Said it many times before and will say it as often as is necessary

[huskymagic]

The youth excuse seems to be a popular one. However if you want to look at it realistically most of these "top programs" are gonna be dealing with youth it's the 1 and done early entry culture that we are living in now. You are rarely gonna see teams stocked up with seniors unless you're looking at mid majors or other non super power programs. Kentucky is a great example they turn over their roster every year with 1 and dones and yet they have no issues competing at the elite level.

The real issue with this team is not youth it's chemistry. You see it every game. The half court offense is the worst I can ever recall from any UConn team. People stand around while the guards dribble the ball for 25 seconds and you end up with a 1 on 1 chuck against the shot clock. The guards also don't seem to trust the front court players either. often times you'll see someone opened but not get the ball. People will post their hearts out and no entry pass and then have to reposition to not get a 3 second call. There is virtually no flow ever on any of the half court sets. Then to compound the problem often times people will get the ball in a position to score or make an aggressive move not even look at the basket and just pass it back out.

The problem is deep rooted and I'm not sure how you go about fixing something like this. In all honesty I think this group needs to go thru the pains of learning how to play together.

Good post Pete and your assessment is right on point. The youth excuse is the most baloney thing I hear on here. Last year's starting 5 was younger than this starting 5 and we won the national championship. Calamari gets one and dones every year and they never struggle in the regular season usually winning most of their games handily. The changes that I and burnsbro have stated already will be the remedy to the malaise that this team is currently facing.

 

[mets1090]

Good post Pete and your assessment is right on point. The youth excuse is the most baloney thing I hear on here. Last year's starting 5 was younger than this starting 5 and we won the national championship. Calamari gets one and dones every year and they never struggle in the regular season usually winning most of their games handily. The changes that I and burnsbro have stated already will be the remedy to the malaise that this team is currently facing.

Last year's starting 5 had a floor general whose equal we may not see in the next decade in college basketball.

Also Chuck started so there was a Junior, Senior, Sophomore and 2 Freshmen (for the most part). This year it's typically been 4 sophomores and a junior. Roughly the same amount of years if you want to look at it that way. And when Daniels has started this team has been younger. And when you have a leader like Kemba, you might as well take everyone else's youth and forget about.

And let's not pretend that last year didn't have exactly the same problems that people are talking about with this year's team. Pretty much every game came down to Walker dribbling out the shot clock and then going 1 on 1. Of course we don't have someone to rely on to just make that shot, or at least we don't think we do. The last two losses have come with UConn getting key threes down the stretch only to come up just short. So it's pretty much really similar to when UConn was losing games last year in February.

 

[jibsey]

Expectations have been a problem because we have a top rated freshman DD who is barely getting PT, probably deservedly so, but it wasn't unrealistic to expect him and Roscoe to put up better numbers. If they are both going to get better they need the time and it's hard to say the hell with it regardless of the consequences.

 

[Wolferowski]

Stop using Boatright as an excuse. Boatright was playing when we lost to Seton Hall and Rutgers and we lost those game. Its not just Boatright coming back that will solve the problems with the team its many thing that have to change. The gameplan has to change, the lineup needs to be finalized, the team needs to push the ball up tempo with Boatright as our starting point guard. Our bigs have to get tougher and learn to defend, rebound, and score like bullies on the block. We need to find the leader and go to guy on this team who can carry the team on its back and will them to wins in close games.

It isn't an excuse. Can you at least give him credit for the difference in the FSU? do you think we would have won that game without him?

 

[freescooter]

I really htink this team has huge issues with trying to find the rotation and it all starts with Andre Drummond. He is too big to not play but simply not good enough to be playing as much as he is playing. He doesn't seem to know the meaning of setting a pick..he's 6-10 275 or some such and he's taking jumpers or passing the ball instead of slamming it home. he gets pushed around by smaller players who have more experience. And his addition messed up a front court that ended last year playing like a well oiled machine. As I posted before, he moved Oriakhi out of the middle to the 4, which totally messed up that position where we already had solid depth. Now those guys don't get the play they should becuase they've been replaced by Oriakhi, who is really a better undersized 5 than a 4. This team is a mess. The guard play is good enough. Napier does hold the ball a long time, but when the front court pretty much stand around, not much you can do. In my view, Boatright or any pretty good backup guard, (this team would absolutley benfit from a Donnell Beverly) would absolutley help by letting Napier get some bench time, sometimes just to rest, sometimes to see what is happening better sometimes just to change to pace a little.

 

[caw]

Good post Pete and your assessment is right on point. The youth excuse is the most baloney thing I hear on here. Last year's starting 5 was younger than this starting 5 and we won the national championship. Calamari gets one and dones every year and they never struggle in the regular season usually winning most of their games handily. The changes that I and burnsbro have stated already will be the remedy to the malaise that this team is currently facing.

@huskymagic:

And how was that young starting five during the regular season?

Calipari has also been able to get the top class the past 3 years. Youth is less of an issue when you have supremely gifted athletes. Even with that though, UK lost 8 regular season games last year and the year before (with 5 draft picks) only went to the elite 8. This year's UK team has looked very good so far this year, but not unbeatable.

@Pete:
Below are the top 27ish teams in the country. Take a look at the following rosters top 6 by minutes:
· Syracuse (2 Seniors, 1 Junior, 3 Sophs);
· Baylor (1 Senior, 2 Juniors, 1 Soph, 1 Freshman and Heslip who is listed as a Soph but is 21 and in his first season of playing [not sure where to put him]);
· Duke (1 Senior, 4 Juniors, 1 Freshman);
· Missouri (4 Seniors, 1 Junior, 1 Soph);
· OSU (1 Senior, 5 Sophs)
· Kansas (2 Seniors, 4 Juniors)
· UNC (1 Senior, 2 Juniors {Strickland included}, 3 Sophs)
· Michigan State (2 Seniors, 1 Junior, 1 Soph, 2 Freshman)
· Georgetown (2 Seniors, 1 Junior, 2 Sophs, 1 Freshman)
· Indiana (1 Senior, 2 Juniors, 2 Sophs, 1 Freshman)
· Murray State* (3 Seniors, 3 Juniors) *mid major
· UNLV** (3 Seniors, 2 Juniors, 1 Soph) *mid majorish
· Virginia (3 Seniors, 1 Junior, 1 Soph, 1 Freshman)
· SDSU* (2 Seniors, 2 Juniors, 2 Soph) *mid major
· Florida (1 Senior, 2 Juniors, 2 Soph, 1 Freshman)
· Mississippi State (2 Seniors, 2 Juniors, 1 Soph, 1 Freshman)
· Creighton* (1 Senior, 2 Juniors, 3 Soph) *mid major
· Michigan (2 Seniors, 3 Soph, 1 Freshman)
· Marquette (2 Seniors, 1 Junior, 2 Soph, 1 Freshman)
· Illinois (1 Senior, 2 Juniors, 2 Sophs, 1 Freshman)
· UL (2 Seniors, 1 Junior, 2 Sophs, 1 Freshman)
· St Mary's* (2 Seniors, 1 Junior, 2 Sophs, 1 Freshman) *mid major
· Kansas State(1 Senior, 2 Juniors, 2 Sophs, 1 Freshman)
· Wisconsin (1 Senior, 3 Juniors, 2 Sophs)
· Harvard (2 Seniors, 3 Juniors, 1 Soph)

· Kentucky (1 Senior, 2 Sophs, 3 Freshmen)
· UConn (1 Junior, 3 Sophs, 2 Freshmen including Boatright***)

So what can we take from this? For the year so far:
1. Every team listed above (aside from UConn) has at least 1 Senior in their top 6 by minutes played.
2. Every team listed above (aside from UK, UConn and OSU) plays at least 2 upperclassmen with the mean being 3.4 and the mode being 3.
3. Only UConn, UK and Michigan State rely on 2+ Freshman in the top 6 minutes played.
4. Only Cuse, OSU, Michigan, UNC, Creighton and UConn rely on 3+ Sophomores.
5. UK and UConn are the two teams in the top 27ish teams with the least number of years in their top 6

So is UConn's youth an excuse, no it's not. Is it a truth, yes it is. UK is an exception rather than the rule.

***For those curious, if you don't count Boatright, Daniels has the next most minutes keeping the numbers the same for the top 6. So if you want to stretch it to top 7, other teams might get younger, but so does UConn.

 

[RuffRuff]

I really htink this team has huge issues with trying to find the rotation and it all starts with Andre Drummond. He is too big to not play but simply not good enough to be playing as much as he is playing. He doesn't seem to know the meaning of setting a pick..he's 6-10 275 or some such and he's taking jumpers or passing the ball instead of slamming it home. he gets pushed around by smaller players who have more experience. And his addition messed up a front court that ended last year playing like a well oiled machine. As I posted before, he moved Oriakhi out of the middle to the 4, which totally messed up that position where we already had solid depth. Now those guys don't get the play they should becuase they've been replaced by Oriakhi, who is really a better undersized 5 than a 4. This team is a mess. The guard play is good enough. Napier does hold the ball a long time, but when the front court pretty much stand around, not much you can do. In my view, Boatright or any pretty good backup guard, (this team would absolutley benfit from a Donnell Beverly) would absolutley help by letting Napier get some bench time, sometimes just to rest, sometimes to see what is happening better sometimes just to change to pace a little.

Few things on this thread:

Youth is not an excuse, like someone pointed out, top programs these days live and die with heralded freshmen, and if they're lucky, sophomores. Sophomores are essentially upperclassmen this day and age, especially when they played 40+ games last year and won a title. It's why mid majors have come onto the scene and this whole landscape has flattened - those mid majors do have the upperclassmen with less talent that balances the talent advantage.

The two guard offense is basically a must with this program - the offense Calhoun runs is 100% based on playmakers. I don't think he even teaches anything else these days. Boatright's absence is a big hit.

To some degree, the Boatright factor is disruppting the ability to build chemistry given there has been a major lack of continuity on how he's incorporated into this team. He missed the first six games and now the last few, so he's only been around for about half of the schedule thus far. That being said, you would have hoped that some of these guys would step up and show some character, meanwhile they've folded a bit, the exception is SN, although somewhat wrecklessly. I personally have little hope that this team put

 

[caw]

Few things on this thread:

Youth is not an excuse, like someone pointed out, top programs these days live and die with heralded freshmen, and if they're lucky, sophomores. Sophomores are essentially upperclassmen this day and age, especially when they played 40+ games last year and won a title. It's why mid majors have come onto the scene and this whole landscape has flattened - those mid majors do have the upperclassmen with less talent that balances the talent advantage.

See above post, even if it's not the star, every top team (aside from UConn/UK and OSU) have multiple upperclassmen playing significant roles and both UK and OSU's upperclassmen are seniors.

 

[huskymagic]

It isn't an excuse. Can you at least give him credit for the difference in the FSU? do you think we would have won that game without him?

I have already mentioned Boatright as key for the FSU game in another thread. You do know if you have been reading the boneyard that I am the biggest supporter of Boatright in here and I have been saying he should be starting at point guard from day 1 right.

 

[Mr.Phat]

Look no further than Kentucky to disprove this argument. The key to winning on the college level - NBA players, irregardless of age. This team has two lottery picks, yet struggles immensely.

Struggles immensely? They are going to win the national championship.

 

[CL82]

Calling this team young is one of the biggest pieces of garbage I've ever seen.

Tennessee's program went through hell while UConn's went to the NC. Their best player was in high school a month ago. And they kicked UConn's ass for 40 minutes.

It's a disgrace and there is no long-term perspective, no positive greater good to be taken from this. None.

Stop trying.

Yemi Makanjuola C 6-9 244 FR Lagos, Nigeria
1 Josh Richardson G 6-6 186 FR Edmond, OK
2 Galen Campbell G 6-3 193 FR Knoxville, TN
3 Renaldo Woolridge F 6-9 215 SR North Hollywood, CA
4 Wes Washpun G 6-1 163 FR Cedar Rapids, IA
5 Jarnell Stokes F 6-8 250 FR Memphis, TN
11 Trae Golden G 6-1 209 SO Powder Springs, GA
13 Skylar McBee G 6-3 199 JR Rutledge, TN
14 Tyler Summitt Ball Boy 6-1 180 SO Knoxville, TN
15 Rob Murphy F 6-8 230 JR Nashville, TN
20 Kenny Hall F 6-9 222 JR Stone Mountain, GA
21 Ryan Kilmartin G 6-5 210 SO Charlotte, NC
23 Cameron Tatum G 6-7 193 SR Lithonia, GA
24 Brandon Lopez G 6-1 179 FR Knoxville, TN
25 Dwight Miller F 6-8 240 JR Nassau, Bahamas
31 Quinton Chievous G 6-5 201 FR Chicago, IL
34 Jeronne Maymon F 6-7 265 JR Madison, WI
52 Jordan McRae G 6-5 174 SO
Midway, GA
It's much easier for a frosh wonderkin to excell when you are surrounded by upperclassman.

Just sayin.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

UConn is currently the 6th youngest team in the NCAA.

 

[Huskies2324]

Wolf....you are right. Maybe that's why this loss is such a groin-bomb...this baseless NCAA "investigation" was a real pain in the neck and this just magnified it.

 

[willie99]

agree with the OP

and other people proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are young

still others show their basketball knowledge when they suggest a loss at SH was a bad loss

and hating on your team, suggesting they're not young and they can't improve, is as bad a fan a fan could be. Stay away from your team, go play video games

 

[businesslawyer]

I really htink this team has huge issues with trying to find the rotation and it all starts with Andre Drummond. He is too big to not play but simply not good enough to be playing as much as he is playing. He doesn't seem to know the meaning of setting a pick..he's 6-10 275 or some such and he's taking jumpers or passing the ball instead of slamming it home. he gets pushed around by smaller players who have more experience. And his addition messed up a front court that ended last year playing like a well oiled machine. As I posted before, he moved Oriakhi out of the middle to the 4, which totally messed up that position where we already had solid depth. Now those guys don't get the play they should becuase they've been replaced by Oriakhi, who is really a better undersized 5 than a 4. This team is a mess. The guard play is good enough. Napier does hold the ball a long time, but when the front court pretty much stand around, not much you can do. In my view, Boatright or any pretty good backup guard, (this team would absolutley benfit from a Donnell Beverly) would absolutley help by letting Napier get some bench time, sometimes just to rest, sometimes to see what is happening better sometimes just to change to pace a little.

So much of this is true. I fully believe we would be better at this point in time had Drummond not come in, and AO, Tyler and Roscoe been a three man rotation up front. Having said that, having Drummond gives us an upside that you can't match. But he needs to play better -- better fundamentally would be fine, it doesn't have to be more spectacularly -- and tghe chemistry needs to be much, much better on offense.

 

[SJ]

I am simply looking for a way for this team to find the room and time to grow. I am perfectly willing to invest a season to let this happen. I have no interest whatsoever in watching the media/fan hype machine squeeze the life and confidence out of what can be a very special group of "young" athletes because we will all get a case of hives if there isn't another trophy in the cabinet in April.

Beautifully said. These are human beings we're talking about here, not objects for our entertainment or workhorses to earn a title so we can have a feel-good moment, or year (make that six months, since the crabbers only lasted that long, haha). Let's NOT suck the life, and confidence, out of these young men. They have enough pressure on them already.