Your biggest concern(s) with this year's team?

[Ctedgeman]

I think my main concern is I'm not sure that we have a defensive stopper like Ajax/Castle where you can just put them on the other team's best player and shut them down. Castle was especially elite at that.

 

[Deepster]

2nd half lockdown defense. A long time UConn and Hurley staple. Need to make sure we have the buy in and chemistry there. Not a big concern of mine....but a concern.

 

[NJHusky]

1. Interior Defense

2. Where I'm going to come up with the money for the championship gear I'll be buying in April

I think our offensive production will make up for any defensive struggles, and Danny & Co. are just so damn good.

You forgot getting a new handle!

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Concern with Mahaney is likely because he’s asking him to play a role he never has, which is to run a sophisticated offense. I’d have to think a large part of why he came is to play the PG role, as if he has any professional aspiration it’s really the only role for him due to his size.

Just interesting that we prioritize this for our transfers to be fringe NBA players at the expense of guys who really need the development and experience with realistic NBA goals.

My concerns for this team is defense from the wings and controlling the paint with our bigs. I don’t think the answers are as clear as in years past as far as lineups go and Hurley may have some tough decisions to make this year.

 

[JT-55]

Early season concerns.

1. Rebounding - need a full team effort on the glass
2. Can Mahaney play at the level Hurley expects (he has said somewhere between Cam and Tristen level)

 

[uconngb]

There aren't enough minutes in a game to allow everyone the playing time they deserve.

This was really all I could come up with. Or, god forbid, injuries

 

[AllHusky]

Maybe you can bet on Duke like you did in 1999.

The Yard never forgets.

Remind me to never talk about Deepster, like WOW!

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I think on ball defense will take a big step back this year. Diarra is good no great (imo), Solo was pretty poor last year but expecting better for sure. Don’t know enough on Mahaney but he is very slight so big guards will likely take advantage. McNeely I assume will be fine but he was certainly targeted against Rhody. If Nowell gets run he can potentially be a stopper.

 

[Stinger92860]

if only one choice it would be Rim Protection

 

[Tenspro2002]

Physicality on D and on the boards.

Johnson is very limited in this area, and our guards (with the exception of Ball and Nowell if he plays) are a step backward in size and physique. We were basically immune to matchup problems the last year or two, but could be an issue now, and with less of a hindrance at the rim.

We also were able to take for granted that Newton, Spencer, Castle, and Jackson were all excellent rebounders at the 1-3. It's more of a question mark for Diarra, Mahaney, and McNeeley.

 

[UCTitleTown]

When does the staff look to 2026 commitments? Guessing not until April? I read that Cuse offered Abdou Toure a scholarship and he's up to #13 in some rankings. I really want to keep him in CT. It's nice to have at least one CT kid at our state school, especially one that can ball.

 

[mlpavela]

Really surprised more people aren't mentioning the PG spot. Seems like Mahaney is Hurley's preferred starter option. Can he play enough D to stay on the court? Will Hass be happy leading the 2nd unit? Or can Hass provide enough O if Mahaney ain't it. Haven't seen anything to suggest the undersized Mahaney is championship caliber, but still early.

 

[Husky68]

Tournament game where other high quality team plays/shoots way better than they are. Looks like lot of nicely put together teams so winning 6 in a row is going to be tough for anyone without a few "lucky breaks" (like Kemba's team with the Arizona missed 3's at end). Don't see winning 6 games by double digits in the cards this year.

 

[BGesus4]

Who we’re going to be visiting next year

 

[TerryBoyz]

Running out of beer on $2 beer night.

 

[Sphinx]

Perimeter defense, rim protection and rebounding all took a near-total hit in the loss of our four NBA-ers. Three of our major offensive threats -- AK, Liam and Mahaney -- lack the athleticism and bulk to fill those needs at a comparable level. Ball, too, has yet to prove himself defensively. There is a strong likelihood that offense will have to be sacrificed to shore up defense. This is not a minor thing. It is likely to change the projected rotation in ways this forum does not anticipate.

 

[CL82]

There aren't enough minutes in a game to allow everyone the playing time they deserve.

That's why we should field two teams.

 

[CL82]

Running out of beer on $2 beer night.

Haha, that's not a fear, that's a certainty.

 

[CL82]

Remind me to never talk to about Deepster, like WOW!

... or read any of his posts. Words to live by, my friend.

 

[UCLJ0211]

We’ve won championships with Oriakhi (more of an 4)/Okwandu and Philip Nolan. I’m not worried about the Centers.

 

[B1GEast]

Cohesion. Hopefully there will be enough time for the guys to gell. There's a lot of talent, but they need to play within the system.

 

[ec33]

There aren't enough minutes in a game to allow everyone the playing time they deserve.

That early season games lack cohesion due to too many people playing and then having to read page after page of overly negative post-game thread posts.

 

[boba]

Maybe you can bet on Duke like you did in 1999.

The Yard never forgets.

And forgiveness is out of the question.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that a Hurley led team will never be bad at rebounding. On paper, we may not have the athleticism as the last 2 years, but I’d be surprised if we get out rebounded any games outside maybe a few.

For me, the one question I have is if our guards / wings will be able to stop drivers adequately. Specifically Mahaney and McNeeley. I’m sure they will, just haven’t seen them play enough yet.

 

[80shusky]

My biggest concern is kill shots. The thing that made the team so deadly last year is they could reel off 10+ point runs and just bury the other team to the point where nothing could go right for them and it was over. Many of these runs were keyed by Clingan's blocks, defense and insane offensive and defensive efficiency. I think they will be ok at the 5 with Samson, Reid and Singare but just not have as much of that crazy ability to just bury teams with big runs.