Terrance Samuel transferring

[aman kidwai]

https://connecticut.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1764305

 

[aman kidwai]

Could we be hearing from Sterling Gibbs soon?

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Aman,

Welcome and you seem all over it! This development also makes me wonder if Samuel heard the footsteps of Gibbs. I liked some of what Terrence brought to the team, but he could not shoot a jumper at all. I will never forget his contribution to the championship run in 2014......excellent D and unexpectedly good FT shooting under pressure. He was a part of that NCAA record 88% FT shooting in 6 NCAA tourney games, a record I feel will never be broken.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Here is the Borges article, what he notes is that Samuel was 0-18 on 3 pointers for his UConn career, and his disturbing total of 55 assists to 47 turnovers last season, not what you like to see from a pass first point guard who cannot shoot.

http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20150507/uconn-guard-terrence-samuel-leaving-huskies

 

[the Blades]

Uconn better get Gibbs or were looking at the oft injured Sam Cassell JR. playing major minutes as the only other ball handler behind Adams.
Purvis and Omar sucked with ball control on a combined total of only 60 asst between them to 88 TO's. And that's for guys that
never have to run an offense or dribble more than 3 or 4 times in a row.... It could become shocking how bad this offense could
look with those 2 visionless TO machines setting it up. The only other option when JA isn't in there will be to have everything go
through Hamilton as a point forward.

 

[Dominicfrank]

Agree hat we need Mack or Gibbs but man that would be a HUGE upgrade over TSam. I love TSam as a kid but other than an INCREDIBLE contribution to the title run which makes him deservedly loved........he regressed and got worse and worse. He is not a starting UCONN level guard.

 

[USNA90]

TSam was a good defender, and when he had other scorers around him, he showed a nice ability to get to the rim. Unfortunately, last year the only consistent scoring threat was the guy TSam came off the bench to sub for. That lead to TSam dribbling at the top of the key while the other four guys stood around waiting for somebody to do something. He didn't show consistent ability to create his own shot, didn't create shots for anyone else (not entirely his fault), and couldn't hit a jumper if left open. That being said, he is the only pg on the team with experience at the moment, and there was a chance that he could have improved over his last two years - especially if other scorers stepped up. I think this is a loss, and if things don't shake out how we all hope, things can get ugly at the pg position next year.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I would agree that ballhandling is a concern. Right now there are no experienced ballhandling PGs on the roster other than Cassell. Adams is a freshmen and he can't do all the handling by himself.

However, I wonder if the transfer was due to hearing someone else's footsteps........like Gibbs..............

 

[the Blades]

Yeah I'm not saying T-Sam was anything more than a role player, but he was a very effective one, when matching up
with a pint sized high scoring guard( Bazz and Boat) that he could defer to. At 6-4 with a handle and good D he was a
perfect compliment and D-match-up for bigger guards in 2013-14 playing with those 2. Last year when he had to do
more.... that's when the warts started to show. But just that he can handle the rock made him a much more valuable piece
currently than Omar and his one dimensional game... an erratic set shot.

As mentioned above I'm hoping that T-Sam knows something about Gibbs....but is there a back-up plan if Gibbs doesn't work out ?
Mack is not a PG anyway but seems all Texas:
Jeff Borzello ✔ @jeffborzello
"Former VCU signee Tevin Mack unofficially visits Texas this weekend. Told ESPN it will likely be his only visit before making a decision."

then Gibbs has plenty of suitors..... today is
Men's basketball: Potential graduate-transfer Sterling Gibbs visiting Ohio State

If not Gibbs who's up next ?

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I am sure there is a backup plan. Either they knew Samuel was leaving since the exit interview or he decided to leave due to hearing footsteps. I think the coaching staff will come through.

 

[USNA90]

One other issue comes to mind: this puts UConn back to having only 10 scholarship players for next year. Even if things pan out with Gibbs, they're still down two. They can't keep playing short-handed. Sooner or later (hopefully sooner) they're going to have to put together a full recruiting class and keep them together. Otherwise, they'll have to continue patching holes with 5th year transfers. Sometimes that works out, but I don't see it being a long-term strategy for success.

 

[the Blades]

One other issue comes to mind: this puts UConn back to having only 10 scholarship players for next year. Even if things pan out with Gibbs, they're still down two. They can't keep playing short-handed. Sooner or later (hopefully sooner) they're going to have to put together a full recruiting class and keep them together. Otherwise, they'll have to continue patching holes with 5th year transfers. Sometimes that works out, but I don't see it being a long-term strategy for success.

+1 ...injuries, ect......can't keep playing short, they're not on any scholly sanctions .... last I heard !

 

[aman kidwai]

One other issue comes to mind: this puts UConn back to having only 10 scholarship players for next year. Even if things pan out with Gibbs, they're still down two. They can't keep playing short-handed. Sooner or later (hopefully sooner) they're going to have to put together a full recruiting class and keep them together. Otherwise, they'll have to continue patching holes with 5th year transfers. Sometimes that works out, but I don't see it being a long-term strategy for success.

Great point, and if you go one step further, a lot of scholarships will open up in 2016... like we'll need 5+

 

[the Blades]

UConn transfer to check out Penn State
" UConn transfer Terrence Samuel is scheduled to visit Penn State on Tuesday "

 

[the Blades]

So Terrence is Big Ten bound......hey T-Sam I hope we're right behind you !!!

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 28m28 minutes ago
UConn transfer Terrence Samuel told @CBSSports that he has committed to Penn State. Two years of eligibility remaining.