Wont take much from AD to impact this team (be warned - long post)

[old_dog]

I always enjoy reading DM's write-ups, but the problem with this type of position-by-position analyses is that it doesn't speak to the single biggest factor which won us our 3rd national championship - team chemistry. From my perspective, we clearly have the talent on the court to be a Final 4 contender, and possible repeat champion. The key questions this year are whether the sophomores have become jaded or complacent, or simply less anxious to please or prove themselves, and what the departure of Kemba and the addition of RB, DD, and AD does to team dynamics and chemistry. Perhaps DogMania has some insights or speculation?

 

[DogMania]

This is an interesting piece of speculation(DM's opening post). It is probably pretty safe to assume that Drummond will be a major contributor this season. However, there is always the possibility that he could be considered a major flop; Fab Melo anyone. I do believe That Dog Mania has the nature of his probable contributions down; I think that averaging double digit boards is quite optimistic.

My speculation is that Oriaki will likely defend 4 and play 5 offensively. Drummond should be able to get more offensive putbacks from the 4. I think the 5 defensively is a position where he will be less likely to pick up cheap fouls.

It is beyond hard to assess Drummonds contributions to the team before we even have a look at him in practices much less games. Still
Still The way this year's UConn team plays the game at both ends will probably differ substantially from last year's club. Over the years, UConn has become less and less of an up tempo team; my sense of the ab ilities on this roster make that trend likely to continue. Even last season particularly in the last 11 games; UConn tried to go inside first on offense. The loss of Kemba made it likely that this would continue; the addition of Drummond makes it more likely to be a profitable tactic.

Doubters of this season's squad point to the loss of Kemba creating extreme difficulty in scoring. If you remember the end of the season;
Kemba dominated the Big East tournament; he was much less dominant in the NCAA tournament. Still there is no one on the roster who has Kemba's breakdown ability. When the offense went South, or a clutch shot was needed; Kemba was there. Of course he didn't succeed every time, but his big play ability was astounding.

Will UConn have the type of success fans are expecting/yearning for? Certainly I wasn't a believer heading into last season's Big Est tournament. Can/will UConn win the close games? The defense will probably put them in position to be close in almost all games.
This should be a very good/excellent free throw shooting team. UConn lost quite a few close games in the last 2/3 of the Big East regular season play.

Getting a lot of easy baskets is the key to avoiding close games;offensive rebounds, fast breaks, and steals. I don't believe they will be able to create enough easy opportunities to avoid a lot of close games in the Big East.

aka zymurg

Noooooo! Zy how could you change your name. You are my idol when it comes to the long post. Good to see you chiming in, budy!

The number of rebounds AD will average will be tied closely to the number of minutes he is able to stay on the floor. Many will be shocked at how big, long and athletic this kid is. If is able to average 25 minutes or more, he's going to around or above that double digit rebounding numbers especially if he and Oriakhi are on the floor together and are boxing out as a unit. Rebound numbers can be deceptive. Often a player gets the rebound as a result of he and his teammates boxing out whoever is in their zone and creating a pocket for the nearest defender to grab the rebound. In any given game we'll likely see Alex or Andre pulling down monster rebounds while the other has moderate numbers. But once AD learns to stay out of foul trouble and play hard, he's going to log big time minutes. It's hard to imagine someone who takes up as much space as he does and is as athletic would not pick up double digit rebounds most of the time.

With that said, I did not like his effort in the Adidas game. There were a few times where the ball was coming off the rim and he just stood there and got beat to the ball. JC simply won't tolerate that type of effort and along with AD's teammates are sure to hammer home the type of work ethic that is expected at UConn. Outworking and out-willing the opponent is part of the Husky DNA. The result of not doing so will be a DNP.

I also think this team will run a little more than last year, but still keep to the more balanced attack that we've seen since the 99 NC. There have been some teams such as the Hasheem team that preferred the half-court slug fest over the wide open transition game. I think this team will be more like the 99 team that showed good balance between executing the half-court offense and running when the situation dictates such. One thing that JC has always done is to get his team in the best condition possible and wear teams out by using a combination of transition, motion half-court, some full court harassing pressure and lock down half-court defense. This team might be the best ever built for such. There's enough depth and skill to do all of the above. We're a tad thin at the 1 & 2. But if this trio knows how to stay out of foul trouble, JC will be throwing all sorts of pressure at the opponent. Teams are going to spent by the half-way point of the 2nd half. Seeing UConn run away from teams at the end of games is likely going to be a pattern we'll be seeing this year.

 

[ctchamps]

I always enjoy reading DM's write-ups, but the problem with this type of position-by-position analyses is that it doesn't speak to the single biggest factor which won us our 3rd national championship - team chemistry. From my perspective, we clearly have the talent on the court to be a Final 4 contender, and possible repeat champion. The key questions this year are whether the sophomores have become jaded or complacent, or simply less anxious to please or prove themselves, and what the departure of Kemba and the addition of RB, DD, and AD does to team dynamics and chemistry. Perhaps DogMania has some insights or speculation?

Last year I thought you had an incredible clutch player, who willed his team to victory. Chemistry is harder to define. Certainly winning cements team relationships and losing tend to help teams drift apart. During the slide at the end of the regular season, the players body language looked nothing like it did during the Maui tournament. But I have to give credit to Kemba and Donnell for limiting the negativity on the team. I would say that when last years team played it's best, it was the result of team defense. They rarely looked great, from a team standpoint, on offense. Most of the scoring was unassisted. I think this years team has the potential to have a better flow on offense.

I believe that Shabazz, and to a lesser extent AO have to do the best they can to replace Kemba's on court encouragement. That won't be easy. They have different personalities. Furthermore Kemba earned the teams respect with early season phenomenal performances.

I would say this team goes as far as Shabazz. If he plays like Kemba did Kemba's sophomore year, the team will struggle more than people believe. If he plays better than Kemba played sophomore year, this team will do very well. Personally I believe Shabazz is a better assist guard than Kemba. What Shabazz has to eliminate is some of his showboat plays on offense.

One additional thing. Will Ryan Boatright develop the same relationship with Shabazz that Shabazz had with Kemba? That will be important. If these two players struggle with one another there can be a problem.

 

[DogMania]

I always enjoy reading DM's write-ups, but the problem with this type of position-by-position analyses is that it doesn't speak to the single biggest factor which won us our 3rd national championship - team chemistry. From my perspective, we clearly have the talent on the court to be a Final 4 contender, and possible repeat champion. The key questions this year are whether the sophomores have become jaded or complacent, or simply less anxious to please or prove themselves, and what the departure of Kemba and the addition of RB, DD, and AD does to team dynamics and chemistry. Perhaps DogMania has some insights or speculation?

Team chemistry is something you won't know until they begin playing together. We have heard that the returning players have gotten along very well and enjoy not only playing together but hanging out as well. That's a good sign. Now we just have to hope that the 3 freshman and the 2 bigs who to all practical purposes sat out last season will blend right in with the others. It's been posted that Alex and AD get along well and have become good friends. One thing about AD is he's not an ego kid. If anything he tends to lack the killer nature you want in your bigs. I don't see him being a player who is going to up-end the apple cart and be a selfish player. He's going to be fine.

I don't know much about Daniels. He's been at IMG (I think I got that right...it's some Nike sponsored place that I've never quite understood) over the past year. He's a highly skilled player. Just not sure how that will translate within the structure that JC creates at UConn.

Boatright, as much of a prolific scorer he was in HS, he seems like an unselfish player. In the couple games I've watched on TV, he tried to get his teammates involved, but then would take over to ensure the W. He did not have a lot of talent around him, so many think he's a more shoot first PG, where I think he's going to be a well balanced PG who will do a nice job of running the team and finding open teammates but also turn on the scoring when needed.

I think team chemistry will be fine if not exceptional, but we won't know till they formally begin practicing and playing games. For those who plan on frequenting the informal pick-up games at Gampel, please chime after catching some action and let us know what you observe. You can get somewhat of an idea as to how well they get along, but things are very different between the free flowing pick-up games and the formal practices where they are competing against each other for PT and actual games where mistakes and not making plays can cost you game.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

I always enjoy reading DM's write-ups, but the problem with this type of position-by-position analyses is that it doesn't speak to the single biggest factor which won us our 3rd national championship - team chemistry. From my perspective, we clearly have the talent on the court to be a Final 4 contender, and possible repeat champion. The key questions this year are whether the sophomores have become jaded or complacent, or simply less anxious to please or prove themselves, and what the departure of Kemba and the addition of RB, DD, and AD does to team dynamics and chemistry. Perhaps DogMania has some insights or speculation?

These are great questions which I'm sure the charismatic "dogman" can answer with swiftness and fluidity! As a side note my old college roommate lives in Bloomington Illinois. We took a trip to watch Ryan Boatright play last February against a team otherwise know as Batavia. The 1 hr and a half ride was worth it! RB lit it up netting over 30 pts and "balling" like the top incoming point in America. RB should have made the McDonald's game. Politics kept him off the team JMHO. At the risk of sounding like a mega UCONN pumper on this post it is my sincere belief his game is more advanced then Kemba's at this stage. He has a great stroke and is a consistent threat from 3 immediately. He is a tough kid with moxy that is similar to any NYC point guard. Most national media leave RB under the radar. That will prove to be a big mistake. I am more excited about the addition of RB then any incoming player including AD. Championships on the college level are won in the back court and I love RB. He is the REAL deal...

 

[ctchamps]

These are great questions which I'm sure the charismatic "dogman" can answer with swiftness and fluidity! As a side note my old college roommate lives in Bloomington Illinois. We took a trip to watch Ryan Boatright play last February against a team otherwise know as Batavia. The 1 hr and a half ride was worth it! RB lit it up netting over 30 pts and "balling" like the top incoming point in America. RB should have made the McDonald's game. Politics kept him off the team JMHO. At the risk of sounding like a mega UCONN pumper on this post it is my sincere belief his game is more advanced then Kemba's at this stage. He has a great stroke and is a consistent threat from 3 immediately. He is a tough kid with moxy that is similar to any NYC point guard. Most national media leave RB under the radar. That will prove to be a big mistake. I am more excited about the addition of RB then any incoming player including AD. Championships on the college level are won in the back court and I love RB. He is the REAL deal...

Good info. It's nice to know he can score. How is he at distributing the ball?

 

[ctchamps]

Thanks iam & drewdog. Since more often I get the jokes and sometimes not so joking comments about my posts being ridiculously long, I usually assume most don't like it.

Incorrect assumption. Teasing isn't always ridicule. Sometimes it is a form of endearment.

Certain posters get associated with certain things. Scot-e will always be credited with DOOOOMMMED!!!
When people repeat that phrase in that manner the mockery is intended as flattery.

You get the same consideration when people tease you about the length of your posts.

 

[zymurg]

DM There is no way UConn runs like it is '99. Calhoun has adjusted since then. UConn's ppg has fallen pretty consistently since '99. Actually the press was used mainly to force the other team to use up the shot clock. There were a few memorable times when the Huskies pressed hard for 10 minutes or so: Stanford, SJU in the Big East Championship (just before and just after half time) and New Mexico in the NCAAs.

I can see more opportunity breaks if we control the defensive boards and get more steals. Many fans believe that blocks don't generally start breaks. I concur;however, I don't go as far as many who consistently complained that defense suffered for years because of excessive shot blocking.

More to say, but out of time.

aka zymurg

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Good info. It's nice to know he can score. How is he at distributing the ball?

Ryan can Ball4Real...Boatright can drop a dime on you so fast Magic Johnson would be asking for his autograph. I will not go so far to say the Boatshow is going to put up any double nickels this year but I believe he has a shot for 1 in his career at UConn.

 

[ctchamps]

Ryan can Ball4Real...Boatright can drop a dime on you so fast Magic Johnson would be asking for his autograph. I will not go so far to say the Boatshow is going to put up any double nickels this year but I believe he has a shot for 1 in his career at UConn.

Double nickles = a double double in scoring and assists?