What are your expectations for Polley?

[HuskyHawk]

Really, you gotta have guys who can shoot at at least 4 positions if you are going with the 'positionless' thing. I mean, that's kinda the whole point. This was probably UCONN's greatest failing over the last few years. Very few shooters.

Almost nobody outside Nova has been able to pull it off. It isn't easy, even if it is effective when done right. Kansas played small most of the year, except a monster at the 5. But that wasn't by design, they lost Preston and lost other bigs previously.

My point is more about this team. Polley at the 4 can't fix our 3 point shooting situation. This team is going to make a few threes, but the bulk our points are going to come in transition and at the rim. Rebounders who can outlet pass and get down the court and finish will be important. I think our offense will be driven by defense and transition baskets. Polley can be disruptive in pressure with those long arms, but is a liability near the rim on D.

 

[intlzncster]

Almost nobody outside Nova has been able to pull it off. It isn't easy, even if it is effective when done right. Kansas played small most of the year, except a monster at the 5. But that wasn't by design, they lost Preston and lost other bigs previously.

One of the reasons why I think the NBA system needs to be adjusted/tempered a bit for the college. The players don't have the same skills throughout the roster as they do in the NBA.

Nothing wrong with playing the modern game and focusing on outside shooting, but you aren't going to get that skill up and down the roster in college, so it behooves to have more traditional roles in the post.

 

[UconnU]

So we still don't know Tyler's heigth somewhere between 6'6"~6'9"". Split the difference 6'7 1/2"" seems about right. I see him playing a bigger role this year wherever he plays probably both the 3 or the 4.

He's a very long 6'8 he can easily play the 4 if he gains some weight. Remember Calhoun switched to this 4 out 1 in style the last couple years of coaching. 2010-2012 his most used line up had Roscoe Smith at the 4. I actually think Polley is a little longer than Smith was.

 

[intlzncster]

He's a very long 6'8 he can easily play the 4 if he gains some weight. Remember Calhoun switched to this 4 out 1 in style the last couple years of coaching. 2010-2012 his most used line up had Roscoe Smith at the 4. I actually think Polley is a little longer than Smith was.

But Roscoe was more athletic, way stronger, and aggressive than Polley. Polley has a nicer stroke, but he'd get eaten alive on the boards by Roscoe.

 

[HuskyHawk]

But Roscoe was more athletic, way stronger, and aggressive than Polley. Polley has a nicer stroke, but he'd get eaten alive on the boards by Roscoe.

Agree completely. And Roscoe became one of the best rebounders in the country after he transferred. Better post defender than Polley too. It all goes to what you said above, if you have a guy who can do it all, fine, plug him in. If not you need to decide what you need. Polley's talents, so far, tend toward the perimeter, both on defense and offense.

It seems like several people are high on him improving, but I think it's just as likely that Diarra or somebody else develops a jump shot. Whaley is built like Polley but is an instinctive shot blocker. I'm not down on any of them, they are all limited, young players. We have five guys competing for PF minutes and only two guys competing for SF minutes (maybe 3 with Smith). The math seems obvious to me.

 

[intlzncster]

Agree completely. And Roscoe became one of the best rebounders in the country after he transferred. Better post defender than Polley too. It all goes to what you said above, if you have a guy who can do it all, fine, plug him in. If not you need to decide what you need. Polley's talents, so far, tend toward the perimeter, both on defense and offense.

It seems like several people are high on him improving, but I think it's just as likely that Diarra or somebody else develops a jump shot. Whaley is built like Polley but is an instinctive shot blocker. I'm not down on any of them, they are all limited, young players. We have five guys competing for PF minutes and only two guys competing for SF minutes (maybe 3 with Smith). The math seems obvious to me.

Hardly anybody talks about Diarra, but with the right coaching and development, he really could be effective next year and possibly a stud in the following two years.

 

[Palatine]

Hardly anybody talks about Diarra, but with the right coaching and development, he really could be effective next year and possibly a stud in the following two years.

He has to make the bunnies. Do that and he will be valuable.

 

[UConnStats]

But Roscoe was more athletic, way stronger, and aggressive than Polley. Polley has a nicer stroke, but he'd get eaten alive on the boards by Roscoe.

I couldn’t really care less about Polley’s length until he does something with it. He rebounds less than a T-Rex armed point guard currently. He would get absolutely torched at the 4 which is why we didn’t see him there this year.

 

[donyell34]

I was sad to see Roscoe leave. What a warrior in 2011.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I couldn’t really care less about Polley’s length until he does something with it. He rebounds less than a T-Rex armed point guard currently. He would get absolutely torched at the 4 which is why we didn’t see him there this year.

He played a bit at the 4 late in the season. It was not good. But then it wasn’t good with Larrier at the 4 either.

 

[jibsey]

What is the difference to Hurley if Polley is a 3 or a 4? He’s matched up against an opposing player his size and Hurley can put several guys out there at the same time that are 6’6 to 6’8 and they will be the non guards. They have to shoot, pass and rebound well, case closed. And unless they are Carlton they aren’t centers. If you asked the coach who his 3’s and who his 4’s are he would laugh at you.

 

[champs99and04]

One of the reasons why I think the NBA system needs to be adjusted/tempered a bit for the college. The players don't have the same skills throughout the roster as they do in the NBA.

Nothing wrong with playing the modern game and focusing on outside shooting, but you aren't going to get that skill up and down the roster in college, so it behooves to have more traditional roles in the post.

I would agree with you if college big men were any good. They're not, and that's why I think Nova's philosophy works so well. It doesn't matter if you defend a center with a point guard. They can't take advantage of mismatches and so ultimately the teams that drive and kick the best put up the most points.

The modern game is all about the natural selection of skill sets. To the extent that the players are better in the NBA does not change the schematic luxury of additional shooting. We don't even need to look to Nova as an example because we have our own. Our best lineup in 2014 featured five guys who could shoot the three.

I do think you are onto something, though. There have been plenty of successful college teams in recent memory that started two traditional post players. Dan Hurley's best team at Rhode Island started a guy in Kuran Iverson at the four who rarely took a three. The last decent UConn team started Shonn Miller there, and the team in 2017 underachieved in a massive way with Kentan Facey at the four. If your players are good at something, you should allow them to do those things as often as possible. That was Ollie's primary failing as head coach in my estimation, and it aligns with your interpretation that his players were asked to do things they could not. Contrary to popular belief, our offense needed to be simplified. Not every player on the court can attack a switch or read a slip screen. Sometimes playing in a phone booth is the right way.

 

[husky429]

I think he will play some minuges at the 4 if the matchup dictates it. Same with wilson.

If were playing that small of a lineup with amy frequency, were in trouble.

Polley may have the length, bur basketball position is just as much about MENTALITY. He has a perimeter mentality. Can't change that very easily

 

[QDOG5]

I expect him to want the cracker.

 

[UConnStats]

I expect him to want the cracker.

You laugh, but there’s a material chance that ESPN shows this in their “keys to the game” once before he graduates.

 

[JellyBean]

Play decent defense. Be a team player. Make at least 40% on 3 point shots. 75% freethrows. FG % in the 50 range.