Terry Larrier to Transfer to UConn!

[HuskyHawk]

It will make practices extremely competitive and make everyone better. I also can't believe Brimah was a 3-star. He plays like a 5 star.

No, no he doesn't. He's a nice player, but he plays like a raw 3 star who was coached up.

 

[3rdbass]

Brimah has gotten better but still raw and a work in progress. That is why he is not listed on NBA draft board. Message board usually over rate their players and think they are going to the NBA way before they are ready. Good example is Marcus Paige of UNC. They had him going after his soph. year. Now he is going to be a senior and he is listed as the last player drafted in the second round. I think AB, Purvis will be here in 2016-17. Unless Dan Hurley has a breakout year he will also be back. Dan Hurley showed last year he got along way to go before he is NBA ready. He does have a lot of potential but right now it is still potential.

I agree about AB and RP but I disagree with your assessment of DHAM. With his skill set all he has to do is improve his shot and selection. If he can do that he will have a breakout year and definitely be a first round pick. Not sure if he will be a lottery pick as teams are so obsessed with physical traits. While he doesn't excel at any of them he is a decent athlete and definitely has an improving handle. If he can get to the next level this upcoming season I don't see any scenario where he isn't an NBA first rounder in '16.

 

[KembaStepback]

He's a very good start to 16-17!

 

[CallMeBruce]

Well I'm not looking through my rose colored UCONN glasses like some people on the board. Does AB have talent? Sure he does. Was he better than what he was touted coming in? Sure. Is he a sure fire NBA prospect? No way if we watched the same AB that got benched for PN at the end of the year. He would get killed if he played in the NBA as he just doesn't have the strength or ability at this stage. I mean look at the 5 out of conference games last year against top competition(FL, Stanford, West Virginia, Texas, and Duke). He had a total of 20 points and 18 rebounds which is an average of 4 Points and 3.6 Rebounds.

Now with this said if he comes back a different player with strength and better idea of positioning both offensively and defensively due to a full off season I will be very happy. Just at this stage he is a decent college basketball player who is great at blocking shots but not much else. I mean a big reason for increase offensive efficiency is all the passes that DHAM lobbed to him. I like the guy but the verdict is still out if he can improve his game to get to the next level.

"at the end of the year" = "the second half of the Arizona State game." You're so full of it.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Never miss an opportunity to say nothing -

Jon Rothstein quoting someone.

 

[3rdbass]

"at the end of the year" = "the second half of the Arizona State game." You're so full of it.

At least read all of my post. I also talked about our 5 games against good out of conference teams and he averaged 4 pt. and 3.6 rebounds. At least read all of my post. I'm not saying he isn't a decent college player. I'm just saying he isn't a sure thing as far as the NBA. Wow people sure are sensitive on this board about some players. LOL! I like AB and hope he can improve but if you had to bet your life savings on him making an NBA roster would you do it right now? Serious question.

 

[aceboon]

Block this dude @3rdbass from the thread, good Lord give it a rest already

 

[mets1090]

Brimah will make the NBA. I personally wouldn't bet on him being there when he's like 28 though. On the other hand, if he improves his rebounding to even be below average instead of bad, he will be a dominant college player.

 

[3rdbass]

Block this dude @3rdbass from the thread, good Lord give it a rest already

I'm just responding back from other posters. I mean I'm not saying anything bad. I'm just not that high on AB as other posters.

 

[businesslawyer]

At least read all of my post. I also talked about our 5 games against good out of conference teams and he averaged 4 pt. and 3.6 rebounds. At least read all of my post. I'm not saying he isn't a decent college player. I'm just saying he isn't a sure thing as far as the NBA. Wow people sure are sensitive on this board about some players. LOL! I like AB and hope he can improve but if you had to bet your life savings on him making an NBA roster would you do it right now? Serious question.

You move the goalline so much that it's impossible to have a semi-intelligent discussion with you. You readily are shifting between (i) only being an adequate college player to (ii) wouldn't be NBA ready today to (iii) not having NBA potential sufficient to be drafted to (iv) he's not like Towns or Okafor or other high-lottery guys. If you think I and others are picking on you, it's entirely because you are unwilling to stick with one standard and attempt to intelligently make your case.

 

[3rdbass]

You move the goalline so much that it's impossible to have a semi-intelligent discussion with you. You readily are shifting between (i) only being an adequate college player to (ii) wouldn't be NBA ready today to (iii) not having NBA potential sufficient to be drafted to (iv) he's not like Towns or Okafor or other high-lottery guys. If you think I and others are picking on you, it's entirely because you are unwilling to stick with one standard and attempt to intelligently make your case.

Sorry, if you think my posts are all over the place. I was initially replying to a post that AB is a sure fire NBA first round pick. I just don't think he is at this stage of development was my point. Can he get there? Sure but he isn't there right now was my point as other posters wanted to point out. Sorry if you think my posts were confusing.

 

[caw]

Well I'm not looking through my rose colored UCONN glasses like some people on the board. Does AB have talent? Sure he does. Was he better than what he was touted coming in? Sure. Is he a sure fire NBA prospect? No way if we watched the same AB that got benched for PN at the end of the year. He would get killed if he played in the NBA as he just doesn't have the strength or ability at this stage. I mean look at the 5 out of conference games last year against top competition(FL, Stanford, West Virginia, Texas, and Duke). He had a total of 20 points and 18 rebounds which is an average of 4 Points and 3.6 Rebounds.

Now with this said if he comes back a different player with strength and better idea of positioning both offensively and defensively due to a full off season I will be very happy. Just at this stage he is a decent college basketball player who is great at blocking shots but not much else. I mean a big reason for increase offensive efficiency is all the passes that DHAM lobbed to him. I like the guy but the verdict is still out if he can improve his game to get to the next level.

Yes, but as absurd to say he is a definite first round pick it is also as absurd to say he didn't markedly improve from Freshman to Sophomore year. He did, a lot.

Many of his points may have come from Daniel Hamiltons lobs but how many did he have as a freshman? For that matter, he also hit a good number of jumpers and some hookshots. As previously mentioned, he also fouled less.

 

[HuskiesAllDay]

Yes, but as absurd to say he is a definite first round pick it is also as absurd to say he didn't markedly improve from Freshman to Sophomore year. He did, a lot.

Many of his points may have come from Daniel Hamiltons lobs but how many did he have as a freshman? For that matter, he also hit a good number of jumpers and some hookshots. As previously mentioned, he also fouled less.

I don't know exactly how many.

But I do know that he had 3 very very important points as a freshman...

 

[Gurleyman]

Yes, but as absurd to say he is a definite first round pick it is also as absurd to say he didn't markedly improve from Freshman to Sophomore year. He did, a lot. Many of his points may have come from Daniel Hamiltons lobs but how many did he have as a freshman? For that matter, he also hit a good number of jumpers and some hookshots. As previously mentioned, he also fouled less.

It's also worth pointing out that Nolan, Facey and Lubin pretty much didn't score at all off of Hamilton's lobs. It would lead one to conclude that both halves of the Hamilton to Brimah connection had something to do with that play working effectively.

Finishing lobs was also a skill that Brimah did not show much playing with Bazz, so he did improve his court awareness and ability to read defenses (as well as his coordination finishing). It's a bit of a reach analogy-wise, but he was sort of like a hockey or soccer sniper who gets open in front of the net a lot and gets "cheap" goals, which count the same. It's a valuable skill, even if the end of the play looks easy.

 

[TasteofUConn]

Brimah will make the NBA. I personally wouldn't bet on him being there when he's like 28 though. On the other hand, if he improves his rebounding to even be below average instead of bad, he will be a dominant college player.

I think this is right. I try to picture Brimah running with Gasol, T.Thompson, Mosgov, Noah, Horford, and the like, and I see him getting run out of the gym. What would it take to get him there? Better base, better at holding his ground, and better at knowing where and when to be for rebounds. I'm not sure how much the kid is hitting the weights, but he desperately needs to put on muscle below the waist. Guys like Durant and Hamilton and Curry and R. Miller can be rail thin because they are unstoppable scorers, and you don't need huge mass to guard most guys playing opposite you. But when is the last time you saw a somewhat awkward, somewhat lanky center play in the NBA? Manute Bol? I'll be among the BY fan base cheering like mad for Brimah to make the NBA and stick in it, but a lot has to happen between now and zen.

 

[Kembacity]

Guys Brimah can play, he's done it many times, he's not a star, he's not a MVP in the making, but he could be a very very good basketball player.... he could also slink out of the NBA in 2 years and play in Turkey, we don't know.

I believe in the kid, the enthusiasm he shows for the game, the fact that he can hit an open jumper, hit his hook shot, block big time shots, hold the ball... he's so much better than most of our previous project centers, and many centers that have started on somewhat successful UConn teams (Chuck I'm looking at you).

He doesn't get many boards because he's going for the block, I hope this coming year he learns more when to block and when to stay at home, and he gets better at avoiding fouls and getting respect from the zebras when opposing bruiser players simply throw him out of the box

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Yes, but as absurd to say he is a definite first round pick it is also as absurd to say he didn't markedly improve from Freshman to Sophomore year. He did, a lot.

I didn't think he improved all that much. Still in foul trouble and still trying to block every shot. His offense consisted of lobs that essentially came from one person, DHam. I think if DHam isn't there, you see no difference between the Fr and So years. I will cut him slack in that I didn't expect much change given his off-season shoulder surgery and having no chance to do much other than ride a bike to stay in shape. With a healthy off-season this year, I'm expecting more.
The obvious comparison is Thabeet. He's not as good as Thabeet yet, and Thabeet has been in and out of the NBA and D League for 5 seasons now. You can't teach height, so he'll surely get drafted, but I expect he'll be here all 4 years and will need all of that time to develop.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

Block this dude @3rdbass from the thread, good Lord give it a rest already

...yeah but then he'll just hijack some other thread!

His freshman year Brimah had no offensive game, couldn't even dunk. He couldn't rebound and he fouled, a lot. On the positive side, he was great (not "good"... "great") at blocking shots.

His sophomore year he was still great at blocking shots, he learned how to dunk, and he added some offense (nice baby hook, and short jumpers). He still didn't rebound and he still got too many fouls (though slightly improved).

Most importantly his sophomore year, the team was hugely better when he was on the court than when he was sitting.

Bottom line is that AB has taken his game a long way in his first two years. If he can improve his rebounding this year, and add a little to his offense, he'll be a dominant college player next year instead of just an impact college player.

 

[mauconnfan]

Amida is a solid center for us now as we speak. Many teams would drool to have him in that slot. He makes a difference on defense because he can block shots and alter as many so right there alone he is fine to throw in the middle.

The fact he blocks shots is not the cause for his less than astounding rebounding, it's his ability to see the plays happening, the shots being taken and get himself into position to get rebounds. How many times did you see him as the guy in position to get a rebound yet someone beat him to it? A lot I promise - many times it wasn't having his hands ready and others were he was out muscled or just plain beaten on the timing and bounce off the rim. It is what it is and if he ever improves this portion, albeit somewhat mental, he will be really really good and may have a good shot to hang around the next level. But he does need to improve that in order to create optimism for an NBA career - bigs that don't rebound don't last.

Love his jump shot, he can shoot the ball and has a soft touch to boot. His ability to square up for the jump hook was negated by his lack of strength so hopefully a full summer hitting it hard will help him get to the next level on that part of his offense because we did see a nice jump hook when he was able to square.

The kid has a great attitude and it's infectious so I hope he does continue to improve and become the player we all hope he can be. Even as is with the players surrounding him, we're good with him in the middle. Any improvement will be huge for this team for the upcoming campaign though, huge!!

 

[UConn990411]

I didn't think he improved all that much. Still in foul trouble and still trying to block every shot. His offense consisted of lobs that essentially came from one person, DHam. I think if DHam isn't there, you see no difference between the Fr and So years. I will cut him slack in that I didn't expect much change given his off-season shoulder surgery and having no chance to do much other than ride a bike to stay in shape. With a healthy off-season this year, I'm expecting more.
The obvious comparison is Thabeet. He's not as good as Thabeet yet, and Thabeet has been in and out of the NBA and D League for 5 seasons now. You can't teach height, so he'll surely get drafted, but I expect he'll be here all 4 years and will need all of that time to develop.

Hmm, no to all of this.

You won't find many people on here who were more critical of Brimah this past season than I was, but you have a very selective memory if you don't think his offensive game improved. The guy averaged 5 more points per game and shot 67% from the floor, and those numbers include a 40-point outburst. I don't care if that 40-point game consisted of mostly lobs - he was never good enough to go for 40 as a freshman.

And let's not act like being in position for a lob takes no skill. That two-man game with Hamilton? He wasn't a smart enough player as a freshman to pull that off.

Lastly, the Thabeet comparison is extremely lazy and extends no further than them being 7+ foot centers from Africa. Thabeet was a dominant collegiate center - much more dominant than Brimah will ever be at UConn - but lacked the mobility to defend at a high level in the NBA (where defensive 3 seconds prevents big men from parking themselves in the paint). I'm skeptical that Brimah will make it at the next level, but he easily has the athleticism to do it.

I get that Brimah has a long, longgg way to go, but it's bizarre how many people on here take for granted how much he already brings to the table.

 

[Tommyboy]

Hmm, no to all of this.

You won't find many people on here who were more critical of Brimah this past season than I was, but you have a very selective memory if you don't think his offensive game improved. The guy averaged 5 more points per game and shot 67% from the floor, and those numbers include a 40-point outburst. I don't care if that 40-point game consisted of mostly lobs - he was never good enough to go for 40 as a freshman.

And let's not act like being in position for a lob takes no skill. That two-man game with Hamilton? He wasn't a smart enough player as a freshman to pull that off.

Lastly, the Thabeet comparison is extremely lazy and extends no further than them being 7+ foot centers from Africa. Thabeet was a dominant collegiate center - much more dominant than Brimah will ever be at UConn - but lacked the mobility to defend at a high level in the NBA (where defensive 3 seconds prevents big men from parking themselves in the paint). I'm skeptical that Brimah will make it at the next level, but he easily has the athleticism to do it.

I get that Brimah has a long, longgg way to go, but it's bizarre how many people on here take for granted how much he already brings to the table.

There were definitely more than a few games last year that we won where games turned on a stretch where AB went crazy on defense.

 

[aceboon]

The Brimah debate continues to expose posters who have have no idea what they're watching.

 

[FartMan69]

Wait are people really saying Brimah's a sure fire 1st rounder? Are you high? The kid oozes potential and has improved steadily over the last 2 seasons but his deficiencies on both ends of the court couldn't have been more blatant. He's a good shot blocker but has not mastered the art of when to go for a block and when to box your man out, His lack of lower body strength hinders his rebounding, offensive game still mainly consists of oops and put-backs. Look I like the kid and he has the potential to sniff the 1st round if he improves those weaknesses but I think the successes of this off-season has gotten to our heads, pump the brakes.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Well I'm not looking through my rose colored UCONN glasses like some people on the board. Does AB have talent? Sure he does. Was he better than what he was touted coming in? Sure. Is he a sure fire NBA prospect? No way if we watched the same AB that got benched for PN at the end of the year. He would get killed if he played in the NBA as he just doesn't have the strength or ability at this stage. I mean look at the 5 out of conference games last year against top competition(FL, Stanford, West Virginia, Texas, and Duke). He had a total of 20 points and 18 rebounds which is an average of 4 Points and 3.6 Rebounds.

Now with this said if he comes back a different player with strength and better idea of positioning both offensively and defensively due to a full off season I will be very happy. Just at this stage he is a decent college basketball player who is great at blocking shots but not much else. I mean a big reason for increase offensive efficiency is all the passes that DHAM lobbed to him. I like the guy but the verdict is still out if he can improve his game to get to the next level.

He's an athletic nearly 7-footer.... someone is going to take a shot on him regardless of college stats. He may very well be a bust but that's not what we're talking about.

 

[Dooch]

We have 4 nat'l championships. VCU has been to one Final 4. Remind me again why we care about them and what their 'fans' think?

 

[CL82]

It's obvious that Fishy must be a sleeper agent who has been sent here to infiltrate the central core of the UConn fanbase, waiting for his time to strike! Come to think of it, how did the founders' of the Boneyard come to also run syracusefan.com? Fishy is the word that comes to mind.

"I'll bet he has a Commie flagged tacked up in his garage."

 

[Pudge]

The Brimah debate continues to expose posters who have have no idea what they're watching.

Totally agree.

Brimah is not an acquired taste. You clearly see his exceptional capacity to do a few things really well. It's not "Rose Colored" glasses. But, it is projection to say that he could play NBA. If you want to throw bricks ... go ahead.

You might recall that the kid is said to work really hard.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Amida is a solid center for us now as we speak. Many teams would drool to have him in that slot. He makes a difference on defense because he can block shots and alter as many so right there alone he is fine to throw in the middle.

The fact he blocks shots is not the cause for his less than astounding rebounding, it's his ability to see the plays happening, the shots being taken and get himself into position to get rebounds. How many times did you see him as the guy in position to get a rebound yet someone beat him to it? A lot I promise - many times it wasn't having his hands ready and others were he was out muscled or just plain beaten on the timing and bounce off the rim. It is what it is and if he ever improves this portion, albeit somewhat mental, he will be really really good and may have a good shot to hang around the next level. But he does need to improve that in order to create optimism for an NBA career - bigs that don't rebound don't last.

Love his jump shot, he can shoot the ball and has a soft touch to boot. His ability to square up for the jump hook was negated by his lack of strength so hopefully a full summer hitting it hard will help him get to the next level on that part of his offense because we did see a nice jump hook when he was able to square.

The kid has a great attitude and it's infectious so I hope he does continue to improve and become the player we all hope he can be. Even as is with the players surrounding him, we're good with him in the middle. Any improvement will be huge for this team for the upcoming campaign though, huge!!

The only word I disagreed with in this whole post was Solid. I think we're making progress Mau.

 

[UconnFanNVa]

I think the longer he stays the less likely he is to be a first rounder unless he starts making some improvements on grabbing boards. The NBA teams will work with the rest. But if he can grab boards in addition to blocking shots and running the court well and catching oops, he'll find an NBA home as a 1st round pick and he'll excel in that role. In today's nba, he doesnt need to be a scorer.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

"I'll bet he has a Commie flagged tacked up in his garage."

Exactly! Something just not right about that glint in his eye. Or is it temery who is the commie SU closet fan corrupting the youth of New England from his teaching position? I'm going to check with my sources.