Traci Carter (Committed to Marquette)

[uchusky32]

I'm not saying that it's some lock that TSam will become an amazing player, but players and teams improve all the time in ways that are hard to picture. Did you accurately picture Kemba's improvement from his sophomore to junior year? Did you picture Giffey shooting 50% from 3 as a senior after shooting 29% a a junior? Or what Boat's defense was going to be in the NCAA tournament?

It's college sports, unexpected improvement is not a rarity.

Kemba had the form/release to have a good jump shot. GIF always had good form but just didn't have confidence. I give you Boat and D even though great D has been a Uconn trademark.

Tsams' form is horrible. Maybe he could be a lock down defender. Maybe

 

[mauconnfan]

Oh, I know you can't help me there. You can't even post a coherent thought most of the time. You are really good at blaming other people for not understanding your drivel though.

And again, you don't know jack about how the last 2 years of TSam's career are going to play out.

Good news for me is your the only one who doesn't get it. Your posts are so full of intelligent thoughts I am in awe of you!

The other good news is I don't know jack about how his 2 years will play out for sure you are correct. Bad news for you is you're clueless and the way you handled this also makes you look like a dick!

 

[Fishy]

At some point, you are what you are.

And Samuel is late in his sophomore year averaging less than four points a game.

He's a decent seventh man on a good team.

 

[7774]

Kemba had the form/release to have a good jump shot. GIF always had good form but just didn't have confidence.

LOL. Yes, I'm sure before the 2010-11 season you were saying Kemba was going to put up the greatest individual season at UCONN ever because he had really good form. I'm sure before last year you were saying "you know, Giffey shot below 30% from 3 as a junior, but he has good form and he's going to shoot 50% this year". Get real.

 

[uchusky32]

LOL. Yes, I'm sure before the 2010-11 season you were saying Kemba was going to put up the greatest individual season at UCONN ever because he had really good form. I'm sure before last year you were saying "you know, Giffey shot below 30% from 3 as a junior, but he has good form and he's going to shoot 50% this year". Get real.

No I wasn't saying that but I knew there would be improvement. And I did think that Kemba was going to blow up his Junior year after his Sophomore year. And I did think Gif would be a very good set shot shooter his sr year. Not great for Gif but really good.

 

[mauconnfan]

LOL. Yes, I'm sure before the 2010-11 season you were saying Kemba was going to put up the greatest individual season at UCONN ever because he had really good form. I'm sure before last year you were saying "you know, Giffey shot below 30% from 3 as a junior, but he has good form and he's going to shoot 50% this year". Get real.

This makes you look ridiculous. Really, Kemba after the 2010-11 season vs TSam? The 2 talents and ceilings are so far apart.

I will go on record saying this - TSam will not put up the greatest individual season of all time at UConn.

 

[7774]

Good news for me is your the only one who doesn't get it. Your posts are so full of intelligent thoughts I am in awe of you!

The other good news is I don't know jack about how his 2 years will play out for sure you are correct. Bad news for you is you're clueless and the way you handled this also makes you look like a dick!

Tons of people don't get it. It's why you're always blaming people for lack of reading comprehension.

I'm actually not clueless, that would be people who think they can predict the future with 100% accuracy. I would say you're accurate about me coming off as a dick though.

 

[mauconnfan]

Tons of people don't get it. It's why you're always blaming people for lack of reading comprehension.

I'm actually not clueless, that would be people who think they can predict the future with 100% accuracy. I would say you're accurate about me coming off as a dick though.

Well you're getting there then

Tons? Wow I will start to take my time and help those who need reading assistance with better structure and vocabulary.

 

[7774]

This makes you look ridiculous. Really, Kemba after the 2010-11 season vs TSam? The 2 talents and ceilings are so far apart.

I will go on record saying this - TSam will not put up the greatest individual season of all time at UConn.

You really can't grasp I'm not comparing Kemba and TSam, huh?

 

[mauconnfan]

You really can't grasp I'm not comparing Kemba and TSam, huh?

Oh geez I can't write or read, we're done! You can't grasp jacks**t. You did actually compare, because if you did ask me who would have bigger impact their junior year TSam or Kemba would there be any doubt whatsoever? How big of an impact, well you have to be a fool to think you could figure that one out, but maybe you can then?

 

[Fishy]

You really can't grasp I'm not comparing Kemba and TSam, huh?

Except you kind of did....you used Kemba's improvement from his sophomore year to his junior year as an argument that Terrence Samuel could "easily become" our second ballhandling option if he 'continues improving'.

It was a really bad example.

 

[mauconnfan]

You really can't grasp I'm not comparing Kemba and TSam, huh?

You're right, my bad

 

[mauconnfan]

Except you kind of did....you used Kemba's improvement from his sophomore year to his junior year as an argument that Terrence Samuel could "easily become" our second ballhandling option if he 'continues improving'.

It was a really bad example.

I think you're reading it wrong too Fishy. That's not what it meant.

 

[7774]

Oh geez I can't write or read, we're done! You can't grasp jacks**t. You did actually compare, because if you did ask me who would have bigger impact their junior year TSam or Kemba would there be any doubt whatsoever? How big of an impact, well you have to be a fool to think you could figure that one out, but maybe you can then?

You're making me feel bad for you. I don't like it.

 

[ctchamps]

I couldnt agree more. To say that Traci Carter won't get minutes at Uconn next year is crazy. I seen him at HoopHall and wish he was on our roster now. By far would be the best pure PG on the roster. Right now he is better than TSam. TSam can't shoot, can barely dribble or pass. He plays pretty good defense but def not great defense as some have said.

Will TSam get better? maybe but I doubt it would be drastic enough to being a lead guard. Hes a bench guy ,maybe 10 minutes a game to give a spark.

If Carter comes to UConn I would bet my life that when it comes to crunch time the last 10 minutes of a game Carter will be on the court with Adams, Purvis/Omar/Tsam, Dham and Brimah.

Remember this post @Deepster if we need to pick someone to hang next season. Candy has volunteered is life! Of course Traci needs to commit first.

 

[mauconnfan]

You're making me feel bad for you. I don't like it.

Well thanks man. But I'm good, no need to feel bad for me my friend.

 

[ctchamps]

I agree with Mau on this one. We need another handler on the team.

Adams is a great prospect, but none of us know how well he will handle playing point as a freshman. Hopefully he plays great, but it's no guarantee.

We've seen two years of TSam and while he definitely has a role on the team as a high energy guy off the bench I personally don't see him evolving into a lead guard to run the point full time. In my opinion we should bring in another ball handler to help run the team.

I think the recruiting tea leaves echoes this sentiment. There is a reason the staff is focusing on ball handlers currently.

 

[uchusky32]

Well thanks man. But I'm good, no need to feel bad for me my friend.

Fishy was talking to the so called

 

[7774]

Except you kind of did....you used Kemba's improvement from his sophomore year to his junior year as an argument that Terrence Samuel could "easily become" our second ballhandling option if he 'continues improving'.

It was a really bad example.

I used Kemba's improvement from his sophomore year to his junior year as an example of a player that improved much more than anyone thought possible based upon what had been seen on the court up to that point in time. No one thought Kemba was going to come out and do what he did as a junior. There was no evidence for it. There are many other examples of this, but Kemba is the one I picked. I also included Giffey and Boat as examples. There was no evidence based upon Giffey's first 3 years that he would show up and shoot 50% from 3 as a senior. There are hundreds of other examples of this from our teams and other teams throughout the years.

I don't think TSam will ever get to the level of a Kemba, or a Bazz, or a Boat. But ALL those guys improved tremendously over their last year or two. If TSam makes the same amount of improvement, I think he can be a starter on a championship level team. That is my opinion. I have no idea whether or not it will happen.

 

[Stainmaster]

I will wager that T-Sam will improve between now and the time he graduates. I think by the time he leaves, he will be one of our better backup PGs in recent history. He has a long way to go, but this year I have seen him grow slightly more comfortable with his handle/finding the open man. Of course he still has a bad habit of throwing sloppy passes, and his court vision isn't the greatest. But I don't believe that he's maxed out.

 

[Candyman]

I used Kemba's improvement from his sophomore year to his junior year as an example of a player that improved much more than anyone thought possible based upon what had been seen on the court up to that point in time. No one thought Kemba was going to come out and do what he did as a junior. There was no evidence for it. There are many other examples of this, but Kemba is the one I picked. I also included Giffey and Boat as examples. There was no evidence based upon Giffey's first 3 years that he would show up and shoot 50% from 3 as a senior. There are hundreds of other examples of this from our teams and other teams throughout the years.

I don't think TSam will ever get to the level of a Kemba, or a Bazz, or a Boat. But ALL those guys improved tremendously over their last year or two. If TSam makes the same amount of improvement, I think he can be a starter on a championship level team. That is my opinion. I have no idea whether or not it will happen.

I get what your saying, that Tsam can improve like Kemba improved just not the same level of improvement. Like Kemba imporved to All-American status and your saying TSam can improve to starter and major contributor status. I just disagree with TSam drastically improving.

Kemba had all the tools besides a jumper to be a great player. He had the form as someone mentioned earlier and worked on his jumper all summer plus his decison making. Keep in mind Kemba was a MCDAA and top 15 player. The potential was always there for him to be great.

Now TSam doesnt have the potential to be a starter at this level. He dribbles too high, keeps his head down and doesnt pass very well for a pg that cant shoot. I feel that at this point in a persons basketball career that ballhandling is what it is, it won't get better. His jumper will improve but he needs a complete jumper form makeover. He will get better but I just dont see the kind of drastic improvment your saying could happen.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Good news for me is your the only one who doesn't get it. Your posts are so full of intelligent thoughts I am in awe of you!

The other good news is I don't know jack about how his 2 years will play out for sure you are correct. Bad news for you is you're clueless and the way you handled this also makes you look like a dick!

I really respect your posts, but in his sophomore year Napier was being called the worse PG in history.
Will TS be a KW or SN ? No
He needs to be a confident team leader , who can knock down the occasional shot.
Hopefully after 3 years in the system he can provide confidence when paired with a more gifted less experienced guard.
He doesn't need to be Ray Allen ,or Kemba Walker , he needs to be Terrance Samuel with experience.

 

[mauconnfan]

I really respect your posts, but in his sophomore year Napier was being called the worse PG in history.
Will TS be a KW or SN ? No
He needs to be a confident team leader , who can knock down the occasional shot.
Hopefully after 3 years in the system he can provide confidence when paired with a more gifted less experienced guard.
He doesn't need to be Ray Allen ,or Kemba Walker , he needs to be Terrance Samuel with experience.

Napier isn't TSam so the expectations were much higher. What he did as a freshman next to Kemba had much more impact than TSam as a freshman. I agree he doesn't need to be any of these guys no matter, he just needs to come off the bench and impact the game like a 3rd or 4th guard should no doubt. My only point is he can't be playing a lot of minutes ever and especially not starting unless there are injuries. He's never going to be that kind of player and if he is that tells you where we stand as a program, that's all.

 

[ctchamps]

Napier isn't TSam so the expectations were much higher. What he did as a freshman next to Kemba had much more impact than TSam as a freshman. I agree he doesn't need to be any of these guys no matter, he just needs to come off the bench and impact the game like a 3rd or 4th guard should no doubt. My only point is he can't be playing a lot of minutes ever and especially not starting unless there's injuries. He's never going to be that kind of player and if he is that tells you where we stand as a program, that's all.

I will never say never! But the probability is low for TSam.

Agree that Bazz showed a lot more his freshman season than TSam did his freshman season. And part of the discussion about Bazz was related to failed expectations as opposed to relative skills between him and TSam.

Loved both players freshmen seasons. And love TSam now. Just wish he was number three instead of number 2 option. Hopefully he will prove us wrong next season. Rooting for the kid.

 

[mauconnfan]

I will never say never! But the probability is low for TSam.

Agree that Bazz showed a lot more his freshman season than TSam did his freshman season. And part of the discussion about Bazz was related to failed expectations as opposed to relative skills between him and TSam.

Loved both players freshmen seasons. And love TSam now. Just wish he was number three instead of number 2 option. Hopefully he will prove us wrong next season. Rooting for the kid.

Yep, agree on all points. I'm not at all rooting against TSam, hell prove me totally wrong I'm a fan anyway. I just see limitations based on his skill set. That's fine because he deserves to be a Husky and has proven that.

 

[pnow15]

Adams has to show what he can do. However, if he is a more reliable three point shooter than Purvis and a better ball handler, I think he starts as the two guard. TSam then has to beat out Carter, Hardnett etc., for the starting point guard. A two has to be able to handle the ball, hit free throws and make the three ball at a high rate of consistency. Memphis actually played off of Purvis to let him shoot the three.
Purvis could stay in the role as sixth man. However, I'm not opposed to UConn taking both Hardnett and Carter for the team. The last time we had two creative diminutive ball handlers in their junior and/or senior years - things turned out pretty good.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Napier isn't TSam so the expectations were much higher. What he did as a freshman next to Kemba had much more impact than TSam as a freshman. I agree he doesn't need to be any of these guys no matter, he just needs to come off the bench and impact the game like a 3rd or 4th guard should no doubt. My only point is he can't be playing a lot of minutes ever and especially not starting unless there's injuries. He's never going to be that kind of player and if he is that tells you where we stand as a program, that's all.

TS is the only guard with a half-way decent handle and I believe with better passing skills than given credit for.
Do you want OC, RP ,or a true Freshman ,at PG or TS ?

Maybe a post grad-transfer will fall out of the sky but that's not likely.
TS is can't be a 3rd or 4 option unless that happens.
How do you see next years team?
The last freshman to be lead guard was Austrie , with an experienced team with 3 or 4 future NBA players on it, and really only against the weakest part of the schedule.

 

[ctchamps]

TS is the only guard with a half-way decent handle and I believe with better passing skills than given credit for.
Do you want OC, RP ,or a true Freshman ,at PG or TS ?

Maybe a post grad-transfer will fall out of the sky but that's not likely.
TS is can't be a 3rd or 4 option unless that happens.
How do you see next years team?
The last freshman to be lead guard was Austrie , with an experienced team with 3 or 4 future NBA players on it, and really only against the weakest part of the schedule.

Best case scenarios is TSam developing a consistent mid range/deep threat to his game, UConn gets a very good ball handler/shooter freshman who from the get go makes minimal freshmen mistakes and KO has to "worry" about how he allocates playing time.

Worse case scenario is TSam develops neither of these abilities and no freshmen comes in who can be an upgrade over this current version of TSam.

And there are a slew of in between scenarios.

There definitely needs to be someone that can show improvement over this years version of TSam, OC and RP and someone who can be as good or close to as good as Ryan. Otherwise the team will struggle and fans will blame players, coaches and one another.

I'm being cautious with my expectations because that's asking a lot of upgrades over this season, which as mau points out isn't obvious with TSam and you point out is unlikely with a freshman pg.

Well this is not entirely true. I'm looking for another NC next season. Why start out pessimistic. I won't be devastated with anything less. I certainly would understand why anyone would not accept this forecast. The probability is extremely small. So what. I wouldn't share this optimism with those who can't handle disappointment when those expectations aren't met. Funny how we have to temper our hopes because others can't handle adversity. Funny how those of us who understand probabilities still can't be optimistic with low probabilities.

 

[mauconnfan]

TS is the only guard with a half-way decent handle and I believe with better passing skills than given credit for.
Do you want OC, RP ,or a true Freshman ,at PG or TS ?

Maybe a post grad-transfer will fall out of the sky but that's not likely.
TS is can't be a 3rd or 4 option unless that happens.
How do you see next years team?
The last freshman to be lead guard was Austrie , with an experienced team with 3 or 4 future NBA players on it, and really only against the weakest part of the schedule.

I am not disagreeing with him being a better 2G than either RP or OC, heck they're actually 3's anyway. But he's not a good passer and only a decent handle, his D is solid enough most of the time although also inconsistent. We need to upgrade with a ball handler, passer and potentially a better scorer in order to put us in position to be a better team next year. Jalen will play immediately no matter how much he needs to lear because he will be the only one to put us in position to score the ball.

Can you honestly picture a lineup of TS, OC, RP, Kelis Fisher and AB? Hoping the post grad or maybe a decommit falls through the cracks if not Carter.

 

[mauconnfan]

Adams has to show what he can do. However, if he is a more reliable three point shooter than Purvis and a better ball handler, I think he starts as the two guard. TSam then has to beat out Carter, Hardnett etc., for the starting point guard. A two has to be able to handle the ball, hit free throws and make the three ball at a high rate of consistency. Memphis actually played off of Purvis to let him shoot the three.
Purvis could stay in the role as sixth man. However, I'm not opposed to UConn taking both Hardnett and Carter for the team. The last time we had two creative diminutive ball handlers in their junior and/or senior years - things turned out pretty good.

They don't play that far off RP he makes enough to make them worry a bit, but they hardly guard TS at all.