The 2024 Portal Conundrum

[RuffRuff]

Yeah I can’t see us hitting the transfer portal and keeping the sophomore group.

I also don’t see us winning big with the core group of talent being transfer players. It’s kind of the sophomore and upcoming freshman class or bust.

As it stands the roster looks like this.

PG: Nowell, Mahaney? Adams? Furphy
SG: Solo, Mahaney, Adams? Mullins?
SF: Ross, Mullins, Adams, Stew
PF: Karaban?, Stew, Abraham
C: Reed, Reibe, Singare

Not meant to be a depth chart. And I’m not sure if Mahaney is playing PG next year or Adams. We may want to bring one in if Nowell is okay with it. But we have a full on log jam at 2-5 especially if Karaban decides to stay.

We for sure need a true PG in the 2026 class regardless. Would be nice if we can develop Nowell to be good enough to start by then and have the 2026 PG as a nice apprentice for him.

Man I can't see AK coming back. He already feels like he overstayed. Time to push him out of the nest as his value at the pro level isn't getting any higher with another year.

I wouldn't want a small starting sophomore PG with the rest of that roster, or a small converted PG that hasn't shown to work. That roster up there scares me to death - it feels massively inexperienced and dogless. Fine with the soph/frosh and bust approach, but would see it as a developmental year vs an NC contender. Put all of them on testosterone supplements in the offseason.

Anyone think of a potential portal PG that would fit?

 

[AllHusky]

I always say the same thing. If you have 5 starters coming back and 4 bench guys leaving are you supposed to only recruit 4 players you think are going to be worse than the 5 starters you have coming back? What kind of nonsense would that be?

Nonsensical.

Best player available, irregardless(almost) of position.

Don't think we need 4 5's even if they were all great. Or is that a new offense, 4 in??

Isn't the prevailing thought that guard play wins Championships?

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Man I can't see AK coming back. He already feels like he overstayed. Time to push him out of the nest as his value at the pro level isn't getting any higher with another year.

I wouldn't want a small starting sophomore PG with the rest of that roster, or a small converted PG that hasn't shown to work. That roster up there scares me to death - it feels massively inexperienced and dogless. Fine with the soph/frosh and bust approach, but would see it as a developmental year vs an NC contender. Put all of them on testosterone supplements in the offseason.

Anyone think of a potential portal PG that would fit?

If we find the right one I’d be okay with it. I wouldn’t want to bring in say, an Ashton Gibbs just to bring one in. Preferably a true PG that can make guys around him better and not a combo guard either.

I agree on Karaban too. He has nothing left to prove tbh. I’m sure Abraham will be chomping at the bit for playing time that would not be available if he comes back. Question is do we ride it out with Ross and Stew next year? Do we bring in guys at that position to win now? Do one of the freshmen light it up so much that they start over one or the other? Solo and Mahaney pretty much have minutes at the 2 locked down next year which seems to be the primary positions for Adams and Mullins.

Solo being developed as a lead guard would solve a lot of problems but that doesn’t seem feasible.

 

[alphasigko]

Nonsensical.

Best player available, irregardless(almost) of position.

Don't think we need 4 5's even if they were all great. Or is that a new offense, 4 in??

Isn't the prevailing thought that guard play wins Championships?

"irregardless"? No such word exists!

 

[Inyatkin]

Man I can't see AK coming back. He already feels like he overstayed.

Karaban has overstayed, looking forward to Johnson being gone. You know, being a UConn fan means rooting for the players, right? Not some hypothetical future players who might make you happier?

 

[AllHusky]

"irregardless"? No such word exists!

Yeah, my computer didn't like it either. How about "no matter what position"?? Can I get partial credit now?

 

[6Nattys4Us]

AK is gone next year - like 1% chance he stays bc never say never.
Johnson and Diarra are out of eligibility
Solo Ball is being talked about as the best shooter in the country (by some) so logically he might test the NBA draft water - a lot of games to play still so the barometer is still not calibrated.

But if we are -4 on outs, and +4 on frosh = same 13 players (12 scholly's, Diaby a walk-on).

That would mean one (1) more portal entrant if no other movement occurs (e.g., Mahaney leaves, or Abhraham leaves, etc).

If we have 1 portal play - would it be PG to pair with Nowell/Adams, or a PF for vacating AK while Stewart becomes our 3?

 

[RuffRuff]

If we find the right one I’d be okay with it. I wouldn’t want to bring in say, an Ashton Gibbs just to bring one in. Preferably a true PG that can make guys around him better and not a combo guard either.

I agree on Karaban too. He has nothing left to prove tbh. I’m sure Abraham will be chomping at the bit for playing time that would not be available if he comes back. Question is do we ride it out with Ross and Stew next year? Do we bring in guys at that position to win now? Do one of the freshmen light it up so much that they start over one or the other? Solo and Mahaney pretty much have minutes at the 2 locked down next year which seems to be the primary positions for Adams and Mullins.

Solo being developed as a lead guard would solve a lot of problems but that doesn’t seem feasible.

I just cannot see us rolling into next season with Solo/Mahaney as our 2Gs. We'll be facing the same defensive issues. If Hurley brought Mahaney in to be a PG, I have a hard time thinking the play now is to shift him to backing up Solo as a senior, keeping that position small & lacking defense. Does Mahaney even want that role in his senior year? Do we want to dish out NIL for that?

Karaban has overstayed, looking forward to Johnson being gone. You know, being a UConn fan means rooting for the players, right? Not some hypothetical future players who might make you happier?

AK overstayed to his own benefit, not the team/fanbase. Anyone here would like him back, it wouldn't seem best for him. I root for every kid, I talk about the team construct more matter of fact as it comes to winning at the highest level. Sampson is playing a position he's not meant for as a starting 5 in high D1 - great bench kid, not a foundational 5. My satisfaction first and foremost comes with seeing this program win, along the way I pull for and appreciate every kid. We all have our own ways of being fans. I find the easily offended blue blinders tribalism fairly annoying. To each their own.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

There is a whole active Tread discussion on this:

"Tarris Reed not being utilized" that was started on Jan 9th by SuperJohn

He brought it to this thread.

I asked a simple question. I don't believe I should be required to search another thread to see if his answer is there

 

[superjohn]

I just cannot see us rolling into next season with Solo/Mahaney as our 2Gs. We'll be facing the same defensive issues. If Hurley brought Mahaney in to be a PG, I have a hard time thinking the play now is to shift him to backing up Solo as a senior, keeping that position small & lacking defense. Does Mahaney even want that role in his senior year? Do we want to dish out NIL for that?

AK overstayed to his own benefit, not the team/fanbase. Anyone here would like him back, it wouldn't seem best for him. I root for every kid, I talk about the team construct more matter of fact as it comes to winning at the highest level. Sampson is playing a position he's not meant for as a starting 5 in high D1 - great bench kid, not a foundational 5. My satisfaction first and foremost comes with seeing this program win, along the way I pull for and appreciate every kid. We all have our own ways of being fans. I find the easily offended blue blinders tribalism fairly annoying. To each their own.

We're all set at shooting guard. Solo is going to be an 18 ppg guy, and we have the #3 shooting guard and #4 combo guard in the country coming in. We need a big time big sized starting point guard in the portal. Shooting guard and center are totally locked up.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Karaban has overstayed, looking forward to Johnson being gone. You know, being a UConn fan means rooting for the players, right? Not some hypothetical future players who might make you happier?

Huh? Are you being sarcastic? What college team wouldn’t want Karaban?

I like Johnson too, and if our perimeter defense was better he would be an eraser at the rim. Blocking shots on a penetrator that is a half step ahead of his defender is easy because as a center I know where the shot is going to be taken. Blocking shots on a penetrator that has smoked his man above the 3 point line and is coming downhill and both sides of the rim are available usually results in a foul for the center.

We focus on the transfer pickups that hit, but there is a high failure rate on transferring performance from one team to another, especially when the player is elevating a level of competition.

I can’t explain the defensive problem to talent alone, and I really really wish we could have that Colorado game back. I think our talent level is decent.

 

[alphasigko]

Huh? Are you being sarcastic? What college team wouldn’t want Karaban?

I like Johnson too, and if our perimeter defense was better he would be an eraser at the rim. Blocking shots on a penetrator that is a half step ahead of his defender is easy because as a center I know where the shot is going to be taken. Blocking shots on a penetrator that has smoked his man above the 3 point line and is coming downhill and both sides of the rim are available usually results in a foul for the center.

We focus on the transfer pickups that hit, but there is a high failure rate on transferring performance from one team to another, especially when the player is elevating a level of competition.

I can’t explain the defensive problem to talent alone, and I really really wish we could have that Colorado game back. I think our talent level is decent.

The problem is that Samson is hardly ever playing drop coverage, but rather, is either hedging at 30 ft from the basket, or rushing back from the hedge to try preventing a layup by the guy he left open to perform the hedge at 30 ft from the basket.

 

[AllHusky]

Would love to see Sam in drop coverage for a good stint. Might cure his perceived rebounding woes, and pick up some of the slack of our inability to stop dribble drives.

Not as big a departure from Hurley philosophy as a zone