UConn #7 in The Athletic's Top-25 | The Boneyard

UConn #7 in The Athletic's Top-25

nomar

nomar

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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.

www.nytimes.com

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 www.nytimes.com
 
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.
 
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HuskyFich said:
Not hating on the overall Breakdown, but clearly they haven't watched film on Jaylin Stewart lol.
Expand ...

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.
 
nomar said:

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.

www.nytimes.com

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 www.nytimes.com
Expand ...
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.
 
nomar said:
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.
Expand ...
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.
 
DRBackup said:
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.
Expand ...

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.
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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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.
 
nomar said:
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.
Expand ...
Hurley said Solo's shooting is real. So take it up with Danny.
 
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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.
 
I want to be ranked as high as possible so Hurley can send a message to the players early. Number 7 would be a good spot to say:

“See?! No one thinks you’re good enough and they’re right! Show me you are. Show me championship mentality. Adama Sanogo! Jordan Hawkins! Tristan Newton! Donovan Clingan! Cam Spencer! They were champions. Isaiah Whaley The WRENCH! … Prove to me you’re better than them, because no one thinks you are!”
 
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