UConn in the NBA Nov 2025

[HW611]

Do you think we need a new coach?

No but he’s not perfect and it’s okay to say when something isn’t.

There’s a million things he knows more than anyone on this board about running an elite program. Doesn’t mean we can’t talk about the few areas he may miss in and be honest about it.

 

[Waquoit]

DraftKings gives you 3 months with $20 in SGPx bets.

That type of bet specifically to increase the chances we lose lol

Thanks, I missed it. I can do $20 with zero expectation. But just maybe...

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Hawkins was the No. 48 recruit in his class from 247, the No. 56 recruit from ESPN and the No. 95 recruit by On3. Was a 5 ppg bench guy in year one.

A year later he was a lottery pick. And a national champion.

This is the only thing that needs to be mentioned in this conversation

 

[Waquoit]

DraftKings gives you 3 months with $20 in SGPx bets.

That type of bet specifically to increase the chances we lose lol

I have to let you know what you started. Turns out it's a better deal for new customers. Three months with a $5 bet. You also get $300 in "bonus bets" if you cash that $5 bet. I read the fine print which says bet must be -500 or higher. The Celtics are -470 tonight and I can't wait all year so that's where my fiver went. Then it hit me, I can play the Jazz on the money line for big odds. So I put down $20 at +360 figuring if they win, I'll have enough to buy the 2nd half season of League Pass.

 

[HW611]

I have to let you know what you started. Turns out it's a better deal for new customers. Three months with a $5 bet. You also get $300 in "bonus bets" if you cash that $5 bet. I read the fine print which says bet must be -500 or higher. The Celtics are -470 tonight and I can't wait all year so that's where my fiver went. Then it hit me, I can play the Jazz on the money line for big odds. So I put down $20 at +360 figuring if they win, I'll have enough to buy the 2nd half season of League Pass.

 

[HW611]

I have to let you know what you started. Turns out it's a better deal for new customers. Three months with a $5 bet. You also get $300 in "bonus bets" if you cash that $5 bet. I read the fine print which says bet must be -500 or higher. The Celtics are -470 tonight and I can't wait all year so that's where my fiver went. Then it hit me, I can play the Jazz on the money line for big odds. So I put down $20 at +360 figuring if they win, I'll have enough to buy the 2nd half season of League Pass.

Honestly though. Used those deals and get out while you can lmao.

I just lost a parlay lost night where I needed Wemby to score 25 and somehow the Suns of all teams were able to hold him to under 10.

It’s always something. Before you know it this will be you (and is me currently)

 

[Waquoit]

I very rarely bet games because I always lose. Pretty much my only cashes came in bombs like the World Cup, Daytona 500 and Scottish Open. And Castle for ROY.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Their guard depth is currently Jeremiah Fears, Jordan Poole, Trey Murphy, and Jose Alvarado.

They all do what Hawkins can do (shoot) and other things as well. In Jose’s case he’s their defensive specialist. This is before Murray gets back.

It’s a very loaded backcourt talent wise they just don’t play well together.

Meanwhile Miami is starting journeyman Pelle Larson and going 9 deep because they don’t have enough playable guys until Herro gets back. There’s all the opportunity in the world there.

There’s more situations like that where in other situations too, Miami was just the first to come to mind.

The 4 guys you named are shooting between 30 and 36% from 3 while Larsen is shooting 39%. Hawk really hasn't been given the opportunity. You are right there are a lot of guards in front of him but none of them (maybe I'd keep Murphy) are very good or consistent

 

[superjohn]

The 4 guys you named are shooting between 30 and 36% from 3 while Larsen is shooting 39%. Hawk really hasn't been given the opportunity. You are right there are a lot of guards in front of him but none of them (maybe I'd keep Murphy) are very good or consistent

Hawkins was allowed to shoot 6 threes per game last season despite being horrible at it. You have to actually show something in the NBA to keep getting big minutes. He's had his opportunities.

 

[Mr. French]

I didn’t know who he was so I just went to journeyman, that’s my fault. Regardless I don’t think he’s the same kind of roadblock locked into the rotation guy like everyone else on the Pelicans are.

I agree with that overall premise - just wanted to be sure we weren't going too hard on someone.

 

[HW611]

The 4 guys you named are shooting between 30 and 36% from 3 while Larsen is shooting 39%. Hawk really hasn't been given the opportunity. You are right there are a lot of guards in front of him but none of them (maybe I'd keep Murphy) are very good or consistent

Maybe but they get paid a lot of guaranteed money (Poole) or are a recent top pick (Fears).

They also do things outside of making the hardest shot in basketball that make them valuable so they aren’t being judged strictly on that. Same with Alvarado. He plays because he’s great on defense and is a solid playmaker.

Only Hawkins is being judged strictly on his 3 point shooting because that’s what he hedged his career on.

 

[REB1094]

Tyrese with another start last night. 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists on 40%

AJax DNP-CD

Cam back to the bench since Ja is back. Lit it up with 13 points on 4-6 (all threes) in 14 minutes. Only 8 games in but he’s averaging 8 points in 17 minutes on 45.7% 3P

Clingan only played 17 minutes. 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block on 1-3. Clingan won last round, Ayton dominated this one (29/10 on 14-19 shooting)

 

[thekollieman]

Tyrese with another start last night. 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists on 40%

AJax DNP-CD

Cam back to the bench since Ja is back. Lit it up with 13 points on 4-6 (all threes) in 14 minutes. Only 8 games in but he’s averaging 8 points in 17 minutes on 45.7% 3P

Clingan only played 17 minutes. 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block on 1-3. Clingan won last round, Ayton dominated this one (29/10 on 14-19 shooting)

I love Cam’s game so much. I turned on the Lakers/Grizzlies the other night just to watch him and was highly entertained. The last time I turned on an NBA game intentionally was probably a Kobe/Lebron MVP race Christmas Day matchup.

 

[Gurleyman]

Clingan feels like he’s hit a lull he needs to snap out of soon. An offensive lull is ok, he’s still refining his game, but don’t really feel his defensive presence either.

 

[Kitaman]

Is Drummond the last Calhoun recruit playing in the NBA?

 

[ToolzieFan]

 

[NJHusky]

I very rarely bet games because I always lose. Pretty much my only cashes came in bombs like the World Cup, Daytona 500 and Scottish Open. And Castle for ROY.

You should post your game bets do we can go the inverse

 

[REB1094]

AJax had 5 garbage time minutes. 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 rebound

Drummond DNP-CD. It seems like when Embiid plays, Adem Bona is C2. When Embiid is out, Andre gets some time

Liam 12 minutes off the bench, 2 points on FTs and 2 rebounds

Hawkins may be forced into more minutes with Zion out for at least 1-2 weeks. 17 minutes, 2 points on 1-4

Not UConn but oh my…don’t think I’ve ever seen Kalkbrenner destroyed like that before


He goes for everything though. Stuffed a Trey Murphy dunk that same game

 

[gsmooth]

AJax had 5 garbage time minutes. 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 rebound

Drummond DNP-CD. It seems like when Embiid plays, Adem Bona is C2. When Embiid is out, Andre gets some time

Liam 12 minutes off the bench, 2 points on FTs and 2 rebounds

Hawkins may be forced into more minutes with Zion out for at least 1-2 weeks. 17 minutes, 2 points on 1-4

Not UConn but oh my…don’t think I’ve ever seen Kalkbrenner destroyed like that before


He goes for everything though. Stuffed a Trey Murphy dunk that same game

Kalk got destroyed by Sanogo in 2023 in both games, especially the one in Gampel. But I have never seen someone dunk on Kalk like that,ouch.

Kalk did have10 pts and 11 rebounds however, but I am just looking at the box score-I did not see the game so I don't have a larger context of if he played a good game.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

I do not like this topic because inevitably within 10 minutes someone will bring up the bag of money these guys get at the next level. And I understand that money is a huge factor. But to make it interesting, can we agree to table the topic of money for this conversation only?

Okay, in that case, we can all agree that UConn has a long history of sending players to the league. HOWEVER, our best NBA players have been players that, for the most part, spent at least 3 years in Storrs.

The greatest Huskies, Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Emeka, Cliff Robinson, Rudy Gay, Shabbaz and Kemba all played at least 3 years with us. Clingan and Caron Butler spent 2 years at Storrs.

The thing all these guys have in common are LONG, successful NBA careers. Each of these guys were able to stick around for contract #2, at least. Compare that with the new wave of kids that objectively leave too early: Bouk, Hawk, Andre, and most recently Liam.

Bouk has been a disaster in the NBA and there are receipts on this platform, most of us agreed he left too early (only people who disagreed were people who argued money). Same with Hawk, who has not been a reliable NBA starter because he is a one trick pony.

Andre is riding the pine, and while Liam is just starting out, his physical skillset is a dime a dozen in the NBA. His skillset is not elite when compared to other NBA players. He needed PT. Needed reps. And now, he is going to have a fat bank account, but no reps by which to improve. That has to your development.

Anyways, it frustrates me greatly because you can now get paid in college. I wish all these kids well, but in my opinion, each of those guys should have returned for more college reps.

 

[HW611]

I do not like this topic because inevitably within 10 minutes someone will bring up the bag of money these guys get at the next level. And I understand that money is a huge factor. But to make it interesting, can we agree to table the topic of money for this conversation only?

Okay, in that case, we can all agree that UConn has a long history of sending players to the league. HOWEVER, our best NBA players have been players that, for the most part, spent at least 3 years in Storrs.

The greatest Huskies, Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Emeka, Cliff Robinson, Rudy Gay, Shabbaz and Kemba all played at least 3 years with us. Clingan and Caron Butler spent 2 years at Storrs.

The thing all these guys have in common are LONG, successful NBA careers. Each of these guys were able to stick around for contract #2, at least. Compare that with the new wave of kids that objectively leave too early: Bouk, Hawk, Andre, and most recently Liam.

Bouk has been a disaster in the NBA and there are receipts on this platform, most of us agreed he left too early (only people who disagreed were people who argued money). Same with Hawk, who has not been a reliable NBA starter because he is a one trick pony.

Andre is riding the pine, and while Liam is just starting out, his physical skillset is a dime a dozen in the NBA. His skillset is not elite when compared to other NBA players. He needed PT. Needed reps. And now, he is going to have a fat bank account, but no reps by which to improve. That has to your development.

Anyways, it frustrates me greatly because you can now get paid in college. I wish all these kids well, but in my opinion, each of those guys should have returned for more college reps.

Rudy stayed for two and Lamb and Andre stayed for 2 and 1. All those guys received second contracts.

I still see your bigger point. My general thinking is you can’t turn down the lottery. Outside of that if you think you can prepare yourself better for the NBA for another year then go for it.

Calhoun always said the second contract was most important.

 

[jake14mw]

I do not like this topic because inevitably within 10 minutes someone will bring up the bag of money these guys get at the next level. And I understand that money is a huge factor. But to make it interesting, can we agree to table the topic of money for this conversation only?

Okay, in that case, we can all agree that UConn has a long history of sending players to the league. HOWEVER, our best NBA players have been players that, for the most part, spent at least 3 years in Storrs.

The greatest Huskies, Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Emeka, Cliff Robinson, Rudy Gay, Shabbaz and Kemba all played at least 3 years with us. Clingan and Caron Butler spent 2 years at Storrs.

The thing all these guys have in common are LONG, successful NBA careers. Each of these guys were able to stick around for contract #2, at least. Compare that with the new wave of kids that objectively leave too early: Bouk, Hawk, Andre, and most recently Liam.

Bouk has been a disaster in the NBA and there are receipts on this platform, most of us agreed he left too early (only people who disagreed were people who argued money). Same with Hawk, who has not been a reliable NBA starter because he is a one trick pony.

Andre is riding the pine, and while Liam is just starting out, his physical skillset is a dime a dozen in the NBA. His skillset is not elite when compared to other NBA players. He needed PT. Needed reps. And now, he is going to have a fat bank account, but no reps by which to improve. That has to your development.

Anyways, it frustrates me greatly because you can now get paid in college. I wish all these kids well, but in my opinion, each of those guys should have returned for more college reps.

I really disagree with you. I think it's rare that success in the NBA is determined by spending more time in college. In most cases, you either have it or you don't. The last thing Andre and Liam needed was more time in Storrs. 5 more years in Storrs wouldn't have helped Andre. Great athlete, but he just doesn't have instincts for offense. Liam will be fine. Karaban's draft position has probably fallen with two more years in Storrs.

We love to keep them in Storrs so we can keep watching them, but they have to go when the time is right. The good thing now is that since they get $$ in college, we get to enjoy players like Karaban longer.

 

[Gurleyman]

difficult to compare across different eras and different situations. Guys like Jackson and Hawkins (and Sanogo) weren’t considered nba talent coming in and struck while the iron was hot after winning a nattie and their stock was high. Can’t blame them for that - they all became nba players and had their shot. Daniels did the same thing and never did crack the league - but staying another year likely wouldn’t have helped. His ceiling was below NBA level. Same with Boat, who did stay. He was always going to be too small. Marcus Williams, Boone and El-Amin left after 3 and didn’t stick. They were too slow, not skilled enough, and too small, respectively. Karaban remains to be seen, but staying for year three didn’t help.

As much as we like to think that another year in Storrs would have morphed Andre into a dynamic offensive player or Hawkins into a triple threat or Bouk into a consistent, efficient scorer - if it didn’t come at the next level, it probably wasn’t coming. Sometimes players have ceilings and their weaknesses can’t be masked against nba talent.

If bouk comes back, has a DWI, or gets suspended, or plays erratically and shows bad body language, etc., the NBA moves on and drafts someone younger with a higher ceiling and he’s not a millionaire.

All the guys on this list were never really in national player of the year or all america talk. They made it - what they do from there is on them and maybe a bit of luck (Ollie managed to stick a long time, Dyson and Price had cups of coffee, etc.).

 

[HW611]

difficult to compare across different eras and different situations. Guys like Jackson and Hawkins (and Sanogo) weren’t considered nba talent coming in and struck while the iron was hot after winning a nattie and their stock was high. Can’t blame them for that - they all became nba players and had their shot. Daniels did the same thing and never did crack the league - but staying another year likely wouldn’t have helped. His ceiling was below NBA level. Same with Boat, who did stay. He was always going to be too small. Marcus Williams, Boone and El-Amin left after 3 and didn’t stick. They were too slow, not skilled enough, and too small, respectively. Karaban remains to be seen, but staying for year three didn’t help.

As much as we like to think that another year in Storrs would have morphed Andre into a dynamic offensive player or Hawkins into a triple threat or Bouk into a consistent, efficient scorer - if it didn’t come at the next level, it probably wasn’t coming. Sometimes players have ceilings and their weaknesses can’t be masked against nba talent.

If bouk comes back, has a DWI, or gets suspended, or plays erratically and shows bad body language, etc., the NBA moves on and drafts someone younger with a higher ceiling and he’s not a millionaire.

All the guys on this list were never really in national player of the year or all america talk. They made it - what they do from there is on them and maybe a bit of luck (Ollie managed to stick a long time, Dyson and Price had cups of coffee, etc.).

Hawkins should’ve left. You can’t turn down lottery money.

But I do think him coming back and honing other skills besides shooting would’ve been helpful in preparing him to get off to a better start in the NBA though.

Same with Andre coming back and honing in on his finishing skills. He didn’t need to be a dynamic scorer. He just needed to be confident in using his elite athleticism to be able to finish at the rim.

There’s so many guys who are high level athletes and go to the NBA with no jumpshots but stick because they can play defense and at least get to the rim. Two of them played last night for the Clippers in Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. Then the NBA taught them how to shoot. Thats what I wish could’ve happened for Andre. Herb Jones would be another example of that as well.

Way too much of his focus was on developing a jumpshot that was never going to be a strength he can depend on at the next level here.

 

[How Sway?!]

I do not like this topic because inevitably within 10 minutes someone will bring up the bag of money these guys get at the next level. And I understand that money is a huge factor. But to make it interesting, can we agree to table the topic of money for this conversation only?

Okay, in that case, we can all agree that UConn has a long history of sending players to the league. HOWEVER, our best NBA players have been players that, for the most part, spent at least 3 years in Storrs.

The greatest Huskies, Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Emeka, Cliff Robinson, Rudy Gay, Shabbaz and Kemba all played at least 3 years with us. Clingan and Caron Butler spent 2 years at Storrs.

The thing all these guys have in common are LONG, successful NBA careers. Each of these guys were able to stick around for contract #2, at least. Compare that with the new wave of kids that objectively leave too early: Bouk, Hawk, Andre, and most recently Liam.

Bouk has been a disaster in the NBA and there are receipts on this platform, most of us agreed he left too early (only people who disagreed were people who argued money). Same with Hawk, who has not been a reliable NBA starter because he is a one trick pony.

Andre is riding the pine, and while Liam is just starting out, his physical skillset is a dime a dozen in the NBA. His skillset is not elite when compared to other NBA players. He needed PT. Needed reps. And now, he is going to have a fat bank account, but no reps by which to improve. That has to your development.

Anyways, it frustrates me greatly because you can now get paid in college. I wish all these kids well, but in my opinion, each of those guys should have returned for more college reps.

Counterpoint, Adama stayed for 3 years, is now out of the league. Tristen spent 5 years in college, 2 with us and is now out of the league.

Some just don't have the skillset to play in the NBA, regardless of how many years they stayed in school. No matter how many years at UConn, Hawk would not have developed the ball handling skills needed in the NBA, or an offensive package for Andre.

 

[imno1]

Athough you can now practice all summer, I don't think I can be convinced a player will get better training in college than the in the pros. Stay in college if you aren't 1st round, you need to develop emotionally, or you just love school, want a chance a championship, and nil incomparable or better.

Why do I feel hw611 doesn't think there is capable coaching and training in the pros?

 

[Waquoit]

You should post your game bets do we can go the inverse

I do it to myself! I had the Celtics -470 on the money line on Monday and they lost! But I had Utah for $20 at +360 and won $72. I don't bet games except for Hartford Athletic. I am way in the red there, too.

 

[HW611]

Athough you can now practice all summer, I don't think I can be convinced a player will get better training in college than the in the pros. Stay in college if you aren't 1st round, you need to develop emotionally, or you just love school, want a chance a championship, and nil incomparable or better.

Why do I feel hw611 doesn't think there is capable coaching and training in the pros?

It’s not that there isn’t. They just care less about investing in you on the floor if you don’t come in with a certain skillset already to help win.

In college you are good enough to train and then practice what you train to get it down with in game reps. In the NBA you aren’t going to get those chances to work through things you probably should already have down unless you have other skills that need to keep you on the court.

It’s also why I say being able to shoot going there is so unimportant because that’s the #1 thing they can help you with and you’ll have plenty of chances to do it.

 

[Gurleyman]

The NBA is also largely a different game. The 3 line is further back - the spacing is different, the shot clock is shorter, the length and athleticism of the defenders is different. What helped Charlie V last a while in the nba was getting into the pros and becoming a stretch 4 at that level, not another year of playing in the paint here. Rudy needed to get into the league and be able to face the basket against NBA 3s and not college 2s, where his ball handling could be a strength. He really wasn’t all that great here - made some athletic plays around the rim, but his game blossomed more at the next level. The sooner you get in the league and start adapting your skill set at that level, the better.

Hawkins probably wasn’t going to be a better nba player by coming back. It’s difficult to argue against a hypothetical He maybe would have gotten marginally better at his weaknesses at the college level - but he’d be a year older and those weaknesses would still be weaknesses at the next level. The problem he’s having now is that his strength is a weakness.

We’ve seen this a lot over the years. We’ve had guys in that fringe NBA talent level based on recruiting rankings and college performance, who have made it or been drafted, but they had some nba flaws, their ceiling was low and it made it hard to stick - Williams, Boone, Armstrong, Adrien, Sticks, Dyson, Price, Oriakhi, Daniels, Bazz, Boat, DHam, Adams, Bouk, Sanogo, Hawkins, Jackson, Karaban, Newton. Whether they stay 2, 3 or 4 years - it’s just hard to stick at the next level. You can work on your skills - but the guys who are bigger, faster or better than you are working on theirs too.

The ones who did last: Lamb had a freakish wingspan, Drummond was freakishly athletic, Kemba was impossible to guard, Gay had guard skills in a 6-8 body, Charlie V filled a stretch 4 niche. And some guys could just score. That’s what Hawkins and Bouk needed to do to mask everything else.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Counterpoint, Adama stayed for 3 years, is now out of the league. Tristen spent 5 years in college, 2 with us and is now out of the league.

Some just don't have the skillset to play in the NBA, regardless of how many years they stayed in school. No matter how many years at UConn, Hawk would not have developed the ball handling skills needed in the NBA, or an offensive package for Andre.

Staying 4 years does not guarantee a thing my friend. But Adama got better each and every year he was here. This is unarguable. And TN was Final Four MVP after his second year in the program. And if you remember, half way through the first year it wasn't looking very good for him. Your thinking belies the fact that the kids I mentioned were not ready. They searched the bag, which was good for them financially because they got drafted. But I contend not so good for them long term. My opinion.