Rothstein on UConn

[Tenspro2002]

Just some quick thoughts on this.. CV will start over bouknight in the beginning, but by the new year I wouldn't be surprised to see Bouk as a starter. The comparison to Lamb is exactly what I see in Bouk.. obviously high praise, but from a game standpoint it fits perfectly. I've always liked Tyler Phommachanh, just thought he needed to get stronger (which it seems he has). From what i've heard and seen AKOK is a monster around the rim. Can the season start already?

I actually think it's more likely we see CV and Bouknight both starting (or at least getting the lion's share of minutes) at the 2 and 3.

I don't buy Polley getting significant time at the 3. I expect minutes to be distributed as follows:

1: Gilbert (30), Gaffney (10)
2: Vital (25), Bouknight (15)
3: Bouknight (15), Wilson (20), Adams (5)
4: Akok (20), Polley (20)
5: Carlton (30), Whaley (5), Akok (5)

Total minutes:
Gilbert - 30
Bouknight - 30
Carlton - 30
Vital - 25
Akok - 25
Wilson - 20
Polley - 20
Gaffney - 10
Whaley - 5
Adams - 5

It will probably be less equitable than that in big games or by the end of the season, but it will be somewhere in that ballpark barring big surprises.

 

[bendm]

1: Gilbert (30), Gaffney (10)
2: Vital (25), Bouknight (15)
3: Bouknight (15), Wilson (20), Adams (5)
4: Akok (20), Polley (20)
5: Carlton (30), Whaley (5), Akok (5)

no PT for springs?

 

[Austin316]

In before the "Vital is our best player" crew has a collective seizure over this one.

There’s like, what, 30 games? I’ll be shocked if Vital doesn’t start any. He is a very good player. If Hurley is going to build he won’t give him as many minutes. My gut tells me the guy wants to win and I’m sure Vital is “ten toes in” on that regard. The best players will play.

 

[auror]

If those things about Bouk, Akok, and Polley are true then there's no way we don't get an NCAA bid.

Here's a hint. That means one or more of them is probably an overreaction. Likely Polley.

 

[ucp990411]

Something is wrong here. We a Charley, Hilton and Boone clone as well as another Jeremy and we may not make the tournament. If those reports were accurate we would be top 10 materiel

 

[Travelman6]

I know his tweets are a lot of hype BUT I am still pumped, don't care. Not gonna hide it, November can't come soon enough. I think at worst this is a fringe tourney team that just misses out. I think they could even get a win come March Madness.

 

[HuskyHawk]

There’s like, what, 30 games? I’ll be shocked if Vital doesn’t start any. He is a very good player. If Hurley is going to build he won’t give him as many minutes. My gut tells me the guy wants to win and I’m sure Vital is “ten toes in” on that regard. The best players will play.

He will start some, maybe most. I am actually a big believer in the value of experience in college basketball. Let's hope CV plays like a senior, and not like a guy who had two full years of being allowed to play terrible team basketball. My personal test for him = assists. If he's not sharing the ball on this team, it's time to take a seat.

Everyone is throwing out lineups, and I don't think Hurley will have a fixed lineup until late in the year. If Akok isn't getting it done in some way, Polley will be in. If Sid is hitting shots and blocking them on the other end, he's playing. Hell, even Adams if he's doing positive things. We have young guys with more talent than most of the older guys. It's going to be an interesting mix.

What I'm most excited about, and why I think we will surprise people, is that Hurley can do something no UConn coach could do over the last 3 years, put good players on the bench when they aren't playing with the effort and intelligence required. Aside from Carlton and Gilbert, I think minutes will drop. Polley and Vital will play less.

 

[superjohn]

I actually think it's more likely we see CV and Bouknight both starting (or at least getting the lion's share of minutes) at the 2 and 3.

I don't buy Polley getting significant time at the 3. I expect minutes to be distributed as follows:

1: Gilbert (30), Gaffney (10)
2: Vital (25), Bouknight (15)
3: Bouknight (15), Wilson (20), Adams (5)
4: Akok (20), Polley (20)
5: Carlton (30), Whaley (5), Akok (5)

Total minutes:
Gilbert - 30
Bouknight - 30
Carlton - 30
Vital - 25
Akok - 25
Wilson - 20
Polley - 20
Gaffney - 10
Whaley - 5
Adams - 5

It will probably be less equitable than that in big games or by the end of the season, but it will be somewhere in that ballpark barring big surprises.

I see it shaking out the same way, got to find 5 or so minutes for Springs just for rebounding alone.

 

[Tenspro2002]

no PT for springs?

Nope. Even Whaley is a stretch.

 

[tcf15]

Pre-season Rothstein stuff again. I hate to be a buzz kill, but he does this stuff every year.

Yup.

 

[superjohn]

Yup.

The gunpowder in his diet made him spit hot fire.

 

[SubInATub]

In before the "Vital is our best player" crew has a collective seizure over this one.

Vital is a legend. will average 25+ppg this season

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Rothstein reporting on Providence.."There isn't a team in America the Friars can't match up with."

Barring injury he might be right on Providence. So all the UConn hype has more credibility.

 

[Wise2]

Yup.

Well, he did win two National Championships. Must have been the diet.

 

[tcf15]

The gunpowder in his diet made him spit hot fire.

Damn shame that video was scrubbed from the internet.

 

[LIuconn]

Who knows, maybe Hurley asked him to pump certain players up and leave others out for motivation

 

[jibsey]

Polley has the size and skills to be a pro but I think he realized it’s his time. He could blow up big time this year and if that’s the case we’re making the tourney.

 

[bazz&boujee]

i mean vital was removed from starting line up last year... why is him starting such a sure thing?

 

[intlzncster]

Polley has the size and skills to be a pro but I think he realized it’s his time. He could blow up big time this year and if that’s the case we’re making the tourney.

He'd need more than Kemba-like jump. His only good skill was 3pt shooting. And even that wasn't elite.

• zero rebounding
• not a good passer
• couldn't create his own shot
• Not aggressive
• train wreck when he went to the hoop
• at best an average defender. Too slight to D most fours and not quick enough for most threes. Could only guard specific players.
• tweener who doesn't quite have an established position

He's got some potential, but it's gonna take a lot for him to become a really good player. He might do it tho.

 

[intlzncster]

i mean vital was removed from starting line up last year... why is him starting such a sure thing?

That was more about sending him a message. Once our PGs went down, he tried to be the hero and took him out of his game, hurting the team.

 

[B1GEast]

no PT for springs?

He's the guy I'm most curious about. I think he's going to steal minutes.

 

[SubbaBub]

How good can he think they are if he doesn't think they make the tournament?

Two senior guards and a top whatever class if enough for a deep run. Hard to take this seriously.

 

[ZenConn]

Yup.

Helped his rapping too!

 

[3rdbass]

I don’t see 6’9” Polley starting at 3 in Hurley’s system. He likes to play 3 guards. I think the starting 5 is Gilbert, Vital, Bouk, Akok, and Carlton. Main guys off the bench will be Gaffney, Polley, and Whaley.

Yeah, agree wholeheartedly with this assessment. I just can't see Polly playing the 3 any extended time. He is just too slow to guard even PF's at time so guarding quick 3's will be painful to watch. Hopefully he has gotten stronger and he can backup at the 4 and spot duties at the 3 when we decide to go big depending on matchup.

 

[Purple Stein]

My god. All of this makes it sound like we have ... depth?