Rob Dauster: UConn "Thoroughly Mediocre"

[babysheep]

Take Kemba off the championship team and what were they. Winning margins last 11 games were for four of them 1 or 2 points, another of 3 and one of 5. So for almost half of wins came down to one possession - champs vs. mediocre is very fine line. This was a team with 2 freshman NBA type players (Lamb and think Bazz) and ok front line defense/rebounding.

Take that kid off Creighton or the freshman off Duke and see where they would be.

Besides AO waking up at just the right time, I think the rest of the 2011 team was pretty mediocre at the time. That's what made that season such a miracle, and made Kemba such a legend. He led the team in every stat except blocks and rebounds (although still 5.5, not far off Bazz, and Kemba had AO to grab boards). Maybe Bazz will be the next Kemba and lead us to a championship. Would you not be just as amazed and surprised as with Kemba if that were to happen? I think, as of 1/28, when this question was asked, we would all be thoroughly shocked if we won a NC.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Besides AO waking up at just the right time, I think the rest of the 2011 team was pretty mediocre at the time. That's what made that season such a miracle, and made Kemba such a legend. He led the team in every stat except blocks and rebounds (although still 5.5, not far off Bazz, and Kemba had AO to grab boards). Maybe Bazz will be the next Kemba and lead us to a championship. Would you not be just as amazed and surprised as with Kemba if that were to happen? I think, as of 1/28, when this question was asked, we would all be thoroughly shocked if we won a NC.

The 2011 team had one bad month, and that month included an overtime loss to Marquette without Calhoun coaching.

On January 28th of 2011, we were 17-2 and ranked 5th in the country. I think most people on the board thought we were pretty good at that point.

 

[Husky25]

That one bad month was February (4-7 from 1/28-3/5). Not exactly the month a basketball team wants to tank. I remember the '10-'11 team doing it with smoke and mirrors during the first part of the season. They were 4-2 vs. ranked opponents and 3-1 vs. the top 10. Two of those wins were in Maui, which sort of indicates early mis-rankings before the season starts to play itself out. For example, Michigan State was the #2 team in the country to start the year. They ended up falling out of the top 25 and a 10 seed losing to #7 UCLA in the first round. While Kentucky made the Final 4, they did it as a 4 Seed and went from #11 in Maui to #20, entering the SEC Tournament.

I remember thinking if an opponent neutralizes Walker, UConn is in trouble, which is basically what happened during February, extended.

 

[CL82]

With Daniels injury I hope Facey finally gets his chance, you never know.

Agree, but I hope that Daniels can fight through it both because I like what he brings to the table and because it might heighten his desire to give his all every play.

 

[johnhuskies95]

That one bad month was February (4-7 from 1/28-3/5). Not exactly the month a basketball team wants to tank. I remember the '10-'11 team doing it with smoke and mirrors during the first part of the season. They were 4-2 vs. ranked opponents and 3-1 vs. the top 10. Two of those wins were in Maui, which sort of indicates early mis-rankings before the season starts to play itself out. For example, Michigan State was the #2 team in the country to start the year. They ended up falling out of the top 25 and a 10 seed losing to #7 UCLA in the first round. While Kentucky made the Final 4, they did it as a 4 Seed and went from #11 in Maui to #20, entering the SEC Tournament.

I remember thinking if an opponent neutralizes Walker, UConn is in trouble, which is basically what happened during February, extended.

That's the case with most teams. You take out their best player and they're not nearly as good.

They still spent a large portion of that year in the top 10, that can't all be "smoke and mirrors".

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Maybe Bazz will be the next Kemba and lead us to a championship. Would you not be just as amazed and surprised as with Kemba if that were to happen? I think, as of 1/28, when this question was asked, we would all be thoroughly shocked if we won a NC.

Finally, a valid enough use of the word "thoroughly," which almost every upset reply has ignored. If it weren't published writing, you'd call Dauster a troll. Really, he's just bad with adverbs. Either way, too many hooks in too many mouths. Enough.

 

[Husky25]

That's the case with most teams. You take out their best player and they're not nearly as good.

They still spent a large portion of that year in the top 10, that can't all be "smoke and mirrors".

I echoed your first paragraph on page 1. UConn spent the year in the top ten by virtue of playing in a tough Big East.

 

[David 76]

We would suck w/o Bazz. A few nice pieces, a raw center with potential, a talented but inconsistent,DD who is a tweener. Terrence Samuals or anyone else is not making up all those points, assists, rebounds and steals.

 

[Kitaman]

If I weren't a UConn fan I would wholeheartedly agree. As some fans stated take Napier out and we are an average team. At this stage, no one other than Napier is appears to make any post-Conference teams, and this is not a top rated conference.

Anyway as a UConn fan I reluctantly agree.

 

[JellyBean]

I think calling the team medicore is harsh. The team is playing at a decent clip. We have moments where we are not sharp and consistent but that happens. We are 16--4(4-3). Conference wise, not good but iI see us getting better. I remember folks talking about us getting beat by Memphis mainly because of their talent. We won. Medicore teams would have lost to a team like Memphis. We did not shaky against Houston and SMU but we figured it out and got it going. We will be okay.

 

[mauconnfan]

Besides AO waking up at just the right time, I think the rest of the 2011 team was pretty mediocre at the time. That's what made that season such a miracle, and made Kemba such a legend. He led the team in every stat except blocks and rebounds (although still 5.5, not far off Bazz, and Kemba had AO to grab boards). Maybe Bazz will be the next Kemba and lead us to a championship. Would you not be just as amazed and surprised as with Kemba if that were to happen? I think, as of 1/28, when this question was asked, we would all be thoroughly shocked if we won a NC.

Although as much as I hate to say it, AO was a big piece with his rise from a "mediocre at best" Big East regular season, the key for them besides Captain obvious was Jeremy Lamb's rise from frosh to added scorer. Along with Bazz as the extra ball handler that team suddenly became a lot better than they proved most of the regular season, besides Maui.

 

[seanmc94]

Kansas was mediocre without Danny Manning
Cuse was pretty mediocre without Melo

 

[Tenspro2002]

If he's comparing us to UConn teams of yore, he's absolutely right that this is a mediocre team compared to the kind of teams we fielded 80% of the time back in our hey-day (1994-2009), especially when you consider just the supporting cast. Of course, even considering that, this quality of team is one that half of the P5 teams would sell their soul to have on a yearly basis.

If you squint hard enough, it's almost a compliment.

 

[Pudge]

Gives Bazz some praise then calls the rest of the team mediocre. I think mediocre is a bit harsh to describe this team. Mediocre would describe their play in Texas, but outside of that stretch I think it's a bit much to say. What do you guys think?
2. Shabazz Napier, UConn: Outside of a forgettable trip to Texas, Napier has been sensational for an otherwise thoroughly mediocre UConn team. The Huskies have won four of their last five and regained their footing in the AAC thanks to Napier, who is now averaging 17.8 points, 6.0 boards, 5.9 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting 44.3% from long range.

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcspo...sketball-player-of-the-year-power-rankings-2/

I think WE are ONE tough Interior Defender/Offensive force from being a damn good team. And, in a year that the top 10 have flaws, we still might sneak up on a bunch ... because we have a guard that can outsmart you in crunch time.

 

[Husky25]

I think calling the team medicore is harsh. The team is playing at a decent clip. We have moments where we are not sharp and consistent but that happens. We are 16--4(4-3). Conference wise, not good but iI see us getting better. I remember folks talking about us getting beat by Memphis mainly because of their talent. We won. Medicore teams would have lost to a team like Memphis. We did not shaky against Houston and SMU but we figured it out and got it going. We will be okay.

He didn't call the team as a whole mediocre. He called Napier a NPY candidate and the rest of the team is mediocre. he's not entirely wrong. It does not mean they can't improve. Past performance does not guarantee future results, after all.

 

[Husky68]

Seems like Kentucky is pretty mediocre with ALL THEIR KIDS playing. To follow up on what said earlier, how mediocre would the Creighton team be if the one kid who scored 39 out of 63 to beat the Johnnies by 3 wasn't there. So UConn is border line top 25 with Bazz, still top 50 team without him (i.e Harvard/LSU). How many teams could take a potential 1st round NBA draft pick, who is senior (important aspect) and point guard (also important) and not drop a full peg; and that needs to be stated in a gratuitous slam on the other players.

 

[Lefty2one]

It's tough to disagree. We were counting on nice improvements from Daniels, Boat and Calhoun this year to be a Sweet 16 team. Daniels has stayed the same, Boat's numbers have taken a small step backwards though he's playing much more under control and obviously OC has fallen off a cliff. When you're #2-4 most important players don't improve it's going to be tough to be anything besides mediocre.

 

[CAHUSKY]

It's tough to disagree. We were counting on nice improvements from Daniels, Boat and Calhoun this year to be a Sweet 16 team. Daniels has stayed the same, Boat's numbers have taken a small step backwards though he's playing much more under control and obviously OC has fallen off a cliff. When you're #2-4 most important players don't improve it's going to be tough to be anything besides mediocre.

Im not sure i would say Boat hasn't improved. His game has matured and i think he's more valuable than last year although his numbers have dipped.

 

[David 76]

But no one is saying that there are not other teams that, stripped of their star, would not also be mediocre. It is saying we would be. We have a history of being better than a mediocre team with a star. Take Rip off the 99 team and you still have a good squad and a star. Take Oak of the 2004 team and you still have a star and good supporting cast. We would not have been champions but we would have been ranked.

Take Bazz off this team and we're not ranked (were not ranked with him)and we have someone who could be a star and someone we hope becomes a star in 2 years. There is no Ricky Moore, no Travis Knight, no Josh Boone

Don't get me wrong, I hope and think they will improve and I like the players on this team. But outside of Bazz and "potential" they are mediocre.

 

[Lefty2one]

Im not sure i would say Boat hasn't improved. His game has matured and i think he's more valuable than last year although his numbers have dipped.

Agreed, that's why I mentioned he was more under control and playing smarter. While that's awesome to see, the team still needs more tangible production.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

It's tough to disagree. We were counting on nice improvements from Daniels, Boat and Calhoun this year to be a Sweet 16 team. Daniels has stayed the same, Boat's numbers have taken a small step backwards though he's playing much more under control and obviously OC has fallen off a cliff. When you're #2-4 most important players don't improve it's going to be tough to be anything besides mediocre.

Of course your evaluation leaves Kromah out. He has produced way beyond expectations. Giffey has shot better than predicted.
The 5 actually has been better than predicted.DD numbers vs this time last year are also better. RB is actually learning how to make others better and has made a quantum leap as a point from last year.
In Texas Nolan had the flu and Brimah was injured.
Brimahs shoulder actually troubles me more than DD ankle.

 

[Lefty2one]

I left out a lot of guys, I was focusing our core group of talent that is/was expected to lead us and have the biggest impact.

Kromah's a nice role player and a great glue guy. He's a 7/2.5 guy, he isn't going to elevate this team like crazy. Same thing with Giffey, it's a great that he's shooting the lights out this year but he's a role player.

BTW you're going way overboard saying Boat's made a "quantum leap" as a PG. He's more under control this year and his shot selection has improved but he's averaging the fewest assists of his three years in Storrs, while his scoring and FG% dropped from last year. IMO he isn't making guys that much better, he's almost too passive this year but he's still learning.

 

[HuskyHawk]

He didn't call the team as a whole mediocre. He called Napier a NPY candidate and the rest of the team is mediocre. he's not entirely wrong. It does not mean they can't improve. Past performance does not guarantee future results, after all.

He's right. They have been mediocre. DD has only shown brief flashes of what we expected. Boat has been ok, but no better. Omar has been, well, a noncontributor, when he should have been the 3rd leading scorer based on expectations. Kromah has saved our bacon in my mind, filling what Omar was supposed to do. Giffey is better and is a solid senior. Bigs are as expected really, and expectations were low. Had Omar improved from last year, and DD played as he did late last year consistently, this would not be a mediocre team.

The truth is that the team lacks the depth of the best teams, UConn's past or otherwise. Remember when we had guys like Rashad Anderson or Denham Brown on the bench? Next year I think we're much deeper, even though we lose Bazz.

 

[OkaForPrez]

DD has only shown brief flashes of what we expected.

Daniels is ranked in the top 100 this year by the numbers.

Here's some names he currently ranks ahead of:

Davonte Gardner
Yogi Ferrell
Shaq Goodwin
Jarnell Stokes
Glen Robinson III
Noah Vonley
Roscoe Smith
Justin Jackson
Kadeem Batts
Aaron Craft

etc.

He's shooting 48% from 3.

Daniels' year has been somewhat inconsistent, but anything but mediocre.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Daniels is ranked in the top 100 this year by the numbers.

Here's some names he currently ranks ahead of:

Davonte Gardner
Yogi Ferrell
Shaq Goodwin
Jarnell Stokes
Glen Robinson III
Noah Vonley
Roscoe Smith
Justin Jackson
Kadeem Batts
Aaron Craft

etc.

He's shooting 48% from 3.

Daniels' year has been somewhat inconsistent, but anything but mediocre.

Yeah, no matter the inane and delusional expectations that many of this board have for him, Daniels is not mediocre.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Daniels is ranked in the top 100 this year by the numbers.

Here's some names he currently ranks ahead of:

Davonte Gardner
Yogi Ferrell
Shaq Goodwin
Jarnell Stokes
Glen Robinson III
Noah Vonley
Roscoe Smith
Justin Jackson
Kadeem Batts
Aaron Craft

etc.

He's shooting 48% from 3.

Daniels' year has been somewhat inconsistent, but anything but mediocre.

Who said he was? The team is, and one reason the team has been mediocre is that Daniels hasn't really stepped up, except for a few recent games. Looking at his overall numbers is pointless, because he tends to do either very little or be fantastic. If he was more consistent, we'd be a much better team. But certainly he's not the main reason, Calhoun and the play of the bigs (getting much better now) is the main reason. If we can keep improving at this pace, this team won't be mediocre at all, even with Shabazz on the bench.

 

[upstater]

That one bad month was February (4-7 from 1/28-3/5). Not exactly the month a basketball team wants to tank. I remember the '10-'11 team doing it with smoke and mirrors during the first part of the season. They were 4-2 vs. ranked opponents and 3-1 vs. the top 10. Two of those wins were in Maui, which sort of indicates early mis-rankings before the season starts to play itself out. For example, Michigan State was the #2 team in the country to start the year. They ended up falling out of the top 25 and a 10 seed losing to #7 UCLA in the first round. While Kentucky made the Final 4, they did it as a 4 Seed and went from #11 in Maui to #20, entering the SEC Tournament.

I remember thinking if an opponent neutralizes Walker, UConn is in trouble, which is basically what happened during February, extended.

I knew UConn was going to have a much better March.

The BE refs cost UConn 10 points a game, and that 10 points would have been the difference in many games.

When Kemba was driving low, he was being hammered hard. No calls. It is absolutely no mystery that in the OOC and outside the BE regular season, the Huskies went 23-0.

To this day I remain convinced that the big difference between the BE regular season and the other games was the way refs called fouls on Kemba.

Although UConn was top 10 going into the tournament, many fans thought more highly of the team. Before the tournament, UConn was the 4th most popular pick to win it all on 30 million ESPN brackets.

 

[Inyatkin]

Daniels hasn't really stepped up, except for a few recent games. Looking at his overall numbers is pointless, because he tends to do either very little or be fantastic.

Where does this come from? He was off against Louisville. So was most everyone. Otherwise he's been very consistent with flashes of brilliance.

 

[Tenspro2002]

The truth is that the team lacks the depth of the best teams, UConn's past or otherwise. Remember when we had guys like Rashad Anderson or Denham Brown on the bench? Next year I think we're much deeper, even though we lose Bazz.

I disagree. I think our depth is fine, it's just a matter of the talent within those 8-9 guys isn't as high as it has been in years past.

I'm much more concerned about next year. In addition to losing Bazz, we're also down Kromah and Giffey. We "replace" Bazz with Sam Cassell Jr., Olander with Lubin. But losing both Kromah and Giffey at the 3, and replacing with only Hamilton, we're not as deep, though possibly more talented at that position.

 

[upstater]

I disagree. I think our depth is fine, it's just a matter of the talent within those 8-9 guys isn't as high as it has been in years past.

I'm much more concerned about next year. In addition to losing Bazz, we're also down Kromah and Giffey. We "replace" Bazz with Sam Cassell Jr., Olander with Lubin. But losing both Kromah and Giffey at the 3, and replacing with only Hamilton, we're not as deep, though possibly more talented at that position.

You're missing Purvis.