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

[dogpause]

I'll be real impressed if we can win against top tier teams in a game where we are cold from 3. Last year's great team even won big shooting 3 for 17 from 3. Can we do that in an ncaa tourney game this year and advance?

I suppose any team can have a cold streak, but I see 3-point shooting as our #1 strength. And there's depth too.

 

[storrsroars]

I have no concerns about our team, only a concern as to whether Nate Oates will figure out how to play us in April.

 

[freescooter]

1. Replacing Tristan Newton. The guy ran the Hurley offense to perfection, plus made clutch play after clutch play. No easy task replacing him.
   
   
2. Replacing a once in a generation talent big.

Other than that nothing to worry about.

 

[TheHorde]

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.

I don’t think people have been showing concern about being outrebounded or not good at rebounding. I think it’s more of a concern over that phase of the game just not being as strong or as much of a perceived or real advantage as it’s been.

 

[bendm]

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

Nolan may have started but we don’t win the chip in 14 without brimah. Brimah would provide the rim protection and oriakhi would provide the rebounding that we need. I’d take either in a second.

 

[CL82]

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.

I don't know, I think about the number of shooters on our team and I think we may be a very difficult team to keep up with offensively.

 

[CL82]

Replacing Tristan Newton. The guy ran the Hurley offense to perfection, plus made clutch play after clutch play. No easy task replacing him.

This is more true than people realize. Tristan scored more for us than most realize. I would typically be surprised at the end of the game looking through the box score and realize he dumped 20 points in on some team. He was a huge part in the fluidity of our offense. I think will be OK, but it's gonna take more than one player to replace him.

 

[James]

Just big man play no doubt, there are several outstanding questions. Team goes from having what I saw as probably the best big man in the country two years in the row, to having some unproven talent required to perform at an elite level. In 2023 I was just so confident that Sanogo could produce and impose his will as the season went on... nobody was stopping the guy on deep post catches or hard rolls. Then 2024, the staff had a historic defensive talent who could shut down the paint (and an unbelievable screening & passing C).

I think I can see what Samson will bring, but super excited to see how Reed grows game to game because the physical ability is there no doubt. He's got long arms, low center of gravity and size overall. Maybe the front court doesn't need to be as impressive as the last two years? Thats possible too

 

[huskyharry]

I echo the concerns IRT team rebounding and interior defense. I would also add that are guards are shorter which may impact defensive effectiveness when they are switched off to bigger players.

 

[GHSWolverines]

At the 5. We have been spoiled in recent years. Hopefully Samson amd Tarris will shine

 

[Scrappy3]

No doubt we have too many good players compared to minutes available

 

[Drame]

Hurley seems to think its the guards.
For me its who is going to be attacking the rim. Our best guy is 6'2" and skinny. I think Hurley is looking for a player that can really take it to the hole. Thats why I was excited by Thomas and Lewis.

Second thing would be who are our dogs. Its unclear. Again it could be our skinny 6'2" guard, then our freshman McNeeley.

 

[Lambeau]

The guards won't be all that short. Mahaney is 6' 3", Newton was 6'3 1/4" at the NBA Combine; Ball will be the 2 guard and he's 6'3", but with a 45" vertical;all the wings would be 6' 7", as tall as Karaban. DH says he won't play Diarra and Mahaney together for that reason

 

[Hunt for 7]

I am not saying it is a concern since that suggests more worry than curiosity/challenge:

Backcourt rotation: Diarra, Ball, Mahaney, Nowell and Ross. Personally I would love the see Mahaney as our starting point guard next to Solo. I know Diarra has improved his shot but Mahaney and Ball are better shooters. If something goes amiss maybe defensively, Diarra off the bench quickly to get us recentered. It will also be interesting to see how much time Diarra and Mahaney are on the court together.

I really do think that Hurley wants Mahaney to become a point guard because of his BBIQ his shooting and as far as the player is concerned, I think Mahaney best path to the NBA is as a PG. His body type is similar to Steph Curry. So he is going to have to be a lethal shooter and very good passer to play in NBA. With he and Ball in the game at guard we could be difficult to defend. But I think it all depends on how quickly Mahaney figures out how to play the role Danny wants him playing. IMO the key to our backcourt being good or great is Mahaney.

I think he figures it out!

 

[SoCalCanine]

Remind me to never talk about Deepster, like WOW!

It's not just Deepster. There are many of us who have been on the Yard for decades. Some, like me, may not post that often. But we are here lurking, watching and remembering...

 

[Hunt for 7]

It's not just Deepster. There are many of us who have been on the Yard for decades. Some, like me, may not post that often. But we are here lurking, watching and remembering...

Wow Halloween was yesterday and today you sound like Donald Pleasance in the movie…….this can certainly be a dangerous place as I have come to find out after coming back two years ago.

 

[DRBackup]

Has to be interior defense. If only because replacing Clingan is virtually impossible. Maybe we get close next year with Reibe.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Do we have someone who can create from himself off the dribble when the set breaks down.

 

[tennmike]

I don't think we lose because of the front court. As others have said, replacing all that Newton added to the team is a problem. Even today and even after the individual rewards, he is still underappreciated.

 

[CT2SC]

Major injuries
UConn has been rather fortunate the past 2 seasons to have not experience any major injuries (season ending type).
While the roster is loaded, losing a starter is losing a starter.
The 5 is not a major concern because Hurley's teams always rebound well at all positions.

I can’t recall a UConn team in the past 40+ years being derailed by a season ending injury. Perhaps Dyson. In any event if there was ever a season where I’m not worried about injuries it’s this season with our deepest team ever.

 

[TheShot1990]

1. Replacing Tristan Newton. The guy ran the Hurley offense to perfection, plus made clutch play after clutch play. No easy task replacing him.
   
   
2. Replacing a once in a generation talent big.

Other than that nothing to worry about.

Right? Does anyone remember the Kansas game. I’m not gonna look it up but I’m gonna say Newt poured in 30. He carried us.

 

[jibsey]

The expectation is that this team simply picks up from the championship game and rolls to number 3. No.
There are too many new faces in new roles and this thing is a work in progress and there are going to be some rocks in the road. There will be losses, yes I said it, maybe more than 1 in a row at times. BE play is a bear. But my trust in Hurley and this outstanding staff tells me we will be in good shape for a run when the time approaches. This is different than most of what is posted here but it’s just a feeling I have about what could happen.

 

[Kembacity]

I'll be real impressed if we can win against top tier teams in a game where we are cold from 3. Last year's great team even won big shooting 3 for 17 from 3. Can we do that in an ncaa tourney game this year and advance?

Yeah this! I was just explaining to my wife that last year even when dominating the tourney we weren’t shooting well overall, but the rebounding and amazing defense made up for it twofold. This year without the big CT boy down low let’s face it we will not be getting as many O rebounds, so we’re gonna have to hit those shots when it counts

 

[Son of Robert]

Team defense, both perimeter and interior together, and defensive rebounding. I think we'll work up to a very efficient offense as the season progresses, but on the defensive side it will be more of a challenge. An elite defensive stopper or two would do us wonders, Hassan is a really good start, but without a dominating shot blocker inside team defense as a whole is paramount. If Reed can dominate the post area with his strength, size, and footwork, keeping players off the rim and rebounding the hell out of the ball which should be the goal down low, Karaban, Stewart, McNeeley, Johnson, Ross, and Ball have to all be forceful in getting defensive rebounds as well. I think the success of our season will hinge more on defense than offense.

 

[NewBlood]

Playing Alabama in the Championship Game