UConn #7 in The Athletic's Top-25

[nomar]

7. Connecticut​

We’re at the point now where you just assume Dan Hurley’s plan will work. He has nailed roster construction the last few years and built offensive and defensive schemes ideal for his talent. Adding shooting this spring with Mahaney and McNeeley was huge, and Karaban decided to return for a run at a three-peat. Hurley’s offense hums when the Huskies can hunt early 3s and they have optimal floor spacing. That’s not the specialty of sophomores Ball, Stewart and Ross. For UConn to hit its ceiling, Mahaney needs to play to his potential. Diarra is more of a complementary guard, and Mahaney basically replicated his freshman season this past year when it was expected he’d make a star’s leap. He replaces the off-the-dribble playmaking from Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer, and that’s why his success is so important. Hurley has again set it up so his centers can split time and give opponents two different looks. This roster doesn’t appear as talented as the last two, but underrating UConn early has also become a yearly tradition.

Men's college basketball Top 25: Alabama, Gonzaga, Houston lead updated rankings

With the NBA early-entry withdrawal deadline passed and the transfer portal mostly settled, we finally have some clarity on rosters.

www.nytimes.com

 

[JohnFSilver]

They can replace everything with some level of ability except the big guy. That’s why he is so valuable.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

They can replace everything with some level of ability except the big guy. That’s why he is so valuable.

I’m so interested in seeing how this year goes without Clingan. He was SO impactful both years that he was here.

 

[alphasigko]

Also #5 in the CBS Top 25 + 1 (down from #4 due to their elevating 'Bama +7 spots)

 

[Iluvsuebird]

This roster doesn’t appear as talented as the last two, but underrating UConn early has also become a yearly tradition.

I disagree. DC's loss is obviously huge. The biggest loss of them all. You cannot replace him, all you can do is try to plug minutes and production by committee. But I believe that Mahaney and Solo will negate the loss of TN and Cam come January. Remember that we didn't know how we would replace Hawk last year? I feel that Ian McNeeley will have a similar impact in providing huge guard production. The kid is gifted offensively. And most of you seem to think that Stewart will be a star. Well, Stewart will be in our bench!!! I dont know how this team can be viewed as "not as talented". We shall see.

 

[HuskyFich]

Not hating on the overall Breakdown, but clearly they haven't watched film on Jaylin Stewart lol.

 

[nomar]

Not hating on the overall Breakdown, but clearly they haven't watched film on Jaylin Stewart lol.

Yeah, also, 72 of Solo's 115 shots last season were from 3. Of course he only hit 32%, but tell him he's not a 3-point shooter.

 

[DRBackup]

7. Connecticut​

We’re at the point now where you just assume Dan Hurley’s plan will work. He has nailed roster construction the last few years and built offensive and defensive schemes ideal for his talent. Adding shooting this spring with Mahaney and McNeeley was huge, and Karaban decided to return for a run at a three-peat. Hurley’s offense hums when the Huskies can hunt early 3s and they have optimal floor spacing. That’s not the specialty of sophomores Ball, Stewart and Ross. For UConn to hit its ceiling, Mahaney needs to play to his potential. Diarra is more of a complementary guard, and Mahaney basically replicated his freshman season this past year when it was expected he’d make a star’s leap. He replaces the off-the-dribble playmaking from Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer, and that’s why his success is so important. Hurley has again set it up so his centers can split time and give opponents two different looks. This roster doesn’t appear as talented as the last two, but underrating UConn early has also become a yearly tradition.

Men's college basketball Top 25: Alabama, Gonzaga, Houston lead updated rankings

With the NBA early-entry withdrawal deadline passed and the transfer portal mostly settled, we finally have some clarity on rosters.

www.nytimes.com

Huh. The team with one of the longest average possession lengths in the game "hunts early threes". What an odd take.

Also, the offense isn't driven by "optimal floor spacing", but intricate offensive sets.

 

[HooperScooper]

Yeah, also, 72 of Solo's 115 shots last season were from 3. Of course he only hit 32%, but tell him he's not a 3-point shooter.

Ask Hurley if he's a good 3 point shooter. Can't just look at the numbers from his freshman season and extrapolate those to next year.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Solo a 3-point shooter. He is going to be a high volume 3-shooter too.

 

[nomar]

Huh. The team with one of the longest average possession lengths in the game "hunts early threes". What an odd take.

Also, the offense isn't driven by "optimal floor spacing", but intricate offensive sets.

Maybe he meant in transition. But yeah, our half-court offensive sets (intentionally) take time, for the reason you state.

To be generous, floor spacing is part of those sets.

 

[nomar]

Ask Hurley if he's a good 3 point shooter. Can't just look at the numbers from his freshman season and extrapolate those to next year.

I don't need to ask him -- he wouldn't have let Solo take 72 of them if he didn't have confidence in him.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Huh. The team with one of the longest average possession lengths in the game "hunts early threes". What an odd take.

Also, the offense isn't driven by "optimal floor spacing", but intricate offensive sets.

Seriously. Did they mix us up with Alabama?

 

[elmcityboy]

six spots too low

 

[auror]

Hunting early 3s he means like Hawkins flaring to the wing or Karaban trailing for a 3 in semi transition.

 

[Sphinx]

The Hurley mythos is now such that you cannot overrate UConn without the fear that you might not be overrating them enough. We may be lousy, but if we are, it's not going to be because anyone anticipates it. We're going to have to prove it on the court.

The forum consensus is that our first five is #1 material and out second five Top 25 material, and this is true no matter what players you put on either five.

The withdrawal symptoms are going to be interesting.

 

[businesslawyer]

Without commenting on the imperfections in the analysis, I think #7 is much more realistic than #1. Compete for your conference championship, get the trophy, and then see where you are when the tourney starts.

I don't see us being quite as good, in the aggregate, at the 1 through 4 as we were the last two years, and even if we are we're not going to be anywhere near as good in the middle as we've gotten used to.

 

[mets1090]

The withdrawal symptoms are going to be interesting.

The best way to avoid title withdrawal symptoms is to simply keep winning titles.

 

[Jaydumo20]

I don't need to ask him -- he wouldn't have let Solo take 72 of them if he didn't have confidence in him.

Yep. AK on most recent top dogs basically said that Solo is the best shooter on the team.

 

[Orc]

Solo a 3-point shooter. He is going to be a high volume 3-shooter too.

I hope not too many threes . Hes streaky shooter and not really great at that

 

[OkaForPrez]

We are in position to accomplish something that hasn't been done in 50 years.

 

[awy]

lazy and/or dumb to say ball/stewart/ross are nonshooters when they were decent to good shooters in high school. the high school tape > small sample backup minutes in college. this should be bulletin board material.

 

[Palatine]

Yeah, also, 72 of Solo's 115 shots last season were from 3. Of course he only hit 32%, but tell him he's not a 3-point shooter.

Hurley said Solo's shooting is real. So take it up with Danny.

 

[SoFla Steve]

ESPN moved us up from 7 to 3 . . .


Men's WTE Top 25: Alabama vaults to No. 2; Texas, Ohio State drop out

 

[connVA]

At this point Hurley is becoming Jordanesque in that any potential for perceived disrespect- in this case not having his defending champs in the top 5- should be nightmare fuel for everyone else.