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

[housekeys]

It is natural to make comparisons to the more recent '24 team. But UConn also won in '23. The better and more accurate prognosticator is to make comparisons to the '23 team. Doing so, makes evaluating the chances of winning another championship, more accurate. IMO.

The '23 team had a lot of questions, at the start of the season, about our guards, our bench and no one could imagine the impact of Clingan. Only sure thing was Sanogo at the 5. This years UConn can not replicate a senior Sanogo or freshman/sophomore Clingan. But a veteran Samson and Tarris may match a younger and very capable Sanogo. That may be enough. Does this team have players to match Jackson Jr, Naheim A, and Joey Cal? Pretty close. A sharpshooter like Hawkins and unknown talent that was Newton? Given this years depth, doable. We replace the '23 team with a veteran Karaban and Hassan D. UConn still has the best and most confident coaching staff.

I feel better making the comparison to the '23 championship team with the only difference being this years team has a target on its back and there is no element of surprise.

 

[UconnFanDC]

I'll tell you after watching about 3-5 games

 

[AllHusky]

Which gives you the title of the next iteration of off-season Evals…”Who can we least afford to lose to a season ending injury??(hint: rhymes with Burly)”

 

[jibsey]

So yes we wil have tremendous threats from 3 BUT there are games where even they can’t hit the side of a building. That’s when Sanogo and or Clingan would keep up in touch in a game. Will Reed and Samson be able to do that?

 

[AllHusky]

So yes we wil have tremendous threats from 3 BUT there are games where even they can’t hit the side of a building. That’s when Sanogo and or Clingan would keep up in touch in a game. Will Reed and Samson be able to do that?

Think we can run plays forReed and expect points. Still feel like Samson scoring is like a sneak attack, won’t know if he’s expanded his offense much until we get going.

 

[diggerfoot]

Even with a well oiled machine that relies on versatility there are two specific roles that benefit most from experience in that role: the director of offense and anchor of defense. In ‘23 Sanogo was THE experienced anchor, with Clingan providing an unexpected surprise in natural ability and being a quick study. Our director of offense needed to gain experience throughout the season to be most effective at that role.

In ‘24 we had our experienced Director and Anchor right from the start, the improvement from ‘23 reflected that. This year we have players with some experience at being a Director or Anchor, but no one experienced with being THE Director or Anchor. I will never be concerned with 3/5 of the well oiled machine at this point, but I think we start out a little more handicapped than ‘23 with the two specific roles.

Newton became the Director we needed by tournament time; there is hope that the ‘25 Director and Anchor emerges as well.

 

[Icehawk]

I'm going to flip the script - I'm more "worried" that the playbook is known and we're going to see more coaches trying to counter our strategies. I think this is going to be another awesome season, I've got my Kool-Aid ready and I'm already drinkin'.

 

[JerseyAlum]

This is what I like (not in any order) and reiterating no real concerns 'at this point' - see me mid-season.

1. Diarra - 19.4 min per game is practically starting minutes - shot 35.7% from 3, 3rpg, 2.4apg, 0.3bpg, 0.8spg, 1.1topg., 6.1 ppg. Any betterment in his game is great for us. 5th year out of Queens so will be alive in MSG games for sure. Played many minutes in big games for us.

2. Mahaney - I think fears of him not getting our system are overblown - very heady kid, good bbiq: 33.2 min per game as we was a prime starter - 35.5% from 3, 2.6 apg, 0.8 spg, 1.4 topg playing in a St. Mary's system is like a Jr varsity version of UConn's. Again, any betterment from his stats - and Hurley's O loves to get better looks - we should be golden.

3. Reed Jr - big 6'10" 260lbs 51.9% overall on 26.5 mpg, amazingly 33.3% from 3. 7.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 1.4 bpg, 0.5 spg, 2.2 topg, 9ppg. I've posted before how he was "the guy" in several games @ Michigan in a terrible offense. Most certainly he will do better, though likely not from 3. And only 2.6 fouls per game.

4. Samson - total rim runner 16.1 min per game in 40 games last year, 72.5 fg pct due to a lot of close shots/dunks. 2.8 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.9 bpg, 0.4 spg, 0.8 topg, 5.4 ppg at 3.0 fouls per game.

5. AK - the 'man' - had 31.4 min per game, 49.5 fg pct, 37.9% on 3s (but had some bad streaks on 3pt shooting). 5.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.8 bpg, 0.9 spg, 1.7 fouls per game, 0.8 topg with 13.3 ppg - clearly Hurley wants more out of him, so 16ppg in this system is doable, and would be great from our 4.

6. McNeeley - Given Flagg and 'Queeney' on that team, he was more of a facilitator getting 12.5 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1 spg as a 3 with rebounds mainly to their 4 and 5. He shot > 40% on 3 and will have better shots in Hurley's system.

7. Ball, Stewart improvements - hard to quantify pre-season, but these 2 are due for an expected to make a big jump and we have seen flashes of that in '23-'24 and moreso in practices, exhibition vs URI. So let's see in a few BIG games how they do.

8. Gravy if Abraham, Ross, Nowell, or Singare show us really anything this season. Minutes are hard to come by if they are 9, 10, 11, 12 off the bench.

 

[Devland]

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

Also our center was dominated in the championship game last year and we won going away. (Edey- 37 points, Clingan 11 points)

 

[uh-no]

Also our center was dominated in the championship game last year and we won going away. (Edey- 37 points, Clingan 11 points)

lol. dominated.

 

[Devland]

lol. dominated.

If Clingan out scored Edey 37-11 everyone here would say he dominated him. Just pointing out the center position is not as crucial as it used to be.

 

[DogMania]

Just 2 concerns:

Late in game Winning Time and opponent run busting plays/shots. Who will step up at the end of games and be able to consistently make plays and shots to put the team on top or stretch a close lead? Also who will do the same when the opponent begins to make a run on them? We had quite a few players (Cam, Newton, Castle, Clingan, Sanogo, Hawkins and Joey Cal) who did that the past 2 seasons. Both Karaban and Diarra have also done it, and I think we have a few others who will rise to the challenge and not let the bigness and pressure of the moment get to them when they need points or a key stop. But at this stage, we just don't know. In win-or-go-home tournaments, all it takes is not making those key plays when needed to get the W, to send you home packing for the season. It's remarkable that they've consistently made plays when needed the past 12 NCAA Tournament games. Let's make it 18 more!

The other concern is erasing shots at the rim and discouraging paint penetration. I think we'll be okay, though not nearly as good as the last 2 seasons. I hope the combination of more perimeter scoring and improved team D as the season goes on will make up for this possible area that has come up big for us at critical moments in so many games.

 

[DogMania]

If Clingan out scored Edey 37-11 everyone here would say he dominated him. Just pointing out the center position is not as crucial as it used to be.

I'm not so sure about that. Although Edey put up big numbers, it was not about just slowing him down, but making it difficult for the other 4 players from scoring in the paint or at least discouraging them from trying. And of course, taking away the 3 with teams that rely on scoring from deep to win.

It's important, but as long as UConn is tough defensively across the board and can put up good offensive numbers, this team can still be special. If they learn to run the multi-action offense well where they score off it and wear the other team down, they'll have a great chance to 3-peat.

 

[Greathusky]

Who gives us the big shot when we need it (like Cam did last year)?

 

[jibsey]

Who gives us the big shot when we need it (like Cam did last year)?

AK could do it. Put the ball on the floor and even get to the line. This would be the NBA skill he needs to have anyway.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

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

100% it for me. I have faith Samson and Tarris can provide enough offense from the 5. Not as sure about the defensive side. Our defense without Clingan was pedestrian last season.

 

[David 76]

I think the coaches will largely fix the rebounding. I wore about defense and youth.

 

[tennmike]

Who gives us the big shot when we need it (like Cam did last

Who gives us the big shot when we need it (like Cam did last year)?

I suspect it will be Mahaney. He's that kind of player. The exhibition game showed how fast he can put points on the board.

 

[Huskyforlife]

1. Bigs/rebounding, they have a lot to prove.

2. Defense, can Solo take the Andre/Castle leap on defense? No elite rim protector this year, made me think of some rough defensive games with Sanogo at center. Ross and Stewart may be key here.

3. Point guard, are the best options on the bench?

 

[husky8273]

point guard

 

[Scoe]

I'm not so sure about that. Although Edey put up big numbers, it was not about just slowing him down, but making it difficult for the other 4 players from scoring in the paint or at least discouraging them from trying. And of course, taking away the 3 with teams that rely on scoring from deep to win.

It's important, but as long as UConn is tough defensively across the board and can put up good offensive numbers, this team can still be special. If they learn to run the multi-action offense well where they score off it and wear the other team down, they'll have a great chance to 3-peat.

Well let’s hope there’s no big as dominant as Edey this year either.

 

[JerseyAlum]

Well let’s hope there’s no big as dominant as Edey this year either.

Who is Souleymane Diabe? Shows as a junior no stats…walk on?