Shonn Miller

[aceboon]

http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye...urray-will-be-kentuckys-best-offensive-player

UCONN HUSKIES


Shonn Miller is like found money
We’ve all woke up in the morning and found a 20-dollar bill in the pockets of our pants and that’s got to be the way the Huskies’ staff feels about Miller -- a 6-7 fifth-year transfer from Cornell. After taking in a practice earlier this week in Storrs, it’s clear that Kevin Ollie has big plans for the veteran forward.

“People talk about our guards, but our four man is really the hub of our offense,” Ollie told CBS Sports. “That’s what Shonn is going to be. We’re going to use him the same way we used DeAndre Daniels two years ago.”

Miller averaged 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game last season in the Ivy League and is all but a lock to start for UConn at power forward.

 

[UconnFanNVa]

I like the sounds of that for Miller, could be huge for helping everyone get in the flow on our offense!

Tell you what, reading that last little blurb about SMU, they might be one of the toughest teams we face all year. I think those games are going to be real tough matches.

 

[James]

So excited to see him on the floor... Wouldn't shocked if he is one of the best players in conference , wouldn't be shocked if he's one of the best forwards in the country. When you think about it ollie is trotting out a line up with atleast 3 all conference level players , perhaps more (hamilton , Gibbs , miller, brimah, and purvis can all make noise).

 

[MexicoHusky]

This is a pleasant surprise.

 

[MexicoHusky]

Earlier i read facey was playing well. Hopefully the new additions like Miller will improve the team and will improve others through increased competition in practice.

 

[mauconnfan]

This team would be incredibly deep if both Facey and Enoch were ready for impact minutes this year off the bench, I mean really fn deep.

 

[OkaForPrez]

This team would be incredibly deep if both Facey and Enoch were ready for impact minutes this year off the bench, I mean really fn deep.

We've started to forget that in the first third of the season Facey was pretty good, including a monster performance against Duke (14 & 9) shoutout @Penfield & @champs99and04 .


But I think this is why KO has been emphasizing full court basketball and we can actually believe it this year. We are going to run teams into the ground with our depth.

 

[HuskyFich]

If he's a $20 bill, what is Gibbs?

Looks like they are the pants we wore to the casino.

 

[tcf15]

More from Ollie on the importance of Shonn Miller:

CBS Sports: You mentioned that you added two fifth-year seniors in Sterling Gibbs (Seton Hall) and Shonn Miller (Cornell). How will each of those players potentially fill the gaps in the areas that you were maybe missing last year?

Ollie: We wanted another point guard to come in that was heady and steady and could shoot the ball. I think Sterling (Gibbs) was second in the Big East in shooting the ball last season so that addition addressed two major areas that we had to address. And Shonn is kind of the hub of our offense. A lot of people say it's about our guards -- it's really about having a versatile four-man. Shonn gives us a component that we didn't have last year in the sense that he can pick-and-pop, he can shoot the three, and he can take it off the bounce. He can rebound at a high level too and he's really going to complement our other players and give us the person that we can use in a versatile way at the four like we did two years ago with DeAndre Daniels.

 

[jibsey]

More from Ollie on the importance of Shonn Miller:

CBS Sports: You mentioned that you added two fifth-year seniors in Sterling Gibbs (Seton Hall) and Shonn Miller (Cornell). How will each of those players potentially fill the gaps in the areas that you were maybe missing last year?

Ollie: We wanted another point guard to come in that was heady and steady and could shoot the ball. I think Sterling (Gibbs) was second in the Big East in shooting the ball last season so that addition addressed two major areas that we had to address. And Shonn is kind of the hub of our offense. A lot of people say it's about our guards -- it's really about having a versatile four-man. Shonn gives us a component that we didn't have last year in the sense that he can pick-and-pop, he can shoot the three, and he can take it off the bounce. He can rebound at a high level too and he's really going to complement our other players and give us the person that we can use in a versatile way at the four like we did two years ago with DeAndre Daniels.

Even though he can make a 3, do we really want him to be doing that? KO might have promised him on his recruitment but inside the foul line is where we needed his help.

 

[TasteofUConn]

Even though he can make a 3, do we really want him to be doing that? KO might have promised him on his recruitment but inside the foul line is where we needed his help.

Sure, but it will be nice to be able to clear him out and the other 4 has to stay with him all the way out to the 3 line. Worth him taking a couple a game just to keep everybody honest.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

Even though he can make a 3, do we really want him to be doing that? KO might have promised him on his recruitment but inside the foul line is where we needed his help.

Yes. Yes we do. We want a PF who will stretch defenses, the same as Deandre Daniels did. If DD had only played inside we don't win a NC. Do we want a one dimensional PF or multi dimensional? It's really not even a question. If Shonn can hit the 3 then take it and take it every chance he gets. Period.

 

[jibsey]

Yes. Yes we do. We want a PF who will stretch defenses, the same as Deandre Daniels did. If DD had only played inside we don't win a NC. Do we want a one dimensional PF or multi dimensional? It's really not even a question. If Shonn can hit the 3 then take it and take it every chance he gets. Period.

The year before last he shot 20%, last year 28-100 and something 26% probably because he was trying to carry the load. I'm sure he brings his own set of offensive skills that make him multi dimensional but we have players that will make them better and he will get the offensive rebound and putback. He may see himself as a 3 shooter but he can go to the perimeter, draw his man, come off a screen, catch and drive. We were glass deficient last year which is why KO wanted him. Maybe same position but different player than DD.

 

[BlueMAB]

Yes we want him shooting 2-3 threes a game, as long as he's making about 30%. That threat will open up the paint for penetration from the guards. Must respect that shot, drive and kick, drive and alley oop to Brimah, drive and finish if the defense stays home. If Purvis and Gibbs can shoot 40% between them, and miller at 30%, we're very versatile and dangerous on offense.

 

[caw]

Yes. Yes we do. We want a PF who will stretch defenses, the same as Deandre Daniels did. If DD had only played inside we don't win a NC. Do we want a one dimensional PF or multi dimensional? It's really not even a question. If Shonn can hit the 3 then take it and take it every chance he gets. Period.

I agree!

One of the great things about that 2014 team was that Giffey, Daniels and Kromah took good mostly open threes. Bazz was really the only one who forced them, but he was Bazz.

If Miller also has a good shot selection, I have no problem with him taking 2-3 threes a game.

 

[jibsey]

He went 20%, then 26%, and maybe he can go above 30% if he's been working on it. I think that KO will see what he can do.

 

[James]

shooting 30% or below from three is terrible, and possibly detrimental to the overall offense. Lets not forget deandre daniels shot 41% from trey .Perhaps miller can be a better mid range shooter than long, so he could still be used as a 'pick n pop' forward in some capacity...

I'm in favor of him shooting less ( three years of evidence he isn't a good long range shooter) and operating closer to the basket in some fashion.

 

[aceboon]

DeAndre Daniels shot 24 and 30% his first 2 years from 3, Giffey also wasn't anything special from 3 his first 3 years, if Miller is showing range out to the 3 point line in practice then he should be encouraged to take them when open.

 

[Stainmaster]

Why do we have to turn every player we get into a clone of a former player? Who cares if he's exactly like DD or not? He's SM, and that's good enough for me.

 

[James]

DeAndre Daniels shot 24 and 30% his first 2 years from 3, Giffey also wasn't anything special from 3 his first 3 years, if Miller is showing range out to the 3 point line in practice then he should be encouraged to take them when open.

smaller sample size for both dd and giffey...Millers good FT % is a reason for optimism a la giffey in 2012/13 though. Its something i'm interesting in seeing; how different millers game looks in a uconn uni. Maybe he shoots even more threes and makes them at a better clip, but if he's at 28-30% midway through the year thats not really a good shot IMO

 

[BlueMAB]

Why do we have to turn every player we get into a clone of a former player? Who cares if he's exactly like DD or not? He's SM, and that's good enough for me.

The head coach specifically named DD, and said they want to use Miller in a similar role.

If that's not fair game for the conversation then what, exactly, is?

 

[Stainmaster]

The head coach specifically named DD, and said they want to use Miller in a similar role.

If that's not fair game for the conversation then what, exactly, is?

"Similar role" doesn't signify having identical attributes. Miller should be used to stretch the floor and add another dimension to the offense like Daniels did, but he's not the 3-point shooter that Daniels was at all and I would not be comfortable with him taking close to as many 3s as Daniels did.

 

[aceboon]

"Similar role" doesn't signify having identical attributes. Miller should be used to stretch the floor and add another dimension to the offense like Daniels did, but he's not the 3-point shooter that Daniels was at all and I would not be comfortable with him taking close to as many 3s as Daniels did.

who said anything about them being idential or the same? KO mentioned using him in a similar role, I usually can't stand the "UConn in a bubble" mentality of the BY but I don't understand what you're getting up in arms about when the coach who is running the ship brought up the comparison.

 

[Stainmaster]

who said anything about them being idential or the same? KO mentioned using him in a similar role, I usually can't stand the "UConn in a bubble" mentality of the BY but I don't understand what you're getting up in arms about when the coach who is running the ship brought up the comparison.

It's that some seem to be ignoring his prior history of not being a good outside shooter and are betting that he'll suddenly improve after just a month with KO.

 

[jibsey]

I think we can all agree (and maybe we can't) that Miller, if he is making 1 out of 4 threes as he has done in the past, or worse, should not be encouraged to shoot a lot of them. I'm anxious to see what the kid can do, and maybe just maybe he pulls a Giffeye.