Who starts at Power Forward? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Who starts at Power Forward?

UofCT2009 said:
Vital is not coming off the bench. Feel free to old take expose me here.
Expand ...
He'll play plenty off the bench. But I think we start the games in a traditional lineup, with guys like Vital/Smith coming in early for different reasons.

EDIT: This is also a good problem to have.
 
Hopefully it'll be Diarra, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's Yakwe to start IF Coach Hurley feels that Diarra hasn't made the adequate progress yet. Or maybe a Polley/Whaley if they make huge progress over the next several months.
But yeah, it's probably Diarra's spot to lose.

Someone here suggested it could be KW, which I see about no chance of happening. Hurley even said something along the lines of "We are still trying to figure out where Kwintin fits in".
 
CAn Yakwe shoot at all? Whaley showed decent touch at times.

We can’t start 4 guys who can’t shoot.

Wilson and Polley should put on 10-15 pounds by the time the season starts.
 
RayIsTheGOAT said:
Hopefully it'll be Diarra, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's Yakwe to start IF Coach Hurley feels that Diarra hasn't made the adequate progress yet. Or maybe a Polley/Whaley if they make huge progress over the next several months.
But yeah, it's probably Diarra's spot to lose.

Someone here suggested it could be KW, which I see about no chance of happening. Hurley even said something along the lines of "We are still trying to figure out where Kwintin fits in".
Expand ...

People are sympathetic to KW because the previous HC didn't like playing him. He showed enough during garbage time last year to convince me that with proper coaching, he is definitely capable of playing rotation minutes (i.e. 8-10 per game). Anything beyond that is residual anger at Ollie.

FWIW, my gut say it's Diarra's job to lose.
 
Stainmaster said:
People are sympathetic to KW because the previous HC didn't like playing him. He showed enough during garbage time last year to convince me that with proper coaching, he is definitely capable of playing rotation minutes (i.e. 8-10 per game). Anything beyond that is residual anger at Ollie.

FWIW, my gut say it's Diarra's job to lose.
Expand ...
I love the energy KW brought off the bench (7 points 7 boards in garbage time against Wichita or someone if I remember correctly?). He certainly should get more love than KO gave him, but it feels like the proper role for him on a good team is an energy guy off the bench if someone is slacking.
If he's one of our starting bigs, I'm concerned.
 
KW can leappt the rafetrs so could be a force. However, I don't think his feet ever left the floor last year, so ...
 
.-.
Huskyforlife said:
He'll play plenty off the bench. But I think we start the games in a traditional lineup, with guys like Vital/Smith coming in early for different reasons.

EDIT: This is also a good problem to have.
Expand ...

Ehh I don't see that happening. Vital is our best and only shooter so keeping him on the bench to start games makes no sense.
 
Stainmaster said:
People are sympathetic to KW because the previous HC didn't like playing him. He showed enough during garbage time last year to convince me that with proper coaching, he is definitely capable of playing rotation minutes (i.e. 8-10 per game). Anything beyond that is residual anger at Ollie.

FWIW, my gut say it's Diarra's job to lose.
Expand ...

Williams is a six-year project on a four-year scholarship.

There’ll be some games where his effort is enough to help and there’s some games where he’ll look like he’s an intramural player.

He’s upside to the plan. Anything we get from him is a bonus.
 
Fishy said:
Williams is a six-year project on a four-year scholarship.
Expand ...
Three year scholarship. Which makes the odds of ultimately getting anything of value out of him even lower.
 
.-.
HooperScooper said:
Three year scholarship. Which makes the odds of ultimately getting anything of value out of him even lower.
Expand ...
We have the right coach to get the most out of him. Hurley has historically built his teams by molding talent. KW has tons of athleticism. If he buys in I think he can be a very solid contributor by his senior year.
 
PG: Adams
SG: Vital
SF: Wilson
PF: Diarra
C: Cobb

Gilbert, Carlton, Yakwe, Polley, Smith, Whaley off the bench in that order. I see Kwintin being an energy guy who sees a couple minutes a game. Brendan Adams I see being a good 4 year guy but not a main contributor this year.

Also think we’re seriously underestimating this team. A lot of people are saying we’re a fringe tournament team. This team has the talent to go second week if coached well. We’ve learned to hold expectations in check the past few seasons but that changes now.
 
JimOllie said:
PG: Adams
SG: Vital
SF: Wilson
PF: Diarra
C: Cobb

Gilbert, Carlton, Yakwe, Polley, Smith, Whaley off the bench in that order. I see Kwintin being an energy guy who sees a couple minutes a game. Brendan Adams I see being a good 4 year guy but not a main contributor this year.

Also think we’re seriously underestimating this team. A lot of people are saying we’re a fringe tournament team. This team has the talent to go second week if coached well. We’ve learned to hold expectations in check the past few seasons but that changes now.
Expand ...

I love your enthusiasm and if you are right, I will be thrilled. The roster is full of unproven guys with potential. That makes it exciting. But there are enough question marks that I think bubble team is about right. I would take that as significant progress.
 
JimOllie said:
PG: Adams
SG: Vital
SF: Wilson
PF: Diarra
C: Cobb

Gilbert, Carlton, Yakwe, Polley, Smith, Whaley off the bench in that order. I see Kwintin being an energy guy who sees a couple minutes a game. Brendan Adams I see being a good 4 year guy but not a main contributor this year.

Also think we’re seriously underestimating this team. A lot of people are saying we’re a fringe tournament team. This team has the talent to go second week if coached well. We’ve learned to hold expectations in check the past few seasons but that changes now.
Expand ...
OK I'll bite. Who besides Jalen Adams and an if healthy Gilbert would you see starting on a second weekend "team X" aka doesn't say UCONN on the jersey?

I want you to be right. I don't see it as close. Hurley can only do so much with the base talent level.
 
Ewekon said:
OK I'll bite. Who besides Jalen Adams and an if healthy Gilbert would you see starting on a second weekend "team X" aka doesn't say UCONN on the jersey?

I want you to be right. I don't see it as close. Hurley can only do so much with the base talent level.
Expand ...

Here’s the problem. We’ve learned to hold expectations in check for our players due to their noticeable lack of development. With a coach who will now get the most out of the talent on the roster, that changes. Adams, Vital, Gilbert, and Smith is a top 15 backcourt in the country. Sid I’ve seen play against some of the best high school talent and he is nasty. Polley will give us some solid shooting backing him up. Diarra, Yakwe, and Carlton are all serviceable down low. Throw in the potential of Williams, Whaley, and Cobb and you have a respectable front court. I understand where you’re coming from. These guys are unproven but for a reason. They weren’t getting the most of their talent. This new era that is going to change. I’d be truly shocked if this is not a sure fire tournament team come March.
 
.-.
The traditional PF is really not what we are looking for
If you want to take advantage of having one if not two of the best guards in the country
You want to spread the floor forcing defenders as far away from the paint as possible. Running motion against a packed zone is a waste of time.
My understanding is Wilson can shoot We know Polley can shoot also
Hurley claims Diarra can shoot. If the latter is true it’s case closed , Polly/Wilson share time at the three also that’s less three guard required to gin up the offense.
I see Yakwe as a backup five. And I see him and maybe Whaley on the floor if we are pressing . If we’re pressing and getting turnovers sets are unimportant
But picking up missed gambles on D is huge. Plus as a last resort fouls against those guys keep your offensive bigs out of foul trouble.
 
Huskyforlife said:
He'll play plenty off the bench. But I think we start the games in a traditional lineup, with guys like Vital/Smith coming in early for different reasons.

EDIT: This is also a good problem to have.
Expand ...

When was the last time ANY returning college basketball player who averaged 15 ppg didnt start the following season? I would be shocked if there are any.
 
UofCT2009 said:
Vital is not coming off the bench. Feel free to old take expose me here.
Expand ...



I think Hurley would probably like to use him off the bench. But much of that depends on Sid. Sid would have to be real good real fast to keep CV from starting. Especially early in season.
 
Huskybass said:
When was the last time ANY returning college basketball player who averaged 15 ppg didnt start the following season? I would be shocked if there are any.
Expand ...

The ones that shot 31% from three and 36% from the field. His percetanges were awful so doesn't matter what he averaged on a bad bad team. He was coming off the bench when Gilbert was healthy. I expect the same this year, if Gilbert is healthy.
 
Whaley has tremendous upside on the defensive end of things. Should he develop even the most basic of offensive skills he could be a huge asset for us.
 
Jalen Adams will be counted on to help carry the team....points are needed.

I am sure that Hurley will play a three guard line up a lot....ball handlers and play makers.

As a casual observer last year, I will be watching for several things...

....the play of Yakwe. The absence last year of a good big man at post jumped out at me.

....the development of a sniper who can be relied upon to hit from outside.
 
.-.
As much as I l have liked a big man at post...I think that Hurley will be playing a lot of three guard-two power forward lineups.

Maybe basketball is moving that way....fewer very talented, very quick 7 footers around.

Hurley's teams may be at their best when he plays a line-up of two forwards and three guards with each player offering versatility in their skill sets. Maybe basketball is trending where true centers and burly, low post operating power forwards are marginalized as teams stretch defenses with more perimeter-oriented play.
 
Last edited:
August_West said:
I think Hurley would probably like to use him off the bench. But much of that depends on Sid. Sid would have to be real good real fast to keep CV from starting. Especially early in season.
Expand ...
Sid really needs to gain some weight.
 
Huskybass said:
When was the last time ANY returning college basketball player who averaged 15 ppg didnt start the following season? I would be shocked if there are any.
Expand ...

I'm not sure, but guys whose coach got fired would probably be at the top of that list.
 
Tenspro2002 said:
I'm not sure, but guys whose coach got fired would probably be at the top of that list.
Expand ...

I am just saying it would be highly unusual for him not to start, despite the shot selection issue. I think Adams is the 1 this year with Vital at the 2. When Gilbert comes in, Adams moves to the 2. Nicey nice.
 
Vital is starting, it’s not even a question. He may be a captain too
 
.-.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,349
Messages
4,566,529
Members
10,469
Latest member
xxBlueChips


Top Bottom