Lineup next year...

[CaNOLEE]

backcourt of Adams and Gilbert, backed up by Makai and Vital.

Who starts in the front court besides Larrier? Enoch, Durham or Jackson? And who else would log minutes? Diarra?

We definitely could use a Juco or grad transfer space eater that can rebound the ball and play position defense.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I agree

 

[CaNOLEE]

Seeing some good signs from Durham.

 

[jhc08002]

Seeing some good signs from Durham.

Enoch is doing everything in his power to let Durham jump him in the rotation, but yes Durham is playing great minutes

 

[CaNOLEE]

Jhc, I'm hoping Diarra is a beast on the defensive end and glass. Offensively, put backs and alley oops are fine. We need some lunch pale guys that will do the dirty work. A less offensive minded Jeff Adrien would be great.

Steve has to realize this as well. Chicks dig points, coaches dig defense.

 

[jhc08002]

Assuming Adams is back, Gilbert comes back in similar form to this year, Larrier is at or near what we saw already, and Durham continues to improve...yes I agree that Diarra and Enoch both need to be the guys that hit the boards hard and focus on offense second.

For Enoch it does seem like he is so close on offense, just needs to learn how to finish through contract. On defense he seems too slow for now as he is not protecting the rim well enough. If he can make the adjustment on offense and get quicker on defense he can very easily turn into the NBA prospect we all keep talking about.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Assuming Adams is back

Where exactly would Adams be going? To Europe?

 

[jhc08002]

Where exactly would Adams be going? To Europe?

I don't think he's going anywhere, but after Hamilton I don't take anything for granted.

 

[rta32]

Enoch is a tough situation. High ceiling, but so bad right now that it's hard to give him big minutes or count in him to provide them.

I'd say

Gilbert
Adams
Jackson
Larrier
Transfer C

 

[CaNOLEE]

There is a good thread on the boneyard about grad transfers.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I agree that a big reliable body is needed at center. Enoch has not even established himself as a reliable backup at this point in time. He has a lot of problems staying on the floor and just has not been a factor very much.

 

[12rtackerman12]

We are missing an elite big man. That is all we need. JC used to get them now we don't. Why?

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

We are missing an elite big man. That is all we need. JC used to get them now we don't. Why?

Hasheem Thabeet. Went #2 in NBA draft and didn't make it in the league. A complete bust.
Recruits look at that stuff.

UConn wants 5s that can defend and block shots. Guys who are stud 5s want to go where they can be showcased offensively. That is not happening here. However you can win with guys like Voskuhl, Oriakhi and Brimah in the middle.

 

[andersonfro]

Hasheem Thabeet. Went #2 in NBA draft and didn't make it in the league. A complete bust.
Recruits look at that stuff.

UConn wants 5s that can defend and block shots. Guys who are stud 5s want to go where they can be showcased offensively. That is not happening here. However you can win with guys like Voskuhl, Oriakhi and Brimah in the middle.

All true particularly the part about not featuring bigs, but another way to look at Thabeet is to say Uconn got him drafted 2nd overall and that maybe happens no other place.

 

[12rtackerman12]

What about Emeka, Hilton Armstrong, Villanueva, Drummond, Josh Boone? All of those were 1st rounders I believe.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Emeka, Armstrong, Boone and Villanueva were all on the same team coached by Clyde Vaughn. As big man coach. None were dynamic offensive players in the NBA. Okafor had a decent career but was not really any better after winning ROY. His first year in NBA was his best. Partially due to injuries and partially to limited offensive talent. Boone and Armstrong didn't last in the league. Villanueva was modestly successful and hung around for a few years. He was by far the best offensive player of those 4 guys.

Drummond was one and done and in his one year at UConn he was okay as a scorer and rebounder also shooting 29% FTs worst in one season in basketball history. He wasn't particularly developed at UConn as he was here one year and his season ended with a disastrous blowout in the NCAA tourney against a smallish Iowa State team.

Sorry but I am not seeing any great pro history here except for Drummond who at the NBA level is primarily a dominant rebounder although he is still developing. Except for Charlie V every one of these players was a defense first player.

 

[CaNOLEE]

How many Big dominated offensive teams are winning championships in the NBA? Shaq is the last of them and he had an all time great wing at his side. Duncan? He's obviously great, but their success was about a big three and a great team/system that plays the game the right way.

The game has changed and it's clearly guard/wing centric. Durant is 7 feet and he'll cross you over and pull from 30. Gasol, Cousins, Towns and Embiid are 7 footers that shoot 3's now.

We won a championship with Oriakhi, Brimah and Phil Nolan. That'll do.