This Year’s Lineup

[Bazz4A]

Ross was used last year to shut down an opposing player from going off with his athleticism. Have to see if Mullins or Furphy can do that.

I agree that was the intent - don’t know if Ross did that effectively very often though

 

[husky429]

How are we feeling about those 15mpg for Reibe?

I'm 50% sold. He's got great offensive tools, but he's NOT great at the 2 things you need your bigs to be great at before anything else: rebounding and protecting the rim. He will need a big summer if we're going to get #7, and I'm sure the staff is making him aware of that. I think he'll rise to the challenge.

 

[husky429]

Ya know…,,Ross has shown defensive flashes too and no one even mentions him.

Everyone on the team has shown defensive flashes. The problem is that no one is showing any consistency. I think you're mistaking manic energy for effectiveness on defense.

Solo, Stewart, AK, Liam and Ross all had similar defensive ratings (Ross's was the highest by a smidge). Hassan and the two-headed big monster were the only decent defenders on the team. Our wing defense was collectively abysmal.

 

[husky429]

I am shaky about Mullins time

Understandable. If the jumper doesn't translate to this level his path to PT gets tougher with our wing depth.

 

[Lafayette]

I'm 50% sold. He's got great offensive tools, but he's NOT great at the 2 things you need your bigs to be great at before anything else: rebounding and protecting the rim. He will need a big summer if we're going to get #7, and I'm sure the staff is making him aware of that. I think he'll rise to the challenge.

Still feels like a Samson upgrade though...

 

[Lafayette]

Understandable. If the jumper doesn't translate to this level his path to PT gets tougher with our wing depth.

I don't worry or Braylon or his minutes. Dude can shoot and shoot from distance. That translates well, but I'm sure some growing pains will ensue, yet this dude will be having some serious games for us.

 

[RuffRuff]

Everyone on the team has shown defensive flashes. The problem is that no one is showing any consistency. I think you're mistaking manic energy for effectiveness on defense.

Solo, Stewart, AK, Liam and Ross all had similar defensive ratings (Ross's was the highest by a smidge). Hassan and the two-headed big monster were the only decent defenders on the team. Our wing defense was collectively abysmal.

Yup on the defense. Another reason I have no idea how we can expect a Solo/Stew/AK starting lineup long term. We need something at the 3 we didn’t have last year, to compliment gaps elsewhere both offensively and defensively. Someone who can create off the dribble and stay in front of their man. From what I’ve seen of Mullins, he’s light on his feet.

Hard to believe we wouldn’t have a potential lottery pick playing major minutes.

This is all so premature anyway.

 

[Mr. French]

Silas
Ball
Stewart
AK
Reed

Mullins
Smith
Furphy
Reibe
Ross

 

[HuskyHawk]

The biggest competition is at the 3 spot. I expect Stewart there, but he's honestly better at the 4. Mullins will need to be physically strong, capable inside in order to win the starting SF spot. My guess is he comes off the bench at 2/3. Furphy could really blow this all up. If Reibe isn't all that, I could see Alex playing more 5 this year, with Stewart at 4 and Mullins/Furphy/Ross at 3.

PG: Demary (20), Smith (20)
SG: Solo (25), Demary (5) Mullins (10)
SF: Stewart (15) Mullins (15), Ross/Furphy (10)
PF: AK (25), Stewart (15)
C: Reed (25), Reibe (15), AK (5)

 

[jibsey]

With the non con we have we will be finding out pretty quick how all this is going to shake out.

 

[Lafayette]

The biggest competition is at the 3 spot. I expect Stewart there, but he's honestly better at the 4. Mullins will need to be physically strong, capable inside in order to win the starting SF spot. My guess is he comes off the bench at 2/3. Furphy could really blow this all up. If Reibe isn't all that, I could see Alex playing more 5 this year, with Stewart at 4 and Mullins/Furphy/Ross at 3.

PG: Demary (20), Smith (20)
SG: Solo (25), Demary (5) Mullins (10)
SF: Stewart (15) Mullins (15), Ross/Furphy (10)
PF: AK (25), Stewart (15)
C: Reed (25), Reibe (15), AK (5)

0 min for Alec Millender, Dwyane Karoma?

 

[caw]

I'm 50% sold. He's got great offensive tools, but he's NOT great at the 2 things you need your bigs to be great at before anything else: rebounding and protecting the rim. He will need a big summer if we're going to get #7, and I'm sure the staff is making him aware of that. I think he'll rise to the challenge.

I do agree he's not a great rebounder. He hits his man decently and boxes out but he doesn't rebound outside his zone at all.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Shorter assessment:

This team is loaded.

 

[jibsey]

I do agree he's not a great rebounder. He hits his man decently and boxes out but he doesn't rebound outside his zone at all.

The sheer physicality of the BE and the high level teams could take him down a peg or 2. Do we expect 15 per game from him?

 

[uconnever]

Ya know…,,Ross has shown defensive flashes too and no one even mentions him.

He will play plenty!

 

[Lafayette]

The sheer physicality of the BE and the high level teams could take him down a peg or 2. Do we expect 15 per game from him?

Most of the physicality of the Big East is gone and concentrated into UConn and St. John's. Our OOC sched is mightly, but not with banger teams like we've faced in the Big East though with the transfer (er., free agent) portal, it's hard to know until we know.

 

[RuffRuff]

He will play plenty!

Not totally convinced - he’s still likely 9th on the depth chart, and that’s if Furphy doesn’t pop.

Right now still feels like a defensive specialist, yet hasn’t shown to be a great defender, only an upside potential defender.

Maybe he takes this so called leap with another year, which would be great.

 

[HooperScooper]

.....I could see Alex playing more 5 this year.....

Let's hope not. You'd be putting Alex in a tough situation if he had to defend the 5 a lot.

 

[UCONNFAN179]

I really think we need another big. Reed has had foul problems in the past. Hopefully, he curbs some of that this year, but there's no guarantee. Also, you never know who might get injured. When Reed is not on the floor, it is very likely this team as it stands will struggle with rim protection and rebounding against big, physical teams.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

If Reibe isn't all that, I could see Alex playing more 5 this year, with Stewart at 4 and Mullins/Furphy/Ross at 3.

Barring an injury, I would be quite surprised to see Karaban at the five at all. All due respect to Singare, Koroma is a much better player and I fully expect will play that break glass in case of emergency role.

 

[boog204]

The biggest competition is at the 3 spot. I expect Stewart there, but he's honestly better at the 4. Mullins will need to be physically strong, capable inside in order to win the starting SF spot. My guess is he comes off the bench at 2/3. Furphy could really blow this all up. If Reibe isn't all that, I could see Alex playing more 5 this year, with Stewart at 4 and Mullins/Furphy/Ross at 3.

PG: Demary (20), Smith (20)
SG: Solo (25), Demary (5) Mullins (10)
SF: Stewart (15) Mullins (15), Ross/Furphy (10)
PF: AK (25), Stewart (15)
C: Reed (25), Reibe (15), AK (5)

So Stew is going to play more than Solo and Silas and maybe AK? Huh?

 

[fatlucy]

Mullins/Stewart seems like the only remotely questionable call on the starting lineup and it feels like a bit of a coin flip to me at this point. Yes, Hurley has prioritized folks that stuck around, but Mullins is also an absolute stud 5-star that probably fits what they want to do with the offense in the starting unit a bit better.

He has to prioritize whomever is playing the best. They’re getting paid, loyalty is limited to off-court.

 

[RuffRuff]

So Stew is going to play more than Solo and Silas and maybe AK? Huh?

Got to love when these minutes breakdown guesses start coming out, as if they will be anywhere near close to reality. Last years guesses were so far off it was comical. That breakdown is off the wall. Honestly not sure what the point is - let it all play out. So many things can happen in 5-6 months.

 

[HuskyHawk]

So Stew is going to play more than Solo and Silas and maybe AK? Huh?

Don't read too much into it. I don't think anybody should get 30 minutes. It's going to be pretty fluid. If Furphy and/or Ross earn minutes then its even less likely that we have any 30 minute players.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Barring an injury, I would be quite surprised to see Karaban at the five at all. All due respect to Singare, Koroma is a much better player and I fully expect will play that break glass in case of emergency role.

Good point. There's a lot of depth on this roster. We always say that, but this time it seems real.