Who will be our starting point guard next season?

[GHSWolverines]

I love RJ Cole. Love the way he plays. Love his leadership. He was the perfect PG for this program to transition out of the pit we were in and into a top25 team. That said, it is time to take the next step (back to conference title games, elite 8's, etc) with a PG who can create both for himself and for others. The 'for others' part is crucial. I believe Hawkins & Castle can be a formidable 1-2 punch next year (from the guard position), I expect Sanogo to return as well .. I hope Diggins can be the one to facilitate it. But make no mistake, we need to improve our offensive efficiency. Watching us get run to half court on a DHO & our inability to counter high pressure in the 1/2 court was gut wrenching. We must do better.

Castle is 2023!

 

[Tenspro2002]

Zero expectations for him. I hope he's able to recover and play well again but he just didn't look anywhere close to the same player this year

My hot take is that he actually was close to the same player, but with a better team around him, the fact that he doesn't actually have a role on a winning 5-on-5 team was more glaring.

Guys with his profile and skillset always look better individually than their actual contributions to a winning team.

He can block shots and his shooting was pretty good, but he's too skinny to defend the post, too slow to defend guards, doesn't do enough on offense unless you can run lobs or pick and pop for him, and can't create for himself or others.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

This is wishful thinking but with a line up of Diggins, Floyd, Gaffney, Jackson, Hawkins, and Karaban on the wings what are the chances we become a running team?

Karaban is much better than advertised, and I am sure Hurley knows this.

 

[Huskyfan4evr]

Fatts Russell? He must have 1 year left.

 

[superjohn]

Karaban is much better than advertised, and I am sure Hurley knows this.

I haven't seen much of Karaban but I did watch all his Peach Jam games. His three point shot was off but I could tell he's a good shooter and seems to have a mature offensive game. He was 100% from the ft line on like 40+ attempts. He seemed good at getting to the rim from the perimeter but he really struggled finishishing against athleticism at the rim, a lot of missed layups.

 

[Connecticut13]

It'll be a rebuilding year for sure

To rebuild means Hurley had to build something in the first place. 2007, for example, was a rebuilding year after an Elite 8 team with 5 NBA picks. You can argue 2010 was a rebuilding year after a Final Four run and losing Price, Thabeet and Adrien.

We haven't accomplished enough in the past 4 years to have a rebuilding year. Next year is the first season in which Hurley won't have any Ollie players. Next year is the season we should be fully built - NOT rebuilding. The fact of the matter is that none of the point guards that Hurley recruits (e.g., Diggins, Gaffney) look to have the ability to make significant contributions.

 

[methodology]

Can Castle graduate this spring? Or at least by thanksgiving?

I think someone mentioned he was going to try to reclassify to 22

 

[Tenspro2002]

I haven't seen much of Karaban but I did watch all his Peach Jam games. His three point shot was off but I could tell he's a good shooter and seems to have a mature offensive game. He was 100% from the ft line on like 40+ attempts. He seemed good at getting to the rim from the perimeter but he really struggled finishishing against athleticism at the rim, a lot of missed layups.

As long as he can contribute more than Polley while providing outside shooting, that's fine as a stretch 4. He doesn't need to be a focal point of the offense creating for himself.

 

[McLovin]

I think AJ will play point for us but won’t be listed as the starting PG. I think that will be Floyd. And I’m very excited about that backcourt duo.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

I haven't seen much of Karaban but I did watch all his Peach Jam games. His three point shot was off but I could tell he's a good shooter and seems to have a mature offensive game. He was 100% from the ft line on like 40+ attempts. He seemed good at getting to the rim from the perimeter but he really struggled finishishing against athleticism at the rim, a lot of missed layups.

For a young kid he’s got sound fundamentals already. Hurley might suck as a game coach but he is a very good teaching coach. Karaban will only get better and more confident under coach Hurley.

 

[Kenny11]

I think someone mentioned he was going to try to reclassify to 22

If thats true, then he's the guy.

 

[bigknight3]

I haven't seen much of Karaban but I did watch all his Peach Jam games. His three point shot was off but I could tell he's a good shooter and seems to have a mature offensive game. He was 100% from the ft line on like 40+ attempts. He seemed good at getting to the rim from the perimeter but he really struggled finishishing against athleticism at the rim, a lot of missed layups.

Did you miss the game where he drove down the middle and finished with a dunk through contact (possible and 1) to win the game?

 

[dennismenace]

No it wont. With Sanogo, Jackson, and Hawkins you aren’t rebuilding. All you need is guard play and shot creators. Next season can be much better than this season if he’d just stop being stuck in his ways

Agreed. In order to go where you want (a much better season) you have to leave where you have been. Only he can institute that change and have the courage to say "I need help" to take the risk. I am not ready to bet the farm on his doing this; especially with a guaranteed contract through March 31, 2027 at $2.9 mil. But you never know. Maybe he will go outside his mental/emotional comfort zone since his financial security has already been established ($15 mil more through March 31, 2027.

UConn inks Dan Hurley, Randy Edsall to two-year contract extensions

Hurley is locked up through the 2026-27 season while Edsall is under contract through the 2023 season.

www.theuconnblog.com

 

[Viet Vet]

Jackson can't be the PG when he doesn't value the ball by making difficult unnecessary passes that lead to turnovers.

And he can't be a shut down defender when he doesn't know how to properly use his athleticism to stay in front of his man. Being active doesn't make you a good defender. Last night he was the worst defender on Teddy Allen.

Polley and Martin were better. Even when Cole held his own when Allen tried to post him up.

You can't play good defense flatfooted, like Jackson. That's why he doesn't stay in front of his man, and gives baseline. Reminds me of Donyell Marshall, who according to Calhoun, "couldn't guard a chair".

 

[bendm]

Cole will come back. I had some time to think about it. He was a UConn fan as a kid. I don’t think he wants to go out this way. I don’t think he wants this to be his legacy. He has an emotional attachment to the program.

glad to hear you had time to think about it and have figured it out for him

Who is the 2 guard?

hawkins

 

[ColchVEGAS]

I think the original plan going in to the season was for Diggins to be the PG for 2022-2023, being he is a pure PG. The fact he could not crack the rotation even a little says a lot. If Cole is not returning we need to look at the portal. Definitely not giving up on Diggins and maybe he makes huge strides in the off season, but he will have to fight for those minutes once again next season.

 

[Hurleyman216]

This isn’t going to be a popular opinion, but if Clingan is good enough to play center we need Sanogo to be able to possibly play stretches at the 4. Maybe not ideal, but if Sanogo wants to play in the NBA he’s going to have to develop a better handle with a mid range game and be able to make an occasional wide open 3 to keep opponents honest. If he can play the 4 it makes us a much more dangerous team.

 

[Pahuskie1]

RJ is done with college
Sool should have played a ton earlier in the season - he is a pure PG, something UConn needs to be effective. Trying to cram a proven SG into a PG mold is not the answer.
I like the xfer portal for any position but PG
Work with him this summer and give Sool the ball next year - if he is still at UConn

Diggins is from my area, saw him play in high school, kid has some ability just wish he was given a chance to to have played more in the early part of the season. Was really disappointed he was not. I know he said he wanted to be UConn's next great PG, pretty hard to be that without playing time. Why recruiit him if he gets little playing time. I hope coach Hurley has a plan for him next season ?

 

[auror]

This isn’t going to be a popular opinion, but if Clingan is good enough to play center we need Sanogo to be able to possibly play stretches at the 4. Maybe not ideal, but if Sanogo wants to play in the NBA he’s going to have to develop a better handle with a mid range game and be able to make an occasional wide open 3 to keep opponents honest. If he can play the 4 it makes us a much more dangerous team.

You are correct. This is not going to be popular lol.

Certain matchups, maybe. Otherwise, hard no. And not with Jackson in at the same time. Sorry. Shudder.

 

[Pahuskie1]

Am I the only one here not giving up on Diggins next year?

He wants to be the next great UConn PG.........give him a chance, he was very skilled in high school. I know college is a big change but we may have the answer to next's years team already on the roster

 

[How Sway?!]

If there is a clear high major PG in the portal, we have to go for it. If not, I'm of the opinion that sool and Ajax take a step next year and be able to handle the ball, but we would need Hawkins and Karaban to be solid wings

 

[KembaStepback]

The Summer will tell us a lot. I expect SJ will pass AA for the 4 slot. I'm not sure what we do at PG. Likely transfer unless RD shows significant improvement.

I think next season could be similar to this one. The year after is where we really have a chance to be special. Assuming Hawkins is still here...they wouldn't lose anyone aside from AA and JG. Meanwhile gaining Castle and the rest of 2023 class. I think they could make a really deep run. Sanogo and Jackson as seniors with Hawk, Johnson and Diggins as juniors.

 

[UCTitleTown]

I think when the seniors talk about "last time playing with this group" they mean the entire group, not necessarily individuals. If just one player is gone, it won't be the same group next season. I'd wait before reading too much into post-game comments.

I really want Cole back. His overall body of work was impressive this season. We just need one or two more good ball handlers and a couple guys that can shoot (preferably guys that do both). I've seen a bunch of guys that shoot 100% from 3 in their mix tapes. Get a couple of them.

 

[Frank06830]

Caleb Daniels is 22

Oops there is another Caleb Daniels.

 

[Deleted at users request]

maybe but I thought Hurley wanted this team to get out and run and we barely saw any of it. And when we did have a fast break, we couldnt make layups.

A good part of the reason we couldn’t do that was because we weren’t a good finishing team on the perimeter. Hopefully next year we can be better there. Andre needs to play a lot of pick up ball and hopefully camps open back up this summer.

 

[wheelerdog]

Sanogo needs to be the 2nd option. Need Hawkins to be the guy. And then get him complimentary shooters in the portal or move Gaffney to off ball.

And for the love of god can Akok find himself? Our offense needs a stretch 4, Akok looked good for 30 seconds on that jumper. Whaley can’t hit that consistently.

Maybe Akok can find himself if he actually gets to stay on the floor. I'm sure someone's going to tell me it's his defense, but I'm still struggling to understand his lack of PT, especially prior to the foot issue cover the past few weeks.

 

[wheelerdog]

Did you miss the game where he drove down the middle and finished with a dunk through contact (possible and 1) to win the game?

He did it once all year. It's an issue

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Maybe Akok can find himself if he actually gets to stay on the floor. I'm sure someone's going to tell me it's his defense, but I'm still struggling to understand his lack of PT, especially prior to the foot issue cover the past few weeks.

He's kind of a mirage: a 6'10" guy who can hit threes and block shots from the help side. The trouble is that he's got big holes in the rest of his game. My gut tells me Johnson over Akok.

 

[Pahuskie1]

Am I the only one here not giving up on Diggins next year?

I hope he gets to sit down with coach Hurley and has a discussion over giving him an opportunity to run the team. He is a pure point guard and has skills, give him a chance, he could develop into a Talik Brown type player or possibly better ?

 

[Slick]

I'm sure with all that we saw from Diggins this season he's rea... oh
Well Floyd sure showed some...
I mean Gaffney will be a senior.
Really looking forward to months of lineup speculation and overhype of our rosters so the team can take a crap in the first round again next year.
It was coming anyway but I thought we might have a few weeks before it started.

I may be wrong but I don’t see gaffney coming back. He played much worse then Hurley could have imagined. I think we bring in a point guard from portal. I also can’t see Richie springs back. He has had a scholarship for 3 season and can’t get on the floor. I also don’t think Akok is coming back