BUConn10
Artist formerly known as BUHusky10
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2011
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The last couple weeks have been rough for UConn basketball no doubt, but I feel that #5 is truly on its way. Why? Because we are UConn and thats what UConn does: win national championships. History has shown that like it or not UConn's performance has been largely cyclical over 4 year increments, and judging by that we were overzealous and bullish in regards to this season. UConn historically wins a title, then clears house and rebuilds over the next 2-3 years with its sights set firmly on the next one. Bear with me now.
#5 is coming, and unfortunately it wont be this year, but something tells me 2016-17 will be a magical season. I personally consider myself a superfan of the NBA, moreso than CBB (outside of UConn), and I can say with a decent amount of confidence that there isnt a single player on this years roster that will be a Top 20 pick in this coming draft. Only Hamilton has a shot at being a fringe 1st rounder and historically our players tend to leave when the iron is truly at its hottest, and I think everyone in the program, DHam included, knows that this draft is not the case for him, so I think he will almost certainly be back next year. All those saying Brimah will declare need to open their eyes and actually watch an NBA game from start to finish before conjuring up those fantasies, he has no place on an NBA floor, but he is a college level stud. The 2 fifth year seniors are good staples but they serve as a bandaid to a much larger goal, winning #5. That leaves next years returning roster of:
Daniel Hamilton JR
Amidah Brimah SR
Kentan Facey SR
Rodney Purvis SR
Jalen Adams SO
Steven Enoch SO
Sam Cassell Jr. SR
That in of itself is a decent core to build on, but when you combine the talent we have coming in next season, it really makes the talent level pop. Add to the above list names like:
Alterique Gilbert
Terry Larrier (who will be much better than any average incoming freshman with 2 seasons of DI level play/practice under his belt)
Vance Jackson Jr
Jawan Durham
Mamadou Diarra
Now you have added an elite incoming class that, most importantly, fills holes that this current team desperately needs filled, and you can see a legit Top 10 team forming before you're eyes. Alterique and Jalen (with the huge jump expected from freshman to sophomore season) will provide the explosive backcourt that we so desperately need this year. Two guys who will be able to break their man down with ease and enter the lane with elite finishing ability. Surround them with talented shooters (I think Ollie signs one more 3pt specialist before the season starts) like Vance, Purvis, and Larrier and you have another strengthened front on the offensive end. Guys like Enoch with a year under his belt will truly surprise some people, and think of how impressed you have all been by Facey in his limited minutes this year, now add one more offseason and an even greater hunger to play and win. All this and we havent even gotten to the piece de resistance: a JUNIOR Daniel Hamilton and a SENIOR Amidah Brimah, who would arguably be the most important players on the squad, both hungry to prove their worth and bring UConn to the promised land. This would be a rare combination for the Huskies, rarely have we added such an elite recruiting class to such a promising returning core, and I think the results will be spectacular.
With that I'd predict a starting lineup of Gilbert, Adams, Purvis, Hamilton, Brimah (or conversely Adams, Purvis, Hamilton, Facey, Brimah depending on how KO feels about starting a freshman, something he hasnt done yet).
This current season isnt over yet by any means, but I think our collective expectations were too high and not realistic relative to the functional pieces we have to work with (Gibbs isnt the true PG we thought we were getting - which we knew we needed since everyone knew that was the same problem that doomed the 2014-15 team). This season is only a precursor of things to come. The best is yet to come fellas, bank on it.
#5 is coming, and unfortunately it wont be this year, but something tells me 2016-17 will be a magical season. I personally consider myself a superfan of the NBA, moreso than CBB (outside of UConn), and I can say with a decent amount of confidence that there isnt a single player on this years roster that will be a Top 20 pick in this coming draft. Only Hamilton has a shot at being a fringe 1st rounder and historically our players tend to leave when the iron is truly at its hottest, and I think everyone in the program, DHam included, knows that this draft is not the case for him, so I think he will almost certainly be back next year. All those saying Brimah will declare need to open their eyes and actually watch an NBA game from start to finish before conjuring up those fantasies, he has no place on an NBA floor, but he is a college level stud. The 2 fifth year seniors are good staples but they serve as a bandaid to a much larger goal, winning #5. That leaves next years returning roster of:
Daniel Hamilton JR
Amidah Brimah SR
Kentan Facey SR
Rodney Purvis SR
Jalen Adams SO
Steven Enoch SO
Sam Cassell Jr. SR
That in of itself is a decent core to build on, but when you combine the talent we have coming in next season, it really makes the talent level pop. Add to the above list names like:
Alterique Gilbert
Terry Larrier (who will be much better than any average incoming freshman with 2 seasons of DI level play/practice under his belt)
Vance Jackson Jr
Jawan Durham
Mamadou Diarra
Now you have added an elite incoming class that, most importantly, fills holes that this current team desperately needs filled, and you can see a legit Top 10 team forming before you're eyes. Alterique and Jalen (with the huge jump expected from freshman to sophomore season) will provide the explosive backcourt that we so desperately need this year. Two guys who will be able to break their man down with ease and enter the lane with elite finishing ability. Surround them with talented shooters (I think Ollie signs one more 3pt specialist before the season starts) like Vance, Purvis, and Larrier and you have another strengthened front on the offensive end. Guys like Enoch with a year under his belt will truly surprise some people, and think of how impressed you have all been by Facey in his limited minutes this year, now add one more offseason and an even greater hunger to play and win. All this and we havent even gotten to the piece de resistance: a JUNIOR Daniel Hamilton and a SENIOR Amidah Brimah, who would arguably be the most important players on the squad, both hungry to prove their worth and bring UConn to the promised land. This would be a rare combination for the Huskies, rarely have we added such an elite recruiting class to such a promising returning core, and I think the results will be spectacular.
With that I'd predict a starting lineup of Gilbert, Adams, Purvis, Hamilton, Brimah (or conversely Adams, Purvis, Hamilton, Facey, Brimah depending on how KO feels about starting a freshman, something he hasnt done yet).
This current season isnt over yet by any means, but I think our collective expectations were too high and not realistic relative to the functional pieces we have to work with (Gibbs isnt the true PG we thought we were getting - which we knew we needed since everyone knew that was the same problem that doomed the 2014-15 team). This season is only a precursor of things to come. The best is yet to come fellas, bank on it.
