This team is experienced but lacks chemistry. Hopefully they can come and gel together asap with their roles defined.
God to not have to teach summer school-it is a beautiful thing. Here's an article for breakfast.
Chemistry will certainly be a factor in the success of this season, but for a few reasons this team should have advantages last years did not. Yes, Boatright is gone and that void is significant. At the same time, they are replacing one player as opposed to 5 and return a much more experienced, balanced roster. Ollie suggested they ran a dumbed-down playbook because the players - unfamiliar with both each other and the system - struggled to execute his offense last season. Gibbs has played PG for 3 years and by all accounts runs the position well, refusing to be rushed much like Price/Bazz: Miller is an ivy league transfer who should handle his responsibilities no problem: Hamilton/Purvis/Brimah played a year in the system and spent an offseason together. Everyone should be comfortable this year and be ready for the rigors of the season. Instead of Boat doing everything and guys trying to contribute where they can, the roles should be clearly defined and familiar. Collectively they should be able to bring Adams along, too.
Last year they seemed timid. Not only was the talent level lower than Storrs in accustomed to, but Ryan struggled to get guys to play at full energy for 40 minutes. Again, the inexperience at that level showed. They should understand what it takes and the ability to go 10-11 deep means anyone not moving will be sitting. If Daniel is turning it over, adams/gibbs/purvis comes out and if Brimah can't at least box out, we go small with Hamilton-Miller, or put Nolan/Facey/Enoch next to Miller. The same goes for anyone on the roster.
One more thing is this team seems to know it has the potential to be very good. You hear it at media day across the board-they have a lot of talent; practices are very strong; guys are competing on their own time frequently. Sometimes just having the confidence that you are capable is a tremendous asset and it is certainly a better mindset than "i hope we win" (it may be a stretch, but after the Texas and Yale losses, it is perfectly reasonable that the team's confidence took a hit even if they would never admit to it). As I see it, Gibbs controls the pace, but cedes scoring duties to Hamilton/Purvis. As I have said before, he can make nearly 4 3's a game and if we run the O correct, one of the other two just needs to hit the looks he seems able to deliver. Hamilton should be the 2nd facilitator behind Gibbs, with Purvis a slashing/3/break threat. They both need to be decisive and aggresive this year. Both can be top 10 players at their positions if they play well. Adams is breather/change of pace guard always in attack mode if he's remotely open. Down low, Brimah and Miller focus on D, but the former is always a threat at the rim keeping the D honest and should have one reliable move this year, while the latter is an excellent 5th-6th option and relief outlet who can also defend 4 positions/block shots/rebound. If Facey can defend he will be the 3rd big. Right now I expect Nolan to get minutes, but Enoch very well could over take him. Calhoun is valuable as depth and a guy who can give you 10+ if he gets hot. It may be rare, but playing with this talent should open more lanes for him.
I hope this team is smart enough to push the pace. I have a lot of faith in Gibbs to run the offense. Watching his brothers and highlights of his, they always play at their own tempo, but are capable of getting by anyone. Adams, Hamilton, Purvis, Miller and Facey can all get up and down the court. I hope they go on uconnhuskygames and watch every win from the 90's. Let the guards defend like dogs and funnel opponents to our waiting bigs, then sprint the other way. Trap off every made basket. Athletically we may not be UNC or Kentucky, but we have size, length and talent. I do think chemistry is the biggest concern this season, but more than that, if this team just plays with intensity for 40 minutes the will win 24 games.
