UConn lands Brendan Adams, Tarin Smith in whirlwind recruiting weekend

[ctchamps]

You mean when we picked up DO and KW who had little or no discernible basketball skills coming in. I see a big difference as Dan Hurley has a plan with getting big tough guards to come in and play for us. We are going back to being a more guard oriented team and we need depth there. That was something KO never did while at UCONN which totally baffled me considering all the former guards including himself on the staff. KO just threw recruits against the wall and hoped they stuck while Dan Hurley at least has a plan on getting players that buy into his system. I see a big difference so far and hopefully we will start seeing some big recruits in the near future after our image is repaired a little.

Of course Hurley has a plan. We can only surmise it. Results will dictate how we review it.
KO had a plan. Results dictated that some review it as if he didn't have one.

 

[6xChamps]

 

[Matrim55]

I think if we actually run some plays instead of dribbling and passing around at the top of the arc only to force a three or a contested layup, we have to be better. And that's not player ability, that's just coaching.

Yup. An average coach would've gotten us 5-6 more wins last year. Hurley is not just above average – he's very good.

We'll protect the 3-point line, we'll force turnovers, we'll get more shots early in the clock going toward the bucket, and we'll generate more open 3s just based upon the guys having a better idea of how to play. If, on top of that, Carlton fills out and Wilson lives up to his billing, we're going to be a very difficult team to play against.

 

[the Q]

2- 3. Year process. This year hope we have a team that can be in the top 5 of the American

Yup. An average coach would've gotten us 5-6 more wins last year. Hurley is not just above average – he's very good.

We'll protect the 3-point line, we'll force turnovers, we'll get more shots early in the clock going toward the bucket, and we'll generate more open 3s just based upon the guys having a better idea of how to play. If, on top of that, Carlton fills out and Wilson lives up to his billing, we're going to be a very difficult team to play against.

There was a definite 3-4 more with Tulsa x2, Wichita G1 and Memphis G2.

That alone is a pretty big swing. It's not NCAA big, but still no longer a dumpster fire.

 

[gioff23]

The team should’ve finished above .500 and gone to NIT. But in fairness that would likely only have saved KO and a few million while extending the mediocrity.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I find it humorous that the KO bashers are the Hurley apologistas and excuse makers and the KO apologistas and excuse makers are the Hurley bashers.

This much I can say: I took two dozen posters off Ignore this morning (from 'both sides' I'll add) and have found the experience neither unpleasant or particularly crazy. Makes for a much easier read too.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

This is where I'm at also. I was very excited about Akinjo, Matthews, and Kisunas. And I'm currently very excited about Adams and Smith.

I believed that we would be in the hunt for the conference title this year with Ollie and an extra year for the entire team + Sid Wilson and new recruits. I now believe that we will be in the hunt for a conference title this year with Hurley + the extra year, Wilson, and recruits.

People come and go. UConn is forever...

So, undefeated?

 

[UConnDan97]

So, undefeated?

I've got a good feeling about it...

 

[Waquoit]

I like these two players, but not sure it's a great sign for us to take both.

Enough with the fretting about "signs". Is the team better with these two guys than without?

 

[Waquoit]

I'm going out on a limb here and throwing out that maybe . . . just maybe . . . Dan Hurley is looking for things that you are not.

Sounds crazy but you might just be on to something

 

[Husky68]

If Adams gets a jumper, 3 point shot, more FTA, and steps up his D we’re going to make a lot of noise

Agree but lot of offensive things he is already Kemba esc. Looked at Kemba numbers improvement 2010 to 2011 and then Jalen 2017 and lot of similar numbers.

Kemba 2010 Kemba 2011 Jalen 2017

Min. per game 35 38 38
Shooting % 40% 43% 43%
3 Pt % 34% 33% 32%
FT % 77% 82% 80%
FT attempts per gm 6 8 3.3
A/T 1.8 2.0 1.6
Pts per gm 14.6 23.5 18.1

My memory is Kemba was WAY better shooter his junior year, stats don't bare that out. He got little better at 2's, took lot more shots and improved a very good FT per game stat to very, very good.
Jalen gets to the line like 2011 Kemba (or even 2010 which is what 2014 Bazz was at) it improves his (and the teams efficiency) a lot. Bazz 2014 had a 41% 3 pt. % which if Jalen approached would be (with more FT's per game) AA 1st team type stuff.
One thing on A/T %, in 2017 Jalen was throwing the ball a lot to TL, Vitale and AA who all had shooting %'s BELOW 40%.
Long way of saying his stats for 2017 were 2011 Kemba type except for getting to the line, he improves just that and he could lead UConn to a good season with any kind of reasonable help (counting on coaching being part of it). He improves his shooting % in any meaningful way also he makes himself a real potential 1st round pick.
After reviewing this, think Jalen should stick around for next year, improve his individual game where he can and most important for him get a lot of playing time where he is the man and is playing in a sensible offense (to show what he can do and to also improve his overall team game).

 

[3rdbass]

Of course Hurley has a plan. We can only surmise it. Results will dictate how we review it.
KO had a plan. Results dictated that some review it as if he didn't have one.

He didn't have a plan when the 3 guys transferred and the guard decommited from us. You mean when he talked about position less basketball when he picked up DO, KW, and Cobb. We loaded up on too many one dimensional big guys who didn't even have any position they could play effectively. I hope that KW and Cobb improve and gain some other skills if they stay but I think he was definitely reaching for a couple of those guys.

 

[intlzncster]

Well it's both like it or not. If we don't have a wing who can handle the ball a little and get to the hole as well as bigs who we don't want to throw the ball to then things will continue to clog.

Sid can do that bit. He's lacking in some areas, but getting buckets is not one of them.

 

[intlzncster]

I find it humorous that the KO bashers are the Hurley apologistas and excuse makers and the KO apologistas and excuse makers are the Hurley bashers.

Truth is people are like statistics. We believe our opinions are facts when all we're doing is propping our egos. We can't possibly be wrong therefore the other side has to be.

I'll support Hurley the same way I supported KO. He's our coach and bashing him is counterproductive. I'm hoping he can do what he has done with his past programs. I'll be patient with the process. But "trust the process"? Trust is earned. My belief that Hurley can bring the program the type of success we had in the past is just that - a belief. Beliefs don't buy cups of coffee.

Hurley's recruiting is not over. I'm still hoping he can get Lecque to reclassify and come to UConn. Or some other top recruit. That could really impact the upcoming season if Jalen remains and Alterique recovers.

If not than Hurley has essentially repeated what KO did last season when players bolted and left him scrambling. It is understandable in both coaches situations. Part of me hopes Hurley adds one more mediocre grad transfer big so I can get a gauge of his ability to coach at this level. Part of me hopes he gets that dynamic recruit.

"Hurley apologistas" is a misnomer. Hurley has nothing to apologize for this year.

"KO bashers" have a better argument given track record. KO's last 4 years are in stone. The state of the program is in stone. With KO, it's not a matter of statistics, it's a matter of fact.

What people disagree with is how quick the turnaround should and will be.

Nor would I say Hurley has repeated what KO did. He didn't have multiple years to get ready for this class. He's been trying to fix KO's mistakes. There are only a handful of really good players out there, and every school wants them. Whereas KO had the entire country to choose from. Hurley may end up in a similar spot to KO coming in, but he started out needing a run to tie with 2 outs in the 9th.

I think "trust the process" at this point can be translated to "give Hurley time". Which everyone should.

 

[BNich]

U-C-O-N-N... UCONN UCONN UCONN!!!!

 

[intlzncster]

Has Gilbert applied for his second year of red shirt eligibility? It's usually granted in his particular circumstance.

 

[The Funster]

I have very little in the area of on-court expectations for next year.

Work hard, play smart, be engaged. It sounds like basic expectations for a college basketball team. I don't think we've had much of it the last couple of seasons.

 

[intlzncster]

There was a definite 3-4 more with Tulsa x2, Wichita G1 and Memphis G2.

That alone is a pretty big swing. It's not NCAA big, but still no longer a dumpster fire.

I'm guessing less completely demoralizing 30 point blowouts as well.

 

[Matrim55]

Has Gilbert applied for his second year of red shirt eligibility? It's usually granted in his particular circumstance.

You don't cross that bridge til you get to it.

 

[jollari]

Has anyone seen from or heard from Gilbert lately? I think I recall Borges quoting that he’s sticking around. Conventional wisdom also says he would want to sit out another year with a transfer but is he on campus? Is he rehabbing in Georgia maybe? You get glimpses of everyone except him from the other guys’ online posts. He seems to be in the shadows lately...

 

[jollari]

Has anyone seen from or heard from Gilbert lately? I think I recall Borges quoting that he’s sticking around. Conventional wisdom also says he would want to sit out another year with a transfer but is he on campus? Is he rehabbing in Georgia maybe? You get glimpses of everyone except him from the other guys’ online posts. He seems to be in the shadows lately...

Asked and answered...

 

[Tenspro2002]

"Hurley apologistas" is a misnomer. Hurley has nothing to apologize for this year.

"KO bashers" have a better argument given track record. KO's last 4 years are in stone. The state of the program is in stone. With KO, it's not a matter of statistics, it's a matter of fact.

What people disagree with is how quick the turnaround should and will be.

Nor would I say Hurley has repeated what KO did. He didn't have multiple years to get ready for this class. He's been trying to fix KO's mistakes. There are only a handful of really good players out there, and every school wants them. Whereas KO had the entire country to choose from. Hurley may end up in a similar spot to KO coming in, but he started out needing a run to tie with 2 outs in the 9th.

I think "trust the process" at this point can be translated to "give Hurley time". Which everyone should.

Agree with pretty much all of this. "Give Hurley time" = the 2019 class is potentially make or break for this program. That's where he needs to nail it.

Smith is a bandaid. Adams is depth at a position where we have zero over the last 2 recruiting classes. Those are fine.

As long as we're not signing too many low-ceiling 4-year guys who deprive scholarships from potential 2019 studs, there's no problem with what Hurley is doing.

 

[UConnNick]

I've got a good feeling about it...

Yes, we are on the verge of being the second coming of the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers...a phoenix rising from the ashes!

 

[the Q]

Yes, we are on the verge of being the second coming of the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers...a phoenix rising from the ashes!

we don't even have to be that.

we could be...say a lowly 7 seed, and just out coach and out work teams with no less than 4 future HOF coaches on it and win a title.

 

[intlzncster]

Has anyone seen from or heard from Gilbert lately? I think I recall Borges quoting that he’s sticking around. Conventional wisdom also says he would want to sit out another year with a transfer but is he on campus? Is he rehabbing in Georgia maybe? You get glimpses of everyone except him from the other guys’ online posts. He seems to be in the shadows lately...

Most of the stuff from the guys is on the court. Gilbert's in the training room which doesn't make for good vids.

 

[UConnNick]

we don't even have to be that.

we could be...say a lowly 7 seed, and just out coach and out work teams with no less than 4 future HOF coaches on it and win a title.

I'm pretty sure Hans, UConnDan 97 and I were joking about Dan's usual preseason prediction that the football team will go undefeated. However, your point is well taken.

 

[the Q]

I'm pretty sure Hans, UConnDan 97 and I were joking about Dan's usual preseason prediction that the football team will go undefeated. However, your point is well taken.

Fair enough.

I just like to regale in the 2014 run.

I give you guys credit for having any optimism with football. The fact that something was worse than the Chandler Whitmer era is just so disheartening.

 

[YoungFree]

Heard he is friendly with Silverio and Lecque

But the Silverio card might not get him to Storrs

 

[YoungFree]

And not that anyone cares about rankings but 247sports ranks our recruiting class as #106 in the country...of course Adams is the only one they count because they don't count transfers but hey...we almost made the top 100 even with the slim pickings at this time of year.

 

[UConnSwag11]

And not that anyone cares about rankings but 247sports ranks our recruiting class as #106 in the country...of course Adams is the only one they count because they don't count transfers but hey...we almost made the top 100 even with the slim pickings at this time of year.

im not worried about this year. Next year is when we need to make an impact but im not thinking 5*s like everyone else. Just improvement ever year. This is roughly 3 year project to get to where we were. Winning cures all