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This years roster

KhalidShockedTheWorld said:
The 3 point shooting is really the only area of concern. Polley is the best 3 point shooter they have followed by Vital. Akok can reportedly drain 3s and we will see if he can add a big who can also shoot and stretch the defense. Bouknight is also an unknown. The potential is there but only two proven shooters in Vital and Polley and I am not sure if either one cracked 40%. Both have the potential to do so with proper shot selection. Polley was a tad streaky with his shooting and you would like to see him develop more consistency which he probably will if used in a 6th man role. I think that will happen eventually although not to start the season. He is ideal for that role.
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Regarding the 3 pt shooting and the new distance........coaches take from above :
“I think it’s gonna be great for spacing, great for the direction the game’s going in, the four-out around one, interchangeable parts around the perimeter,” Hurley said " If you’re a marginal shooting team, I think it will hurt and have a negative impact on the bruising team, the bully-ball team.”............He added that he feels he has the shooters (Gaffney, Bouknight, Christian Vital, Tyler Polley) to take advantage of the new distance, as well as the personnel to play four out, with bigger wings, interchangable guards and a big man in the middle. " .....I guess DH is not into bully ball ? USF ?

Also it would help if Alterique got back up closer to where he was (40% on 3's) before his injury vs. Wichita St. that cost him a month.
 
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KhalidShockedTheWorld said:
I was not totally sold on Hurley when he was initially hired but he has really won me over. I like a lot of the things he says and does. Now he needs to deliver a winner to the fans. The work they did with Josh Carlton last year was impressive. Now he has some more of his own guys and some good pieces that he inherited. He and the team need to take the next step.
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The NHR's Borges made another good point regarding Josh and Uconn finding a bigman with the 12th scholly:
"Six-foot-10 junior Josh Carlton figures to be one of the best big men in the American Athletic Conference. In fact, his emergence last season as the AAC’s Co-Most Improved Player hurt UConn in the grad transfer market for big men. Not too many players with just one year of eligibility left want to play backup center."
 
As a team last year, UConn shot 34.4% which was a below average mark at best for the old line. It ranked UConn 176th nationally. The best returning 3 point shooters are:

Vital - 40.9% (very good)
Polley - 38.0%
Gilbert - 33.6%
Adams- 23.5%
Wilson- 22.9%

These guys all need to do better, although we will take 40% from Vital.

UConn was 171st in rebounding and #216 in assists. Considering the 3 guard lineups that were played all year, the assist numbers were terrible and have to get better.

The only team stat that kind of looks good from last year is blocked shots at which UConn was 57th nationally with a team that wasn’t expected to block many shots. UConn wasn’t top 100 in any other meaningful team stat except O-boards (66th) which was negated by being 255th in defensive boards and 171st in overall rebounding.

Reference: https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/connecticut/2019.html
 
Uconn was a middle of the pack nationally but 4th best in the AAC, who they play most of their games against. But AG really killed that number by jacking up 3's when he came back from injury and couldn't hit em'. (he was 5-32 post injury..15%) To me he'll be the key. Plus what the new kids do and guys who can't hit them not taking them ( i.e., Wilson).......but it needs to get better.

3-PT PCT... 3FGM / 3FGA ..Pct
1. UCF.............229 /628.... .365
2. Houston .....333 / 939.. .355
3. Cincinnati ...232 /673... .345
4. UConn........252/ 732.... .344

P.S. 68.0% and 275th in the country in FT's (10th in AAC) was even more of a problem
 
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Well the good news is that this is exciting......I cant wait to see this team grow. I want them to make the Tourney SO BAD. That and one win and this season is a success.

Would be REAL nice to win the conference on the way out as well!
 
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Dominicfrank said:
Well the good news is that this is exciting......I cant wait to see this team grow. I want them to make the Tourney SO BAD. That and one win and this season is a success.

Would be REAL nice to win the conference on the way out as well!
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CV is talking a little crazy but it's nice to have goals......
 
The numbers that needs to improve the most are the assists numbers and the D-boards. The assist totals flatly suck moose balls for a team playing 3 guard lineups routinely. Pass the freaking rock guys!!!!!!
 
Dominicfrank said:
FT's are critical....
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Last year it might've been the difference between post season (20 wins) or not ....And not just the missed FT's, it's the 1 and 1's you don't get.

Uconn FT% ...Opponent ..... score
61.5 %..............86.4 %.........72-76....L, Arizona
61.9 %..............93.8 % ........60-64....L, Cincy
56.0 %..............72.7 %..........63-71....L, Houston
54.2 %..............85.0 %..........71-78....L, Temple
 
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UConn has removed 2 horrible FT shooters in Tarin Smith who shot 60% and Cobb who shot 35% for the season. The top returning FT shooter by attempts is Carlton who is 62.7%. Next are Vital who is 81%, Gilbert 77.5% and Polley at 64.3%. I don't see Polley shooting that many FTs so really the guy who needs to improve is Carlton. He led the team in FTs attempted last year and will likely do so again this year. If he can get it over 70% that is fine and it's also not asking a lot. This is not like a Drummond type of situation where you had a guy shooting 29% and it was years and years before he finally shot 50% for a season. 62.7% is not good but also not terrible for a big man and I feel Josh will get better.

Here are the FT stats on the new guys-

Akok - 72.7%
Bouknight - 100% (4-4 in 2 games for McDuffie)
Springs - 75% in AAU ball
Gaffney- couldn't find stats.

Based on the above the only real FT shooting issue for next year's team is Carlton so I would not be too worried about it. Getting the assists totals and 3 point % up are bigger concerns. I am certain that rebounding and blocked shots will be better next year with the personnel on hand.
 
The below questions were posted in the Boneyard by another poster and spawned a lively discussion over there even though nobody has seen the team yet, so I am going to take my crack at answering these questions. My answers in BOLD:

1. UConn makes the NCAA tournament this year with an 8 seed or better? YES BUT NOT AS 8 SEED OR BETTER.

2. UConn has a top 4 finish in the American standings? YES

3. Our first 2020 recruit, aside from Cole, will be a Center? YES

4. Gilbert averages more points per game than Carlton this season? NO AND IF HE DOES THIS TEAM IS IN TROUBLE. HE NEEDS TO DISTRIBUTE FIRST AND SCORE SECOND.

5. Akok will lead Freshman this season in points per game? NO- BOUKNIGHT WILL

6. Gaffney averages more min per game than Bouknight? NO.

7. Tyler Polley makes the most 3 pointers on the team this season? NO. VITAL WILL BE 1 AND POLLEY 2.

8. Richie Springs will top Steven Enoch’s Freshman stats of 1.6 pts/ 1.5 rebounds ave. YES. I HAVE NOT SEEN SPRINGS BUT THE NUMBERS SUGGEST HE WILL GET PLAYING TIME AND IT SHOULD NOT BE HARD TO TOP THOSE NUMBERS EVEN WITH 10 MINUTES PER GAME.

9. The first game Hurley faces Penny, it’s a win for UConn? NO, UNLESS THE GAME IS AT UCONN.

10. Team Points per gm (73.8) is down from last year? NO. THIS TEAM IS DEEPER AND ASSUMING GOOD HEALTH, UCONN WILL RUN AND PLAY A PRESSING DEFENSE AND SHOULD TOP THIS TOTAL.

11. Akok leads the team in blocked shots and records more than 70. (Drummond had 92 as a Freshman) NO. TOUGHEST QUESTION ON THE LIST. JOSH LEADS AND AKOK NARROWLY SECOND.

12. Brendan Adams is more valuable to the team than Sid Wilson? NO.

13. UConn makes an appearance in the Top25 this season? YES.
 
Regarding the title...Uconn has the new roster up...Josh ( 6-11/265lbs) and Isaiah (6-8/225) the biggest gainers, obviously some haven't had official weigh in like Springs( 6-9/200)......Others.... Alterique earlier in his career was at 171lbs, now 185....CV & Wilson listed at 177 last year.. now 187 and 185.... bigs still need to find out what Josh is eating ....Brendan Adams is the only 200lb guard.

2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster
 
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Sidney can only gain 8 pounds in a year? Why aren’t they feeding him pancakes and steak? He has to get up to 200 or so if he wants to get big minutes.
 
the Blades said:
Regarding the title...Uconn has the new roster up...Josh ( 6-11/265lbs) and Isaiah (6-8/225) the biggest gainers, obviously some haven't had official weigh in like Springs( 6-9/200)......Others.... Alterique earlier in his career was at 171lbs, now 185....CV & Wilson listed at 177 last year.. now 187 and 185.... bigs still need to find out what Josh is eating ....Brendan Adams is the only 200lb guard.

2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster
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Roster's been updated- biggest change is Springs, now that he's on campus, weighed in at 6-9/ 220lbs, Polley changed to 6-9/204lbs(14lbs more than his FR year) or 11 lbs heavier than Akok
 
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Having only one guy on roster who is 6’10” or taller is a smallish roster by today’s standards of high division one basketball. On the bright side, it seems like there are 4 quality athletic bodies to play the 4 and 5 and this team may be built to play a pressing up tempo style of basketball, without slowfooted lumbering bigs.
 
New Read on Josh:
"To emphasize guards and say, ‘UConn is a guard school’ is being disrespectful to the bigs that came here — Emeka Okafor, Andre Drummond, Charlie Villanueva, Hasheem Thabeet, the guys that came before me.”

" This much you need to know: Carlton, 6 feet 11, is ready to fully emerge from his shell, cast it away and ascend another level, and he is determined to take his place among that group. He stayed on campus all summer and, under the guidance of human performance director Sal Alosi, who emphasized technique and explosiveness, Carlton has filled out to 260 pounds, about 25 more than last season. Mind and body now seem in optimum sync.
“I feel I can impose my will more,” he says. “Before, being underweight for me — because 235 wasn’t the ideal weight for me — I was competing with other bigs, but I wasn’t imposing my will, dominating.”

 
the Blades said:
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This doesn't (Springs) seem like a desperation play by DH ......when you add the upside of the 17 year old and how he progressed over the summer. Also the fact that Hurley said unless they could find someone who could be an impact guy down the road he would save the scholly. Plus I have more faith with Kenya's track record working with bigs (@ G-town and with Josh).

Could Springs become a Hilton Armstrong type working with Sal and the staff ? .so maybe he's not done growing:
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I guess Dan just answered my question about Richie Springs from my Aug 7th post (above ^^^)... in the new Borges recruiting article (Oct 6th- below):

Hurley recently told Hearst Connecticut Media. “I think Richie gives us a little versatility. He can play forward, he can play some five, because I think he’s still growing in maybe a Hilton Armstrong type of way. He may end up being 6-10 before it’s all said and done. But center is critical for us, to get a young guy that we can bring in, as Josh goes goes from junior to senior year, to have a young guy that we’ve got ready in years 3 and 4.”
 
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Springs averaged 13 rpg in Peach Jam last year, and what I am hoping is he will be a guy who rebounds and plays defense off the bench. Having this kind of depth could help prevent board crashing by opponents late in games, by having a big with fresh legs you can sub in. Last year UConn lost a game in Wichita against the Shockers which they did not need to lose, after thumping Wichita at home by 20. In the loss, the big kid Midtgaard was all over the O-boards in the second half and that was the main reason UConn lost the game. Although I was impressed with Midtgaard and think he looked like a better player than his stats, his board crashing could have been slowed down a bit if UConn had more bigs with fresh legs to throw out there. I am looking forward to seeing what Springs can bring to the team off the bench.
 
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KhalidShockedTheWorld said:
Springs averaged 13 rpg in Peach Jam last year, and what I am hoping is he will be a guy who rebounds and plays defense off the bench. Having this kind of depth could help prevent board crashing by opponents late in games, by having a big with fresh legs you can sub in. I am looking forward to seeing what Springs can bring to the team off the bench.
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Me too and I hope Richie keeps it going with Sal and Co.
It's funny that Dan mentioned Hilton the way I did for comparison. When Uconn first recruited Hilton he was a young 17 year old FR like Richie. IIRC, Uncle Hilty was about 6-9/200lbs and wasn't even ranked in the recruiting sites ....I remember it reported that Hilton couldn't even bench press 185lbs. ( which seemed weird because at the time I was working out with 3 sets of 12 x 275 lbs). But then Hilton got in the weight room with Emeka and the 2 of them became beasts ( though Emeka already had a head start). By the time Hilton left Uconn he was a lottery pick & about 6-11/240lbs. .... So in Richie's case I guess he's above the Hilton curve right now at 6-9/220lbs and since he's been ranked as high as a 4 star/ in the top 75 when he was a class of 2020 recruit .
 
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I think Sid is a sleeper this year. I was VERY underwelmed last year with his IQ....if that goes up the kid is dangerous. He is a high flyer and with some guard play he can be really good for us. I like him and TP for a change of pace sub during games. TP looks like an NBA player sometimes but his motor is just so SLOW. Sid is the opposite.....lets see how this goes but watch out for Sid.
 
Dominicfrank said:
I think Sid is a sleeper this year. I was VERY underwelmed last year with his IQ....if that goes up the kid is dangerous. He is a high flyer and with some guard play he can be really good for us. I like him and TP for a change of pace sub during games. TP looks like an NBA player sometimes but his motor is just so SLOW. Sid is the opposite.....lets see how this goes but watch out for Sid.
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I might as well link this right here:
 
Sidney had some eye popping blocked shots which resulted from hustling back on defense and not giving up on plays. There are things you like to see. As Dom noted though, there were some low IQ plays mostly on offense. Some of those can be excused just based on him being a freshman and not really even having a full freshman year. He needs to shoot a little bit better and also take better shots, but he is a strong candidate for significant improvement this year. I think Brendan Adams will also be significantly improved. One of those 2 guys will win most improved player award.
 
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I agree with you guys on the Sid factor. With DH wanting to play 3 guards, I think you need a bigger G/Wing that can take the 3rd spot who can D up on elite teams bigger 3's/ SF's and why Andre Jackson was such a perfect recruit for that role. That being said like you both mentioned.... Sid's improvement in IQ and shot selection could help him immensely getting a year up in that role. He isn't known for the handle and passing ability that AJ is, but he can be a terror on D if he continues to work at it. Plus like B-Adams.... Sid's % could go up & it seems like he could become a better shooter if he learns that just because you can get a shot off, doesn't mean it's a good one. DH said shot selection is a big thing to work on with these guys recently and if Sid can learn to temper his game on offense, he 'd be money out there athletically in the pressure D.... Hurley wants to play.... as a 3rd guard.
 
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Assuming both players take equally good shots, I think we are more likely to see steep upward improvement in shooting % from Adams than from Wilson, because he has very good shooting form. I would not be surprised if Adams goes into the high 30s with his 3 point %, whereas I would be happy if Sid just improves to being average or some threat to make a 3 if left open.

On the other hand, I agree that Sidney's ceiling is higher as a defender, and he could carve a role for himself as a defensive specialist on wings and big guards. He has the requisite athleticism and instincts to become a stopper along the lines of a guy like Lyman DePriest or Rickey Moore, although he is a different position and body type. I can't even think of a wing player UConn had like Wilson.

The best "3 and D" guy I ever saw was Michael Cooper of the LA Lakers in the 1980s, and hopefully between Adams and Wilson you have a 3 and D player- maybe 2
 
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KhalidShockedTheWorld said:
Assuming both players take equally good shots, I think we are more likely to see steep upward improvement in shooting % from Adams than from Wilson, because he has very good shooting form. I would not be surprised if Adams goes into the high 30s with his 3 point %, whereas I would be happy if Sid just improves to being average or some threat to make a 3 if left open.

On the other hand, I agree that Sidney's ceiling is higher as a defender, and he could carve a role for himself as a defensive specialist on wings and big guards. He has the requisite athleticism and instincts to become a stopper along the lines of a guy like Lyman DePriest or Rickey Moore, although he is a different position and body type. I can't even think of a wing player UConn had like Wilson.
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+1 on all this, especially with what Adams showed form wise in that exhibition game, 3-5 on 3pts and 17 points. Then it seemed like he lost a little confidence in spot duty and the game sped up to much for him. But I think he'll be better in year 2. Also Sid's form looked "all right" from the new distance (below), but I agree D can be his calling card.

 
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I remember Marcus Johnson and he probably comes closest to Sid of any of the guys UConn had. I still had season tickets when he was on the team. He wasn’t as good as I thought he would be when I first saw him. Calhoun I think had envisioned him as a defensive specialist but he was not particularly good at anything although he was a good athlete.

Sidney is a bit leaner but might be longer and have a little more hops than Johnson.
 
Yeah Marcus had a stronger build than Sid, probably 20lbs or so. But he also had good hops( I think he won a first night dunk contest or 2) He was a similar sized 4 star wing (ranked #59) at 6-6....never really became the player Calhoun thought he would be even though JC gave him a shot as a starter, then Stanley took over......MJ's biggest problem was he never became a shooter either at 3pt or FT's ( under 50% career ). but he did get some good run his SR year at USC and ave. close to 10pg.
 
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Also Dom(@ the Courant) got him for a player by player breakdown of the team,
‘We’re more talented, we have more depth, we’re more athletic, but we’re younger’
here's a few we discussed:

Wilson- “Sid’s a talented player. We need Sid to emerge this year and prove he’s a reliable rotation player, find his niche on the court, probably as a defensive minded, high-energy player. He’s still trying to develop an identity on offense, but he’s really athletic and he got a really great personality and charisma about him.”

Springs- “I think he is going to be great. He was a late add, but I think Richie, in his career, is going to prove to be as valuable as any of the other three freshman that probably came in with a lot more buzz. Richie’s 6-9, just turned 18, he’s still growing. Tristan Thompson is the best offensive rebounder I’ve ever coached, he plays for the Cavaliers. Richie Springs [is] would be the second best offensive rebounder I’ve ever coached. He’s such a quick jumper, traces the ball real well, he’s going to develop a really good skill set. He could end up being 6-11 when it’s all said and done.”

Adams-“We felt he’d be a good person, a good player to help us rebuild the program. He’s an incredibly hard worker, he can really shoot the ball, he’s physically very strong, he’s athletic enough. It’s a big year for him to improve and develop a role for himself at UConn. My expectation is that he’s going to prove himself to be a valuable player this year."

and-
Akok- “This guy has grown a ton since he’s been here. The way that he has matured and handled himself in practice. He’s pushed himself. He dislocated his finger [Wednesday] in practice and had it reset and taped while I was in the huddle and he didn’t take a play off. The kid loves basketball, he’s passionate about his career, desperately wants to win and help deliver UConn back to the level it belongs at. And he’s got a couple of amazing gifts, his length, his shot-blocking, 3-point shooting and his overall athleticism.”

James- “He oozes talent. He’s almost too talented for his own good, because he plays in spurts. Because he’s so talented he can play in spurts and still be really, really impressive, but he’s probably gotten the brunt of the most coaching and criticism through the early part. He’s had the most coaches in his face and all over him because he’s got a chance to be an early-entry NBA player and a guy we can put in almost any game at the college level regardless of the opponent – Duke, Kansas, Kentucky – and he can be as good as anyone they’ve got. He’s got that type of game.”

 
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He says Matt Garry could be the best walk on ever at UConn. Two of the best that come to mind were E.J. Harrison, on the 1999 team as a 5th guard, and Greg Economou, a good shooter on the the 1985-86 team who ended up getting regular playing time. One other famous UConn walk on, who was beloved, was Sami "The Barber" Ameziane, who played in around 2005 and later became a famous standup comedian.
 
Hurley says the roster is young, and overall it is, but Hurley can start 4 players (Carlton, Polley, Gilbert and Vital) who have at least 2 years experience playing at UConn, and that is important veteran experience to have.
 
KhalidShockedTheWorld said:
He says Matt Garry could be the best walk on ever at UConn. Two of the best that come to mind were E.J. Harrison, on the 1999 team as a 5th guard, and Greg Economou, a good shooter on the the 1985-86 team who ended up getting regular playing time. One other famous UConn walk on, who was beloved, was Sami "The Barber" Ameziane, who played in around 2005 and later became a famous standup comedian.
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That's was kind of tongue in cheek.....But Sami should of been a lesson for JC that you can never have a enough guards. I remember when he had to play in the NCAA loss to NC St. because Calhoun had no other guards on the roster besides Marcus Williams. After AJ missed the season from his brain surgery and Antonio Kellogg who wasn't really a PG, was booted from the team. You think JC would of learned and recruited a combo guard or 2 right then....But the next summer he was scrambling again at the last minute, after the lap top mess and was forced to bring in Austrie ( a mid-major type, who was headed to Umass) as a FR starter because he had no other guards on the team.

It's crazy when you look at DH's teams in the small ball era, where it's just the opposite of JC....going 5-6 guards deep.
 
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