The Carlton watch

[selles]

If this is the case, we are screwed.

Not in the least. We need a good backup, but I think Carlton will be an above average AAC big next year. He's shown a much more physical and effective style over the past several games. Players take time to develop, especially bigs, and Carlton's developing. As others have pointed out, the bigger question is what happens at the 4.

 

[Kenny11]

Wilson had that nice drive early that showed what he can do. I think playing him out of position at the 4 isn't helping him at all. He's often over-matched physically. It highlights how we lack any depth at the 4 & 5. Even with that, he has a lot of work to do on the defensive end. But he does seem like the kind of guy that makes a very nice 3 if he can add/improve his mid-range jumper. And he should slide over to the 3 next year with Akok and Polley (hopefully beefed up) serving as stretch 4's.

The most frustrating thing about Sid is how uncomfortable he looks. Sometimes he shoots bad midrange shots not because he’s selfish but because he doesn’t know what else to do. He has ability to put ball on the floor but most of the time he’s too hesitant. Then on offense, too often he’s just standing in the corner and doesn’t seem to really want the ball. With his athleticism and talent you would think he would play with more confidence but his demeanor is more like Polley last season, who was so hesitant.

 

[the Q]

There were a couple times where he posted up wanting the ball but smith passed the ball on the perimeter. Probably because Carlton didn’t seem to have great position.

He had good position a few times but the guards were in no position to get him the ball.

Can’t even get that In Synch. Just a frustrating time.

 

[ChocRaisins]

We do not have a player on the roster who is a starting 4 on a NCAA tournament team. That's the biggest problem right now.

 

[mauconnfan]

3 guards is ok but would love to have a larger, real 3 and a much better 4. Just nothing to show at the 4 and Wilson has a ways to go to be a 3 or a 4, for now not a ver good basketball player.

Josh had another good game he's fine. Tough match up to score, had his chances had misses but the 11 boards tells me he's toughening up which is the biggest steps he's taken and they're huge.

We win that game with Gilbert nonetheless.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Cobb had that brutal sequence where he hedged out too far/hard committed a foul then gave up an and 1 a minute later. Not good

He got beat for the board leading to the and1 too

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

How dumb is Larrier for leaving? He wudda helped so much this year. I always forget about him

The guy had already been in college like 8 years and graduated despite having a year of eligibility left. It is weird though. I don’t think he’s getting paid to play on any level right now and he’s still dating Megan Walker on the women’s team.

 

[Scrutineer]

Don’t know if you even give Emeka the ball on the block against Tacko Fall.

UCF is a matchup nightmare for us. Their 3-5 steal our lunch money and then sit on us while they eat it. They’re HUGE.

Ps. Very hard to beat a team 3 times in a row, so the AAC tourney could have a great opportunity waiting...

The way things are going, we may be 0-2 against a lot of the teams above us so we'll have plenty of "third" games in the tournament and thus an excellent chance to win it all!

 

[intlzncster]

Not in the least. We need a good backup, but I think Carlton will be an above average AAC big next year. He's shown a much more physical and effective style over the past several games. Players take time to develop, especially bigs, and Carlton's developing. As others have pointed out, the bigger question is what happens at the 4.

We have a good back in Carlton. We need a good starter. A guy who'll challenge for All-AAC team*. We're a very bad team right now. We want to be a very good team. Can you imagine Carlton starting on one of the Top 15 teams? I can't.

*I recognize we aren't getting that guy next year.

 

[intlzncster]

Wilson had that nice drive early that showed what he can do. I think playing him out of position at the 4 isn't helping him at all. He's often over-matched physically. It highlights how we lack any depth at the 4 & 5. Even with that, he has a lot of work to do on the defensive end. But he does seem like the kind of guy that makes a very nice 3 if he can add/improve his mid-range jumper. And he should slide over to the 3 next year with Akok and Polley (hopefully beefed up) serving as stretch 4's.

Yes, totally agree. Especially with his current build. I think I mentioned the same before, but if I didn't, I should have.

 

[intlzncster]

Wilson and Polley were atrocious. Lack of production out of the 4 spot is killing us.

I swear it's just killing us. Other teams kill is in the paint at the 4.

Wilson should not be playing at the 4. He needs to be on the wing full time. Akok can't get here fast enough.

3 guards is ok but would love to have a larger, real 3 and a much better 4. Just nothing to show at the 4 and Wilson has a ways to go to be a 3 or a 4, for now not a ver good basketball player.

I don't disagree with that, but he would look a lot better on the wing consistantly full time. He's just not a down low guy (at his current size/skillset).

Having Akok and him on the floor at the same time next year will pay dividends.

 

[the Q]

Wilson should not be playing at the 4. He needs to be on the wing full time. Akok can't get here fast enough.



I don't disagree with that, but he would look a lot better on the wing consistantly full time. He's just not a down low guy (at his current size/skillset).

Having Akok and him on the floor at the same time next year will pay dividends.

I agree. Give can play 3 guards when 1) one of them can rebound and defend like vital, and/or 2) you can get real size at the 4, or at least enough that you can get the d and rebounding out of it you need.

 

[intlzncster]

I agree. Give can play 3 guards when 1) one of them can rebound and defend like vital, and/or 2) you can get real size at the 4, or at least enough that you can get the d and rebounding out of it you need.

I'm also psyched about the length/rebounding of a Wilson/Akok pairing. Provided Wilson makes the soph leap I expect him to.

 

[StepbackCity]

Wilson was brutal tonight

Wilson came to Orlando to grab a few fouls and dip

 

[the Q]

I'm also psyched about the length/rebounding of a Wilson/Akok pairing. Provided Wilson makes the soph leap I expect him to.

It would have to be a heck of a leap. He’s been atrocious offensively.

Ironically he and Whaley are two of our best defenders.

 

[intlzncster]

It would have to be a heck of a leap. He’s been atrocious offensively.

Ironically he and Whaley are two of our best defenders.

As I said above, he's 8-10 games into his college career minutes-wise. I'm kinda surprised people have been crushing a kid so early on.

 

[GHSWolverines]

Josh had his chances tonight. He was in position to make plays and now he just needs to come through more often. A good 4 would help a lot. He should be a good player his last 2 years.

Agree! a good 4 would open things up for carlton. he is steadily improving and showing more confidence. the guards are doing a better job looking to give him the ball inside. there will be better looks for a 3 when our 5 becomes a factor

 

[businesslawyer]

Cobb is one of/ if not the worst defensive center to ever wear a UConn uniform. That lazy non existence box out on the missed free throw and an atrocious defensive play in the interior that led to a layup are prime examples why his playing time plummeted

Why do you think he was recruited to replace Enoch?

 

[the Q]

As I said above, he's 8-10 games into his college career minutes-wise. I'm kinda surprised people have been crushing a kid so early on.

I’m certainly not picking up a shovel yet, just showing how far he has to go.

 

[elmcityboy]

The guy had already been in college like 8 years and graduated despite having a year of eligibility left. It is weird though. I don’t think he’s getting paid to play on any level right now and he’s still dating Megan Walker on the women’s team.

larrier was actually at the game against wichita. when they put the women's team up on the jumbotron, he was sitting with megan walker. pretty bizarre that he's not playing professionally anywhere, despite leaving a year "early."

if hurley could have gotten him to play harder defense, he'd be putting up numbers for us right now...

 

[intlzncster]

larrier was actually at the game against wichita. when they put the women's team up on the jumbotron, he was sitting with megan walker. pretty bizarre that he's not playing professionally anywhere, despite leaving a year "early."

He had a camp invite with the Mavs this year, but injured his ankle at the end of the summer. Mavs released him, and he's either recovering, or waiting to catch on somewhere new. Hard to jump in midseason anywhere unless you're a stud.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

larrier was actually at the game against wichita. when they put the women's team up on the jumbotron, he was sitting with megan walker. pretty bizarre that he's not playing professionally anywhere, despite leaving a year "early."

if hurley could have gotten him to play harder defense, he'd be putting up numbers for us right now...

Polley is basically a way worse version of him right now.

 

[elmcityboy]

He had a camp invite with the Mavs this year, but injured his ankle at the end of the summer. Mavs released him, and he's either recovering, or waiting to catch on somewhere new. Hard to jump in midseason anywhere unless you're a stud.

whelp, mavs don't need him now anyway. they have porzingis!

 

[intlzncster]

whelp, mavs don't need him now anyway. they have porzingis!

Don't get me wrong, he wasn't making the team. Just an explanation why he isn't playing anywhere (that I know of) at the moment.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Cobb doesn't play defense and commits dumb fouls. He gave us a spark early in the year, but he was never going to be the answer at the 5.

I can't remember Josh getting the ball on the blocks even once. Either he couldn't carve out space or they just didn't go inside. All his points came on put backs.

i do, one play he got it, tried to do a spin move through 2 defenders and got the ball stripped

 

[Jay-Bone]

Cobb doesn't play defense and commits dumb fouls. He gave us a spark early in the year, but he was never going to be the answer at the 5.

The fact of the matter is we were more competitive then than we are now. Somebody was getting double doubles against better teams then for what ever reason. Now we're just hoping to get in the NIT. But whatever.

 

[Rico444]

The fact of the matter is we were more competitive then than we are now. Somebody was getting double doubles against better teams then for what ever reason. Now we're just hoping to get in the NIT. But whatever.

I wouldn't say we were more competitive in those games than we are now. UCF is a good team and we played them tight on the road. Cincinnati is, along with Houston, the class of the conference and we took them to OT in their building (Cobb barely played). Cobb played great against Iowa, and we got destroyed. We've played two other current top 25 teams: Nova and FSU. Cobb didn't play against Villanova and we got blown out, but Yakwe played his minutes in that game and was maybe the only player on the team that showed up. Against FSU Cobb scored 3 points in 14 minutes and we played them pretty close. So he was essentially a non-factor in that game.

I don't think playing Eric Cobb is going to make much of a difference in what we're seeing on the court.

 

[the Q]

i do, one play he got it, tried to do a spin move through 2 defenders and got the ball stripped

Carlton is not a guy to throw it into the post now. He needs to watch tape of senior year jameel Warney for how to use his body to score a lot

 

[UConnSwag11]

If Carlton can hit a mid-range jumper and have a face up game I think he'd be a better 4 than a 5. IMO he has a nice form and soft touch but needs to work on it. He's only a sophomore and I think he can work on his footspeed as well. He keeps trending in the right direction

 

[UConnSwag11]

I can't remember Josh getting the ball on the blocks even once. Either he couldn't carve out space or they just didn't go inside. All his points came on put backs.

UCF did a great job denying him the ball. He was calling for it but never got it.