Ryan Boatright Returning

[CallMeBruce]

Do we look to add another player? Any useful transfers? 10 players is cutting it thin.

As far as I know, we're still in on Melvin Swift. I'd like another big body to give some fouls behind Brimah/Nolan, but other than that, I'd feel pretty good.

 

[imno1]

Plus if Ryan had declared it would have left a huge leadership vacuum. Now I feel the team has a leader

 

[Peacefrog]

Boat, will have a great opportunity to show how well he can lead a team. His decision-making was much better last year as was his defense. If he can tighten up his jumper and make those around him better it will be great for the team and for him individually post-UConn. He will need to fill that giant leadership vacuum left by Bazz. That will be the biggest test.

We are so much better off having a guy with his experience next year. I think we could have been a quality team if he left early but losing 5 of your top 6 players would have been tough. That is worse than Kentucky turnover.

 

[Husky25]

Man that is about the best possible outcome I think we could have hoped for. I thought both players would be gone.

Losing Boat on top of Deandre would have been really really tough to overcome for next year.

No. The best possible outcome for the level of my college basketball entertainment would be that they both stay.

I don't think Boatright really had anything to gain by leaving this year. He is on the shorter side of the guard range and playing overseas would actually reduce his exposure. The Barksdale analogy also works here (I've used it on the Conference Realignment boards). Pinning the three murders on DeAngelo (playing overseas) will still be an option after next year. In the meantime he can improve his PG skills and possibly hit it big a 1st round NBA contract (Get Avon and Stringer "in bracelets").

 

[UConnSwag11]

Best backcourt in the nation again. If Omar can become Giffey and Someone can fill Daniels role we'll be soo nice and deep. Hopefully brimah is fine after the surgery and can become a monster and Lubin can be our adrien

 

[Husky15]

@WojYahooNBA: UConn's Ryan Boatright had been determined to enter the NBA Draft, but listened to those telling him the truth: He could've gone unselected.

 

[Peacefrog]

Lots of depth in the backcourt.

Boat, Samuel
Purvis, Cassell
Hamilton, Calhoun
Facey, Lubin
Nolan, Brimah

That's the ten deep right now. Pretty solid, though I expect not starter/reserve.

Lots of question marks but athletic team.

I don't know, I feel pretty good about it. Boat, Nolan and Brimah are known commodities. Purvis really is as well to some extent with a full year under his belt prior to UConn. I think Samuel showed he can hold his own at the very least. Facey showed reasons for optimism in limited playing time but I will still count him as a question mark. I guess I'm not sure what we can expect from Calhoun. Hamilton has to be a question as well being a freshman and all but he looks pretty close to a sure thing to provide a meaningful contribution.

I think the biggest question mark may be with our most experienced player. How well will Boat lead the team?

 

[Marat]

@WojYahooNBA: UConn's Ryan Boatright had been determined to enter the NBA Draft, but listened to those telling him the truth: He could've gone unselected.

Kevin Duffy ?@KevinRDuffy
Heard Boatright was extremely close to leaving. As of Wed. that seemed to be the choice. Wasn't on campus for class when team visited Fenway

 

[dogfan96]

we are going to be able to beat any team's back court off the dribble...We can place D. ham and/or Omar at the wing to improve our shooting. Nolan, Facey, AB down low. very versatile, athletic team. Going to be better than we were this year defensively. But would imagine we wont shoot as high a % from the floor next year... going to be interesting!

And maybe just as importantly, we won't get beat off the dribble a lot (at the PG position anyway).. that's a huge part of why we shut down Mich St, Florida, and UK so effectively. Their primary ballhandlers just couldn't get into the paint consistently and we didn't even have to use our bigs to help most of the time. That's how you hold explosive teams in the 50s

 

[Marat]

Kevin Duffy ?@KevinRDuffy
Heard Boatright was extremely close to leaving. As of Wed. that seemed to be the choice. Wasn't on campus for class when team visited Fenway

Kevin Duffy ?@KevinRDuffy
One source on Boatright: "As of yesterday morning, he was supposed to go. It wasn't final, but it seemed his mind was made up."

Good thing Boat made the right decision in the last 24 hours!

 

[CallMeBruce]

I don't know, I feel pretty good about it. Boat, Nolan and Brimah are known commodities. Purvis really is as well to some extent with a full year under his belt prior to UConn. I think Samuel showed he can hold his own at the very least. Facey showed reasons for optimism in limited playing time but I will still count him as a question mark. I guess I'm not sure what we can expect from Calhoun. Hamilton has to be a question as well being a freshman and all but he looks pretty close to a sure thing to provide a meaningful contribution.

Nolan and Brimah are known commodities, but neither has been a real impact player. I think that some of the newcomers look good, but we need help at PF. If Swift isn't coming here (and maybe even if he is), I'd be looking at Desmond Simmons, a 5th-year transfer out of Washington.

 

[tzznandrew]

Huh. Not that he's usually correct, but that would actually make Chief right...

 

[Rico444]

Kevin Duffy ?@KevinRDuffy
One source on Boatright: "As of yesterday morning, he was supposed to go. It wasn't final, but it seemed his mind was made up."

Good thing Boat made the right decision in the last 24 hours!

Looks like Duffy reads the Boneyard.

 

[Peacefrog]

Looks like Duffy reads the Boneyard.

Maybe Duffy = Chief?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Given how close Boat was to going, I imagine he is a little disappointed by the feedback he was getting. Hopefully Ollie and Boat are working on some clear areas of improvement to get Boat's name called in the first round next year. Glad to have him back.

 

[Chief00]

Kevin Duffy ?@KevinRDuffy
Heard Boatright was extremely close to leaving. As of Wed. that seemed to be the choice. Wasn't on campus for class when team visited Fenway

I am glad Boat changed his mind and returned. It was the right decision and the obvious one, yet not the one on the table when he returned from Chicago. Glad he apparently did not engage an agent, then this option would not exist.

 

[Leebo]

Huh. Not that he's usually correct, but that would actually make Chief right...

My coin toss was also right, until "something changed."

 

[Chief00]

Would have loved both to stay but all along Boat was the key in terms of a good outlook for next year. This will be his opportunity to run a team. I hope he makes the most of it.

 

[Husky25]

I am glad Boat changed his mind and returned. It was the right decision and the obvious one, yet not the one on the table when he returned from Chicago. Glad he apparently did not engage an agent, then this option would not exist.

The NCAA made the agent rule moot. They moved the return to school date up to 4/15.

 

[Marat]

I kinda see a parallel of Boat to Russ Smith returning after winning the NC last year. He came back, improved his stats, led the team, was one of the finalists for AAC player of year, and an all american.

 

[Husky25]

I kinda see a parallel of Boat to Russ Smith returning after winning the NC last year. He came back, improved his stats, led the team, was one of the finalists for AAC player of year, and an all american.

aaaaaaaannnnnddd...may go undrafted...

 

[UConnfan8]

@Chief00 had the same sources this guy did

YES

 

[Chief00]

P

The NCAA made the agent rule moot. They moved the return to school date up to 4/15.

How's that - today is 4/25 not 4/15, if he connected with an agent over last weekend (4/18-4/20) in Chicago he would be done

 

[Marat]

aaaaaaaannnnnddd...may go undrafted...

That's to be seen, yet.... Is it better to go out 3rd year undrafted and think what could have been the following year? And not get a degree....

 

[G0UCONN]

Great news....great move.