Storrs Central: Analyzing UConn’s Offseason w/ 247s Adam Finkelstein

[444JR]

I’ve been eagerly waiting for some experts to talk about the roster fit post Solo Ball news. Here’s a good half-hour deep dive courtesy of Storrs Central:

 

[NJHusky]

I’ve been eagerly waiting for some experts to talk about the roster fit post Solo Ball news. Here’s a good half-hour deep dive courtesy of Storrs Central:

Was just about to post, but I listened to it first..lol

2 interesting comments
NK played PG in Hs, so will be a great passer,
doesn't know who the backup PG is yet...

 

[aceboon]

good listen but I'm not sure why Finkelstein keeps saying Reed declared for the draft and had his measurements taken, it's like the 3rd time I've seen him mention it. unless I'm having a portion of my memory wiped clean it didn't happen.

 

[Samoo]

Sounds like he reads the boneyard.

 

[444JR]

Was just about to post, but I listened to it first..lol

2 interesting comments
NK played PG in Hs, so will be a great passer,
doesn't know who the backup PG is yet...

I didn’t listen first and they didn’t talk through exactly what I wanted them to lol.

I’m really interested in discourse around the fit and versatility of the lineup with Solo Ball sidelined for the year. Does Solo’s absence make us make us worse offensively? Better defensively? Is Braylon in a better position without the redundancy of Solo’s game alongside his?

Finkelstein spoke with high regards to Khamenia’s point forward abilities. Loved that.

Hurley’s got this program running like such a fine tuned machine and I think the talking heads don’t draw a lot of excitement discussing such a steady ship. I’m also a homer who wants to hear about UConn basketball all day long, so maybe therein lies the issue with my expectations.

 

[auror]

As far as the discussion on AK and Khamenia, I think we'll see Khamenia slot in as a mixture of McNeeley's midseason role with elements of early career Karaban. Early career AK mostly just stood in the wing or corner with the occasional pick and pop. Whereas late career AK was running off movement and off screens for threes. I think we'll see closer to what McNeeley was doing as a featured role in the offense coming off curls and facilitating often for others (17% assist rate in conference play). and while McNeeley was also running off screens for threes, I think most of Khamenia's threes will be ghost and pick and pop types like early AK, less pindowns.

 

[RuffRuff]

As far as the discussion on AK and Khamenia, I think we'll see Khamenia slot in as a mixture of McNeeley's midseason role with elements of early career Karaban. Early career AK mostly just stood in the wing or corner with the occasional pick and pop. Whereas late career AK was running off movement and off screens for threes. I think we'll see closer to what McNeeley was doing as a featured role in the offense coming off curls and facilitating often for others (17% assist rate in conference play). and while McNeeley was also running off screens for threes, I think most of Khamenia's threes will be ghost and pick and pop types like early AK, less pindowns.

I tend to think that they brought him on because of his smarts and are going to hyperspeed him into the AK role, given Ross, Mullins and Silas already know the system.

 

[Palatine]

If Khamenia has a great year, I love the potential narrative. Leave Duke, go to UConn, blossom into a star.

 

[Fishy]

good listen but I'm not sure why Finkelstein keeps saying Reed declared for the draft and had his measurements taken, it's like the 3rd time I've seen him mention it. unless I'm having a portion of my memory wiped clean it didn't happen.

It did not happen.

Also, whenever I see that guy, I want to adjust his head like he is a Mr. Potato Head. I want to put the ears higher up.

 

[RuffRuff]

If Khamenia has a great year, I love the potential narrative. Leave Duke, go to UConn, blossom into a star

In his defense, Mr Potato Head's ears are set a bit high.

 

[uh-no]

If Khamenia has a great year, I love the potential narrative. Leave Duke, go to UConn, blossom into a star.

I think more important would be the word of mouth. This will be the first player coached by both Jon and Dan. If NK comes out and says "i've learned so much more here <blablabla>", I think that reads far better than just him coming here, getting more playing time, and playing well.

 

[RuffRuff]

Biggest takeaway in this was that Reibe was going to be an issue based on lack of second half development. And that UConn zigging while everyone else zagging with the 4 out vs 3 out.

 

[FightOnCT]

Was just about to post, but I listened to it first..lol

2 interesting comments
NK played PG in Hs, so will be a great passer,
doesn't know who the backup PG is yet...

If we don’t get a backup PG and roll with County, it’d have to be because Hurley finds the combination of Silas, Nikolas, and even Braylon/Nils to be enough insurance to put his trust into a freshman PG.

That’s not a bad thing

 

[bendm]

If we don’t get a backup PG and roll with County, it’d have to be because Hurley finds the combination of Silas, Nikolas, and even Braylon/Nils to be enough insurance to put his trust into a freshman PG.

That’s not a bad thing

Well aren’t getting a backup PG better than millender at this point so that appears to be the thinking

 

[Fishy]

This is better, right? I just moved them ears up a smidge.

 

[RuffRuff]

This is better, right? I just moved them ears up a smidge.

View attachment 120236 View attachment 120237

And shrunk them, which helped. Now can you turn his frown upside down?

 

[HuskyHawk]

This is better, right? I just moved them ears up a smidge.

View attachment 120236 View attachment 120237

 

[Fishy]

And shrunk them, which helped. Now can you turn his frown upside down?

I think we need to address the forehead next. There’s too much real estate there.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I think we need to address the forehead next. There’s too much real estate there.

It's got potential as advertising space.