What’s next immediate need? PF or Center

[Bigbrad1029]

Yea

Hurley not like Beli -doesnt seem to take on talented head cases. He was a top 5 rated 5*, hasn't been under one good coach.

h your right; Cal on his way out at KY Diebler at OSU and Penny at Memphis, that’s why if I was his agent I’d want him to play for a guy that could get the most out of him and maybe put him back on the NBA track, particularly if he got a 5th Senior opportunity pending what NCAA does….we have enough talent to win without him IMO so if acts like a jerk drop or put him at end of bench, but if he buys in you have a 7 foot potential 5 Star that can play 4 or 5 and make us bulletproof as Hurley likes to say

 

[HuskyHawk]

They are a little small for it, but it's also the only path to them getting enough minutes so I don't see a way to avoid it. Ross I definitely agree on but Landrew has plenty of size

He’s still short for a 4. But the problem with that approach is that we are a Khamenia sprained ankle away from having no legit option at the 4. Ross and Landrew can get 20 each just at the 3. I don’t want to see Mullins playing a minute at forward.

 

[boog204]

I would think we’ll go Koroma-ish at the 4. Most teams are perimeter based 1-4 nowadays so the idea we need crazy size and strength there is a stretch. I’d expect us to rotate Khamenia, Ross, and Landrew at the 4 as needed. I think Khamenia will play 28-30mpg so you need minimal “coverage” there and Ross and Landrew need their minutes.

 

[navery12]

He’s still short for a 4. But the problem with that approach is that we are a Khamenia sprained ankle away from having no legit option at the 4. Ross and Landrew can get 20 each just at the 3. I don’t want to see Mullins playing a minute at forward.

That's definitely not enough minutes for Ross, and probably not for Landrew either. So if you're not playing them at the 4 where are those minutes coming from?

I also think it's a hard and borderline impossible sell to bring in an option that is good enough to replace Khamenia if he is injured and get less than 10 minutes at best if the team is healthy

 

[Son of Robert]

He’s still short for a 4. But the problem with that approach is that we are a Khamenia sprained ankle away from having no legit option at the 4. Ross and Landrew can get 20 each just at the 3. I don’t want to see Mullins playing a minute at forward.

There's the truth there, having an actual 4 man in case Khamenia gets injured. We bring in a quality player with some size it might give us the flexibility of having Khamenia play some minutes at the small forward spot, the 3, which is more his natural position. Now we have a bigger lineup as well.

 

[bendm]

That's definitely not enough minutes for Ross, and probably not for Landrew either. So if you're not playing them at the 4 where are those minutes coming from?

I also think it's a hard and borderline impossible sell to bring in an option that is good enough to replace Khamenia if he is injured and get less than 10 minutes at best if the team is healthy

It’s a very hard sell. This guy has to be happy getting anywhere from 15mpg to 0.

 

[Umami Zen]

The existing 9 man rotation (assuming a Nils commit*) already has a position-less/roster flexibility element to it.
Mullins (2/3). Ross (3/4).Landrew (2/3/4).Khamenia (2/3/4). Machowski * (1/2). County (1/2). Hiltay (4/5).

What does Dan want out of the 10th guy? Seviceable back- up or starter quality back- up? Bullet-proof or keep the 9 guys happy with PT and a serviceable 4 who won't demand PT to be happy?

It's a very good place to be given how quickly he's assembled some of the missing pieces. Euros or re-class(with upside) may be the way to go.

 

[3rdbass]

The existing 9 man rotation (assuming a Nils commit*) already has a position-less/roster flexibility element to it.
Mullins (2/3). Ross (3/4).Landrew (2/3/4).Khamenia (2/3/4). Machowski * (1/2). County (1/2). Hiltay (4/5).

What does Dan want out of the 10th guy? Seviceable back- up or starter quality back- up? Bullet-proof or keep the 9 guys happy with PT and a serviceable 4 who won't demand PT to be happy?

It's a very good place to be given how quickly he's assembled some of the missing pieces. Euros or re-class(with upside) may be the way to go.

I don't see Giltay being a 4/5. He is srictly a 5 in Hurley's system. We aren't playing 2 bigs and haven't in awhile. Especially with no other reliable bigs on the team.

 

[Umami Zen]

I don't see Giltay being a 4/5. He is srictly a 5 in Hurley's system. We aren't playing 2 bigs and haven't in awhile. Especially with no other reliable bigs on the team.

Not convinced Hiltay can play the 4 either except when we need to matchup with another team's large/tall front line. Until Dan reveals his selection at the PF/C spot (per OP title) - We are susceptible to a large athletic frontline matchup. I am not an advocate of a two big lineup except for defensive and rebounding reasons based on matchups. Offensively-Khamenia should be very effective (as AK was) in getting his shots in his spots through our sets. Hines is a very effective screener.

FWIW- I think Dan sold Giltay on developing/expanding his skillset while at UConn for the next level. Not a lot of 6'10'' Cs at the next level. Euro Cs learn ball skills/passing skills at a younger age .

 

[3rdbass]

Not convinced Hiltay can play the 4 either except when we need to matchup with another team's large/tall front line. Until Dan reveals his selection at the PF/C spot (per OP title) - We are susceptible to a large athletic frontline matchup. I am not an advocate of a two big lineup except for defensive and rebounding reasons based on matchups. Offensively-Khamenia should be very effective (as AK was) in getting his shots in his spots through our sets. Hines is a very effective screener.

FWIW- I think Dan sold Giltay on developing/expanding his skillset while at UConn for the next level. Not a lot of 6'10'' Cs at the next level. Euro Cs learn ball skills/passing skills at a younger age .

We didn't play 2 bigs with a player that had more 4 skills in Reibe I doubt we will see 2 bigs. We will just see Kamenia play the 4 with either Ross or Landrew like others say backing him up there. Not ideal but it is what it is unless we pick up a 4 with size. There are plenty of 5's around 6'10 at the next level. The thing is that I don't think Giltay is a next level player. He is a good backp college 5 though.

 

[Umami Zen]

We didn't play 2 bigs with a player that had more 4 skills in Reibe I doubt we will see 2 bigs. We will just see Kamenia play the 4 with either Ross or Landrew like others say backing him up there. Not ideal but it is what it is unless we pick up a 4 with size. There are plenty of 5's around 6'10 at the next level. The thing is that I don't think Giltay is a next level player. He is a good backp college 5 though.

Dan will let us know what he values most at the back- up in his next move. His success speaks for itself. Reibe never struck me as a guy who was equipped to co-exist with Tarris on the floor at the same time. IMO-Hines is going to need some occasional help on the boards/D against taller front lines. I do not see Khamenia bangin' with big frontlines on a sustained basis. If you look at our proposed OOC opponents roster construction at the 4/5 position and some of our BE rivals- Not hard to see that they're loading up on Bigs. My point is match up flexibility when the opponent dictates it.

 

[RuffRuff]

Dan will let us know what he values most at the back- up in his next move. His success speaks for itself. Reibe never struck me as a guy who was equipped to co-exist with Tarris on the floor at the same time. IMO-Hines is going to need some occasional help on the boards/D against taller front lines. I do not see Khamenia bangin' with big frontlines on a sustained basis. If you look at our proposed OOC opponents roster construction at the 4/5 position and some of our BE rivals- Not hard to see that they're loading up on Bigs. My point is match up flexibility when the opponent dictates it.

Khamenia looks like a kid that needs 10lbs of muscle. Taller doesn't always mean better. Tarris was listed at 6'10" prior to his senior year - doubt he grew an inch. I feel pretty good about where Dan is with his big situation. Hines will make up for is with explosion, motor and agility.

 

[3rdbass]

Dan will let us know what he values most at the back- up in his next move. His success speaks for itself. Reibe never struck me as a guy who was equipped to co-exist with Tarris on the floor at the same time. IMO-Hines is going to need some occasional help on the boards/D against taller front lines. I do not see Khamenia bangin' with big frontlines on a sustained basis. If you look at our proposed OOC opponents roster construction at the 4/5 position and some of our BE rivals- Not hard to see that they're loading up on Bigs.

Huh why wouldn't he co-exist when he could play more outside or at top of the key while Tarris played more at the post. They had different skillets. We said the same with Karban having to bang to against biigger lineups and Hurley stuck with it. Giltay is a backup 5 with limited offensive skills. We need his fouls at the 5 as Hines is foul prone. If we can get a 5 bigger than Koroma and maybe a little little better skillset we could be fine. That way he can back up Khamenia or play more of the 4 when we are going against bigger front lines.

 

[Umami Zen]

Huh why wouldn't he co-exist when he could play more outside or at top of the key while Tarris played more at the post. They had different skillets. We said the same with Karban having to bang to against biigger lineups and Hurley stuck with it. Giltay is a backup 5 with limited offensive skills. We need his fouls at the 5 as Hines is foul prone. If we can get a 5 bigger than Koroma and maybe a little little better skillset we could be fine. That way he can back up Khamenia or play more of the 4 when we are going against bigger front lines.

Reibe is old news and wasn't a fit with Tarris together on the floor. It was clear to Reibe and his agent how dominant Tarris was as the focal point on the floor -as he should have been- during the second half of the season and the Tournament. Coaches will attempt to gameplan vs Hines to get him into foul trouble and put him on the bench if they can. Hines will need to be disciplined in how he handles his physicality in the paint. I'm gonna move on to other topics but I do believe we need more than a serviceable back-up at the 4.

 

[Umami Zen]

Khamenia looks like a kid that needs 10lbs of muscle. Taller doesn't always mean better. Tarris was listed at 6'10" prior to his senior year - doubt he grew an inch. I feel pretty good about where Dan is with his big situation. Hines will make up for is with explosion, motor and agility.

I'm bullish on Hines as you are. Think he has next level upside.

 

[3rdbass]

Reibe is old news and wasn't a fit with Tarris together on the floor. It was clear to Reibe and his agent how dominant Tarris was as the focal point on the floor -as he should have been- during the second half of the season and the Tournament. Coaches will attempt to gameplan vs Hines to get him into foul trouble and put him on the bench if they can. Hines will need to be disciplined in how he handles his physicality in the paint. I'm gonna move on to other topics but I do believe we need more than a serviceable back-up at the 4.

Reibe is a talented player but unfortunately we couldn't keep him. I would love to have him as our backup 5 over Giltay but he thought he deserved starters minutes this past year. Either way Giltay is not a 4 in any sense of the word. He is backup 5 and why we probably need to find a serviceable backup 4 unless we want to play small ball again this year. Thing is Karaban was longer and bigger than Kamenia so it will be even more small ball. Villanova was sucessful with this in year's past and we have with Karaban so maybe that is just how we have to play to win with our current NIL situation.

 

[RuffRuff]

Reibe is a talented player but unfortunately we couldn't keep him. I would love to have him as our backup 5 over Giltay but he thought he deserved starters minutes this past year.

I'll take Giltay. There is a reason the staff went to a totally different profile for their 5's.

 

[3rdbass]

I'll take Giltay. There is a reason the staff went to a totally different profile for their 5's.

I think it was also about who we could get as a backup 5 due to our NIL situation. Hines is basically a Tarris clone. We are just replacing a McDonald's all american with Giltay who is different but I think it has more to do with NIL too why we got him instead of a bigger name Center. Not saying we would be looking for a Reibe clone but I think talent wise we would of wanted better if we could afford it. Giltay is fine as a backup 5 and have no issues with him considering or current budget.

 

[ec33]

Remember, a lot of the “4’s” we’re going to see are also big wings and perimeter player. Most of our games, getting them 10-12 minutes there won’t be a mismatch.

Which is also why the "big 4" so desired will struggle defensively.

 

[RuffRuff]

I think it was also about who we could get as a backup 5 due to our NIL situation. Hines is basically a Tarris clone. We are just replacing a McDonald's all american with Giltay who is different but I think it has more to do with NIL too why we got him instead of a bigger name Center. Not saying we would be looking for a Reibe clone but I think talent wise we would of wanted better if we could afford it. Giltay is fine as a backup 5 and have no issues with him considering or current budget.

I don't want to Reibe bash, but he was not a deserving McD AA. The center class that year was flat, he had a bad senior year and he was ranked in the mid/late 30's by rivals/247. McD AA was a bit of a gift. I think Moreno was also in it. The international 5 pool is so much better than what the US produces at the HS level.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I think it was also about who we could get as a backup 5 due to our NIL situation. Hines is basically a Tarris clone. We are just replacing a McDonald's all american with Giltay who is different but I think it has more to do with NIL too why we got him instead of a bigger name Center. Not saying we would be looking for a Reibe clone but I think talent wise we would of wanted better if we could afford it. Giltay is fine as a backup 5 and have no issues with him considering or current budget.

This kid isn't someone who was sitting in a scrap heap, he has a pretty nice upside.

I could well be wrong but I'm operating on the belief that Giltay will contribute far more than we would have gotten from Reibe.

Once conference play began Reibe seemed to shy away from the type of basketball we needed from him.

 

[ec33]

There's the truth there, having an actual 4 man in case Khamenia gets injured. We bring in a quality player with some size it might give us the flexibility of having Khamenia play some minutes at the small forward spot, the 3, which is more his natural position. Now we have a bigger lineup as well.

A starting-capable large sized 4 is an import and is going to be pricey. So pricey he will in fact be the starter.

 

[3rdbass]

This kid isn't someone who was sitting in a scrap heap, he has a pretty nice upside.

I could well be wrong but I'm operating on the belief that Giltay will contribute far more than we would have gotten from Reibe.

Once conference play began Reibe seemed to shy away from the type of basketball we needed from him.

Reibe was fine in conference play. He just hit the Freshman wall at the end of the year. He was quite serviceable and decent 5 up until then. I know people are mad Reibe left but to say Giltay is going to be more effective than him based on current play is coming off a little too bias. Reibe has the offensive tools while Giltay is more of a defensive big. Different types of players and probably fine for our offense as we normally look at the 1-4 positions to score with a starting Center who has a post game. Giltay will be asked to come in and rebound and play defense. He won't be a scoring threat besides lobs and put backs.

 

[ec33]

I think it was also about who we could get as a backup 5 due to our NIL situation. Hines is basically a Tarris clone. We are just replacing a McDonald's all american with Giltay who is different but I think it has more to do with NIL too why we got him instead of a bigger name Center. Not saying we would be looking for a Reibe clone but I think talent wise we would of wanted better if we could afford it. Giltay is fine as a backup 5 and have no issues with him considering or current budget.

It would have been nice to be able to alter the look offensively but UConn has upgraded defensively.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Reibe was fine in conference play. He just hit the Freshman wall at the end of the year. He was quite serviceable and decent 5 up until then. I know people are mad Reibe left but to say Giltay is going to be more effective than him based on current play is coming off a little too bias. Reibe has the offensive tools while Giltay is more of a defensive big. Different types of players and probably fine for our offense as we normally look at the 1-4 positions to score with a starting Center who has a post game. Giltay will be asked to come in and rebound and play defense. He won't be a scoring threat besides lobs and put backs.

Very different styles as you pointed out. I think it’s very clear from the direction that the staff went that the baseline they need from the 5 is rebounding and defense. No offense to Samson but I think the staff learned a lot from that season because defense, owning the boards, and rim protection is so key to what they want to do defensively. Reibe will be a very good offensive big sooner rather than later, but he’s got a long way to go defensively to get to what the staff wants. IMO, Giltay will produce a lot better at the specific areas the coaches want out of the position, than Reibe would have.

 

[3rdbass]

Very different styles as you pointed out. I think it’s very clear from the direction that the staff went that the baseline they need from the 5 is rebounding and defense. No offense to Samson but I think the staff learned a lot from that season because defense, owning the boards, and rim protection is so key to what they want to do defensively. Reibe will be a very good offensive big sooner rather than later, but he’s got a long way to go defensively to get to what the staff wants. IMO, Giltay will produce a lot better at the specific areas the coaches want out of the position, than Reibe would have.

I think we didn't have much choice as Reibe didn't want to stay here. I'm fine with Giltay as backup 5 giving us good defense and rebounding. Would I rather have Reibe with an extra year in the offseason working on his body and with our coaching? Sure but that boat sailed and we got the next best option we could get even if I think Giltay has lower upside than Reibe.

 

[RuffRuff]

Anyone thinking it's a massive drop off isn't looking close enough. Giltay a much better fit for what we run. He's a strong, wide based, leaper. Reibe was, not.

I think we didn't have much choice as Reibe didn't want to stay here. I'm fine with Giltay as backup 5 giving us good defense and rebounding. Would I rather have Reibe with an extra year in the offseason working on his body and with our coaching? Sure but that boat sailed and we got the next best option we could get even if I think Giltay has lower upside than Reibe.

How do you know? How do you know the staff didn't low ball him, will to let him walk?

 

[3rdbass]

Anyone thinking it's a massive drop off isn't looking close enough. Giltay a much better fit for what we run.

How do you know?

You have your opinions and I have mine. Mine is just an opinion and you don't agree with it. I don't agree with yours. Let's keep it that way and move on. I never said Giltay isn't a good fit but I do wonder if Reibe had stayed another year if he could of developed more physically in Hurley's system. Obviously Hurley saw stuff recruiting him and he did play pretty well for 2/3 of this past season.

 

[SeanElAmin]

This last spot is gonna be very interesting -

Looking at the available portal option - not many fit. The best fit would be a guy like Allen Graves from Santa Clara but I don't know if that is the route this staff goes. I would love to add that level of piece from a competitiveness standpoint, but outside of him, the only guys I see possibly fitting the bill would be the following:

Jordan Burks - 6'9/205 from UCF - 13ppg/6rpg and 37% from 3
Justin McBride - 6'8/235 from JMU - 15/6 and is a 40% 3pt shooter and 50% from the floor
David Fuchs - 6'9/230 from SF - 13/8 per game guy

Issue is none of these offer a TON defensively.

Maybe Dylan Grant from Rutgers, but he is on the lean side, or Robert Miller III from LSU.

Otherwise its overseas we go... I am thinking Saliou Niang, Michael Ruzic, Alexandros Samodurov, Mouhamed Faye

 

[RuffRuff]

You have your opinions and I have mine. Mine is just an opinion and you don't agree with it. I don't agree with yours. Let's keep it that way and move on. I never said Giltay isn't a good fit but I do wonder if Reibe had stayed another year if he could of developed more physically in Hurley's system. Obviously Hurley saw stuff recruiting him and he did play pretty well for 2/3 of this past season.

Just not sure why you are stuck on a player that is gone - better off focusing on what you do have and put some faith in the staff.