Rothstein on Campus Today

[Waquoit]

Polley starts or he is the first one off the bench.

And I'm thinking Whaley didn't come back to sit.

 

[JMick]

Martin had a quote recently about playing more guard this year. I think Hurley is going to try him at the 2 to start the year, but hopefully he adjusts quickly when it doesn't work.

or, hear me out, hopefully tyrese improves a bunch and it does work.

 

[HobokenHusky]

It’s officially pre-season

 

[husky429]

Eh, I think that's a fairly rigid way of looking at things. At least in my mind there is not a significant difference between the 2 and 3. Positionless basketball has been en vogue for some time. To me, an ideal lineup has an initiator/ball handler, 3 versatile wings, and someone to shore up the paint/protect the rim.

I think the players mentioned above all bring different qualities to the wing position and should be able to be mixed and matched with each other. Up to Hurley to experiment with lineups to find what's optimal. He may have had some struggles with game planning around a limited roster last year, but I have filill confidence in him

Issue is shooting. You wanna put Rese, Andre, and Akok in the game that means Cole is the only proven shooter on the floor. That's a disaster. Until 1 of Rese or Dre learns to shoot, playing them together with Sanogo will be hard. Especially if one of them is at the 2

Imo you need a minimim of 3 threats to shoot the 3 35% or better at any given time to be able to compete with the big boys. Cole will always fill that role. Whaley and Johnson might. So Sanogo + Rese + Jackson seems unlikely. Even less likely with Akok who still has a pretty broken shot. If he has improved then it opens up a lot more lineup possibilities. Recruiting non-shooters teally handicaps lineup versatility.

Defense as well. Andre can defend the 2 for sure. Rese most likely though he is at his best bodying bigger wings. Polley ain't defending low major 2s, let alone in the Big East.

Not concerned about ballhandling really. Always seems to work itself out. If we get pressed these guys aren't too TO prone. If it gets ugly you just throw in Gaff or Sool as an extra set of hands.

 

[Lefty2one]

There are a lot of tough lineup decisions; we are a ridiculously deep team with a lot of similar players. The SG position is going to be a bit of a mess. It wouldn't surprise me if Gaffney starts the season as our second guard, especially if Diggins and Hawkins can contribute. Polley is clearly best-suited as a bench shooter, especially as we continue to raise the talent level in the program. Martin can't be our 2, we need a better secondary ballhandler. In today's game Martin is best suited as a smallball four. If Jackson takes a huge step forward that could push Martin to the bench. It would be really nice if Hawkins is as big of a surprise as Bouk was (duh, future lottery picks are always nice) and makes this decision a little easier.

The frontcourt is incredibly difficult to figure out. Sanogo is obviously more talented than Whaley, but are we going to have the reigning BE DPOY coming off the bench? Akok is probably the most talented guy in our frontcourt, if he looks healthy and takes a big step forward, how do you keep him out of the starting lineup?

In a perfect world...

Cole
Hawkins
Jackson
Akok
SanoDP

Diggins
Gaffney
Martin
Johnson
Whaley

That doesn't factor in Polley. Given how inconsistent he and Martin were, you play the hot hand and the matchup. It would not surprise me if Polley got the Carlton treatment.

 

[aburks41]

Unless Akok is looking really good on both ends of the floor, I can't see him starting over Whaley right away. When was the last time a starter won DPOY and then was coming off the bench the next year? Probably never

 

[Stinger92860]

So you're saying you wouldn't expect Hurley to draw up a 3 for Polley or Gaffney unless Cole, Hawkins, Diggins, Akok and Johnson were unavailable?

Maybe, but to be honest i forgot about Polley. I don‘e believe Gaff is a go to guy at this point.

 

[Tampahusky]

Offense is going to start with Sanogo amd hopefully Cole becomes more assertive than last year. Great to hear Akok back to his old self as he gives us so many easy points off his blocks and energy. If he stays healthy he will carry us.

 

[UCfor3]

He didn't use the term Carpenter today ?

Or talk about his veal scallopini dinner from last night.

 

[UCfor3]

It's a bad lineup unless you enjoy Sanogo getting doubled every time he touches the ball in the post. He would get the Elton Brand treatment from any competent coach thus nullifying our best half court scoring option.

 

[businesslawyer]

Unless Akok is looking really good on both ends of the floor, I can't see him starting over Whaley right away. When was the last time a starter won DPOY and then was coming off the bench the next year? Probably never

I wouldn't be worried about who starts at the 4. I see each of Sanogo, Whalley and Akok playing two thirds of the game in a bigs rotation (with IW the 4 alongside Sanogo and the 5 alongside Akok). And if any of the three of them can consistently step up their game and stay out of fould trouble to demand 34 minutes a game -- well, that will be a great problem to have and the ones who don't step up to that level will have to deal with it.

 

[auror]

If Akok is healthy and further developed, he's a better defensive player than last year's DPOY, yes.

And he gives you more spacing on offense, which is important as either will be starting alongside Sanogo, a better interior scoring threat. I would definitely start him over Whaley under those conditions. Whaley can give great energy off the bench.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

the lineup that rothstein posted is whatever hurley told him to post.

rothstein gets access. uconn gets some press and hurley gets his narratives out. that’s the trade.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I don't know how you'd support - based on what's on tape - the idea that Akok is better than Whaley defensively or a better shooter so as to give you more spacing. Not saying it's not possible, but there's nothing to support it right now.

 

[husky429]

the lineup that rothstein posted is whatever hurley told him to post.

rothstein gets access. uconn gets some press and hurley gets his narratives out. that’s the trade.

There is no way Hurley is telling national media his ideas for a starting lineup. His primary motivational tool is competing for minutes.

I've been in practices with media members there. There's a pretty good shot Taliek or one of the managers escorted Rothstein in an Hurley didn't say a word to him. He probably had a few words after practice. But I'd bet my next pay check Hurley had nothing to say about starters.

 

[Umami Zen]

Very relieved to hear AJ and akok look like starters the two of them raise our ceiling this year more than anyone else. but I don’t like this Martin at the 2 talk. Was hoping it’d be gaff until hawk is ready.

As Dan Hurley says..He doesn't decide PT..The players do with their play in practice and in games.

IMO .Hawk will be pressing Dan Hurley for PT with his play sooner rather than later.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

There is no way Hurley is telling national media his ideas for a starting lineup. His primary motivational tool is competing for minutes.

I've been in practices with media members there. There's a pretty good shot Taliek or one of the managers escorted Rothstein in an Hurley didn't say a word to him. He probably had a few words after practice. But I'd bet my next pay check Hurley had nothing to say about starters.

fine, but i’m sure the staff is pushing him a narrative at times as a motivational tool (e.g. “so and so looks fantastic this year”, to boost their confidence)

 

[businesslawyer]

If Akok is healthy and further developed, he's a better defensive player than last year's DPOY, yes.

No. He's not. Not even close. He's a better shot blocker than last years DPOY, but defense is more than shot blocking. There was absolutely no comparison between IW's perimeter defense and Akok's. If Akok can get to that level, great, but Akok's defensive prowess before his injury was entirely in the paint.

 

[HuskyHawk]

None of Polley Martin or Jackson can play the 2. Maybe Jackson if his handle has improved a smidge. We have a major logjam at the 3.

Martin played the 2 at times last year. He can play the 2. He shot over 40% without Bouk. Akok at the 4 in place of Whaley (which I think happens eventually if not initially) helps our shooting. The real question for me is if Martin is the 2, can Andre be the 3? That is when we may become too shooting challenged. But Hurley is going to run out dozens of lineups and see what works.

 

[dennismenace]

We need to press a heck of a lot more than we have before with this depth and speed. Make up for the shooting weakness

The rotation will need to he down to 9 or 10 by the middle of the season. My guess is Springs might be on the outside looking in and probably Samson getting the cleanup minutes when Sanogo or Whaley aren't at the 5... maybe some 4 mimutes if we go big. Probably 1 of Gaff or Sool too.

I think there is a real good chance of that pressure being put on the front burner now that we finally have the depth. Wow do we have athleticism, depth, length and speed. I think they are going to be fun to watch except by the opponents. If they jell together they could be a real nightmare to opponents.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

If we're relying on Martin as one of our "shooters" we are in trouble. And, again, the idea that Akok is a better shooter than Whaley is, at this point, nothing more than wishful thinking. I honestly don't get why people keep repeating it. His form looks good in the instagram clips maybe.

 

[Waquoit]

If Akok is healthy and further developed, he's a better defensive player than last year's DPOY, yes.

I love Akok but I can't buy this. Whaley was on it last season. He was an elite defender.

 

[navery12]

Martin played the 2 at times last year. He can play the 2. He shot over 40% without Bouk. Akok at the 4 in place of Whaley (which I think happens eventually if not initially) helps our shooting. The real question for me is if Martin is the 2, can Andre be the 3? That is when we may become too shooting challenged. But Hurley is going to run out dozens of lineups and see what works.

It's amazing how you pick and choose when shooting percentages matter. You keep touting Martin as a shooter at 40% which beyond being a bad shooting % is incredibly misleading. And then ignore the fact that Akok has not been a better shooter than Whaley and keep insisting he is

 

[dennismenace]

So you're of the thought that we'll go to Samson before Tyler if we need a 3???

Think Polley will have to compete for minutes on defense in order to be out there hoisting up 3's. But he is an upperclassman and it's time for him to step up defensively or his time will go down. Too much talent around now to be one dimensional. Truly wish him the best and hope he catches fire like Whaley did.

 

[mauconnfan]

Eh, I think that's a fairly rigid way of looking at things. At least in my mind there is not a significant difference between the 2 and 3. Positionless basketball has been en vogue for some time. To me, an ideal lineup has an initiator/ball handler, 3 versatile wings, and someone to shore up the paint/protect the rim.

I think the players mentioned above all bring different qualities to the wing position and should be able to be mixed and matched with each other. Up to Hurley to experiment with lineups to find what's optimal. He may have had some struggles with game planning around a limited roster last year, but I have full confidence in him

Not rigid at all from what I see he’s spot on. Polley and Martin have zero hope to play the 2 and while Jackson maybe improved his handle he can’t shoot a lick without major improvement. 1-2 need to be RJ-Sool-Gaff-Hawkins for the most part. This team will be very good if and when making shots otherwise they will need to defend the hell out of it to stay in games.

 

[mauconnfan]

I love Akok but I can't buy this. Whaley was on it last season. He was an elite defender.

Akok a better shot blocker maybe if Healthy but Whaley most definitely a better all around defender. Both have had trouble against big burly 5s though.

 

[auror]

No. He's not. Not even close. He's a better shot blocker than last years DPOY, but defense is more than shot blocking. There was absolutely no comparison between IW's perimeter defense and Akok's. If Akok can get to that level, great, but Akok's defensive prowess before his injury was entirely in the paint.

I love Akok but I can't buy this. Whaley was on it last season. He was an elite defender.

At the college level, rim protection is king, especially in Hurley's defense.

I think Whaley is a very, very good defender and his hedging of screens is truly elite. He's strong, he walls up on the block, he rebounds his position well, is decent defending the rim, and he has incredible timing on ball swipes.

But Akok's defensive talent is very much on another level. He could be game wrecking this season. I think (if he is as healthy as they say) Akok is going to be one of the best defenders in the country.

 

[mauconnfan]

At the college level, rim protection is king, especially in Hurley's defense.

I think Whaley is a very, very good defender and his hedging of screens is truly elite. He's strong, he walls up on the block, he rebounds his position well, is decent defending the rim, and he has incredible timing on ball swipes.

But Akok's defensive talent is very much on another level. He could be game wrecking this season. I think (if he is as healthy as they say) Akok is going to be one of the best defenders in the country.

Are we underestimating Whaley’s shot blocking ability? He’s not as intimidating of a shot blocker as the Healthy Akok I agree but off the dribble a much better defender. Akok could be improved there too but we need to see that first.

 

[Jbirdp5]

Seems like the in your face full court defense will be back and that style should limit all but one or two guys to 20-25 minutes a night. That should make things work with so many mouths to feed and so few minutes. I think that’s also what hurley optimally wants anyway.
I always seem to think the best teams have defined roles and guys know what to expect so I don’t know if there will be as much variation of lineups as some people think from night to night.
If I had to guess the guys that will be slightly disappointed minute wise I would bet polley and Martin end up under 20 a game.

 

[bballgrda]

If Akok is healthy and further developed, he's a better defensive player than last year's DPOY, yes.

And he gives you more spacing on offense, which is important as either will be starting alongside Sanogo, a better interior scoring threat. I would definitely start him over Whaley under those conditions. Whaley can give great energy off the bench.

Agreed. As much as I love Whaley, I think he is most effective at the 5. If Akoks timeline has unfolded as one could have reasonably hoped, he unlocks more dynamic styles of play imo.

I haven't mathed it out or looked at past years stats but I imagine Whaley can exist at the 4 for some time and should be around 30min (wild guess) per game.

And to be clear, I wasn't advocating for Martin at 2. Though I do think he has a decent 3 ball when set (again haven't looked at stats).

There are so many players to be excited about with a wide range of expectations. At least to me haven't seen any of them play in months, even longer since in person. Really looking forward to the season!