Thank You Jalen Adams | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Thank You Jalen Adams

He was targeted and doubled practically every game he was here because of lack of support. If there was a stat for blown assist attempts, he would have been off the charts. He will be in the NBA for sure because of his size, vision, durability and being a leader.
Kudos Jalen, your stay had bad timing, and we'll see how long it takes to fill the hole you are leaving.
 
BigEastLuva said:
Nowhere near talented as he was in high school that is. Check the rankings smart guy. None of the recruiting networks had Donovan over Jalen.
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They were basically ranked the same. Mitchell was always more talented long term because he's the way better athlete and a lot stronger. Their shooting might have been close at one time but Mitchell became the much better shooter.
 
Thanks JA for your career. During a tough 3 year period you were the only constant ray of hope. Looking forward to following your professional career as well! #RESPECT
 
Jalen had a very good career although short of expectations. Wish he was the guy that played the prior 2 games more of his career but nonetheless a really good basketball player and a great kid by all reports. We were lucky to have him, hope he now understands what it will take to get to the level I am sure he's dreamt about. Good luck to him and thank you.
 
RayIsTheGOAT said:
"Saved the team" is a broad term, I guess. Would they make the team better? Of course.
But does replacing Jalen with Kemba make Tarin Smith become as good as Shabazz? Or Vital become as good as Jeremy Lamb? Or Sid Wilson become Roscoe? Or Polley become Giffey? Or Carlton become as good as Oriakhi?
Does it even make us an NCAA tournament team? Idk, I'm guessing not.
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You underestimate the outstanding job Kemba did in building the 2011 team. Maybe one of the best captain jobs we've seen here. You also underestimate Kemba's ability to get the basket or make threes. I'm confident that the guys we have would be better with a year of playing with Walker.
 
The fans who bad mouth about Jalen need to bring it down a notch. Winning as often as UConn has in the 2+ decades has led to unreasonable expectations from some folks. I think we will see him in the NBA, not necessarily drafted but he will wear an NBA uniform at some point. I can’t speak to UConn basketball prior to the mid 80s, but I put Jalen right up there with Ray Allen and Kemba Walker in terms of how much I was excited to watch him play when I was able to see him live. He isn’t going to have that level of career but that’s what it sounds like some folks expected to walk through the door every night. Can’t wait to watch him prove himself at the next level!
 
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RayIsTheGOAT said:
-2nd most points in AAC history
-2016 AAC Tournament Champion
-One of the greatest shots ever
-Top 10 all-time UConn scorer

I remember when he first committed to UConn, right after I decided to attend UConn and enroll in the same class.
I thought he was the next great Husky guard. Even though things didn't turn out the way we wanted, he was fun to watch and produced spectacular plays every game. Without him, this program would be in a much worse position. With a proper UConn team around Jalen, from staff down to players, he could've gone down as one of the greatest Huskies ever.

Thank you for sticking with us for 4 years, Jalen. You have a successful professional career ahead of you. The real fans are rooting hard for you.

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Love this picture! I use it as my Facebook background during b-ball season to troll all my UC friends lol.
 
Adams on Hurley: “He pushed me to limits I haven’t been pushed before,” Adams said, “and that’s why I had my best season...” JA, thank you for being a member of the UConn family and for carrying us when everyone else bailed.
 
superjohn said:
We played more cr@ppy teams. Actually kept it just as close or closer against the good teams without him, and suffered our worst blowouts with him (outside of SMU.) He was probably only good for 1 more win in the stretch he was out.

Basically we looked similar with and without him. Against the better teams we usually got down fought hard but came up short at the end with an occasional blowout mixed in.
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No way we only win 1 more game with him and rique healthy together all yr
 
CL82 said:
You underestimate the outstanding job Kemba did in building the 2011 team. Maybe one of the best captain jobs we've seen here. You also underestimate Kemba's ability to get the basket or make threes. I'm confident that the guys we have would be better with a year of playing with Walker.
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I am not underestimating that at all. I totally agree, it was one of the best captain jobs ever.

I think you are underestimating how much better the rest of that roster was compared to the roster we have now around Jalen. We are starting a Duquesne 6th man grad transfer, a combo guard at the 3, and a wing at the 4 who can't rebound.
That 2011 team had 3 NBA 1st rounders and the 2nd best rebounder in the old Big East.
 
RayIsTheGOAT said:
I am not underestimating that at all. I totally agree, it was one of the best captain jobs ever.

I think you are underestimating how much better the rest of that roster was compared to the roster we have now around Jalen. We are starting a Duquesne 6th man grad transfer and a wing at the 4 who can't rebound.
That 2011 team had 3 NBA 1st rounders and the 2nd best rebounder in the old Big East.
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Nope. We just disagree on the value of Kemba. On and off the court he had a huge impact. He was a role model for hard work and took the time to personally connect with every player. I think we would make the dance.
 
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CL82 said:
Nope. We just disagree on the value of Kemba. On and off the court he had a huge impact. He was a role model for hard work and took the time to personally connect with every player. I think we would make the dance.
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We don't disagree on the value of Kemba. That 2011 team goes nowhere without Kemba, might not even make the NCAA tournament.
I'm saying this roster is so sorely lacking talent and the right people at the right positions, that even Kemba prob wouldn't carry them to the NCAA tournament, especially with the injuries we had. Maybe a full healthy roster and it's a different story (Gilbert, Diarra and Yakwe at full go for a full season of development under Hurley). I think you are underestimating the importance of having another competent ball handler next to Kemba (Shabazz instead of Tarin Smith), scorer (Jeremy Lamb is far better offensively than anyone on this current roster), and rebounder who is consistent and can stay on the floor (Oriakhi over Carlton).
We can agree to disagree though.
 
CL82 said:
You underestimate the outstanding job Kemba did in building the 2011 team. Maybe one of the best captain jobs we've seen here. You also underestimate Kemba's ability to get the basket or make threes. I'm confident that the guys we have would be better with a year of playing with Walker.
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Shooting threes was not exactly his forte in college. He did get better tho. Only shot 33% his Jr year. Compared to Jalen's 36%.

Agreed on the captaincy thing. Kemba's athleticism, defense, fitness, leadership, etc were light years ahead of JA. Knowing when and how to take over. And big time shot making.

But I agree with Ray above. This group wasn't getting to the NCAAs with Kemba. NIT probably tho. The difference in talent between the two teams was night and day, even tho 2011 wasn't one of our most talented rosters.

This year's team vies for least talented roster since JC came aboard.
 
Jalen was really trying to keep Uconn in the game today and looked absolutely gassed at the end. Had he been on a halfway decent uconn squad, i could of seen him more like a dyson type slasher. There were a lot of ups and downs but i appreciate sticking it out for 4 years. The team would of been absolutely garbage without him
 
RayIsTheGOAT said:
We don't disagree on the value of Kemba. That 2011 team goes nowhere without Kemba, might not even make the NCAA tournament.
I'm saying this roster is so sorely lacking talent and the right people at the right positions, that even Kemba prob wouldn't carry them to the NCAA tournament, especially with the injuries we had. Maybe a full healthy roster and it's a different story (Gilbert, Diarra and Yakwe at full go for a full season of development under Hurley). I think you are underestimating the importance of having another competent ball handler next to Kemba (Shabazz instead of Tarin Smith), scorer (Jeremy Lamb is far better offensively than anyone on this current roster), and rebounder who is consistent and can stay on the floor (Oriakhi over Carlton).
We can agree to disagree though.
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There is world of difference between being as good as the national champs and making the tournament. Your point seems to be that even with Kemba this year's team isn't a good as the 2011 champs.... well yeah but we'd be much, much better. Is having Kemba worth 5-6 wins? How many PPG is worth? We lost 10 games by 8 or less points. Think any of those would have been wins?
 
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The young man more than earned my respect and I wish him well in whatever tomorrow brings him.
 
MervthePurvis said:
Just wait with that thought. No key scorer next year. Who thinks we come close to 5 wins better or worse?
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Going to wait a few days to let the stank of today wear off but this is a good poll question. I think we are right around 20 wins next year but that assumes improvement in our return players (Josh, Whaley and Polly stronger) and material contribution by the new guys. That's a leap of faith.
 
superjohn said:
Sure but which games were we winning with him, maybe the last two at home (USF & Temple?) The only other home game was Cincy and we never beat Cincy.
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There were a few games where we clearly lost the game from the free throw line, where we wouldn't have had to have been fouling at the end to stay in it. I think if he weren't hurt and were taking some of those free throws instead of some of his teammates, we would have won a few of the games we lost while he was hurt. If not won.. they would have been down to the wire in last possession wins type scenarios. He and CV were our only reliable free throw shooters and I don't have the stats on hand, but I don't think CV was burning it from the stripe either. That's a lot of what if's though, but my .02
 
I think he would’ve been absolutely lethal if he had been the 2nd guy his last 3 years instead of the team’s best player. I can definitely see him sticking in the NBA.

Thank you, Jalen.
 
When you really think about it, Jalen was the only player that announcers could get really excited about the last 3 years. He was the network pre-game highlight reel and deserving. Without Jalen this program would have been in obscurity with no one even sniffing the national stage or recognition.

Its not a stretch to say he helped save our program, and I'm sure he factored in Hurley's decision, or at least made it easier. He and Boatright had similar Senior seasons of tragedy, but both were and are great players. Its just too bad as Batman they both had no real Robin. One thing about Jalen though he never cried, complained or became distraught. That kid really loved and enjoyed playing basketball, and most importantly, being a Husky.

I was happy when we got him and not Isaiah Briscoe. And even today, I don't regret it being otherwise. His jersey may not hang on the rafters but all UConn fans alive today will never forget his name or who he was.
 
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superjohn said:
They were basically ranked the same. Mitchell was always more talented long term because he's the way better athlete and a lot stronger. Their shooting might have been close at one time but Mitchell became the much better shooter.
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I saw that team play, the talent distance was evident. Mitchell said himself he was a late bloomer. Mitchell was the better athlete, Jalen the more talented. Mitchell benefitted from an amazing guard development system under Pitino (skill, s&c,etc.). Jalen’s left hand, shot balance, three-point shot, and motor weren’t developed under Ollie. Jalen was a skill development coach away from the lottery.
 
Thank You Jalen - wish you all the best for your future. You were a loyal true Husky - never complained, stuck through all the ups and downs. I believe had you had better players and healthy players around you people would have realized your worth. #8 all time scoring and only the second Husky ever to have 1500+ points and 500+ assists with the team you had around you is impressive. You will be missed - wish things had ended better for you.
 
2016 and 2017 Jalen gave us a chance to win. This year he gave us a chance to hope things would turn around when he decided to play his senior year. He will be better for having stuck around this year and playing for Hurley. He also showed the younger guys how to keep going when things are in flux and not always easy. Good luck in the future Jalen
 
BigEastLuva said:
I saw that team play, the talent distance was evident. Mitchell said himself he was a late bloomer. Mitchell was the better athlete, Jalen the more talented. Mitchell benefitted from an amazing guard development system under Pitino (skill, s&c,etc.). Jalen’s left hand, shot balance, three-point shot, and motor weren’t developed under Ollie. Jalen was a skill development coach away from the lottery.
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Come on....I blame Ollie for a ton of things but not developing a left, not developing a jump shot, being scared to draw fouls, not being in amazing shape. These are all on Jalen. Nice kid and I hope he does great in life but the coddling of him is pretty insane here, he didn't exactly bust his butt.
 
intlzncster said:
Shooting threes was not exactly his forte in college. He did get better tho. Only shot 33% his Jr year. Compared to Jalen's 36%.

Agreed on the captaincy thing. Kemba's athleticism, defense, fitness, leadership, etc were light years ahead of JA. Knowing when and how to take over. And big time shot making.

But I agree with Ray above. This group wasn't getting to the NCAAs with Kemba. NIT probably tho. The difference in talent between the two teams was night and day, even tho 2011 wasn't one of our most talented rosters.

This year's team vies for least talented roster since JC came aboard.
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In the old Big East, no. In the AAC Kemba would have gotten them to the tournament.
 
The fact that there are people hating on Jalen is comical to me! One win without him this season! ONE!!! Polley can thank him for the open looks when his man played off him because of JA driving. Clearly CV saw what it was like to be Jalen when he was out, and hopefully sees he’s nowhere near ready to leave. CV owes Jalen for many of those 1000 points, because he created probably only a third of them on his own. Rique shot much better before he had to carry the load after JA went down. Put some respect on his name! We’ll be watching Summer League saying the same thing we said about Purvis...KO wasted that talent.
 
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