2020 will be known as the year in which the rise after the fall began, in earnest, for UConn Basketball. It is the year in which the Huskies have packed up their tents and begun the long departure from the desert of the AAC. The trek has been arduous, to be sure. Two key members of the team have suffered season ending injuries. A star freshman lost out on four games due to early legal trouble. A junior center coming off a most-improved-player year is well out in front for the less coveted greatest-regression booby prize. A senior point guard failed to develop into the mature leader that every UConn fan hoped he would become. A half dozen razor-edged losses have dulled the shine on what once promised to produce UConn's first tournament appearance in the years since the former coach began his demolition of the house that Calhoun built.
Through that haze of snake bites, however, there is a definite point of light, which has grown steadily in intensity as the 2019/2020 has progressed. The brightness is fueled by both the expected and unexpected emergence of new and veteran players, as well as the continued dependable play of the team leader, Christian Vital. Vital has supplied the lifeblood of the team this season, leading by example with his relentless play on the court, his mature and considered comments off the court, and his hard wired will to win. Vital has, no doubt, influenced the development of several of his teammates, including Isiah Whaley, who, ironically, is in contention for the AAC most improved player award. Whaley, like Vital, brings irrepresible energy to the team, and has worked himself into a fierce defender and rebounder. Jalen Gaffney has developed into a point guard who is not, unlike virtually every other member of the team, prone to turnovers. His development suggests that he will be a wonderful four year, pass-first point guard who will boast a high assist-to-turnover ratio, excellent defense, and scoring when available. Jalen Gaffney is exactly the type of guard who can be a leader on a team that makes a deep tournament run.
James Bouknight has also, due in substantial part to injuries, emerged as the team's go-to scorer. His talent is undeniable, and Dan Hurley will, no doubt, push young James to improve his ball control and defense, which, when so improved, will result in significant NBA interest in Bouknight.
Adding to the brightness that is now UConn future is the improved play of Tyler Polley immediately before he sustained a season-ending ACL injury. He will return in 2020, and will provide a deadly outside shooting touch.
Finally, the Huskies will add at least four players to the squad next summer, including RJ Cole, Richie Springs, Javonte Brown-Furguson, and Andre Jackson. The first two are already with the team, and are integrating into the Dan Hurley system of basketball. The last two are a 7 footer and an athletic phenom.
There are those who see five overtime losses and several other closely contested, but lost, games, and announce, "what is there to like about this team? That they try hard and lose?" There is a deep irony that the false fan who asked the question, and then answered it, was half right. What there is to like about this team is the fact that they try so hard. They have, with rare exceptions, bought into the Dan Hurley system of basketball. To dislike a team that is giving everything that it has, every game, while shorthanded and lacking reliable three point shooting, because they have lost several close games, is missing the beauty of the sport. UConn has overperformed this year, which is a year in which the 1st half was waged with a point guard who could not throw it in the proverbial ocean and was prone to constant turnovers and in which the 2nd half has been waged with a freshman point guard who was forced into service via trial by fire.
This team reminds one of those that Calhoun coached in this first few years at the helm - underpowered, but tenacious and regularly overperforming by outwilling their opponents.
The long interregnum after Calhoun is over.
The ascension of the Husky has begun.
Through that haze of snake bites, however, there is a definite point of light, which has grown steadily in intensity as the 2019/2020 has progressed. The brightness is fueled by both the expected and unexpected emergence of new and veteran players, as well as the continued dependable play of the team leader, Christian Vital. Vital has supplied the lifeblood of the team this season, leading by example with his relentless play on the court, his mature and considered comments off the court, and his hard wired will to win. Vital has, no doubt, influenced the development of several of his teammates, including Isiah Whaley, who, ironically, is in contention for the AAC most improved player award. Whaley, like Vital, brings irrepresible energy to the team, and has worked himself into a fierce defender and rebounder. Jalen Gaffney has developed into a point guard who is not, unlike virtually every other member of the team, prone to turnovers. His development suggests that he will be a wonderful four year, pass-first point guard who will boast a high assist-to-turnover ratio, excellent defense, and scoring when available. Jalen Gaffney is exactly the type of guard who can be a leader on a team that makes a deep tournament run.
James Bouknight has also, due in substantial part to injuries, emerged as the team's go-to scorer. His talent is undeniable, and Dan Hurley will, no doubt, push young James to improve his ball control and defense, which, when so improved, will result in significant NBA interest in Bouknight.
Adding to the brightness that is now UConn future is the improved play of Tyler Polley immediately before he sustained a season-ending ACL injury. He will return in 2020, and will provide a deadly outside shooting touch.
Finally, the Huskies will add at least four players to the squad next summer, including RJ Cole, Richie Springs, Javonte Brown-Furguson, and Andre Jackson. The first two are already with the team, and are integrating into the Dan Hurley system of basketball. The last two are a 7 footer and an athletic phenom.
There are those who see five overtime losses and several other closely contested, but lost, games, and announce, "what is there to like about this team? That they try hard and lose?" There is a deep irony that the false fan who asked the question, and then answered it, was half right. What there is to like about this team is the fact that they try so hard. They have, with rare exceptions, bought into the Dan Hurley system of basketball. To dislike a team that is giving everything that it has, every game, while shorthanded and lacking reliable three point shooting, because they have lost several close games, is missing the beauty of the sport. UConn has overperformed this year, which is a year in which the 1st half was waged with a point guard who could not throw it in the proverbial ocean and was prone to constant turnovers and in which the 2nd half has been waged with a freshman point guard who was forced into service via trial by fire.
This team reminds one of those that Calhoun coached in this first few years at the helm - underpowered, but tenacious and regularly overperforming by outwilling their opponents.
The long interregnum after Calhoun is over.
The ascension of the Husky has begun.
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