I hear ya and this will be DH's job and vision to everyone he brings in or even play both and more like Nova in their small ball line-ups with 4 guards, like Rothstein mentions. Everyone is such a copy cat in hoops !How do you bench Naheem when he has been starting for 3 years and Hawkins has only started a couple of games?
I've read that idea and Rothstein is printing it, but he still has Floyd as a newcomer, SMHHawkins is a projected top 10 pick next year. He’s starting imo.
is Andre your 4?
For all his deficiencies, last week AJ was our starting PG. Today he’s our PF. 😊 that tells you how unique his skill set is.I've read that idea and Rothstein is printing it, but he still has Floyd as a newcomer, SMH
Uconn #19
ROTHSTEIN 45: 22-23 PRESEASON EDITION
It’s never too early to start looking ahead to next season! Below please find a breakdown of the Preseason Edition of the ROTHSTEIN 45 for the 22-23 season. 1. North CarolinaProjected Starting 5:G R.J. DavisG Caleb LoveG Leaky BlackF Pete NanceC Armando BacotProjected Bench: D’Marco Dunn...collegehoopstoday.com
I don't know if believe that line-up either but like I say coaches are copy cats, so maybe Jay's/ Nova's success with small ball has Dan overcorrecting. That being said I don't see Andre fitting in the 4 spot as seamlessly as Samuels at 6-7/230 did for Nova. Also don't know how they'll translate into their PT but Samson or Karaban as a stretch 4 seems like a preferred fit... but only the carpenter knows.For all his deficiencies, last week AJ was our starting PG. Today he’s our PF. 😊 that tells you how unique his skill set is.
as for the frosh, I think Karaban helps us before Clingan. The way Hurley is recruiting, are we moving to the Syracuse 2-3 zone? I kid. At least I hope so.
Yep..... Here's a newly posted Clingan video from a few days ago vs. much better comp. ( NBPA TOP 100 camp, I think last summer)...I'm kinda suprised that he doesn't look out of place from what we've been told. And from what is really hard to discern from playing vs. smaller local HS kids.We have been repeatedly told that Clingan is not ready, but I don't know that yet. He has supposedly lost weight and gotten whipped into better shape. I watch his tape and I see very simple and efficient movements and, most importantly, he is comfortable using either hand to score as shown in this tape:
But you do realize this is vs. some of the top 100 players his age in the country and there were a ton of players 6-10 or taller (12) that he played against. Meaning he's one really big kid and might be the 7-2 that some have him listed at now.I like how he again shows use of both hands. And is not afraid to go under the basket and lay it in with left hand. But again in this tape he is much taller and bigger than the opposing defenders
Yeah I remember Chuck who came back from UK...the Morris Mountain.... who played with Corny T and Mike Mckay when my sister went to Uconn.He looked a lot bigger is all I could see on that tape. Hopefully he will play the same way next year.
I don't think UConn has ever had a smooth offensive player over 7 foot. Thabeet was a functional garbage player but was by no means a complete player and this was exposed at the NBA level. Travis Knight was a guy who could mainly run the Court and fit in well with the transition offenses he played on but wasn't really a low post scorer. I don't think UConn has had a player like Clingan over 7 foot, ever. He is a Big 10 type of player which they never recruited or got in the past. Simply stated. He is, for UConn, a seminal power type offensive big man.
BTW Chuck Aleksinas might be closest UConn had to Clingan but Chuck was 6'11" - smaller. But he is the only historical comparison:
Chuck was kind of a disappointing rebounder for a guy who was 6'11" and 260. Andre Jackson had almost as many rebounds as Chuck in his best college season.Chuck Aleksinas College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Chuck Aleksinas - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much morewww.sports-reference.com
The "Morris Mountain" did not exactly have mountainous rebounding stats. Not like UConn career leading rebounder Art Quimby who averaged a Rodman like 21.5 for his career and was 6'5":Yeah I remember Chuck who came back from UK...the Morris Mountain.... who played with Corny T and Mike Mckay when my sister went to Uconn.
Yeah I think read about him walking by that Uconn wall of fame in Gampel. It's amazing how much smaller people were back then with him at 6-5 (and some other bench guy) the "giant" of the team with a couple of 6-3 forwards. Could you imagine someone like him transported to even to the 80's, he'd probably never even get off the bench.The "Morris Mountain" did not exactly have mountainous rebounding stats. Not like UConn career leading rebounder Art Quimby who averaged a Rodman like 21.5 for his career and was 6'5":
Chuck averaged 5 boards a game for his career and in his disappointing final season at UConn, only 5.1, this despite being 6'11" and 260 pounds.Art Quimby College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Art Quimby - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much morewww.sports-reference.com
Quimby averaged 23.4 points and 24.4 boards his senior year, but was a black hole with 0.4 assists. My father was a freshman at UConn the year after Quimby graduated.
Also from the Courant article......hmmm... I think I just said something similar in this thread, but......I don't know if believe that line-up either but like I say coaches are copy cats, so maybe Jay's/ Nova's success with small ball has Dan overcorrecting. That being said I don't see Andre fitting in the 4 spot as seamlessly as Samuels at 6-7/230 did for Nova. Also don't know how they'll translate into their PT but Samson or Karaban as a stretch 4 seems like a preferred fit... but only the carpenter knows.
I'm not really concerned with what the NBA does. I am concerned with 2022-23 Uconn or with a HC who can't adjust based on his personnel. We saw the opposite about 4 years ago when DH was trying to play small but with the wrong players even back then. Trying to start 6-0, 6-2 and a 6-3 at the SF, who would get torched trying to handle any legit small forward and by bigger teams on switches by all 3. At least now he has the positionless type personnel that fits what he's trying to do, so he should be all set......or as DH say's: “I feel like I’m going to have my best team next season.”Small ball remains de rigeuer in the NBA.
STARTERSSTARTERS
Possible Starters-
Tristan Newton......6-5/200..... PG......SR
Naheem Alleyne.....6-4/195......G......SR
Jordan Hawkins.....6-5/187.....SG.... SO
Andre Jackson ......6-6/210..... F/G....JR
Samson Johnson....6-10/205....F......SO
Adama Sanogo.......6-9/245.......C.....JR
Alex Karaban...........6-8/210..... .F.........FR
Richie Springs..........6-9/230.......F......RS JR
Donovan Clingan....7-2/250........C......FR
One thing this team ain't.... is small ! ...DH... mentions adding 2 more perimeters players again in this article...also " Freshman Alex Karaban, Hurley said, can play both forward positions, but he’s more of a shooter than a post player. Sophomore Samson Johnson is a power forward, long, wiry.......
So Uconn at times could go 6-5, 6-6, 6-8, 6-9, and 6-10 (or 7-2 when Clingan plays)
or now small ball with 6-4, 6-5, 6-5, 6-6 and 6-9
Follow up and video, but obviously the Courant writer has no clue how to spell jump shot (above) or what it's supposed to look like, ( or who ever's working with AJ......SMH ! ) The ball should never be brought down to your waist. It's a catch at chest/shoulder level and learn to release it in rhythm over your head. Unbelievable ! And forget about being able to take a jumper off the bounce which is all about the next level.....that is if he ever wants to play there. But I guess if he's only taking wide open 3's.....but damn don't try that junk in the pro's and it'll get knocked into the rafters!Good to hear on the inside stuff too. I would have Andre just play one on one..... alot. That's where you learn to be a scorer, not dunking the ball. Post ups, off the dribble moves, etc., but vs. a defender... winner take all style !
AJ has alot of gifts that Fish Fry never had like passing and athleticism to name a few, but his shooting form, rhythm and follow through, even off the dribble was like night and day. Compared to AJ's "shot put" who has a bad habit of bringing the ball down first and never really high pointing his shot, which Rashad had down to perfection.I think sometimes we can get caught up too much in form over substance. Rashad Anderson was one of the best 3 point shooters in UConn history and perhaps the most dangerous binge 3 point shooter UConn has ever had, but his form was by no means textbook. He kind of slingshotted the ball. Nobody would have ever taught the form he had. With AJ I am more concerned with the results. I would agree that his release point on the shot ideally should be higher, but if he is only shooting when open that isn't as much of a concern. And he should only be shooting when open. But his stats last year were not terrible. He shot 35% which takes him out of being a total non threat.
I am hoping as well he works on his handle and not playing quite as fast where he is a little out of control and uncorking wild passes. AJ seems like a smart kid and I have to believe he knows what areas he needs to work on. The athletic gifts he has cannot be taught and he just needs to smooth out some rough edges in his game.
PS- I should note that Dan Hurley has also added a preferred walk-on from Raphael Chillious's South Kent program-Team now at 11 scholly players, DH said he may bring in 1 more. As from the article above:
What's intersting is that all the NHR articles that have been posted over the years on this or TOS, I click and they are never locked. I've never signed up for any account, subscription etc. to the Courant , NHR , etc. ... My only guess is that maybe because I'm outside of NH / Fairfield, in Hartford county, I'm not locked out.... Because the Courant articles I'm usually locked out, unless I clear my cookies in my browser, I might get one article for "free". In any event there's a "Free link" in the OP from TOS -Here is an article on the UConn men, midsummer look at the team, but it's "Premium Content" which is locked, maybe someone can unlock it?
Midsummer look at Big East: Top teams, players, where does UConn men’s basketball fit?
Who’s the best team? Best player? Best transfer? Best Ryan? A midsummer look at Big...www.nhregister.com