Silas Demary Visit | Page 12 | The Boneyard

Silas Demary Visit

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Problem here is the longer this goes the more money BYU is gathering to throw out at this young man!
 
Fishy said:
The most amazing thing these days is that if a point guard is 6-1 or 6-2, 98% of the fan base will scream “hard pass” because they’ve imprinted on Tristen Newton like newly hatched ducklings.
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Put me in the 98% not so much because of Newton as Diarra. Having a smaller guard who gives you 9 points and 5 assists and isn't a lights out shooter who can also get to the rim at will, is a hard pass for me.

Maybe as a sixth man, a role which Diarra filled really well in 2023-2024, but not as a starter which the staff is looking for 2025-2026.
 
Chin Diesel said:
Put me in the 98% not so much because of Newton as Diarra. Having a smaller guard who gives you 9 points and 5 assists and isn't a lights out shooter who can also get to the rim at will, is a hard pass for me.

Maybe as a sixth man, a role which Diarra filled really well in 2023-2024, but not as a starter which the staff is looking for 2025-2026.
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Diarra would have been fine as a starter if he was a) healthy and b) had even a competent backup all year. Ideal, no, but I have no doubt UConn would have had a much higher seed and been at least a Sweet Sixteen team if he hadn't hurt his knee.
 
Chin Diesel said:
Put me in the 98% not so much because of Newton as Diarra. Having a smaller guard who gives you 9 points and 5 assists and isn't a lights out shooter who can also get to the rim at will, is a hard pass for me.

Maybe as a sixth man, a role which Diarra filled really well in 2023-2024, but not as a starter which the staff is looking for 2025-2026.
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The tall point guard, from the offensive side, is incredibly overrated. A smaller point guard who's talented will do just fine. Diarra was an absolute warrior here. Tough as nails. But he's not a very skilled player. He couldn't shoot, he tended to overpenetrate, or pick up his dribble in awkward places, and then had to play on one leg half the year. You really think someone like Bazz or Boat would not feast in our offense?

For the defensive side, there's something to that. If we're just going to switch everything, then it can become a problem, much like Castle posting up 6-2 guys last year during the tourney.
 
boog204 said:
The tall point guard, from the offensive side, is incredibly overrated. A smaller point guard who's talented will do just fine. Diarra was an absolute warrior here. Tough as nails. But he's not a very skilled player. He couldn't shoot, he tended to overpenetrate, or pick up his dribble in awkward places, and then had to play on one leg half the year. You really think someone like Bazz or Boat would not feast in our offense?

For the defensive side, there's something to that. If we're just going to switch everything, then it can become a problem, much like Castle posting up 6-2 guys last year during the tourney.
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Diarra had passes picked off this year trying to throw it over the top of his larger defenders. You don’t think it’s easier to get a pass or shot off when you’re taller? To throw lob? It matters on both ends. Why does the NBA put so much focus on height? It’s not overrated.
 
caw said:
Diarra would have been fine as a starter if he was a) healthy and b) had even a competent backup all year. Ideal, no, but I have no doubt UConn would have had a much higher seed and been at least a Sweet Sixteen team if he hadn't hurt his knee.
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He would have been ok as a starter if every other piece did their job. Look this not meant to be a slight toward Diarra. I feel he got the most out of his skill set that he could. Maximized his potential. I appreciate his contribution to our last two chips. He will be an all time favorite for me because his heart was bigger than his game. How can you not love a player like that.

But even with all that as @Chin says there are certain must haves if you are going to go small at point guard or guard. Has to hold there own defensively Diarra checked that box.

Must be a+ 3 point shooter. Now Diarra made some big shots but let’s be honest he was/is not a great shooter. His form is not pure, it is a shot that he created with work and looked mechanical to me. It did not have the flow to it that all great shooters have in their stroke.

Going to the hoop creating his own shot. He was ok again because of work but was not elite at getting to the basket and either getting a shot or kicking it out and finding an open shooter. Best we had on our team but he was at best average at this skill.

Creating a a good shot not a 20% heave off the dribble when the shot clock is running out.

I mean just think Kemba who was lightning and even he had to develop a mid range game. And I don’t want to hear the mid range game is not important. I have watched more NBA games than ever this year and even in the college game (see Louis Jr) and mid range off the dribble game is a must for when an offensive set falls apart.

Think how many shots in the lane Cam and Tristen made in 23-24. Even think about how many mid range jumpers Bazz made when he got past his defender and saw getting to the hoop was not going to work. If you remember as a freshman Bazz had some issues getting his shot off at the rim. He figured out how to fix that with that pull up game. Shot fake on the close out, three dribbles to back off the help defender than his shot at the free throw line or just inside the lane.

Does anyone remember any UConn player doing that well this year……
 
RuffRuff said:
Diarra had passes picked off this year trying to throw it over the top of his larger defenders. You don’t think it’s easier to get a pass or shot off when you’re taller? To throw lob? It matters on both ends. Why does the NBA put so much focus on height? It’s not overrated.
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College is not the NBA. There are a lot more smaller players frontcourt and backcourt in college you are competing against.

Did you know Hass was our top rated player this year according to Evan Miya? That's with his bum knee. And a top 50 in the country player last year?
I would sign up for his equivalent every single year.
People will miss him more than they know.
 
Magic32 said:
I feel good that we are just waiting on the commitment announcement of "UConn just felt right".

When he commits, it should help us attract other portal options, everybody loves a guard that can create.
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Have you looked at his assist numbers?
 
RuffRuff said:
Diarra had passes picked off this year trying to throw it over the top of his larger defenders. You don’t think it’s easier to get a pass or shot off when you’re taller? To throw lob? It matters on both ends. Why does the NBA put so much focus on height? It’s not overrated.
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Do you remember him throwing lobs last year? I remember quite a few. Did he just become a worse "lob-thrower" or do you think our offensive spacing was not nearly as good? Was he a better shooter in 24?

Our offense was not nearly as good this year for a variety of reasons. Defenses played us a bit different and stayed home more. They knew we didn't have guys who could put the ball on the floor and guys who couldn't shoot. The Samson "lob game" in 24 was built because the opposing five had to come out and help on the guard. They didn't need to do that this year.
 
I saw this kid early on in the portal and it seemed obvious, but I’ll be honest I didn’t see him committing initially (based on nothing but my own intuition). I’m extremely happy to be wrong.

This is an excellent addition and one of our most pressing needs, if it happens. The fact that he visited and is ready to commit tells me he’s locked in on the vision, and that’s critical.
 
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