What have we learned? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

What have we learned?

CL82 said:
In no particular order and off the top of my head:

Phog Allan Fieldhouse is a tough place to play

Our freshman are for real and both likely to be major contributors to any postseason run.

Stewart and Ross haven't made a quantum leap in terms of their play. Both are contributors, though. Ross is making more of his minutes and seems to have a bigger upside.

Demary can play, but he's not the second coming of Tristen Newton.

Smith was a more valuable pick up than many of us thought. He absolutely gives us a quality backup point guard, but I'm more comfortable with him in. His decision-making needs to improve a bit, but it will.

Koroma is more than a practice player. Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't want to see him out there 40 minutes, but he can come in and contribute for short stretches. Especially with Reed out, he gives us needed depth at the center spot.

Reibe is the real deal. Watching his progression game to game is a blast. I don't think he bumps a healthy Reed from the starting spot, but his size and skill allows us to have the 2 Headed monster at center that has been so successful for us. Sanogo/Clingan, Clingan/Johnson etc.

Mullins is the real deal. He still looks physically young, but man that kid can play. If he keeps on his same trajectory, he will be a high draft choice. I'd love to have him for a second year, but it doesn't seem likely.

Solo may not be "the guy" on this year's team. Hopefully he finds his three-point shot so that he is as consistent as last year. It appears he's heading in the right direction. Don't get me wrong, he's a great piece for us, I just thought he might be more dominant this year.

Alex seems to have regained some of his confidence. He seems willing to take shots when needed though he seems more comfortable as a third/4th option in the offense.
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With Braylon's probable emergence as a 3, Stew needs to reinvent himself as a 4, especially as his shot hasn't been falling. He has about one good, tough, physical rebound in traffic each game where I think he might be getting it that he can be a Kevin Freeman type, but then the moment passes and he disappears again.
 
GHSWolverines said:
I agree as long as it is with the ACC. I would like to keep it "local"
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It would be nice if best teams from acc and bigeast formed an east coast conference

…. but I don’t think conference matters if UConn is able to schedule non conference matchups like they did this season. 6 top 25 in non conference plus 2 against st johns is probably enough for a decent resume
 
lonsharkin51 said:
With Braylon's probable emergence as a 3, Stew needs to reinvent himself as a 4, especially as his shot hasn't been falling. He has about one good, tough, physical rebound in traffic each game where I think he might be getting it that he can be a Kevin Freeman type, but then the moment passes and he disappears again.
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Just not sure how many minutes are there to be had TBH. I agree in concept. He's in a weird spot.
 
GHSWolverines said:
I agree as long as it is with the ACC. I would like to keep it "local"
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The ACC would definitely feel more relevant. Cuse, BC, Notre Dame, Louisville, plus big matchups with UNC and Duke every year. I want nothing to do with SMU (reeks of the AAC years). I don't know why the ACC wouldn't be salivating to have us but it would also feel like the clock is ticking before the ACC blows up and we are looking for a home again.

Best bet, Big 10
 
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Stew has had 2 years of opportunity to solidify a forward spot. I’m sorry to his loyalists but he is who he is. Now Ross is bringing skills that contribute to the fold.
Mullins blew past both in Phog last night. Eye test and box score..
The Stew/Ross battle is now first forward off the bench.

I just hope with Hurley’s loyalty trait ( I respect it) he realizes that Stew/Ross are who they are nothing more.
 
Dibbie said:
Don’t want to come across as a downer, but in 23 and 24, as I watched the teams I told my non-UConn fan buddies that those teams were going to win a Natty. So far, I’m not yet there with this team. Maybe it’s due to the injuries, but the 23/24 teams were just blowing teams away (except that ugly January). Totally believe they can win it this year, but they’ll be growing into March to get there.
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Those UConn teams were special, ‘24 was arguably the best champion of all time. This team looks more like previous champions who are elite but not unstoppable. And I’m fine with that, we’ll improve.
 
Captbluefin said:
I just hope with Hurley’s loyalty trait ( I respect it) he realizes that Stew/Ross are who they are nothing more.
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Are you worried one of them is going to start and play more than Mullins? He's not an idiot, Mullins was the starter before he stepped foot on campus.
 
Captbluefin said:
Stew has had 2 years of opportunity to solidify a forward spot. I’m sorry to his loyalists but he is who he is. Now Ross is bringing skills that contribute to the fold.
Mullins blew past both in Phog last night. Eye test and box score..
The Stew/Ross battle is now first forward off the bench.

I just hope with Hurley’s loyalty trait ( I respect it) he realizes that Stew/Ross are who they are nothing more.
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Stew is a 4, Ross can play the 2 or 3 because he can defend either.
 
We’re better and deeper than last year. Everyone who hits the floor will deserve the minutes they’ve been given. Here is expected minute breakdown:

AK 35
Mullins 30
Demary 28
Ball 28
Reed 27
Reibe 15
Smith 15
Ross 12
Stewart 10

This means that Reed and Reibe will be on the floor at the same time in limited spurts. Demary will play off the ball with Smith on the floor at certain times.
 
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I've learned that we have two players who can get to the rack when in need be with Solo and Demary. Feels good when last year it was only Diara who could reliably take his Defender off the dribble. Liam tried but was often with the Defender on his back.
 
lonsharkin51 said:
With Braylon's probable emergence as a 3, Stew needs to reinvent himself as a 4, especially as his shot hasn't been falling. He has about one good, tough, physical rebound in traffic each game where I think he might be getting it that he can be a Kevin Freeman type, but then the moment passes and he disappears again.
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With Mullins back and Karaban rightfully entrenched at the 4, Stewart and Ross will get maybe 10-20 minutes combined to spell them, depending on who has the hot hand (Stewart probably more of a 4, Ross more of a 3). Neither has shown that they should get starters' minutes.

Fortunately, you only play 5 at a time. In 2024 we weren't overwhelmingly deep, but our starting 5 was the perfect CBB lineup, with 2 reliable backups. This year we have:

Demary/Smith
Ball
Mullins
Karaban
Reed/Reibe

That's a really strong top 7.
 
DW1361 said:
I disagree with you here. The perception here was that Tristen wasn’t Tristen Newton his first year and in the first part of his second year. Just go back and reread the disgruntled posts in the thread started by Fishy on the topic we don’t have a point guard. Demary is struggling right now, but I have seen flashes of what he can become once he becomes comfortable. I would give it time before making that assessment.
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yeah, if you look at the numbers after 8 games...pretty identical. Tristen averaged a point or two more, but Silas averaged more assist and has had a better Assist to turnover ratio, both averaged close to 5 rebounds and both had a triple double in that span....we dont need Silas to be 2nd year tristen, but he is good, and with Malachi, we are totally good at the 1
 
RitzLuce1 said:
Jaylin Stewart has been a tremendous disappointment and we probably should have upgraded from him in the portal in the offseason
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Nope. Him and Ross are the perfect tandem of backup wings, 8/9 off the bench. We don't need a ton from Stew to be a complete team, but there will be games where he's on and goes for 12/6
 
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RuffRuff said:
Just not sure how many minutes are there to be had TBH. I agree in concept. He's in a weird spot.
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He's been playing out of position his entire time here. I don't think it's a bad idea to keep AK closer to 30 min a game, giving Stew the rest to see how he plays. Having a fresher AK at the end of games can only help.

It's going to be interesting when Alex leaves....Danny has become very reliant on him...playing him almost 40 min a game sometimes
 
More confirmed than learned, UConn has the best staff in the game. They excel in all facets. Halftime adjustments? See last night. Bringing in players that fill a need and fit the culture? Ditto. The list goes on.
 
NJHusky said:
He's been playing out of position his entire time here. I don't think it's a bad idea to keep AK closer to 30 min a game, giving Stew the rest to see how he plays. Having a fresher AK at the end of games can only help.

It's going to be interesting when Alex leaves....Danny has become very reliant on him...playing him almost 40 min a game sometimes
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Question is who is his AK next year?
 
We’ve learned that even when we’re at the peak of the fan experience—in the middle of having a real shot at 3 titles in four years—some fans will continue to find reasons to be miserable
 
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RuffRuff said:
Question is who is his AK next year?
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If the other Huskies go nowhere this year, it'd be interesting to see if Hurley & Co make a play for Hannes Steinbach and if he'd even be willing to play beside Reibe. I assume they are acquaintances, but I have no idea on that front.
 
Jaydumo20 said:
8 Games in:

in your opinion, what have the staff and returnees learned from last year?
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They don’t need to rely on one or two players. Multiple guys are able to step up from game to game.
 
RuffRuff said:
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Reibe looked timid his first few games but now that he has played more and done well, he looks confident. He cried after missing those foul shots against Zona which shows how much he cares. I love Reibe.He’s not Clingan, but he’s as close to Clingan as we are ever going to get.
 
NewBlood said:
The ACC would definitely feel more relevant. Cuse, BC, Notre Dame, Louisville, plus big matchups with UNC and Duke every year. I want nothing to do with SMU (reeks of the AAC years). I don't know why the ACC wouldn't be salivating to have us but it would also feel like the clock is ticking before the ACC blows up and we are looking for a home again.

Best bet, Big 10
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We have less than a 0% chance of getting into the B10. First, we should take anything P4 that comes our way. Like you, playing Oklahoma St isn't exactly what I would call a lot of cultural or geographical symmetry. The B12 has done nothing but move further West with recent expansion too.
 
WeAreUCONN said:
Reibe looked timid his first few games but now that he has played more and done well, he looks confident. He cried after missing those foul shots against Zona which shows how much he cares. I love Reibe.He’s not Clingan, but he’s as close to Clingan as we are ever going to get.
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Not sure why we are comparing - they are entirely different.
 
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