Which players do you think fans are sleeping on for this season?

[HuskyHawk]

Jalen's biggest weakness has always been his inability/unwillingness to attack the rim and seek contact. The UConn greats, and college bball greats in general always used their star power to get favorable calls and establish early in a game that the defender would have to give extra space than usual or else the defender would risk getting called for a lot of fouls.

Jalen has actually done the opposite. He uses his incredible athleticism and balance to avoid contact in the air, this ends up making his shot more difficult and reassures the defender that they can defend him really tight near the rim because they know Jalen well use his amazing acrobatics to avoid contact.

His 3 point shot off the dribble is serviceable and his 3 point shot when he is set is actually pretty good. If he can start playing physical on the offensive end and get to the line, then there is no doubt in my mind he will not only be the AAC player of the year but an All-American.

Absolutely agree. His body control has allowed him to make acrobatic shots while avoiding contact. It's a useful ability, but it has lead to him now knowing how to score when he gets bumped. He misses those (and misses too many of his overly creative shots too). Needs to learn to take the bump...then contort his body and get the shot off cleanly.

I have no doubt that Hurley has talked to him about this, and getting stronger seems to have been his off season focus. Just another element of why this is shaping up to be such an exciting season. I really want to see the improvement I know these guys can make.

 

[businesslawyer]

That's not what I'm saying, because that is absurd. Hence why I said DeAndre Daniels TYPE player.

I'm saying we need a wing player to step up (Wilson or Polley) in order for this team to have a shot to get into the NCAA tournament. We know what we have at guard, and our frontcourt is pretty limited. Therefore, the wildcard is the wing position.

It is similar to 2014 in that we knew what we had in Shabazz and Boatright, the frontcourt was fairly limited, and the wing players were the X factor (Giffey and Daniels). Obviously I am talking relative to talent, as the 2014 team was miles better than this team will be.

O.K. But Daniels wasn't a wing -- he was a stretch 4. Who, by his Sophomore year, was able to handle playing inside against a 4. Polley and Wilson are not going to be that type of player.

 

[HuskyHawk]

O.K. But Daniels wasn't a wing -- he was a stretch 4. Who, by his Sophomore year, was able to handle playing inside against a 4. Polley and Wilson are not going to be that type of player.

Agreed. I am constantly surprised by the number of people here who view a "stretch 4" as a wing playing out of position. Yes, that was Larrier last year and the results were predictable. A true stretch 4 should be able to actually play and defend as a power forward around the rim, while also being able to pull defenders outside to guard them on the perimeter when needed. Daniels could. Donyell could. Rudy Gay maybe.

I hope we don't see Wilson at the 4. Polley may get some time there in certain situations, but he needs 25-30 pounds to really be more effective in that kind of role. I think Cobb could be a stretch 4 if his new weight loss improves his overall speed.

 

[AntG168]

Eric Cobb

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

O.K. But Daniels wasn't a wing -- he was a stretch 4. Who, by his Sophomore year, was able to handle playing inside against a 4. Polley and Wilson are not going to be that type of player.

Agreed. I am constantly surprised by the number of people here who view a "stretch 4" as a wing playing out of position. Yes, that was Larrier last year and the results were predictable. A true stretch 4 should be able to actually play and defend as a power forward around the rim, while also being able to pull defenders outside to guard them on the perimeter when needed. Daniels could. Donyell could. Rudy Gay maybe.

I hope we don't see Wilson at the 4. Polley may get some time there in certain situations, but he needs 25-30 pounds to really be more effective in that kind of role. I think Cobb could be a stretch 4 if his new weight loss improves his overall speed.

I think we're splitting hairs when talking about a stretch 4 vs. a wing when considering my point that you are referring to. I was basically saying we need someone who is not a guard or a big to come out of the woodwork. That leaves Polley and Wilson. Stretch 4, Wing, 3rd baseman, whatever you two want to call him, we need them to step up and help out the guards on both ends, like Daniels and Giffey helped out the guards on both ends.

Also, if we are getting into the stretch 4 debate, didn't Hurley even just mention playing Wilson or Polley at the 4 in a possible small ball lineup? And they both can stretch the floor (Polley moreso than Sid), hence, wouldn't that classify them as a stretch 4 if that were to happen? Stretch+4= stretch 4?

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think we're splitting hairs when talking about a stretch 4 vs. a wing when considering my point that you are referring to. I was basically saying we need someone who is not a guard or a big to come out of the woodwork. That leaves Polley and Wilson. Stretch 4, Wing, 3rd baseman, whatever you two want to call him, we need them to step up and help out the guards on both ends, like Daniels and Giffey helped out the guards on both ends.

Also, if we are getting into the stretch 4 debate, didn't Hurley even just mention playing Wilson or Polley at the 4 in a possible small ball lineup? And they both can stretch the floor (Polley moreso than Sid), hence, wouldn't that classify them as a stretch 4 if that were to happen?

I don't disagree with the overall point. I even said both could see minutes there. In my opinion, that's a small lineup not employing a 4 at all. When we play 3 guards, and we will, we don't call a 6'1" guard a "stretch 3". Wilson is a 3, and once he can shoot, probably more of a shooting guard. Polley is a tall wing with no inside game at this time.

So I'm looking at a stretch 4 as a set of skills. The size and ability to bang down low, rebound, block shots and the ability to handle the ball a little, step outside and knock down 3's. It's rare skill-set. Lebron would be the ultimate example, except he doesn't play that position. Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Giannis Antetokounmpo . Very few college teams have a guy like that. Bagley last year for Duke.

Match-ups, fouls, defensive assignments will all dictate whether we play a guy out of position, as Ollie did most of the year with Larrier or play a classic 4 who isn't a stretch. I think our best bet is to hope that somebody who is a true PF gives us more than we expect. With Diarra out (he would have been my choice), Cobb seems most likely. But it could be Yawke or Whaley. Wilson and Polley will both get abused on the defensive end, as Larrier did all year.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I'm not predicting where either Wilson or Polley may finish their careers. But any thought of them this year playing like Daniels did even his Sophomore year strike me as absurd. We'll see.

Why Polley’s freshman numbers were as good a DD’s.
DD pretty much was a garbage time player as a freshman.
Similar heights both with a decent stroke both not as progressed athletically
DD was a pretty slow to develop who even as a Jr was reluctant take it to the hoop or even put it on the floor.

Jalen's biggest weakness has always been his inability/unwillingness to attack the rim and seek contact. The UConn greats, and college bball greats in general always used their star power to get favorable calls and establish early in a game that the defender would have to give extra space than usual or else the defender would risk getting called for a lot of fouls.

Jalen has actually done the opposite. He uses his incredible athleticism and balance to avoid contact in the air, this ends up making his shot more difficult and reassures the defender that they can defend him really tight near the rim because they know Jalen well use his amazing acrobatics to avoid contact.

His 3 point shot off the dribble is serviceable and his 3 point shot when he is set is actually pretty good. If he can start playing physical on the offensive end and get to the line, then there is no doubt in my mind he will not only be the AAC player of the year but an All-American.

Jaylen is one of the most talented guards we’ve ever had.
Unfortunately except his freshman year and especially last year his supporting cast was not great.
He should however be getting to the line 5-6 more times a game ,when you consider the amount of time he has the ball and his ability to penetrate.
Watching replays I don’t think it’s for lack of contact. Arizona beat him like a drum yet he went to the line only 3-4 times in that game .
Whether he is not selling the contact like Kemba shamelessly did occasionally to excess or ref’s simply aren’t protecting him because of the bad teams , that’s something that needs to be rectified. He averaged 18 a game last year. Get to the line more and he is in the mid twenties. The benefits far exceed the additional points as piling up personal fouls effects the opposing teams defensive intensity. That simple adjustment could be a difference maker.
Minor adjustment huge returns.

 

[Kenny11]

Jalen's floater is his best skill and is at an NBA level. But he should definitely seek contact more. As a senior, he should be able to find the right balance on when to throw up the floater and when to launch his body toward a moving defender.

 

[CL82]

The BY is sleeping on CV, for far more bad reasons than good.

Explain, please?

(FWIW, I like CV. I think he can do very well in Hurley's system but it probably means less shots (but better looks) and less overall minutes.)

 

[businesslawyer]

Why Polley’s freshman numbers were as good a DD’s.
DD pretty much was a garbage time player as a freshman.
Similar heights both with a decent stroke both not as progressed athletically
DD was a pretty slow to develop who even as a Jr was reluctant take it to the hoop or even put it on the floor.

Jaylen is one of the most talented guards we’ve ever had.
Unfortunately except his freshman year and especially last year his supporting cast was not great.
He should however be getting to the line 5-6 more times a game ,when you consider the amount of time he has the ball and his ability to penetrate.
Watching replays I don’t think it’s for lack of contact. Arizona beat him like a drum yet he went to the line only 3-4 times in that game .
Whether he is not selling the contact like Kemba shamelessly did occasionally to excess or ref’s simply aren’t protecting him because of the bad teams , that’s something that needs to be rectified. He averaged 18 a game last year. Get to the line more and he is in the mid twenties. The benefits far exceed the additional points as piling up personal fouls effects the opposing teams defensive intensity. That simple adjustment could be a difference maker.
Minor adjustment huge returns.

The only part of that at all accurate is that DD was not ready to contribute as a true frosh. Now you want to compare that to Polley? DD was a top ten recruit. DD was playing as a wing as a frosh before they decided to make him a stretch 4. DD didn't get minutes behind Lamb, Giffey and Roscoe at the 3. And DD tried to break in against much, much, much harder opposition. While Tyler played on a team where if you could contribute anything you got a chance.

I'd love to see Sophomore Polley be comparable to Sophomore DD, even knowing that Sophomore DD didn't really start becoming an impact player until the second half of the season. But the odds of that happening are incredibly small.

 

[Mano]

To answer the OP, Rip (van Winkle)

 

[QDOG5]

My sleeper is a walk-on. I believe his last name is Van Winkle.

 

[superjohn]

He was better than Donovan Mitchell before he got to UConn.

Jalen wasn't exactly brought along properly but let's be honest, he was never going to keep up with Mitchell going forward, completely different level of athlete.

 

[LIuconn]

The grad transfers

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I don’t care if your John Wooden. If the other team doesn’t respect your shooting no offense will work. All offense including motion depend on spreading the D. Guys advocating back door cuts against a packed zone really haven’t a clue.
Last year even a entry pass was difficult but that is not surprising with our shooting.
For that reason I believe shooters will be the priority at least until we establish the fact we can make threes . That’s why I’m high on Polley especially in the half court.
The one exception to the above rule will be offense created by defense.
I suspect we will see both options next year but we won’t pressure for 40 minutes. The lineup for kicking it up a notch will be different than our half court sets. I would play one or two defensive specialist ie Yakwe ,Whaley and three guards or wing a who can defend and run the floor. The reason is not only is a rim protector necessary in a gambling defense fouling is very likely and this keeps your primary big out of foul trouble.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Not the only issue. He was a sieve on defense. He's got relatively slow feet, and it showed.

Upside for Polley is a nice backup player imo. Happy to eat crow if he exceeds that someday.

Polley was 17 years old last year thrust into a bigger roll than anticipated by transfers.
Face it the lineup last year should have been
Gilbert/Vital
Adams
Larrier
Jackson
Enoch/Carlton
That’s a far different team

 

[intlzncster]

Polley was 17 years old last year thrust into a bigger roll than anticipated by transfers.
Face it the lineup last year should have been
Gilbert/Vital
Adams
Larrier
Jackson
Enoch/Carlton
That’s a far different team

Of course. I didn't say he wouldn't improve. But to pretend defense is one of his strengths last year is disingenuous.

And his feet were not quick. Hopefully looks a little better when he figures out what's going on.

 

[Stainmaster]

Explain, please?

(FWIW, I like CV. I think he can do very well in Hurley's system but it probably means less shots (but better looks) and less overall minutes.)

A lot of the flaws in his game are easily negatable through good coaching. They’ve been framed as immutable character issues by too many people.

 

[CL82]

Jalen's floater is his best skill and is at an NBA level. But he should definitely seek contact more. As a senior, he should be able to find the right balance on when to throw up the floater and when to launch his body toward a moving defender.

Any insider know how Jalen looks. How's his conditioning/fitness?

 

[huskyinfl]

I am not sleeping on anyone. I expect to be a NC contender each year. Even when we are sub .500.

 

[Mano]

My sleeper is a walk-on. I believe his last name is Van Winkle.

Dude. Literally one post before yours.

To answer the OP, Rip (van Winkle)

Just let my bad joke die.