What’s next immediate need? PF or Center

[ec33]

And I am again sorry I am not throwing out names (as requested) but I am going to lie back and let Tom Moore and company fill out the roster. Dan Hurley is not stopping with an incomplete roster - and he will likely keep going causing some to hem-and-haw about there being too many players.

 

[ec33]

We are actually smaller based on our present lineup but let's see who else we get up front to help.

Starting lineup. Although Reed was a little taller, I believe (I am not worried about replacing Reibe's height as he played far smaller in the few moments he was on the floor picking up fouls).

 

[3rdbass]

Starting lineup. Although Reed was a little taller, I believe (I am not worried about replacing Reibe's height as he played far smaller in the few moments he was on the floor picking up fouls).

Karban was longer and bigger than Nik too!

 

[UCLJ0211]

We need a 2026 version of Jeff Adrien

 

[FlyChigga]

And UConn would have beaten them if healthy with the same sized lineup they will be running out again this year.

UConn won two national titles and played in another championship game with Alex Karaban as their PF.

Karaban is bigger than Khamenia and we had a mountain in the middle for those championships. Plus long high flyers that would lock up at the 3. We have Mullins at the 3 who ideally should play shooting guard. And we lost Stew so no one off the bench with any size at the 4.

 

[uconngb]

ROSS IS NOT A 4…..not even for a few minutes a game. He would be abused by any legit 4 and that’s not a knock against him. You can’t have a PG playing center either. We need another big badly.

 

[ec33]

Karaban is bigger than Khamenia and we had a mountain in the middle for those championships. Plus long high flyers that would lock up at the 3. We have Mullins at the 3 who ideally should play shooting guard. And we lost Stew so no one off the bench with any size at the 4.

Then we are doomed.

 

[RuffRuff]

Starting lineup. Although Reed was a little taller, I believe (I am not worried about replacing Reibe's height as he played far smaller in the few moments he was on the floor picking up fouls).

Hines is a tick smaller, but I think we are going to find him to be a more vertical athlete than Reed. Watching some tape of him, he finishes well with both hands like Reed. The kid has tremendous upside.

If we go with a lineup of Silas, Mullins, Landrew, Khamenia and Hines, we are not that small at all. We'd be plus at just about every position other than Center, and Hines makes up for that with vertical.

 

[punpun88]

We need a 2026 version of Jeff Adrien

My wish is for a 2026 version of Stanley Robinson.

 

[Donyell 360]

Hines is a tick smaller, but I think we are going to find him to be a more vertical athlete than Reed. Watching some tape of him, he finishes well with both hands like Reed. The kid has tremendous upside.

If we go with a lineup of Silas, Mullins, Landrew, Khamenia and Hines, we are not that small at all. We'd be plus at just about every position other than Center, and Hines makes up for that with vertical.

Landrew will have to be really solid to beat out two seniors (Ball and Ross), in the starting lineup. Mullins at the 2 sounds amazing but only if our 3 is a significant upgrade over Ball and Ross. Mullins pulled it off as a freshman this year beating out Ross for a starting spot. Do you really think Landrew is on Mullins' level?

 

[3rdbass]

Hines is a tick smaller, but I think we are going to find him to be a more vertical athlete than Reed. Watching some tape of him, he finishes well with both hands like Reed. The kid has tremendous upside.

If we go with a lineup of Silas, Mullins, Landrew, Khamenia and Hines, we are not that small at all. We'd be plus at just about every position other than Center, and Hines makes up for that with vertical.

Also, PF we would be a little small. Khamenia while the same height is not as built or long as Karban. It would be made up for if we have Landrew starting at SF. he is a beast.

 

[ec33]

Also, PF we would be a little small. Khamenia while the same height is not as built or long as Karban. It would be made up for if we have Landrew starting at SF. he is a beast.

They are going to be giving away a little. Khamenia isn't going to be the rebounder that AK was (nor the shot blocker).

There will be an uptick in quickness and athleticism, though. AK truly was a 4. Khamenia is a 3 by nature, so that will come with other defensive benefits (which I do expect will work better in Landrew/Khamenia combinations in the future, but I not sure how prevalent that will be next year).

I'm not saying it isn't a concern, but it is a similar enough concern to the one that UConn has faced over the last four years that I am not going to focus on it any more than the past.

 

[RuffRuff]

They are going to be giving away a little. Khamenia isn't going to be the rebounder that AK was (nor the shot blocker).

There will be an uptick in quickness and athleticism, though. AK truly was a 4. Khamenia is a 3 by nature, so that will come with other defensive benefits (which I do expect will work better in Landrew/Khamenia combinations in the future, but I not sure how prevalent that will be next year).

I'm not saying it isn't a concern, but it is a similar enough concern to the one that UConn has faced over the last four years that I am not going to focus on it any more than the past.

When Landrew is in there at the 3, they may be somewhat positionless and interchangeable.

 

[3rdbass]

When Landrew is in there at the 3, they may be somewhat positionless and interchangeable.

Yeah I hope to see that lineup a lot this year. I think those will be the 5 best players on the floor with Demary PG, Mullins SG and Hines C.

 

[Mike Honcho]

And UConn would have beaten them if healthy with the same sized lineup they will be running out again this year.

UConn won two national titles and played in another championship game with Alex Karaban as their PF.

They're not incompatible but I'd rather get more athletic tbh. Dunks are high percentage shots.

 

[ec33]

When Landrew is in there at the 3, they may be somewhat positionless and interchangeable.

And with Ross as well with his athleticism -- especially against average sized teams.

 

[ec33]

They're not incompatible but I'd rather get more athletic tbh. Dunks are high percentage shots.

That was some of the allure with Freeman. But I am not going to be disappointed in picking up Khamenia (who is more athletic than I think we are giving him credit for, but I get your point).

And I will be happier when the backup big is also a physical specimen.

 

[FluxTZ]

We need a 2026 version of Jeff Adrien

This is exactly what I was thinking too.

 

[RuffRuff]

That was some of the allure with Freeman. But I am not going to be disappointed in picking up Khamenia (who is more athletic than I think we are giving him credit for, but I get your point).

And I will be happier when the backup big is also a physical specimen.

Khamenia needs to hit the weights - it doesn't look like he's every touched one. He has a lot of room for size and strength.

 

[ec33]

Khamenia needs to hit the weights - it doesn't look like he's every touched one. He has a lot of room for size and strength.

Another guy coming off his freshman season.

 

[cwh20]

Based on this thread, 90% of boneyarders think the NCAA is loaded with 6’10” 240 pound power forwards.

There doesn’t need to be loads of them. This is UConn. Just one guy that fits the bill and is willing to be part of a team looking for title #7 is all that is needed.

 

[bendm]

I assume this thread was started before NK committed because The 9 man rotation is almost complete and it’s clear what we still need. Brilliant work by Hurley.

Demary 30 / Transfer 10
Ball 25 / Mullins 15
Mullins 15 / Ross 25
Nik 25 / Landrew 15
Hines 30 / Transfer 10

30: Demary / Mullins / Hines
25: Ball / Ross / Nik
15: Landrew
10: Transfer PG / C
5: County

 

[RuffRuff]

I assume this thread was started before NK committed because The 9 man rotation is almost complete and it’s clear what we still need. Brilliant work by Hurley.

Demary 30 / Transfer 10
Ball 25 / Mullins 15
Mullins 15 / Ross 25
Nik 25 / Landrew 15
Hines 30 / Transfer 10

30: Demary / Mullins / Hines
25: Ball / Ross / Nik
15: Landrew
10: Transfer PG / C
5: County

Should probably wait for the Solo announcement.

 

[Fishy]

I'll take one Jonny Selvie type and one Hassan Diarra type.

The Solo stuff is taking too long. Not sure what the deal is there.