UConn still has four open scholarships for next season but likely won’t fill all of them.

[CTBasketball]

Barring injuries, the starting lineup to begin the season is almost assuredly going to be Newton, Alleyne, Hawk, Jackson, and Sanogo. If it's not that lineup, I would imagine it's because Samson played his way into the starting lineup and Alleyne will be the first guard off the bench playing 25+ minutes.

So Jackson is the stretch 4 that he’s been talking about?

 

[Rico444]

So Jackson is the stretch 4 that he’s been talking about?

Who, Hurley? Do you have a quote or something? I expect Jackson to play a good amount at the 4, but I wouldn't call him a stretch 4.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Freshman minutes at UConn under Hurley (mpg):
Akok 28
Bouknight 26
Gaffney 19
--
Sanogo 17
Jackson 16
Hawkins 15
--
Adams 13
Johnson 5
Diggins 5
Springs 3

I put them into buckets. Transcendent talents get 25+ minutes as freshmen (Bouknight). Freshmen that are really needed at their position due to roster and/or talent issues get 15-30 minutes (Akok, Gaffney). High quality freshmen who earn their way onto the court despite more experienced veterans in the way get around 15 (Sanogo, Jackson, Hawkins). Raw freshmen get 5-15 min, depending on what we need at the position.

I expect Johnson's "rawness" and team's depth in frontcourt put him basically 1 year behind. He'll be at that 15-20 mpg mark this season, barring injuries. With his pseudo redshirting experience and team need, Akok played 28 mpg. I don't expect Karaban to be that high because the overall talent level is higher, but I don't expect him in the 5-15 bucket either because he's too skilled and his shooting too valuable. I would be surprised if he wasn't in the 12+ and more likely around 15 min.

So I could see 30 instead of 35, but we're then talking 12-17 min for all backup guards outside of Newton/Alleyne/Hawk, definitely not 25. And it might be 2 backup guys spitting those mintues, not just 1.

I mostly agree. But the overall talent level of the team has changed from the time Akok and Gaffney played major minutes. That is a big factor.

Hawkins is a mix of "played his way onto the court" and "we didn't have a SG so played SF Martin at SG". Once Hawkins' defense improved, he became a vastly better option as an extra shooter than Polley, especially since Gaffney couldn't make anything. Johnson played behind the returning 6th year Big East DPOY, and Akok, and 6th year 6th man of the year Polley. Many of his minutes came when Sanogo and Whaley were out, as a 5. He was just blocked. I think that was a mistake by Hurley, but hopefully he can make up for it.

On the whole, I'm with you. The need now is a 15 minute backup guard and another 5 minute depth guard or wing.

 

[gtcam]

And as I keep pointing out, Hawkins was just as raw in his early limited minutes. He played 398 minutes. Johnson played 68 minutes. The first 68 minutes Hawkins played were at least as bad, and defensively, worse, than Johnson's. He played out of it and got much better. I expect the same of Johnson. He didn't get that opportunity because Whaley, Polley and Akok soaked up the minutes. Some of Johnson's time was actually as a 5 when Sango and then Whaley were hurt.

This board gives up on highly rated recruits far too quickly, while embracing guys who have never played a minute as if they are NBA all stars. It's mind boggling. You have to throw out the lack of minutes for freshmen as an indicator of ability until this absurd extra Covid year is gone. Thank God Cole and Martin moved on. The 2022-23 UConn team would be much better if Whaley and Polley had.

I agree with the exception of Whaley - this team will miss him much more that most realize
Loved Martin and Cole but it was time for them to move on
Polley was a pure streak shooter

 

[HuskyHawk]

I agree with the exception of Whaley - this team will miss him much more that most realize
Loved Martin and Cole but it was time for them to move on
Polley was a pure streak shooter

Whaley definitely helped last year. I just think playing him so much hurt this year's team. And I think you can make the case Polley really should have played very little. I honestly think Hurley felt intense pressure to win last year, and make up for the early loss to Maryland and relied too heavily on experienced but limited players.

 

[CTBasketball]

Who, Hurley? Do you have a quote or something? I expect Jackson to play a good amount at the 4, but I wouldn't call him a stretch 4.

Yes Hurley.

He said this year we’re returning to a more-traditional 4 out 1 in offense. Meaning we’d go with a stretch 4 or play 4 guards.

 

[auror]

So Jackson is the stretch 4 that he’s been talking about?

Yes Hurley.

He said this year we’re returning to a more-traditional 4 out 1 in offense. Meaning we’d go with a stretch 4 or play 4 guards.

Jackson, Johnson, and Karaban are all expected to stretch the floor while playing the 4.

 

[Rico444]

Yes Hurley.

He said this year we’re returning to a more-traditional 4 out 1 in offense. Meaning we’d go with a stretch 4 or play 4 guards.

Oh ok, that quote. Yes, I expect Jackson to play the 4 a good amount this year.

 

[UCSouth]

Who, Hurley? Do you have a quote or something? I expect Jackson to play a good amount at the 4, but I wouldn't call him a stretch 4.

Serious question for anyone who wants to chime in. If you are playing 4 out, wouldn't that infer that you have a stretch 4? Is Jackson truly a stretch 4?

 

[pj]

This isn't true unless you want Johnson and Karaban to get less than 15 min each.

This is how I see it:

(From Hoop-Explorer)

That's a very traditional lineup when Samson is on the floor at PF. which is half the time, and four-out style only when he's off the court.

Overall it looks very good, but a third guard would give a little more versatility to the roster and help them throw different looks.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Jackson, Johnson, and Karaban are all expected to stretch the floor while playing the 4.

Yep. We can debate how much.

Serious question for anyone who wants to chime in. If you are playing 4 out, wouldn't that infer that you have a stretch 4? Is Jackson truly a stretch 4?

That's the question, isn't it. Not really. He needs to shoot well enough that they need to guard him. The problem is that the stretch 4 is usually going to be on the wing/corner area of the court (the right side typically) and Jackson probably won't, because he's a facilitator on offense and we want him up to. So no, he won't be a stretch 4 on offense, but he'd guard the 4 on defense.

This is one of the reasons I think he will play less at the 4 than some people. I think we will find out it isn't really working, because Alleyne would actually need to play the stretch 4 on offense. Johnson and Karaban can be stretch 4s. They can both shoot and play that corner/wing position on offense.

 

[HuskyHawk]

That's a very traditional lineup when Samson is on the floor at PF. which is half the time, and four-out style only when he's off the court.

Overall it looks very good, but a third guard would give a little more versatility to the roster and help them throw different looks.

Why would you say Johnson isn't still a 4 out offense? He can shoot 3s better than Jackson can.

 

[CTBasketball]

I think the starting lineup will be:
G - Newton
G - Hawkins
G - Jackson
F - Karaban
C - Sanogo

Alleyne first guard off the bench, Johnson sees significant minutes at the 4/5. Obviously that changes if Castle reclasses or we get another competent guard worthy of starting, but I am not holding my breath.

 

[auror]

That's a very traditional lineup when Samson is on the floor at PF. which is half the time, and four-out style only when he's off the court.

Overall it looks very good, but a third guard would give a little more versatility to the roster and help them throw different looks.

Johnson had a reputation as a guy who was going to be a shooter coming out of high school, and then (small sample size alert) took 4.4 3s/100 pos he was in last year, which was higher than Jackson or Whaley and around the same as Akok (and Martin a year earlier). He'll likely shoot it even more frequently this year.

 

[Rico444]

Serious question for anyone who wants to chime in. If you are playing 4 out, wouldn't that infer that you have a stretch 4? Is Jackson truly a stretch 4?

All it means is that you're playing 4 players on offense outside of the 3-point line. It doesn't mean anything other than that. There's no rule that says you have to play a Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward, and Center at all times.

 

[pj]

Why would you say Johnson isn't still a 4 out offense? He can shoot 3s better than Jackson can.

Johnson had a reputation as a guy who was going to be a shooter coming out of high school, and then (small sample size alert) took 4.4 3s/100 pos he was in last year, which was higher than Jackson or Whaley and around the same as Akok (and Martin a year earlier). He'll likely shoot it even more frequently this year.

I hope you guys are right. Last year he attempted 5 3's and made 1, for 20%.

 

[UCSouth]

All it means is that you're playing 4 players on offense outside of the 3-point line. It doesn't mean anything other than that. There's no rule that says you have to play a Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward, and Center at all times.

You missed my point. The point is that Jackson in that offense is never going to be a stretch 4. He'd have a hard time getting a decent shot off if someone was even in the vicinity. Karaban and Johnson would, potentially, be better options. As a true stretch 4.

 

[Rico444]

You missed my point. The point is that Jackson in that offense is never going to be a stretch 4. He'd have a hard time getting a decent shot off if someone was even in the vicinity. Karaban and Johnson would, potentially, be better options. As a true stretch 4.

They are only better fits if you think a stretch 4 is required to play a 4 out offense. I don't believe that to be the case.

 

[BlueMAB]

Johnson and Karaban can be stretch 4s. They can both shoot and play that corner/wing position on offense.

No, it doesn't look like that at all. We have no idea how good these guys are or how good Johnson and Karaban will be. We certainly don't know who else is coming or how good they are, but I doubt they will be better than anybody on the roster now other than Springs. I can't even confidently say that Hawkins is better than Johnson or Karaban, just that he got minutes because we had nobody else and has nice potential.

Better? No. He played more, so I have greater information. Until a guy plays significant minutes I don't know if he's good or not. Johnson could be the best player on the team. Karaban might be. Who the hell knows? And no, I don't buy "if he was that good he'd play", because Hurley has pretty consistently misjudged players so far.

Why would you say Johnson isn't still a 4 out offense? He can shoot 3s better than Jackson can.

 

[bendm]

Newton 30- Transfer 10
Alleyne 25- Hawk 10- Transfer 5
Hawk 15- Jackson 20- Karaban 5
Jackson 10- Samson 20- Karaban 10
Sanogo 30- Clingan 10

30- Newton, AJ, Sanogo
25- Alleyne, Hawkins
20- Samson
15- Karaban, Transfer
10- Clingan

everyone has their own opinions on the rotations but how can anyone be bummed about this roster overall? the pieces fit together so much better than last year. preseason top 20-25 but w/ a top 10-15 ceiling. can get past the sweet 16 with the right matchups. guess i didnt get the championship or bust memo.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Are you suggesting he can’t shoot 3s? I think you’d be alone in that. Here is his HS coach.

"He has the ability to play four positions," David said. "He'll also bring in 3-point shooting from he four spot. He shot close to 40 percent from three this season."

 

[Rico444]

Are you suggesting he can’t shoot 3s? I think you’d be alone in that. Here is his HS coach.

"He has the ability to play four positions," David said. "He'll also bring in 3-point shooting from he four spot. He shot close to 40 percent from three this season."

No, you said in two previous posts that you have no idea how good a player can be until they play significant minutes then decide to say that Samson is a better 3 point shooter than Jackson with nothing to back it up. Andre shot 45% from 3 in his senior season of high school btw.

 

[superjohn]

Are you suggesting he can’t shoot 3s? I think you’d be alone in that. Here is his HS coach.

"He has the ability to play four positions," David said. "He'll also bring in 3-point shooting from he four spot. He shot close to 40 percent from three this season."

That's his high school coach talking nonsense. You think Samson has the ability to play four positions?

 

[superjohn]

No, you said in two previous posts that you have no idea how good a player can be until they play significant minutes then decide to say that Samson is a better 3 point shooter than Jackson with nothing to back it up. Andre shot 45% from 3 in his senior season of high school btw.

And Jackson shot 36% from three last season, 39% in Big East play.

 

[HuskyHawk]

No, you said in two previous posts that you have no idea how good a player can be until they play significant minutes then decide to say that Samson is a better 3 point shooter than Jackson with nothing to back it up. Andre shot 45% from 3 in his senior season of high school btw.

Dear God. Are we having that argument? We have all seen Andre's set/push shot. Hit hits some when wide open, but couldn't even get it off if guarded, given his release. Being an overall player is different than evaluating a known skill. I don't have any doubts Johnson can shoot, just as I didn't with Hawkins, who missed everything early on. I don't doubt he can run, jump, dunk and block shots at a high level. The real question is his strength, man defense and lateral quickness. But the length makes up for some of that.

"Johnson, 6 feet 10 with a 7-5 wingspan, showed some flashes of his versatility in the scrimmage: coming out of nowhere to block a shot, hitting a couple of 3s and making an impressive baseline move." “You’ve got a 6-10 guy, he’s like a pterodactyl,” Hurley said. “The guys playing in front of him have got to keep him off the court, they’ll have to produce. He has days when he looks like that, and he has some days when he’s overwhelmed. He’s a special talent.”

Dan Hurley, UConn men developing ‘perimeter firepower’ as season nears

The UConn men know what they have in Adana Sanogo in the post. A point of emphasis is opening up the middle for him to do his thing. “We have enough depth where you’ve got to be giving …

www.courant.com

 

[NotADime89]

Dear God. Are we having that argument? We have all seen Andre's set/push shot. Hit hits some when wide open, but couldn't even get it off if guarded, given his release. Being an overall player is different than evaluating a known skill. I don't have any doubts Johnson can shoot, just as I didn't with Hawkins, who missed everything early on. I don't doubt he can run, jump, dunk and block shots at a high level. The real question is his strength, man defense and lateral quickness. But the length makes up for some of that.

"Johnson, 6 feet 10 with a 7-5 wingspan, showed some flashes of his versatility in the scrimmage: coming out of nowhere to block a shot, hitting a couple of 3s and making an impressive baseline move." “You’ve got a 6-10 guy, he’s like a pterodactyl,” Hurley said. “The guys playing in front of him have got to keep him off the court, they’ll have to produce. He has days when he looks like that, and he has some days when he’s overwhelmed. He’s a special talent.”

Dan Hurley, UConn men developing ‘perimeter firepower’ as season nears

The UConn men know what they have in Adana Sanogo in the post. A point of emphasis is opening up the middle for him to do his thing. “We have enough depth where you’ve got to be giving …

www.courant.com

 

[MrSec238]

Serious question for anyone who wants to chime in. If you are playing 4 out, wouldn't that infer that you have a stretch 4? Is Jackson truly a stretch 4?

No 4 out with just strictly mean that 4 can shoot with one on the inside. College hoops is mostly positionless at this point so I would get caught up on the numbers. Stretch 4 would be mostly defined as a guy who can guard the paint on defense and shoot the 3 on the other end.

 

[HuskyHawk]

That's his high school coach talking nonsense. You think Samson has the ability to play four positions?

No. Maybe 3 at some point. But this all started because PJ said we wouldn't be playing 4 out with Johnson at the 4. Merely pointed out that that makes no sense at all. He can shoot. In fact, with that length, from the corner, he's a very tough matchup for small ball teams. Karaban too. Springs is the only guy who can't do that (as far as we know).

 

[CL82]

All it means is that you're playing 4 players on offense outside of the 3-point line. It doesn't mean anything other than that. There's no rule that says you have to play a Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward, and Center at all times.

True, but whoever you put out there still has to defend on the other end.

 

[bendm]

even though AJ isn't a traditional stretch 4 there is still plenty of benefit to starting games with a small ball lineup with him playing at the "4." no more slow starts on offense and digging ourselves into an early hole for one.

it would be nothing like last year when we had to play two Cs together because AJ is an infinitely better passer and ball handler than whaley. if a defender is sagging off AJ on the perimeter he can either take the open shot or beat them with his passing e.g. dump it into sanogo, hit cutters in the lane, or just swing the ball around the arc. we've seen him throw skip passes to the opposite corner to shift the D. either way, with four Gs the passing around the perimeter will be crispy and the ball wont stop moving until sanogo gets it under the basket.

when AJ gets a defensive rebound he can either bring the ball up the floor himself with a slower defender trying to stay in front him or hit guys with an outlet. we will really be able to speed things up compared to last year.