Starting lineup prediction thread.

[pj]

You have to start the two best players (Alterique and Jalen) and the best big (Carlton). Vital, Wilson, Smith, and Polley will fight it out for the rest of the perimeter minutes. Yakwe, Whaley, Cobb, Diarra, Kwintin will fight it out on the interior. Polley may be a 4 in small lineups to provide more offense.

I think it's going to be a good team. I really have no way to handicap the players considering that last year wasn't representative of their capabilities and the team will have a new style of play. It will be fun to see how the competition plays out.

 

[Hurleyman216]

I expect if it comes down to starting Gilbert or Vital and not both, we’ll more likely see Vital in the 6th man role. He has matured quite a bit and may be better suited to come off the bench and give the team a spark when needed.

 

[Burnsbros23]

We can’t play two non shooting bigs, with shaky shooting guards. Are spacing will be beyond bad. I think Polley will be used in a stretch four role quite often. I like Wilson at the three to help with rebounding.

If Vital can shoot 37 plus from three he will have to be on the floor. if He doesn’t make shots I could See smith Gilbert and Adams taking most of the guard minutes.

 

[pj]

We can’t play two non shooting bigs, with shaky shooting guards. Are spacing will be beyond bad. I think Polley will be used in a stretch four role quite often. I like Wilson at the three to help with rebounding.

If Vital can shoot 37 plus from three he will have to be on the floor. if He doesn’t make shots I could See smith Gilbert and Adams taking most of the guard minutes.

This is right. If Vital is the best shooter, he'll get time, in a combination of backup guard to Alterique and Jalen and in 3-guard lineups. I expect Jalen, Alterique, Sid, and Tyler to all shoot around 33% from 3, hopefully better for Tyler. To win time Christian has to be significantly better than 33% as a shooter, maybe over 40%, to justify time given his deficiencies in length (vs Sid and Tyler) or playmaking ability (versus Alterique and Jalen).

Then on the interior we need at least a credible threat on offense. Carlton has an ability to score near the basket and Tyler would spread the floor if he plays the 4; that would be the best offensively but is it enough defensively? We have to see who else can step up. It probably will take into January to settle on an interior rotation, the role for each player, and a style that is optimized for each combination of players.

 

[Huskybass]

I expect if it comes down to starting Gilbert or Vital and not both, we’ll more likely see Vital in the 6th man role. He has matured quite a bit and may be better suited to come off the bench and give the team a spark when needed.

I see him starting, with Gilbert off the bench. Vital started all last season and averaged nearly 15 ppg, albeit with less than stellar fg %s. I think it is his starting job based on experience and desire to keep the position. I see him much happier and productive in a starting role.

Having said that, if Gilbert is good enough and ready to surplant Vital, then we will have a really good backcourt.

 

[husky429]

We can’t play two non shooting bigs, with shaky shooting guards. Are spacing will be beyond bad. I think Polley will be used in a stretch four role quite often. I like Wilson at the three to help with rebounding.

If Vital can shoot 37 plus from three he will have to be on the floor. if He doesn’t make shots I could See smith Gilbert and Adams taking most of the guard minutes.

Agreed. The 4-spot is once again our achilles in some ways. Polley is just too skinny, but Whaley, Williams, and Diarra can't shoot. Better to give up some rebounding with Polley to give Adams, Gilbert, Wilson some more driving lanes--that's gonna have to be our bread and butter this year.

Will Carlton learn to be a PnR threat? I like his post up ability when he gets stronger, but Adams and Rique are very creative off of screens. Screen timing and roll footwork will be huge. We haven't had a big who could roll and pull the help defender away in 5 years. If Carlton can learn to rim run, I'll be a happy fan.

I worry he doesnt have the bounce yet though. Catching lobs at the D1 level is tough if you havent been coached to create space in that situation early in your career

 

[TheChamps990411]

What role , if any, does Williams play? Guy seems to have athletic ability and played hard in the few opportunities he got last year. If he can be taught how to play defense he could be useful ( I think).

I simply dont get how a guy has that type of athleticism and yet has very little in terms of actual basketball skill. Did he start playing basketball just recently?

 

[husky429]

I simply dont get how a guy has that type of athleticism and yet has very little in terms of actual basketball skill. Did he start playing basketball just recently?

Because he has good genetics. But has literally played l, what, 2 seasons of competitive basketball in his life?

 

[TheChamps990411]

Because he has good genetics. But has literally played l, what, 2 seasons of competitive basketball in his life?

Oh wow! Thats what i figured because hes pretty awful skill wise of what little ive seen of him. Dont mean to be harsh just an observation.

 

[Mokum]

I simply dont get how a guy has that type of athleticism and yet has very little in terms of actual basketball skill. Did he start playing basketball just recently?

Apparently, yes

 

[huskyrob1]

Gilbert
Adams
Vital
Diarra
Carlton

Most likely, with either Cobb and/or Wilson in the game at the first time out. Also, depending on the matchups and the defense we see.

 

[mauconnfan]

Adams
Gilbert
Wilson
Polley
Carlton/Yakwe/Cobb in a coin flip.

 

[UChusky916]

Gilbert
Adams
Vital
Diarra
Carlton

Cobb and Wilson first off the bench.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Agreed. The 4-spot is once again our achilles in some ways. Polley is just too skinny, but Whaley, Williams, and Diarra can't shoot. Better to give up some rebounding with Polley to give Adams, Gilbert, Wilson some more driving lanes--that's gonna have to be our bread and butter this year.

Will Carlton learn to be a PnR threat? I like his post up ability when he gets stronger, but Adams and Rique are very creative off of screens. Screen timing and roll footwork will be huge. We haven't had a big who could roll and pull the help defender away in 5 years. If Carlton can learn to rim run, I'll be a happy fan.

I worry he doesnt have the bounce yet though. Catching lobs at the D1 level is tough if you havent been coached to create space in that situation early in your career

I'm not sure I get this. You don't need your 4 to be a threat from outside. In fact, bringing him outside will likely kill your offensive rebounding and limit options on penetration.

Hurley has already commented that Diarra is a better shooting than people think. He's got a nice stroke from 8-10 feet. That's all a four needs. We don't know if Williams or Whaley can shoot, because they never really took any shots. We know Cobb can shoot. Yawke? I don't know enough about him.

I expect part of our bread and butter to be Adams and Gilbert driving and dishing to a big who can finish at the rim, whether Carlton, Diarra, Cobb, Yawke. I expect a lot more drive, dish dunk than we've ever seen. Ollie's offense too often had the four on the perimeter, leaving Adams to go one on three with no outlet.

In any event, I think Hurley will play nearly every guy on this roster. All of them. Williams may get the fewest minutes, but who knows for sure. Whaley is another guy who might struggle to earn time.

 

[husky429]

I'm not sure I get this. You don't need your 4 to be a threat from outside. In fact, bringing him outside will likely kill your offensive rebounding and limit options on penetration.

Hurley has already commented that Diarra is a better shooting than people think. He's got a nice stroke from 8-10 feet. That's all a four needs. We don't know if Williams or Whaley can shoot, because they never really took any shots. We know Cobb can shoot. Yawke? I don't know enough about him.

I expect part of our bread and butter to be Adams and Gilbert driving and dishing to a big who can finish at the rim, whether Carlton, Diarra, Cobb, Yawke. I expect a lot more drive, dish dunk than we've ever seen. Ollie's offense too often had the four on the perimeter, leaving Adams to go one on three with no outlet.

In any event, I think Hurley will play nearly every guy on this roster. All of them. Williams may get the fewest minutes, but who knows for sure. Whaley is another guy who might struggle to earn time.

Modern basketball has a 4-man who stretches the floor. The days of the twin towers is over. Whether that's a good thing for the game I don't know.

Nice to hear about diarra. If he learns to just be an animal underneath, any shooting ability is a bonus at this point

 

[Edward Sargent]

I simply dont get how a guy has that type of athleticism and yet has very little in terms of actual basketball skill. Did he start playing basketball just recently?

I think the athleticism translates into wows when being guarded by a chair. Against live bodies that know how to play not so much. We've seen it before

 

[Edward Sargent]

I'm not sure I get this. You don't need your 4 to be a threat from outside. In fact, bringing him outside will likely kill your offensive rebounding and limit options on penetration.

Hurley has already commented that Diarra is a better shooting than people think. He's got a nice stroke from 8-10 feet. That's all a four needs. We don't know if Williams or Whaley can shoot, because they never really took any shots. We know Cobb can shoot. Yawke? I don't know enough about him.

I expect part of our bread and butter to be Adams and Gilbert driving and dishing to a big who can finish at the rim, whether Carlton, Diarra, Cobb, Yawke. I expect a lot more drive, dish dunk than we've ever seen. Ollie's offense too often had the four on the perimeter, leaving Adams to go one on three with no outlet.

In any event, I think Hurley will play nearly every guy on this roster. All of them. Williams may get the fewest minutes, but who knows for sure. Whaley is another guy who might struggle to earn time.

I don't think we know Cobb can shoot

 

[goskis2018]

I don't think we know Cobb can shoot

I don't know what his shooting statistics were last seasons but from seeing him play pickup this spring he takes a lot of threes and misses most. We know he likes to shoot that's about it. From watching the guys play pick up (albeit from March/April) outside of Jalen and CV Polley was the best shooter. The one player who surprised me with his jumper was kwintin Williams but I'll doubt he'll come any where near playing that kind of role at UConn.

 

[husky429]

I'm not sure I get this. You don't need your 4 to be a threat from outside. In fact, bringing him outside will likely kill your offensive rebounding and limit options on penetration.

Hurley has already commented that Diarra is a better shooting than people think. He's got a nice stroke from 8-10 feet. That's all a four needs. We don't know if Williams or Whaley can shoot, because they never really took any shots. We know Cobb can shoot. Yawke? I don't know enough about him.

I expect part of our bread and butter to be Adams and Gilbert driving and dishing to a big who can finish at the rim, whether Carlton, Diarra, Cobb, Yawke. I expect a lot more drive, dish dunk than we've ever seen. Ollie's offense too often had the four on the perimeter, leaving Adams to go one on three with no outlet.

In any event, I think Hurley will play nearly every guy on this roster. All of them. Williams may get the fewest minutes, but who knows for sure. Whaley is another guy who might struggle to earn time.

I think you mau have edited.

imo of course. If you have any 2 of whaley, carlton, cobb, diarra, williams(?) In the game, you close up that driving lane that made the drove and dish popular.

The 4 is the most important spot in modern basketball in my mind. So many colleges are going to the pure 4 out system like Villanova because a 4 who is skilled enough to play in and out is very hard to find. Especially if they can guard 3-5 well. That's why players that can do all of that are so rare, and end up on NBA rosters. Certainly one of the reasons why Precious Achiuwa is regarded so well is how he fits in the modern style of basketball.

 

[jibsey]

We can’t play two non shooting bigs, with shaky shooting guards. Are spacing will be beyond bad. I think Polley will be used in a stretch four role quite often. I like Wilson at the three to help with rebounding.

If Vital can shoot 37 plus from three he will have to be on the floor. if He doesn’t make shots I could See smith Gilbert and Adams taking most of the guard minutes.

You hit on a good point when you say “shaky shooting guards” and as bad a shooting team as we had last year there is no evidence yet that it’s going to be fixed. Always hope for that great leap of improvement over the summer but it’s a huge question mark again for this team. I’m not really worried about rebounding as much as shooting.

 

[Edward Sargent]

You hit on a good point when you say “shaky shooting guards” and as bad a shooting team as we had last year there is no evidence yet that it’s going to be fixed. Always hope for that great leap of improvement over the summer but it’s a huge question mark again for this team. I’m not really worried about rebounding as much as shooting.

I think its more the coaching we've seen the last few years. We never saw year to year improvement so we are kind of holding our breath hoping for some this year.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

You hit on a good point when you say “shaky shooting guards” and as bad a shooting team as we had last year there is no evidence yet that it’s going to be fixed.

IMO, Polley and Brendan Adams will be the two guys who will help transition this team to a better outside shooting team.

Before I expand on that, here's a list of our current players and their 3P% based from most recent to oldest season:

Polley: 41.7%
J. Adams: 32.4%, 35%, 27.3%
Tarin Smith: 33.3%, 21.2%
Vital: 31.8%, 36.6%
Gilbert: 22.7%, 22.2%

Here's some words about Sid Wilson and Brendan Adams and their shooting:

Sid Wilson's self-assessment: "My strengths are my athleticism, I can score in different ways, I can play on both ends of the court. My weakness is my shooting ability.”

Jaylen Adams on his bro Brendan: “He’s a scorer first,” Jaylen said. “A real big guard, good at using his body, getting into the lane. But he can score at all three levels and we kind of play opposite. Me, I was a point guard first. He was a scorer first, and a point guard. He brings those intangibles while just learning how to score. He’s a way better scorer than me. … [At UConn], they’re going to fall in love with his jump shot.”

I'm still open to see what Wilson can show with his jump shot, but it sounds like B. Adams and Polley are our best bets to develop as our long-term, knock-down 3 point shooters. Hopefully Vital stabilizes his outside shot, and you know Jalen will always take his shots, but I'm hoping Gilbert and Smith focus more on distributing, penetrating and working on a mid-range game than settling for outside shots.

Wilson quote: Sid Wilson: The Transition from the CHSAA to the NEPSAC
Adams quote: What Can UConn Expect From Brendan Adams? Just Ask Big Brother Jaylen

 

[UconnU]

IMO, Polley and Brendan Adams will be the two guys who will help transition this team to a better outside shooting team.

Before I expand on that, here's a list of our current players and their 3P% based from most recent to oldest season:

Polley: 41.7%
J. Adams: 32.4%, 35%, 27.3%
Tarin Smith: 33.3%, 21.2%
Vital: 31.8%, 36.6%
Gilbert: 22.7%, 22.2%

Here's some words about Sid Wilson and Brendan Adams and their shooting:

Sid Wilson's self-assessment: "My strengths are my athleticism, I can score in different ways, I can play on both ends of the court. My weakness is my shooting ability.”

Jaylen Adams on his bro Brendan: “He’s a scorer first,” Jaylen said. “A real big guard, good at using his body, getting into the lane. But he can score at all three levels and we kind of play opposite. Me, I was a point guard first. He was a scorer first, and a point guard. He brings those intangibles while just learning how to score. He’s a way better scorer than me. … [At UConn], they’re going to fall in love with his jump shot.”

I'm still open to see what Wilson can show with his jump shot, but it sounds like B. Adams and Polley are our best bets to develop as our long-term, knock-down 3 point shooters. Hopefully Vital rebounds, Jalen will always take his shots, but I'm hoping Gilbert and Smith focus more on distributing, penetrating and working on a mid-range game than settling for outside shots.

Wilson quote: Sid Wilson: The Transition from the CHSAA to the NEPSAC
Adams quote: What Can UConn Expect From Brendan Adams? Just Ask Big Brother Jaylen

Both Brendan Adams and Polley are interesting plays at the 3. Adams can make it into the starting lineup as long as he can shoot and defend. We need someone on the floor who can shoot, for spacing.

 

[Bonk]

Both Brendan Adams and Polley are interesting plays at the 3. Adams can make it into the starting lineup as long as he can shoot and defend. We need someone on the floor who can shoot, for spacing.

Agreed. Adams is a taller guard and seems to have a good build. Would love to see him be a tenacious defender as he develops

 

[UconnU]

Agreed. Adams is a taller guard and seems to have a good build. Would love to see him be a tenacious defender as he develops

A Sidney Wilson is not gaining any weight. He should have been in the gym every day while he sat out.

 

[the Q]

if Hurley is a big analytics guy, he's gonna find some time for Whaley in there.

 

[UconnU]

if Hurley is a big analytics guy, he's gonna find some time for Whaley in there.

Problem with Whaley is that he is a position-less player.

 

[husky429]

A Sidney Wilson is not gaining any weight. He should have been in the gym every day while he sat out.

He was. I think its a diet and genetics thing with him. He's just naturally super wiry.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Jalen, Vital, Wilson, Polley, Cobb if we go small

Jalen, Vital, Wilson, Cobb, Carlton if we go big

Gilbert first off the bench

 

[JimHurley]

Jalen, Vital, Wilson, Polley, Cobb if we go small

Jalen, Vital, Wilson, Cobb, Carlton if we go big

Gilbert first off the bench

Hurley said he’s struggling whether to go small with Polley/Wilson at the 4 or go big with Yakwe/Whaley at the 4 which makes it sound like he’s set on starting 3 guards. My guess at the starting 5 is Gilbert, Adams, Smith, Wilson, Carlton. I would swap Wilson for Diarra if he was ready.