UConn Blog Predicts 2016 NCAA National Championship

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

http://www.theuconnblog.com/2015/7/...all-its-personal-now-for-rodney-purvis-and-it

Above is an article from the UConn Blog which, among other things:

1. Predicts a 2016 NCAA Championship Cutting Of the Nets.
2. States that this is the most talented UConn team since 2008-2009 season.
3. Discusses Purvis being dissed as the 83rd best player in the country.

Although I agree that this is the most talented UConn men's team (on paper) since 2008-09, let's not forget the 2008-09 team was ranked #1 in the country midseason and was probably the team to beat until Jerome Dyson got hurt. After Dyson got hurt, Craig Austrie started, shot about 20% FGs the rest of the year, and there was no depth at guard. Had Dyson not gotten hurt, that team, which did make the Final 4, was winning it all.

That being said, I think the defensive talent and chemistry of the 2011 and 2014 teams is often overlooked, and the shooting ability (both 3 point and FT%) of the 2014 team is overlooked a LOT. The 2011 team was hellacious defensively and had two premiere shot blockers, two premiere rebounders, as well as Kemba Walker having the best single season I have ever seen any UConn player have, bar none. The 2014 team had 3 starters who shot over 40% on 3 pointers. They also shot an NCAA record 88% on FTS for a 6 game NCAA tournament, a record that will never be broken, not by this UConn team or any other team. But that team also played absolutely great defense throughout the NCAA tournament after the first game.

What the 2015-2016 team may have that the 2011 and 2014 teams didn't is a tremendous balance between offense and defense, and more depth.

Regarding Purvis taking personal the assessments of his talent, the fact is he was a major turnover machine last year and did not play smart basketball, and his handle needs tremendous improvement. There is no question about his physical talent, but he needs to refine his basketball skills and decision making if he wants to prove the doubters wrong.

 

[the Blades]

Lot of good buzz....but it's still gonna come down to playing high IQ ball and good shot selection, depth will be better, D should be solid....+1 on everything you mentioned on Purvis, he can be the deal maker or breaker this season, in addition to what he does with FT's in close games....Boat alone cost 2-3 games at the FT line last year and he was a good FT shooter.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

As I stated elsewhere, I think Purvis should be the 6th man on this team, not to start the season, but eventually. His FT shooting is a problem, as is ballhandling, but he can give some scoring punch off the bench. I think Adams and Gibbs will ultimately form the starting backcourt and Purvis, if he embraces it, could be a superior 6th man. But in late game crunch time you do not need a 52% FT shooter handling the ball, no need for rocket science degree to figure that one out. Keep the money guys on the floor and use Purvis as a 6th man. I think this is how it will shake out. I could be wrong.

 

[northdakotahusky]

Purvis the 6th man. Sure why not. Makes me wonder why Calhoun didn't transfer. If Purvis is a 6th man, Omar will never play.

 

[Ozzie3178]

I don't think Purv can be the 6th man. He is not built mentally for a accepting role like that imo. May go into a shell like when he came off bench a bit last year or had diminished minutes for stretches

 

[northdakotahusky]

I'm not that familiar with the writer (Tim Fontenault). Is this sort of prediction out of character for him? Or does he always make predictions like this?

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

NDH,

If you click on his name you get Tim's bio (see below). Seeing as he is a 2015 UConn grad not sure how much of a track record he has on predictions but he is now developing one.

http://www.sbnation.com/users/Tim Fontenault?_ga=1.260366475.70010358.1438021047

Member Blades is certain to dislike this statement in his bio: "I actually don't mind the American Athletic Conference."

 

[northdakotahusky]

I like where his head is at. Like Tim, I'm pretty optimistic about our chances. And the notion that Kentucky has a back court that's on another level than ours is laughable.

 

[Dominicfrank]

I know Tim and he is a UCONN homer and wrote for the school last year. GREAT GUY which is why the BLOG plucked him up quickly. A homer with homer glasses but he makes good points on his prediction.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Being a homer is okay as long as it's done within reason and with sound analysis. The part of his article dealing with Purvis did not really attempt to explain why Purvis is ranked #83 in the country. It's not like 52% FT shooting for a guard and obscene TO totals for someone not handling it that much can be ignored.

That being said, his assessment of the overall talent of the team is accurate and I admire his enthusiasm about the team.

 

[the Blades]

NDH,

If you click on his name you get Tim's bio (see below). Seeing as he is a 2015 UConn grad not sure how much of a track record he has on predictions but he is now developing one.
http://www.sbnation.com/users/Tim Fontenault?_ga=1.260366475.70010358.1438021047
Member Blades is certain to dislike this statement in his bio: "I actually don't mind the American Athletic Conference."

As I've tried to explain a hundred times and you still can't wrap your head around, the AAC would be OK, all things being equal. Geography is a killer to the AD for Olympic sports but the football is actually just as good as the Big East's was. Unfortunately all things aren't equal because of the Power 5 Money and their autonomy allowing them to create new rules and standards for themselves only.

Even going to the Big 12 would be no worse geographically for Uconn, especially when their payout is $23 mil a year per school, which can pay for alot of flights. With the B1G now at around $27.5 million a year and with projections that could grow it to even " Big Ten to $45 million (per school) how can Uconn ever expect to keep successful coaches from even Rutgers who's never won a thing when "AAC schools get less than $2 mil per year" and vs. the SEC $21 mil and rising with the SEC Network..... the ACC $21 mil and the ....PAC at $21+ mil.

But the big picture is it doesn't mean a thing what you, Tim or me like regarding the AAC...or even if power 5 money is sustainable .....the problem is what certain AAC school presidents are doing right now to GTFO....like Santa Ono at Cincy , Memphis with the backing of Fed Ex, UCF, Houston, etc..

The President of Oklahoma is saying Big 12 expansion is inevitability.....So what'll be worse for the AAC ....Nichols leaving Memphis and SMU on probation( like you said recently)..... or Memphis and Cincy gone replaced by Middle Tenn St. and Akron ? That's the difference with the AAC and the old Big East when it became a hoops powerhouse in the 80's. Nobody was trying to leave and everyone was trying to get in. Even Penn St. tried to get into the Big East and was turned down...then football became the only driver of the bus and the rest is history.

But I'd also guess OU might look to leave and then the B12 will grab 3 teams or someone from the ACC is going to start looking at those B1G number$ like Maryland did ( maybe a Virginia and/or Carolina school who will test the GOR) and the ACC will need to back fill if the B1G looks to add new markets... That and/or Uconn and the NYC/New England market could become an area the B1G wants a better presence in...either way the AAC will always be the conference that will lose teams when more CR happens which is the B1G-est problem.