Who will start next year?

[UConnSwag11]

I really think that Tolksdorf could get some quality minutes at the four. He's a big body on defense who could hopefully hold his own in the low post and on the boards, but also provide better spacing and another outside threat from the outside. I know he hasn't seen many meaningful minutes to date in his career, but I think he's got the frame/skill set to get some time at the 4.

did he transfer?

 

[SixRings]

Don't get too excited about Mr Lubin next year. He is making a huge step up.
If body build meant anything UCF would be national champs.
Adrien had that build but also had that KO,SN,KW,will to exceed. Kids like that are very special.

RL is one beefy dude. What he (might have) is something we haven't seen in a while. Somebody that can set up in the paint and not be pushed around. He doesn't have to score, just get some boards and kick it out. Be a immovable force and help impose our will on the opposition.
As I'm typing this I'm thinking we just won a NC with a skinny dude that could score at the four so what the hell do I know.

 

[jbdphi]

Boatright, Purvis, Hamilton and Nolan are all locks for me. I have no idea who ends up starting at the 4 position but I'm guessing Facey would certainly get the nod over Lubin.

Brimah will come off the bench after the off-season injury and should end up playing more minutes than Nolan by the end of the year. TSam should play a similar role to what he did at the end of this season. And unless Calhoun has some sort of mind-blowing transformation I don't see how he is anything more than a backup at the 3. Cassell would be the 8th or 9th guy in the rotation and that's getting pretty deep, particularly given how thin we are at the 4 / 5. Only 15 fouls to give between Facey / Nolan / Brimah kind of scares me.

 

[sparky]

We are thin in the front court and a beast in the back court. I give the nod to Boat, Rod, Facey, Hamilton, Nolan. Tsam, Sam Jr., and Omar off the bench. I have Nolan because of Brimah's surgery. I am thinking that we will get a 5th yr PF. If nothing else teams will need Oxygen on the sidelines keeping up with the Running Huskies.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

If Rakim is ready to play some minutes, Nolan might come to split time at the 4 and 5. I'm not sure if Facey is ready to assume the starting job or starters "minutes."

 

[Strummer]

I'm impressed with the wide divergence of opinion.
I guess there really are two questions - what's the starting 5 in November, and what's the starting five in April. Different questions.

Last season, for instance, I thought in Nov. that the starting 5 should be Bazz, Boat, Giff, Brimah, and DD. It was close to that by the end, but was varied throughout the year.

Next season I think Boat, Purvis, Brimah, Hamilton, Facey ends up being our best 5 in crunch time.

But if you told me we'd variously start TSam, SamC, OCal, Nolan, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

End of day, we have a lot of evenly spread talent. Bring in TSam or Nolan off the bench is not a dip at all.

Lot of guy picking Omar Calhoun to start. From zero minutes down the stretch to starter in 6 months, with DHam and Purvis and SCJ coming in to fill minutes? If that ends up happening I'd be very happy, because it would mean Omar would reform himself.

 

[CallMeBruce]

I'm impressed with the wide divergence of opinion.
I guess there really are two questions - what's the starting 5 in November, and what's the starting five in April. Different questions.

Last season, for instance, I thought in Nov. that the starting 5 should be Bazz, Boat, Giff, Brimah, and DD. It was close to that by the end, but was varied throughout the year.

Next season I think Boat, Purvis, Brimah, Hamilton, Facey ends up being our best 5 in crunch time.

But if you told me we'd variously start TSam, SamC, OCal, Nolan, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

End of day, we have a lot of evenly spread talent. Bring in TSam or Nolan off the bench is not a dip at all.

Lot of guy picking Omar Calhoun to start. From zero minutes down the stretch to starter in 6 months, with DHam and Purvis and SCJ coming in to fill minutes? If that ends up happening I'd be very happy, because it would mean Omar would reform himself.

It's not like he doesn't obviously have the talent. He had a garbage season, and his confidence is shot. If he puts himself together in the offseason, I wouldn't be remotely surprised to see him start at the 3 next year.

 

[Storrsbred]

Bazz and Giff are going to be missed big time on the O end, to say nothing of their D, which was mostly great.

Purvis is not an outside shooter, neither is TSam. The only newbie that can theoretically hit from the outside is DHam. It will interesting to see where the points come from. Maybe Tolks gets a legit shot at playing time if he doesn't transfer. Cassell? Who am I missing for outside points?

 

[bmayuc]

Bazz and Giff are going to be missed big time on the O end, to say nothing of their D, which was mostly great.

Purvis is not an outside shooter, neither is TSam. The only newbie that can theoretically hit from the outside is DHam. It will interesting to see where the points come from. Maybe Tolks gets a legit shot at playing time if he doesn't transfer. Cassell? Who am I missing for outside points?

This guy apparently doesn't think 38% 3pt shooting is very good(purvis' freshman stats). Smart take bro.

The only guy that can THEORETICALLY HIT from 3 is DHam? Dude put the cyanide down. Cassel/Purvis/DHam are all known as good perimter shooters, and I saw very encouraging things from TSam this season.

It will work itself out, we have PLENTY of shooting.

 

[pj]

Boat - best player on the team; Purvis - you don't park a Ferrari in your garage; Hamilton - we need the scoring; Nolan/Brimah - two-headed monster at center; Facey - by process of elimination, we need Nolan to complete the two-headed monster at center, Lubin is unready, TSam and DHam don't have the size ... but this could be a 5th year player who graduated elsewhere.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Boat - best player on the team; Purvis - you don't park a Ferrari in your garage; Hamilton - we need the scoring; Nolan/Brimah - two-headed monster at center; Facey - by process of elimination, we need Nolan to complete the two-headed monster at center, Lubin is unready, TSam and DHam don't have the size ... but this could be a 5th year player who graduated elsewhere.

Lol don't park a Ferrari in your garage, that's such a great metaphor

 

[DogMania]

I know it's fun predicting lineups but there seems to be few knowns with next year's team. Boat is one of them. Amida is another one once he's healthy. If Purvis is as good as we think, he should get the nod at the 2.

The other two spots would appear to be up for grabs and might be positions by committee. If KO has confidence that a third player can play the 5, we might see Brimah and Nolan at the 5 and 4. But unless they add another 5 or a Combo-4/5, KO will probably be forced to split time at the 5 between the two of them like he did this past season. If that turns out the case, Facey and Lubin share time at the 4 when KO isn't going small with Hamilton getting minutes at that position.

I think Hamilton gets most of his minutes at the 3, though with his ball handling, passing and scoring skills, he's like having a third combo guard on the floor.

The team is stacked with so many combo guards that can play the 1 or the 2. It really doesn't matter who starts. I would not be surprised if KO carves up the minutes at the 1 through 3 between Boat, Purvis, TSam, Cassell and Hamilton. I don't see Boat kept on the bench for very long, but the others will share a lot of the rest of those minutes.

Seeing that most of the talent is at the 1 through 3, I'd be shocked if KO doesn't go with a lot of 3-G sets. Other than Boat, the other guards have good size and will be able to defend most 3s.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

Boatright
Purvis
Calhoun
Hamilton
Nolan

Who needs forwards?

 

[EricLA]

My guess for starter and backup for each position. And from Ollie's perspective, a ridiculous amount of players to mix and match. Go big, go small, whatever. Going to be a fun season...

Boat (Cassell)
Purvis (TSam)
Hamilton (Calhoun)
Facey (Lubin)
Brimah (Nolan)

 

[muhmitchell]

Boatright/Cassell Jr.
Purvis/Turnce/Cassell Jr.
Turnce/Hamilton/Calhoun
Facey/Lubin
Nolan/Brimah

I feel Turnce Samuel will start but KO will use Hamilton and Omar at the 3 and just move the guards around when resting them. Also, I think the Nolan-Brimah battle is a tossup that will be won by whoever fixes their fouling issues first. Also, if Phillip LEARNS HOW TO PUMP FAKE (see game vs UK and Shabazz's comments about how he could've scored 12 points lmao) and Brimah grows a pair...of hands. Honestly, "I've seen better hands on a snake." -Richard Sherman

 

[PAHusky]

If you're a PF class of 2015 recruit it should take you all of ten seconds to look at our roster and see a great chance for early playing time for a team that just won a national championship. Mr. Diallo, come on down pal.

 

[TheChamps990411]

If Rakim is ready to play some minutes, Nolan might come to split time at the 4 and 5. I'm not sure if Facey is ready to assume the starting job or starters "minutes."

You cant be named Rakim and built like a brick sh@t house and not be ready to play. the kid will get his minutes.

 

[B1GEast]

no idea who starts, really, there are so many potential combo's it's ridiculous.

Boat / TS / Purvis / Cassell all can be 1 or 2's in the right line up

Calhoun should start with Hamilton pushing for time

Nolan / Facey / Lubin

Brimah will only play at the 5 and may or may not start

I would hope we land a 5th year senior at the SF spot, depth at that position looks like our weakest link, either way there are a lot of minutes for KO to figure out. 10 or more guys in the rotation, that's a deep roster.

 

[PacificStorm]

What if Hamilton grows an inch or two over the next 8 months? He could become our DD replacement along with Facey at the 4.

Daniel Hamilton was last measured at 6 8.5 - the same height as DeAndre.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

According to CNNSI, Kromah is coming back and starting next year…

http://college-basketball.si.com/2014/04/28/nba-draft-decision-winners-losers-kentucky-kansas-ucla-duke-michigan/?eref=sihp

…”otherwise, they lost production that can be filled by players like Amida Brimah and Lasan Kromah getting a year older and a year better.”

Oh, and Arizona has the best defense in the country in 2013/14.

“This seems counterintuitive, given that the best defense in the country”

Yeah, sure, I guess having the stats declare which team the ‘best’ is more important than actually cutting down the nets after the Final game. If that was the case, UConn should have stayed home instead of travelling to Buffalo, MSG, and Dallas. I'll take UConn's 4 national championships over 'stats' any day.

 

[Scot-e]

I am ok with the disrespect at this point- it hurt more before we won the NC- now they can say whatever they want. My response is "scoreboard!". We win.

 

[HuskyJJ]

Nolan will not play the 4 at all unless we pick up a graduate student 5. We just can't afford to have Nolan and Amida playing at the same time in case they both get fouls. That leaves a lot of playing time for Lubin at the 4 unless we pick up a 4 graduate student (hopefully).

Seriously doubt OC makes the jump to deserve starter minutes, hopefully I'm wrong, but I just don't see it happening.