UConn #7 in The Athletic's Top-25

[UCann]

Some pretty bad analysis in the breakdown, as others have pointed out. I have come to believe that when I see this level of disrespect in the CBB media, it is either because of one of three factors:

1. Stupidity/lack of research
2. Jealousy/hate
3. UConn fans who want to provide bulletin board material to fuel another run

No other explanations exist. One of the above three is the reason they rank us #7. No way, with AK back as defending champs and the talent of this roster and coaching staff, can we be outside the top 5. Even losing DC (which we all know is huge), how can you forget how much we beat teams by last year. The margin for error is large. Hurley even said the same himself - we don't need to be as good as last year's team to win again.

 

[LIuconn]

ESPN has Liam McNeeley starting at the 4 and Stew isn't even in the blurb. Not surprised, but damn c'mon. 2x defending champs, do better ESPN

 

[nomar]

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

Try reading the thread

 

[auror]

I doubt that. Cj Moore is sharp.

He picked us to win the title in his bracket.

NCAA Tournament bracket picks: CJ Moore picks UConn over Purdue for the title

Chaos in the West Region, a Marquette-Wisconsin Elite Eight and more expert picks from CJ Moore.

www.nytimes.com

And then in an article before the final four repeated he wasnt picking against us.

Final Four roundtable: Can anybody beat UConn? Which underdog has the best shot?

By Brian Hamilton, Brendan Marks, CJ Moore and Kyle TuckerFinal Four week is here. Alabama, UConn, Purdue and NC State will convene in Glendale, Ariz., this weekend to decide the national title. To…

pressnewsagency.org

 

[runner11]

The athletic guy also picked against UConn against either Illinois or bama.

He also wrote an awesome profile on Cam in February.

I disagree with ISU, Duke and UNC (CBS) being ranked above but the others are very close.

 

[jojipoji]

I doubt that. Cj Moore is sharp.

Not CJ moore, the other guy from the athletic. They picked Illinois over UConn and said UConn couldn’t stop Shannon

 

[mbt0512]

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

#7 sounds good to me..

 

[Kitaman]

Hurley is the reason we're at 7, any other team would be double digits with such a roster change.

 

[Storrs South]

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.

Karaban was highly complimentary of Solo's shooting in an interview yesterday and given the trajectory of his minutes during course of season I'm not sure how much one can take away from the stats. He came out red hot then cooled down as Steph was coming back and then it was all garbage time so most of the reps came early in his frosh season. Hurley has also said he can shoot. I think he will surprise on that front next season.

 

[nomar]

Karaban was highly complimentary of Solo's shooting in an interview yesterday and given the trajectory of his minutes during course of season I'm not sure how much one can take away from the stats. He came out red hot then cooled down as Steph was coming back and then it was all garbage time so most of the reps came early in his frosh season. Hurley has also said he can shoot. I think he will surprise on that front next season.

Not sure why anybody read anything into that particularly given my next post about 6 inches down the screen, where I said Danny was obviously confident in his 3-point shot. And the fact I was pushing back on the notion that Solo isn’t a 3-point shooter.

For the avoidance of doubt, I agree he’s a 3-point shooter.

 

[UCann]

He picked us to win the title in his bracket.

NCAA Tournament bracket picks: CJ Moore picks UConn over Purdue for the title

Chaos in the West Region, a Marquette-Wisconsin Elite Eight and more expert picks from CJ Moore.

www.nytimes.com

And then in an article before the final four repeated he wasnt picking against us.

Final Four roundtable: Can anybody beat UConn? Which underdog has the best shot?

By Brian Hamilton, Brendan Marks, CJ Moore and Kyle TuckerFinal Four week is here. Alabama, UConn, Purdue and NC State will convene in Glendale, Ariz., this weekend to decide the national title. To…

pressnewsagency.org

Well seems like he falls into #3 on my aforementioned CBB media rubric.

 

[HeGotGame]

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.

I feel like I am ready a HuskyHawks Pats post. I can't tell if it's satire or lunacy.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Seven is a nice number to be associated with our upcoming season.

 

[Bonamassa]

I love how so many fans have already definitively decided how good the UConn freshmen will be next year without allowing them to play a single game. Happens every year.

 

[NJHusky]

#7 sounds good to me..

Exactly

 

[DRBackup]

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

I don't know. Transition threes have been a thing for a long time. That seems like offense 101, not something special or unique about UConn

 

[DRBackup]

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

He was a freshman for crying out loud.

 

[fatlucy]

I love how so many fans have already definitively decided how good the UConn freshmen will be next year without allowing them to play a single game. Happens every year.

Doomed

 

[tzznandrew]

I don't think this is unreasonable. I think we're one of the better teams out there.

I think Kansas as a consensus #1 is wild. Self obviously can coach, but the team doesn't feel like it is going to cohere.... I guess we'll see...

 

[HooperScooper]

I don't think this is unreasonable. I think we're one of the better teams out there.

I think Kansas as a consensus #1 is wild. Self obviously can coach, but the team doesn't feel like it is going to cohere.... I guess we'll see...

They were the consensus #1 team last preseason also and look how that turned out.

 

[Husky68]

This years team will be better than previous two years. To start those years:

Jackson couldn't shoot, Karaban was a 2nd choice at power forward, SJ hurt, Hawkins couldn't dribble, Sanogo couldn't pass, Newton wasn't a point guard, Joey couldn't defend and Hassan turned the ball over and couldn't shoot.

Lost Jackson/Sanogo/Hawkins. Clingan gets hurt, too heavy, can't shoot fouls, misses bunnies; SC can't rebound and always fouls; Newton still the non point guard point guard; Spencer can't guard; Castle can't shoot; do we have to play Hassan, he'll kill the offense; Karaban can't guard big 4's.

This year have legit 9 deep (Ross, Singare, Abraham could push too). Lot of potential there and plenty of games to make it work with the coaching staff that gets it.

I want to see a final four with Karaban vs. Flagg. My money is on our guy/team.

 

[awy]

uconn offense has slow pace but they do generate quite a lot of open 3s. it's just that they also are dominant at generating high conversion 2s and those tend to be less variable. this is a far more stable strategy esp in a tourney format.

 

[DMIL]

Let's enjoy this UCONN team coming together, establishing chemistry and a rapport with each other. They will earn it once again and make us proud. The Preseason poll really doesn't matter. Coach HURLEY love "CHIPS" literally.

 

[aburks41]

7. Connecticut​

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.

I mean this is just a flat out wrong analysis from this author. These guys are going to be high 30% 3pt shooters. If Solo shoots 40% this year I wouldn’t be surprised at all, I almost expect it. Sometimes it takes a year to get used to the flow of the game, our offense, and the speed of the college game.

 

[nomar]

I mean this is just a flat out wrong analysis from this author. These guys are going to be high 30% 3pt shooters. If Solo shoots 40% this year I wouldn’t be surprised at all, I almost expect it. Sometimes it takes a year to get used to the flow of the game, our offense, and the speed of the college game.

I mentioned above that 72 of Ball's 115 shots were from 3. Stewart also took a very high percentage of 3s: 37 of his 78 shots. And although Ross only took 22 shots, half of them were from 3. So clearly that is their specialty, or they wouldn't have been allowed to do that.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I mentioned above that 72 of Ball's 115 shots were from 3. Stewart also took a very high percentage of 3s: 37 of his 78 shots. And although Ross only took 22 shots, half of them were from 3. So clearly that is their specialty, or they wouldn't have been allowed to do that.

I don’t think it was because it was their strength per se.

They didn’t have much leash to make plays and put the ball on the floor. One of the few things they had the freedom to do was shoot. So that’s what they did.

 

[TheChamps990411]

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

We were unranked before the season in 2023 and #6? to start 2024. Now going into 2025 Hurley himself has said this may be his deepest team talent wise and he and his staff are the best in the country and as the last two tourneys has proven its not even close. Its crazy to think that Uconn `24 was several injuries away from running the table. There are three teams that right now on paper have separated themselves from the country and its Uconn, Bama and Kansas and thats my top 3 going into next season.

 

[navery12]

I mean this is just a flat out wrong analysis from this author. These guys are going to be high 30% 3pt shooters. If Solo shoots 40% this year I wouldn’t be surprised at all, I almost expect it. Sometimes it takes a year to get used to the flow of the game, our offense, and the speed of the college game.

I expect it from Ball, granted it was a small sample size but he shot 45% from 3 during conference play. He should be putting up 5 3's a game minimum next year

 

[husky429]

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.

Intricate offensive sets don't work unless you have dangerous shooters.

 

[awy]

spacing helps with scheming for efficient shots. not a contradiction.