Strangely optimistic

[James]

Anyone else wish it had been AB instead of DHam? I know we need bodies to field a team but neither has been very impressive. AB is probably wondering where his 8 points a game will come from without the DHam lobs.

Uh nah. Ollie hangs his hat on defense, and brimah closed the year stronger on that end than Hamilton. Brimah is crucial to field a competitive next season , there are literally no other options. If Enoch is the starting center we could be headed to a .500 season

 

[businesslawyer]

Uh nah. Ollie hangs his hat on defense, and brimah closed the year stronger on that end than Hamilton. Brimah is crucial to field a competitive next season , there are literally no other options. If Enoch is the starting center we could be headed to a .500 season

I am still of the belief that AB can take us a long way next year by taking his game to a level that we've glimpsed but haven't seen consistently. I may prove wrong but I don't think that is beyond the realm

 

[TasteofUConn]

Not fazed by the Hamilton news

You're still in shock - that will pass and the faze will set in.

Not sure how anybody who watched this season could not think that this isn't a massive blow to our chances next year. Larrier, a replacement? A 6pt, 3 board, <1 assist guy who averaged 26% from 3 and played only 18 minutes a game at a mid-major is going to fill in what part of DHam's game?

Lord, I already am praying for young Larrier, because this board is going to crucify him when he turns out to be a homeless man's version of DHam.

Sure, Adams is awesome, but with only a freshman alongside, and no other ball handler on the team, there is massive trouble brewing.

DHam - thanks for the time. It's your decision to make. If the goal was to make the NBA, then probably a mistake. If it was more just to be done with College, then who knows? Best wishes - I always loved your game.

Of course I'll be rooting my guts out for us to put something together to make next year's team competitive, but I think DHam was the difference between 2nd weekend and fighting to make the tourni.

I know I'm a spoiled UConn fanatic, but I loathe the thought of a third straight crappy season.

 

[James]

I am still of the belief that AB can take us a long way next year by taking his game to a level that we've glimpsed but haven't seen consistently. I may prove wrong but I don't think that is beyond the realm

Yep, I often wonder how things would have panned out vs Kansas if brimah didn't go all space cadet and pick up those two stupid early fouls. It was a competitive game in the second half with him on the floor

 

[hardcorehusky]

Lots of speculation on how good Gilbert and the rest of the class will be. They are freshman and will have ups and downs like Adams and every other freshman we have had. Purvis is not the end all be all and needs to work on his handle, finishing and overall basketball iq. Brimah is a big- bigs take longer to develop so I expect him to come back physically stronger and that alone will help him in rebounding and foul trouble. Enoch has good feet- he too needs time to develop. End result, we have no idea what this team will look like in March of next year right now. I expect at least 1 grad transfer in, so let's leave the prognostication for when the team is established.

 

[TasteofUConn]

I am still of the belief that AB can take us a long way next year by taking his game to a level that we've glimpsed but haven't seen consistently. I may prove wrong but I don't think that is beyond the realm

If it's not beyond the realm, it's stood up on it's thin end, at the very further outreach of the realm, teetering toward falling out of the realm, with a stiff wind blowing outward.

Three year stats, frosh to Junior:
BOARDS 3, 4.4, 4.6
BLOCKS 2.3, 3.5, 2.7
POINTS 4.1, 9.1, 6.5
ASSISTS .3, .2, .1
FG% - about the same all 3 years.

What about any of those stats suggests that Brimah has made any improvement in any area of his game, other than free throws (at which he is remarkable good now).?? Not one thing.

For all intents and purposes he is a taller version of Ed Nelson.

To be clear, I love the kid and the fact that he is with us, but to expect even a few more ppg or boards or anything next year is wishful thinking, at best.

 

[James]

A boneyarder comparing brimah to a taller version of Ed Nelson , I think we've reached a breaking point here folks.

 

[Stainmaster]

Lord, I already am praying for young Larrier, because this board is going to crucify him when he turns out to be a homeless man's version of DHam.

Are you as certain about him as you were about Purvis?

 

[huskyharry]

A boneyarder comparing brimah to a taller version of Ed Nelson , I think we've reached a breaking point here folks.

I really wish all of our bigs will hit first like Ed Nelson, he definitely sought out contact. Skinny guys need to be willing to take the pain and hit first and hit hard.

 

[TasteofUConn]

Are you as certain about him as you were about Purvis?

About Larrier? I have no idea about him. But the stats are very telling, and hoping he can fill DHam's shoes, even in part, is ridiculously unfair. Of course, I hope I am wrong. Would love for him to come in and be a world beater.

Purvis single handedly kept us in the Kansas game, and appeared to be our only player not rattled by the moment. Big props to him for that, and no, I didn't see that coming at all.

 

[TasteofUConn]

A boneyarder comparing brimah to a taller version of Ed Nelson , I think we've reached a breaking point here folks.

I was going to go with Inyatkin, but I thought that was reaching.

 

[uconnbill]

This becomes Adams team sooner than I thought would happen if Hamilton stayed another year.

UConn needs another guard badly, but not just anyone but someone who can shoot the rock. I think Vital becomes a must sign imho

 

[tdrink]

It's not addition by subtraction, but the team may have an overall better composition without Dan Hurley.

He was a nice starting piece (point forward) to build a team around, but I'm not sure we had the other pieces to integrate with him except Brimah.

I'm optimistic about having a more traditional college line up.

Starting 5

AG-1
JA-2
RP-3
Kelis Fisher-4
AB-5

 

[PAHusky]

Hamilton was a good - good - college player but I can't honestly say I'm going to miss him all that much, even though our team may initially be worse off without him. I think the team, especially next year, would have been better off playing our traditional two pg system with him playing off the ball. I'm not sure whether it's Hamilton's or Ollie's choice, but having him run the offense worked against the dredges of the AAC but didn't fly as much against quality competition. It's almost as if KO catered the offense around DHam both because he was our best and sometimes only option, and because he was his first major recruit and showcase talent. I don't think there's any way Hamilton works out in the pros - terrible defense, not athletic enough, handles will be exposed, not prolific enough of a scorer - and this sets our team back next year as well, but it should help with establishing an offensive pecking order and it does solve our biggest defensive issue from this year

 

[amory]

I'm not all that concerned about DHam leaving. I think he was a bit overrated. That's not to say he's not a good player, he is, but he didn't develop into the kind of guy who could truly take over a game. Which was what made this announcement seem kind of crazy.

Who knows, maybe this will pay off for him and I wish him the best of luck. But the team will be fine.

 

[businesslawyer]

If it's not beyond the realm, it's stood up on it's thin end, at the very further outreach of the realm, teetering toward falling out of the realm, with a stiff wind blowing outward.

Three year stats, frosh to Junior:
BOARDS 3, 4.4, 4.6
BLOCKS 2.3, 3.5, 2.7
POINTS 4.1, 9.1, 6.5
ASSISTS .3, .2, .1
FG% - about the same all 3 years.

What about any of those stats suggests that Brimah has made any improvement in any area of his game, other than free throws (at which he is remarkable good now).?? Not one thing.

For all intents and purposes he is a taller version of Ed Nelson.

To be clear, I love the kid and the fact that he is with us, but to expect even a few more ppg or boards or anything next year is wishful thinking, at best.

It's totally not about stats with AB. His shoots a high enough percentage from the floor and line, and I"m not looking for him to score more than 10 a game at the max. He totally changes a game being on the floor on Defense when he stays on the floor. Three things would make him a force: (i) avoiding fouls and staying on the floor; (ii) a little higher IQ on offense in terms of understanding when and where the pass is coming to him; and (iii) stronger hands. The second may very well kick in. The third is easily fixed. Get in a gym and climb ropes every day. The first is the real key.

The lack of defensive rebounding to me is not the problem many of you make it. Nova won the Championship being killed on their D boards becuse tey effectivly challenged every opponent shot in the paint. If you challenge inside shots, you don't rebound as well. But you can make that trade if you are good enough at challenging shots.

 

[Athlete94]

It's a loss no doubt, but TL is the real deal and will help with the loss. KO will lock down what we need, this team will be fun to watch next year either way with all the new parts.

 

[uconngb]

Khalid's spent roughly 10 out of 13 years in Europe. France and Germany seem like pretty nice places to play ball compared to others.

Get some facts and come back and see me.....he played in Turkey, the Ukraine and Lithuania. Not exactly vacation spots. And certainly not where any aspiring basketball player wants to be. Khalid didn't have much choice, Hamilton potentially did.

 

[UConnSwag11]

It's not addition by subtraction, but the team may have an overall better composition without Dan Hurley.

He was a nice starting piece (point forward) to build a team around, but I'm not sure we had the other pieces to integrate with him except Brimah.

I'm optimistic about having a more traditional college line up.

Starting 5

AG-1
JA-2
RP-3
Kelis Fisher-4
AB-5

What? No hamilton would've fit great next year with adams at the point. And Gilbert won't be starting. If he does it'll be middle of the year. Larrier at the 3 with purvis at the two and adams at the one

 

[upstater]

5 months ago, I was pretty convinced that DHam would be leaving after this year.

So... I think I expected this 5 months ago. This season didn't go as planned tho.

I did think UConn would have more success recruiting a smaller wing (Larrier and Vance seem to be of the Deandre Daniels variety). I suppose many eggs were in the VJ King basket. Also, looking back, it really is a shame nothing could be done to keep Mustapha Heron in Connecticut.

 

[Palatine]

Not fazed by the Hamilton news - still think next year's team is going to be very good.

With Larrier and Vance coming, if there was one position where wecould afford a defection, it was the wing.

I think it may free the ball up more and allow the guards to dictate more of the game and the pace. I expected Jalen to be the star of next year's team and this may actually help him.

Not worried about this at all- I think it's a mistake for Hamilton, but less of an issue for the team. (Timing is so odd...he either got great feedback, bad advice or is just winging it.)

Still worried about rebounding, though. I'd like us to do more of it next year.

Then again, you could be in shock.

 

[Deadrody]

This is crazy talk.

We are a terrible rebounding team with Hamilton.

Who's going to handle the ball? Jalen and Freshman Gilbert for 40 minutes each?

We struggle to score and rebound and lost our best player in both those categories.

Sure Hamilton had his flaws and I'm not saying we'll suck... But this is lunacy.

I can only assume you think the team would be better with Hamilton's shaky handle monopolizing the ball ? The kid, for all his talents, is not the point guard he thinks he is. His rebounding will be missed FAR more than his ball handling.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Get some facts and come back and see me.....he played in Turkey, the Ukraine and Lithuania. Not exactly vacation spots. And certainly not where any aspiring basketball player wants to be. Khalid didn't have much choice, Hamilton potentially did.

Not really the point, but Turkey is actually pretty awesome. Istanbul is one of the coolest cities around.

 

[CL82]

I love Hamilton and would absolutely like to have him back, but I found myself coming to the same conclusion as Fishy. I feel like DHam's decision making cost us this past year, and while I'm sure that the 2016-2017 version would have improved, I feel like we have a shot to be a more cohesive team next year. It may cost us some wins next season but we'll be pretty good 2 years from now.

There's a lot of questions for next year. I wonder how Amida will do in a more uptempo game. I wonder where our rebounds are going to come from and how big a jump Enoch will make. But I like the idea of have two point guards on the court and getting back to slashing to the hoop.

Anyway, thanks DHam, wish you the best!

 

[Deadrody]

And this...

Hamilton is a jack of all trades who isn't good enough at any one trade.

Remains an depressingly dumb take.

And yet, absolutely 100% accurate

 

[Deadrody]

Agree with this.

Are we worried that hamiltons tenuous draft stock hurts the brand at all? I guess it didn't matter much with deandre, but thats one thing I always consider if someone decides to leave earlier than anticipated.

Yeah, interesting comparison, too. Daniels was a far more polished AND far more accomplished player, with those accomplishments coming on teh biggest stage. And yet, he has not sniffed the NBA. Hamilton's stock in the NBA is a substantial bit below Daniels

 

[CL82]

Starting 5

AG-1
JA-2
RP-3
Kelis Fisher-4
AB-5

Wait, Kevin Freeman still has eligibility left!?

 

[Gurleyman]

Yeah, interesting comparison, too. Daniels was a far more polished AND far more accomplished player, with those accomplishments coming on teh biggest stage. And yet, he has not sniffed the NBA. Hamilton's stock in the NBA is a substantial bit below Daniels

Daniels averaged 0.5 assists per game in his UConn career. The year we won the title, he had 17 assists the entire season. Hamilton had 170 this year. Hamilton also averaged 9 rebounds to DD's 6.

Daniels had a much, much more limited skill set than Hamilton - but he did become a better spot up three-point shooter, which was his best hope for sticking (as a 3 and D guy).

 

[tykurez]

I'm optimistic that this board will be a hellhole of suck next year when we inevitably struggle after losing 3 of our top 4 performers from the year prior, including what would have been an AAC POY candidate.

 

[tzznandrew]

Larrier, a replacement? A 6pt, 3 board, <1 assist guy who averaged 26% from 3 and played only 18 minutes a game at a mid-major is going to fill in what part of DHam's game?

Lord, I already am praying for young Larrier, because this board is going to crucify him when he turns out to be a homeless man's version of DHam.

The second part of this is partially right: no matter what Larrier does, people on this board will crucify him.

As for the first part: not only are most freshman stats not all that indicative of shooting (Daniels shot 24% from 3 and on our current team, I think Adams is better than a 27% 3 pt shooter), but Larrier also played in havoc, which encouraged quick (read: bad) shots. The pace probably could have netted him more points and boards, but he was a consensus Top 40 player out of high school (24/7 had Larrier 23--DHam 18--and the average was 33).

Given that, I'm willing to toss most of the Havoc stuff while also recognizing he won't be a pure replacement for DHam. He'll offer different things and hopefully the combination of him, other new players, and player improvement, will mitigate the loss of Hamilton.

But we need Rodney back big time.