I'm not sure any of the current 13 scholarship players came to UConn to sit on the bench (well maybe Jacob Ross expected not to play this season) but the fact is there are going to be at least 3 players who won't play much, if at all. Koroma is in the group as one of those that might not play. We'll see.
Key word, flashes. He was also absent for long stretches. And he was bad on D a lot of the time. So yeah maybe he can extend the flashes.
The problem is this year if they bring him in to shut down someone he’ll need to do that for minutes. I’m not sure what everyone saw but his defense wasn’t shutdown worthy he needs to get better and move his feet instead of going for ball and head fakes. He has potential but that’s all we saw. Here’s hoping!
I don’t remember Stewart creating his own shot, or being able to dribble. He was a good shooter from 3 in some games, and good at scoring on the fast break and some offensive rebounds. My recollection is he struggled when he put ball on floor in half court sets. If he can create his own shot, and not turn ball over on offense, and play defense and get defensive boards along with what he showed last year he will get PT. I think he has the talent to do it, but his ball handling needs some polish.
My tendency is to evaluate Furphy based on what I saw and read about at the FIBA Cup. While certainly great competition, it is not Big East and NCAA level competition. Your comment re: Ross v. Furphy brought things into a more realistic focus. In daily practices, Furphy will go up against an upperclassmen with a huge investment in the program, with tons of physical ability and alot to lose if he doesn't breakout this year. Not going to be an easy row to hoe for the kid from down under, but one that willl certainly make the Huskies ever more formidable.
We’ll see - Furphy looks like a much more skilled offensive player, and he has size. Will be fun to see how it plays out.
But he does have the athletic ability to play the 3 in college
He did i flashes dribble and take a jump shot closer to the basket. He was known out of high school being able to create his own shot but I think playjng behind others he has become not aggressive looking for his offense. I think by his off-season remarks he knows it is his time to step up and be aggressive on offense. If not we have other options at the 3. Hopefully we get the Jaylin we saw at the end of last year but with more aggression.
Along with both Stew and Ross needing to make a summer transformation I am also interested to see what AK has done to get better. His three-point shooting has regressed since his sophomore year and his defense has never been outstanding. I really think he needs to step up his game if he expects to be drafted to the NBA
Having a great handle and confidence in it would go a long way toward Stewart breaking out this coming season. Reminds me a little of Andre Jackson in that regard. Andre could have really punished defenders if his handle was better. I see the same thing for Stewart.
Yeah im talking about Stewart who has has shown a lot more basketball skills than Ross. Ross and Stewart shouldn't be compared. I dont see Ross having much of an impact on the team as we have seen nothing from him even in flashes on both sides of the ball. I wish him the best but was surprised he came back. I thought he would drop down a level of play. I hope Ross proves me wrong but I don't see it. If Stewart fails to step up at the 3 we will be seeing alot more of Mullins and Smith in a 3 guard lineups.
I can picture Andre in the open floor pushing a controlled aggressive transition, with his long strides and tight handle. This was a point of emphasis for us and definitely contributed to how good we were that season.
Your point is belayed by the FACT that he played a USA team filled with NBA talent and was among the better players on the court. And then several games in row later played a Germany team that was keying in on him and still handled himself well. Furphy can play brother. Stewart and J. Ross better be ready to compete, otherwise Furphy will be taking their minutes.
Agree that Ross may be in trouble, but I doubt he is going to go quietly, nor do I believe "Taz" will dominate him.. The players in the FIBA tourney are basically freshmen. My point is, that while the USA talent is off the charts, there are many older players throughout the NCAA that will give the top FIBA tourney players fits, some of them on the UConn roster.
I think those posters are talking about him "showing nothing" in games. Supposedly he's awesome in practices but outside of the New Hampshire and Maryland Eastern Shore game it's fair to say he didn't show anything in the games.
I don't have the stat on hand, but Soph to Junior skill upgrades are the usual. Frosh to Soph (Solo) are rarer.
I felt like there was a very noticeable improvement in his (AK) defense last year. I also believe him being drafted at the end of next year is effectively a given barring unforeseen injury.
More like shredded!