Starting five for 2025-26

[RuffRuff]

I love JStew but someone said it best. If Mullins is starting it means he is elite. Higher ceiling for us if Mullins starts. JStew is a great off the bench spark.

I can see JStew getting 25 minutes between backing up the 4, playing the 3 when we have Solo on bench.

Let’s not forget he wasn’t not great defending quicker wings.

 

[MrJama100]

Hurley said Mullins is the next one-and-done and when he say that (Castle, McNeeley) the kids starts sooner rather than later.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Guys, why are we so hung up on the starting 5? Let's consider the whole depth chart:

PG: Demary (30), Smith (10)
SG: Ball (30), Smith (10)
SF: Stewart (10), Mullins (20), Ross/Furphy (10)
PF: Karaban (30), Stewart (10)
C: Reed (25), Reibe (15)

I'd expect something like that for an 8.5 man rotation (and I'm not as versed on the new guys so don't @ me if I've forgotten someone or over/under/mis-stated their likely role).

 

[jibsey]

Defend and rebound. Stewart has the muscle to do that and we’ll see if Mullins does. Stew probably has 25 lbs. on him. Stew is 6’7 215 Mullins is 6’5 190 as listed. Do they play the same position?

 

[GampelGladiator]

Full season minutes per game...

30 Ball
30 Karaban
25 Demery Jr
25 Reed Jr
20 Mullins
20 Stewart
15 Reibe
15 Smith
10 Furphy
10 Ross

PG: SDJ (25) & MS (15)
SG: SB (30) & BM (10)
SF: JS (15) & BM (10) & JF (10) & JR (5)
PF: AK (30) & JS (5) & JR (5)
C: TRJ (25) & ER (15)

 

[aburks41]

Defend and rebound. Stewart has the muscle to do that and we’ll see if Mullins does. Stew probably has 25 lbs. on him. Stew is 6’7 215 Mullins is 6’5 190 as listed. Do they play the same position?

Mullins is more of a 2/3 while Stew is more of a 3/4. They're gonna overlap though a lot at the 3

 

[metsfan2323]

The 3 spot is wide open and highly competitive, for all we know Furphy might steal the position if he can be a point forward, Ross making a leap is also a possibility.

 

[jibsey]

Mullins is more of a 2/3 while Stew is more of a 3/4. They're gonna overlap though a lot at the 3

OK, and that overlap is going to have defensive ramifications. I can tell you one thing, I’m excited about this. How much longer do we have to wait?

 

[REB1094]

Pros and cons to each

If Mullins starts, our front 3 is small and weak defensively, but we have LIGHTS OUT shooting. If this is it, that means we’re aiming to outscore everyone

If Stewart starts, we have a versatile guy to plug holes, but we lose offensive firepower so it has to be made up by Stewart’s defense. If this is it, that means we’re putting all of our playmaking ability on Silas and Solo and letting Stewart fit into whatever the game needs at the time

Neither is a bad option. Personally I’d like to see Silas/Solo/Mullins/AK/Reed start with Stewart splitting 20 minutes a game at backup SF and PF

 

[SwampYankee]

I'm not sure what is more perplexing: the number of posters who think "loyalty" will discourage Hurley from starting a top-15 freshman or the the fact that some people think that Indiana's Mr. Basketball left home to come off the bench at the UConn. Really great strategy if your goal is to turn off all future 5* recruits. Also, the revisionist history of how good Stew was last year makes me wonder if I was watching a different program...

 

[Son of Robert]

He didn‘t make anything look easy. Shot 38% from 2 and 30% from 3. High usage low efficiency player. And couldn’t defend.

People interpret words differently, and they make assumptions. Again, McNeeley did make it look easy; he put the ball on the floor and drove the lane at will. That he was not real successful at scoring in the lane more so after his injury is not something I addressed, nor the threes, nor his defending. So just keep it real here.

 

[Horatio]

We need about 2-3 more players. I’d guess that at least one of those players would be a threat to get some minutes. We’ve had 3 solid years of limited to zero injuries. To not pick up 2-3 more guys after Hassan and McNeeley’s injuries last year is coaching malpractice.

 

[Horatio]

I'm not sure what is more perplexing: the number of posters who think "loyalty" will discourage Hurley from starting a top-15 freshman or the the fact that some people think that Indiana's Mr. Basketball left home to come off the bench at the UConn. Really great strategy if your goal is to turn off all future 5* recruits. Also, the revisionist history of how good Stew was last year makes me wonder if I was watching a different program...

Things changed once he won “ Mr. Basketball Indiana “. Plus the fact that Hurley already labeled him a one and done. If he shows up this summer as the real deal, I can’t see him sitting the bench.

 

[DRBackup]

True that. McNeeley made it look so easy, just drive the lane man, make it happen. It's what Jalen needs to do to bring his game to the next level. He has a lot more shake and bake than he has shown and a very good handle. There are spots in these offensive sets to look for your shot; Jalen needs to be aggressive and take advantage.

He did ? Maybe in some games, but certainly not consistently. The idea is to score when that happens, and that wasn't the case a bit too often

 

[Deepster]

Oh good! I'm glad someone posted this so we can beat it to death over the next 6 months!

 

[Inyatkin]

We need about 2-3 more players. I’d guess that at least one of those players would be a threat to get some minutes. We’ve had 3 solid years of limited to zero injuries. To not pick up 2-3 more guys after Hassan and McNeeley’s injuries last year is coaching malpractice.

I'm confused

 

[Horatio]

I'm confused

Dyson, AJ Price level injuries vs last year. Last season could’ve been handled better with depth, which didn’t have

 

[Lafayette]

Positionless is what the coaches love - guys who can slot > 1 traditional role:

Guards that lean PG: Silas, Malachi
Guards than lean SG: Solo, Braylon
Wings that are SF/SG: Braylon, Jacob
Wings that are SF/PF: Jaylin
Wings that are SF/PG: Jayden
Wings that are PF/PG: Alex
Centers pure: Tarris
Center that are C/PF: Eric

This allow for flexibility vs who the opponents are putting in:

3 Guards if Reed and Alex can anchor the frontcourt vs smaller teams: Silas, Solo, Braylon
Go Big lineup if we need: Tarris, Eric, Alex or Tarris, Alex, Jaylin
Guards if they have a tough full court press: Silas, Malachi, Jayden (yes, we was a PG before he grew).

Anyway lots of possibilities with this crew and 1-2 more players for practice or small minutes will really help.

 

[Slick]

Hurley said Mullins is the next one-and-done and when he say that (Castle, McNeeley) the kids starts sooner rather than later.

I think what people have to realize is that Mullins seems to be a wonderful defensive player who picks up a lot of steals

 

[Mooch82]

Dyson, AJ Price level injuries vs last year. Last season could’ve been handled better with depth, which didn’t have

PG was the biggest issue, which was really just an Aidan issue. That was clearly a mis-evaluation, and we've already corrected that this offseason by bringing in a true point to backup Demary. As of right now Furphy is probably the 3rd string PG....I'd like to bring in a big and a combo guard to fill out the roster. If I'm greedy, I'd like a 4/3 as well.

 

[Son of Robert]

Improvement is one thing, expecting a player to become something they are not is another.

This isn't a correct statement, go back and watch some film. Jalen's game coming into UConn was full of creativity and iso moves. From what I saw he played more at the 4, more midrange and transition offensive play, rebounding and quick post move putbacks, plenty of iso, a good shooter as well. His game has not completely transitioned to the college level; he is more so taking what the defense gives him, threes, open shots, some transition and putbacks etc., vs looking to create and score, imposing his will on some level, as well as having plays run for him which I have not seen a lot of. I guess we'll all know when we see it, it's probably the difference between him starting at the 3, or Mullins finding his way there. Needless to say, if he gets it going we will be a much stronger team.

 

[Lafayette]

I think what people have to realize is that Mullins seems to be a wonderful defensive player who picks up a lot of steals

And is 6'6" at last measurement.....

 

[444JR]

This is the kind of stuff that always sets up for disappointment. Stew hasn’t once in his UConn career been a kid to put the ball on the floor. Can you think of one instance in his entire UConn career where he took the ball on the perimeter and beat his man on the floor to the rim? So now he’s going to become that? He isn’t that. Wishful thinking. It’s not his profile.

So what, now we want 4 guys on the floor that can’t create their own shot and Silas? AK was a disaster putting it on floor last year, it was cringe worthy. It was the same shoulder pump at the 3pt line, head down charge forward thing every time, telegraphed. Solo looks about as natural as the tin man going to the rim. Solo could get better but I’d say will still have a ceiling.

Key next year will be exactly how good is Mullins? I think we know what we are getting in Silas, but who is going to that other guy that can create their shot and put pressure on the defense not to extend?

McNeeley shot 39.5/34.5% btw. Nothing to write home about but not nearly as bad as what was suggested above.

Solo/Stew/AK handicap our lineup together as 3 poor dribble drive guys. Stew feels far more a 4 in the making than a 3. It will be the same stuff we saw last year as none are going to become penetrators, I’m sorry. We need two on the floor at all times. Maybe Stew starts the season there but my guess is large minute assortments will have 2 of Mullins/Malachi/Silas/new portal guy on floor. Can’t go back to what didn’t work last year.

Gross assessment.

 

[willie99]

8 guys can play 25 minutes. 10 guys can play 20 minutes. I suppose those minutes may vary from game to game, more about situations and biorhythms

I don't care who starts, and I'll leave the allocation of minutes up to our very knowledgeable coaching staff. I'm just here to scream at the James Breedings of this world. That's my purpose in life

 

[Horatio]

PG was the biggest issue, which was really just an Aidan issue. That was clearly a mis-evaluation, and we've already corrected that this offseason by bringing in a true point to backup Demary. As of right now Furphy is probably the 3rd string PG....I'd like to bring in a big and a combo guard to fill out the roster. If I'm greedy, I'd like a 4/3 as well.

That’s my point. I think we need 2-3 more players before we start evaluating the roster. I think we only have one 5. I think Reibe is a 4.
I think we were 2-3 players short and it wore Hassan out and Alex out. That’s all.

 

[UCLJ0211]

It’s nice to have depth at PG again

 

[3rdbass]

That’s my point. I think we need 2-3 more players before we start evaluating the roster. I think we only have one 5. I think Reibe is a 4.
I think we were 2-3 players short and it wore Hassan out and Alex out. That’s all.

Why do you think that? Just because he isn't a traditional 5 doesn't mean he isn't one in today's game. 5's that shoot the ball out to the 3 is the new norm. I know he doesn't have the strength now but let's see what he looks like when the season starts with an offseason to strengthen himself. It would be nice if we can find a 4-5 with strenght but also who could shoot the 3 but I doubt we get anyone but practice level at this time. I also think if you put him at the 4 the normal college PF will just blow past him too much that is why I see most of his time being at the 5.

 

[3rdbass]

Pros and cons to each

If Mullins starts, our front 3 is small and weak defensively, but we have LIGHTS OUT shooting. If this is it, that means we’re aiming to outscore everyone

If Stewart starts, we have a versatile guy to plug holes, but we lose offensive firepower so it has to be made up by Stewart’s defense. If this is it, that means we’re putting all of our playmaking ability on Silas and Solo and letting Stewart fit into whatever the game needs at the time

Neither is a bad option. Personally I’d like to see Silas/Solo/Mullins/AK/Reed start with Stewart splitting 20 minutes a game at backup SF and PF

Stewart didn't come back to play only 20 minutes a game. I feel Stewart has untapped potential offensively and is an ideal wing size wise in the college game. He has the skills but he needs the mindset to be really good. Hopefully he beccomes a lot more assertive on offense with the increased playing time. Of course if we get the Stewart we saw for good chunk of the seaason who we barely noticed on offense and saw having issues on D he won't play much. If we get the Maui or last 10 of the games of the season Stewart with added assertiveness on offense and improved defense then he will play more than the 20 minutes. I have faith in Stewart in starting at the 3 and making an impact. He is one of my favorite players so I hope he proves me right.

 

[Mooch82]

Why do you think that? Just because he isn't a traditional 5 doesn't mean he isn't one in today's game. 5's that shoot the ball out to the 3 is the new norm. I know he doesn't have the strength now but let's see what he looks like when the season starts with an offseason to strengthen himself. It would be nice if we can find a 4-5 with strenght but also who could shoot the 3 but I doubt we get anyone but practice level at this time. I also think if you put him at the 4 the normal college PF will just blow past him too much that is why I see most of his time being at the 5.

Yeah I think Reibe is definitely a 5 but does tend to drift to the outside a bit. He's also a freshman and isn't going to be a Clingan type freshman. Just would feel much more comfortable in the event of injury (hope not) and foul trouble (inevitable) if we have a real 3rd string center. Especially since we're a bit light at the 4 and don't really have a true backup there either.

 

[thekollieman]

This is the kind of stuff that always sets up for disappointment. Stew hasn’t once in his UConn career been a kid to put the ball on the floor. Can you think of one instance in his entire UConn career where he took the ball on the perimeter and beat his man on the floor to the rim? So now he’s going to become that? He isn’t that. Wishful thinking. It’s not his profile.

So what, now we want 4 guys on the floor that can’t create their own shot and Silas? AK was a disaster putting it on floor last year, it was cringe worthy. It was the same shoulder pump at the 3pt line, head down charge forward thing every time, telegraphed. Solo looks about as natural as the tin man going to the rim. Solo could get better but I’d say will still have a ceiling.

Key next year will be exactly how good is Mullins? I think we know what we are getting in Silas, but who is going to that other guy that can create their shot and put pressure on the defense not to extend?

McNeeley shot 39.5/34.5% btw. Nothing to write home about but not nearly as bad as what was suggested above.

I’m doubling down for fun now: Jaylin Stewart will have multiple blow by poster dunks next season and then bark like a dog, “ruff ruff,” into the camera each time.