams comes off the bench.
He'll get close to 30 mpg, but nowhere near the 30% possessions used (which was 59th in the nation) in his last year at Howard. For comparison sake, that's a higher rate than Cole Anthony, Cassius Winston, Jarron Cumberland and Mac McClung. His freshman year, his % possessions was 10th in the country, which is insane.
With Bouknight and others, he's not going to get the rock anywhere close to what he got at Howard.
My prediction: 15p, 4a, 1.5s per game.
Let's assume that Gaffney, Cole and Bouknight are the team's three starting guards and Adams comes off the bench.
He'll get close to 30 mpg, but nowhere near the 30% possessions used (which was 59th in the nation) in his last year at Howard. For comparison sake, that's a higher rate than Cole Anthony, Cassius Winston, Jarron Cumberland and Mac McClung. His freshman year, his % possessions was 10th in the country, which is insane.
With Bouknight and others, he's not going to get the rock anywhere close to what he got at Howard.
My prediction: 15p, 4a, 1.5s per game.
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I think you mean even against good * competition. I put the stats up a few months ago... vs p5 competition he had stats basically consistent with the rest of the season.
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Booknight is not ready to lead anyone..he will grow as a player and become an adult over next few years..maybe he could after that..
UconnU
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Hurley said something the other day about him being like a quarterback making the perfect read every time. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s like a 7 assist guy. The combo of him, Gaffney, and Bouk is going to be lethal because none of them are shoot first guys. They should play really well together in 3 guard looks.
CL82
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People need to be patient. He may have a slow start due to reduced practice time while he develops a cure to the corona virus.
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On one hand, he's one of two freshmen (along with Oklahoma's Trae Young) and one of six sophomores (along with Jay Williams from Duke, DJ Augustin from Texas, Trey Burke from Michigan, Cameron Payne and Ja Morant from Murray State) to put up 700+ points and 200+ assists each season since 1992-93.
On the other hand, bad competition doesn't do it justice. Using Sports Reference's strength of schedule rating for each of those above players:
He's going to be good for us, but I don't think he'll be as good as some are making him out to be. Jumping up from MEAC (routinely a bottom three conference) to BE (routinely a top three conference) is no joke.
I'm guessing around 9 points and 5 assists a game next year
On the other hand, bad competition doesn't do it justice. Using Sports Reference's strength of schedule rating for each of those above players:
| Player | SOS Rating |
| Jay Williams (Soph, 2000-01) | 11.98 (5 out of 318) |
| Trae Young (FR, 2017-18) | 10.56 (8 out of 351) |
| Trey Burke (SO, 2012-13) | 10.05 (4 out of 347) |
| DJ Augustin (SO, 2007-08) | 8.59 (9 out of 341) |
| Cameron Payne (SO, 2014-15) | -2.81 (203 of 351) |
| Ja Morant (SO, 2018-19) | -3.11 (229 out of 353) |
| RJ Cole (SO, 2018-19) | -9.52 (348 out of 353) |
| RJ Cole (FR, 2017-18) | -9.75 (344 out of 351) |
He's going to be good for us, but I don't think he'll be as good as some are making him out to be. Jumping up from MEAC (routinely a bottom three conference) to BE (routinely a top three conference) is no joke.
I'm guessing around 9 points and 5 assists a game next year
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Big Time. He will be a huge addition. Just a natural scorer who will fit Hurleys system perfectly. He just needs to be 60-70% of what he was to be a big impact. I really think he will be better than typical MEAC transfers.
He played for Bob Hurley and was included in a showtime documentary which shows his leadership and character:
He played for Bob Hurley and was included in a showtime documentary which shows his leadership and character:
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Only 7 guys average 7 or more assists this season and only one of those players played at a high major. Marcus Williams is the only UConn player I can remember to average over 7 assists here and he was considered the best passer in the country.
If he put up numbers like this it would be absolutely amazing. I think it will be closer to 9p,5a, 1s which would be excellent
intlzncster
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Yeah the point totals are real, real high in this thread. I only care about the 5 ass per game anyway
Worried about this D though
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I agree with this. Bouknight never showed any team leadership body language whatsoever this year. It's not a knock. He's a freshman, and CV took the reins.
Maybe Hey Adrien! meant that Bouk will be the scoring leader.
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Oh yes he did. A couple of times during the run he proactively pulled the team together in a huddle in a passionate state, driving them. Not saying he's going to be the leader but as he matured this year he did show some potential. You would hope it's Cole but again, to me the unknown. I am fine with a 9.5/6.5/3 line for him. The assists and running the team is of the utmost importance. I mean he did only shoot 39% at Howard total from the floor so we don't need a quantity shooter at all. With better players around him the hope is he gets better looks more consistently. Also I would love to see someone from the grad transfer side come in and be the 2G or another "PG". We will see, long way to go.
EDIT: My bad looked up his numbers 2018-19 he was 41% and 39% form 3. That's solid so that I take back. He wasn't as good against the Tier 1 level comp but he's had a full year to get even better playing against solid guards in practice and getting stronger. I hope he's the guy!
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Some of the predictions are killing mebut I’ll leave it at that. Can’t wait for November
I think we know where you stand and Lord knows as UConn fans we all hope you're correct Jim. But nothing is a given on this subject at all.
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We had this exact thread a few months ago and people had him putting up stats that only a few players in our history have ever put up. And already, I've seen a couple in this thread. If he gives us 10 and 4 I'd be ecstatic. Maybe, though, just for once, temper the expectations? Have we EVER had a thread like this where the guy has lived up to these crazy stat lines? I think someone had Ater Majok at 20 and 10 one time.
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Mine is always around 85!! Let me take the first crack: Bouk (18), Cole (15), Whaley (8), Gaffney (7), Polley (6), Jackson (6), Adams (6), Carlton (5), Springs (4), Wilson (4), Javonte (2).
Not bad only 81!!
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I like Bouk at 17 to 18.
I see Cole at 13.5 points and somewhere around 5 assists. He may have a couple games where he goes off for 20 something though. In fact, I expect him to.
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I'm thinking 10 & 3 and above 40% from deep. He'll be inconsistent but he'll have some big games. I assume Cole will be off the ball more since Gaff is more of a distributor and we won't want him off the ball too much His role is going to be so different and the level of comp will obviously be much higher.
The one thing I am excited about with Cole is that he appears to be a skilled player. In terms of recent high-profile transfers, Purvis and Larrier didn't have me all that excited; their freshman year tapes at NC State and VCU weren't all that impressive. Both were raw skill-wise. I know Cole played a low level but he can shoot (at least one skill to hang his hat on) and handle the ball.
The one thing I am excited about with Cole is that he appears to be a skilled player. In terms of recent high-profile transfers, Purvis and Larrier didn't have me all that excited; their freshman year tapes at NC State and VCU weren't all that impressive. Both were raw skill-wise. I know Cole played a low level but he can shoot (at least one skill to hang his hat on) and handle the ball.
Huskyforlife
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We should expect him to be solid. MEAC players don't have a history of transfering up to this level and continuing the same level of production. Being small and unathletic could hurt him defensively, also considering the quality of players he's now guarding.
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