Who do you think will be our best player next season?

[IndyLives]

Hot take: even with Karaban coming back, I'm sticking with my answer of Mahaney.

Karaban is an elite, elite complementary player -- even an NBA-level role player -- but not someone you run an offense through.

Mahaney will shine with and without the ball in his hands.

Mahaney needs to get his shooting % up if he wants to lead the team. Danny runs an efficient, system offense.

 

[caw]

Stewart, Alex, Mahaney most nights. McNeeley I see having a Christian Braun type of season. He'll have challenges with the defense early. By midyear he forces his way into the lineup and into the top half of the draft.

Honestly have no idea who we sit by February. Somebody who would start for most top 10 teams will be on the bench. Maybe 2 or 3 such players.

I would bet on at least two considering one of Ball/Diarra/Mahaney and one of Stewart/McNeeley will be coming off the bench and that's not even going into the center position.

The top eight is stacked.

 

[Matrim55]

Mahaney needs to get his shooting % up if he wants to lead the team. Danny runs an efficient, system offense.

Mahaney's numbers will naturally improve precisely because Danny runs an efficient, system offense.

That said, there's always someone who has to chuck up late shot-clock grenades, dragging down their averages. Last year it was Tristen, and the year before it was often Jordan (tho Adama's post dominance limited the number of struggle bus trips). It could end up being Mahaney's job this year.

 

[Mr. French]

I’m guessing, just like the last 2 years, there will be 4-7 guys who will pass the baton back and forth.

AK, Liam, Aidan, Stewart, Ball, Diarra. Maybe throw in a Samson and Tarris game once in awhile.

 

[Waquoit]

My money is on Mahaney. I dont think people understand just how talented he is and im one of them but Ive heard from a couple talking heads on YT that he is someone that could be in the running for CPoY and first team AA.

But that same guy declared our other portal pick-up "the stupidest player in college basketball", so a grain of salt might be needed here. I hope he's 50% right.

 

[EZPass]

I see it with McNeeley. I hope he gets the Hawkins green light and is taking lots of step-backs & pull-up jumpers. Am I right that Tristen, Cam, & Steph didn’t really take those?



Alex Karaban is the best player.

 

[superjohn]

I think some people are sleeping on McNeeley, he's nasty and it's much more than just his shooting.

 

[jibsey]

I think some people are sleeping on McNeeley, he's nasty and it's much more than just his shooting.

His tapes show he’s a total stud but AK brings so many facets to a game that help a team win. Not flashy but the coaches have said it over and over.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

If we want a chance at repeating, Solo, Stewart, and Liam will have to be our top 3 players as the best talents on the team.

AK is going to kill it in his role still and can be considered a top player as well of course as one of the best stretch four 3 and D players in the country.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I think some people are sleeping on McNeeley, he's nasty and it's much more than just his shooting.

You think he could play some 2? Feel like Stewie is primed for a breakout.

 

[jibsey]

You think he could play some 2? Feel like Stewie is primed for a breakout.

If his ball handling is very good I would like to see that.

 

[superjohn]

You think he could play some 2? Feel like Stewie is primed for a breakout.

Offensively he could play the 2-4.

 

[auror]

You think he could play some 2? Feel like Stewie is primed for a breakout.

Our offense isn't really predicated on positions or numbers. Just skills. Can you run off screens and hit shots? He should be able to, so we can run the sets we used for Spencer and Hawkins with him. Can he set screens and thus pick and pop or ghost out and also hit 3s trailing in transition? Yeah, so he'll get used in similar ways to Alex.

Can he operate in isolation from the foul line with a spaced court after a flex screen? We'll see. As a freshman, I'm not sure. But that was Castle stuff. I have a feeling Stewart will be better at winning in isolation this season, so he'll likely get more opportunities to do the "3" stuff in some of our plays.

But other Castle stuff was running the offense as the initiator when we want to run our "PGs" off of screens and stuff off ball. I do think McNeeley can do that because he did it at Montverde. So yeah, I think he's versatile enough to do some of the roles that our last few 2s, 3s, and 4s did.

There will be times when we have McNeeley, Stewart, and Karaban all out there, but it will probably be when our opponents don't have multiple super quick guards.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Our offense isn't really predicated on positions or numbers. Just skills. Can you run off screens and hit shots? He should be able to, so we can run the sets we used for Spencer and Hawkins with him. Can he set screens and thus pick and pop or ghost out and also hit 3s trailing in transition? Yeah, so he'll get used in similar ways to Alex.

Can he operate in isolation from the foul line with a spaced court after a flex screen? We'll see. As a freshman, I'm not sure. But that was Castle stuff. I have a feeling Stewart will be better at winning in isolation this season, so he'll likely get more opportunities to do the "3" stuff in some of our plays.

But other Castle stuff was running the offense as the initiator when we want to run our "PGs" off of screens and stuff off ball. I do think McNeeley can do that because he did it at Montverde. So yeah, I think he's versatile enough to do some of the roles that our last few 2s, 3s, and 4s did.

There will be times when we have McNeeley, Stewart, and Karaban all out there, but it will probably be when our opponents don't have multiple super quick guards.

You using the “PG” terminology to explain our offense

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think some people are sleeping on McNeeley, he's nasty and it's much more than just his shooting.

When so many were clamoring for Flagg, I was noticing McNeeley. So I believe it. I also believe the wing defensive obligations on a UConn team where the 5 hedges (as will be the norm this year) are a lot to handle.

I'd be surprised if McNeeley starts over Stewart in the fall. I wouldn't be surprised if he forces his way into the starting lineup at some point.

 

[tennmike]

There's going to be plenty of minutes for Stewart, McNeeley, and Karaban so I am not too concerned about who starts. Liam, however, is absolutely built for the UConn office and he is athletic and smart enough for the defense. I suspect he'll get acclimated even faster than first-year Karaban. He is going to be a star.
Best trio of 3-4's in the country.

 

[tuvent08]

I think it'll end up McNeeley. Two years in a row we have found ideal one-and-dones.

 

[mauconnfan]

Cam Spencer