- Joined
- Aug 28, 2011
- Messages
- 1,490
- Reaction Score
- 10,876
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBas...rkers_top_25_previews_14_connecticut_huskies/
Connecticut Huskies
2014-15: 20-15 (10-8 in American Athletic Conference play, tied for 5th place), lost to Arizona St in the first round of the NIT
Head Coach: Kevin Ollie (3rd year)
Projected Starting Lineup
PG Sterling Gibbs - 6'2", 185 Senior: 16.3 ppg, 3.8 apg, 44% 3FG @ Seton Hall
SG Rodney Purvinis - 6'4", 207 Junior: 11.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.2 apg
SF Daniel Hamilton - 6'7", 195 Sophomore: 10.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.7 apg
PF Shonn Miller - 6'7", 212 Senior: 16.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg @ Cornell
C Amida Brimah - 7'0", 240 Junior: 9.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.5 bpg
Key Bench Players
G Sam Cassell Jr - 6'3", 195 Junior: 3.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.9 apg
G/F Omar Calhoun - 6'5", 210 Senior: 5.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 apg
F Kentan Facey - 6'9", 218 Junior: 4.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.4 bpg
F/C Phillip Nolan - 6'10", 237 Senior: 1.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.4 bpg
Key Newcomers
G Jalen Adams - 6'2", 175 Freshman: Consensus Top 25 prospect
F/C Steve Enoch - 6'10", 225 Freshman: Consensus Top 100 prospect
..........................................................................................
A team which has won the National Championship makes for quite a tough act to follow. That is something UConn and head coach Kevin Ollie discovered last season. The realization was understandably frustrating: but it appears to have paved the way for UConn to return to prominence this year.
Despite the massive hype surrounding Ollie and his program after the Huskies went from #7 seed to national champs in just a few short weeks last spring, 2014-15 just couldn't measure up. There was talent, experience, and a defense that limited opponents and gave UConn a chance to win every night. Things just didn't come together, though, as the Huskies were too inefficient and couldn't eke out key wins against the better teams on their schedule.
So Ollie hit the recruiting trail - and has now reeled in enough proven talent that there should be absolutely no way UConn fails to be in squarely in contention for a top four seed all season long. Will all that talent come together more cohesively than it did last season?
That's the million-dollar question.
Losing four year starter Ryan Boatright is a big blow, as the senior point guard was a huge part of the NCAA title run and last year, the team's leader. And yet, even Boatright's all-out effort and statistical brilliance couldn't quite get his teammates over the hump and into the NCAAs. Now, his role will be filled by a different kind of veteran guard. Connecticut is the third school in four years for Sterling Gibbs, a former star recruit who is coming off of a career-best season at Seton Hall. Gibbs failed to make much of an impact as a freshman at Texas, but in the past two years has emerged as a strong outside shooter (he made 44% of his triples last year) and good overall point man. He's also improved as a defender, and Ollie will demand more of him on that end of the court. If any player should be prepared to step in and adjust to new surroundings, it should be Gibbs. He must not only maintain his level of quality play: he must adapt efficiently to his already-established teammates in such a way as makes UConn into a more precise offensive team. Last season Boatright gave it his all, and Gibbs must match his efforts while keeping an even deeper stable of scorers happy.
Joining Gibbs in the backcourt will be an extraordinarily talented pair of multipurpose guards. Daniel Hamilton arrived last season as a highly-touted freshman with the skills to impact a game in all manner of ways. And that is precisely the type of ability which Hamilton flashed all year long. Now, with a full year of competition and a summer spent refining his handle and outside shot, Hamilton could well become one of the best players in the nation. Last season, Hamilton very nearly posted a triple double a few different times - it's really just a matter of when, not if, he'll reach the plateau of that most elite statistic. And yet, Hamilton has room for significant improvement. He turned the ball over too often during the first couple of months in his freshman season - eight times last year he game away four or more miscues - including games of eight and six giveaways in losses to West Virginia and Temple. Over the final nine games of his freshman campaign, though, he improved in that regard, and it was no surprise that it coincided with some of UConn's best play all year. With more consistency from outside and fewer turnovers - and it almost feels like that nit-picking given all the things Hamilton does - the sophomore should challenge for an All-American selection and many other accolades. Complimenting the versatile Hamilton on the wing, Rodney Purvis is a more powerful guard who is capable of going for 25 points against any opponent in the nation. The thing is, Purvis last season was something of a poster child for UConn's offensive inconsistencies. To put it in perspective, he posted games of 29, 28, and 21, yet failed to score more than five points in a game seven times. While Purvis dealt with an ankle injury early in the season which limited him for a bit and forced him to miss a key loss to Texas, he came on strong down the stretch. In UConn's final ten games last year, he averaged 15.7 points per - including a combined 57 in two games against SMU. Ollie and fans alike are really hoping that is the form which Purvis displays throughout his junior season.
When a major media writer ranked Purvis as the 83rd best player in the nation this summer, Purvis let it be known that he thought the ranking was "funny". When another personality from that same media source claimed that some other guards in the country were on "another level" from UConn's backcourt, Purvis again spoke out.
Suffice to say, he's raised the expectations bar for UConn this summer: and both Purvis and his perimeter pals have got the talent to back it all up.
Amidah Brimah returns for his junior year having already flashed the ability to emerge as one of the nation's best centers. A mobile, long-armed 7-footer who may be the most intimidating shot blocker anywhere, Brimah made great strides offensively last season - and not just because of his 40 point night against Coppin State. Brimah is nearly impossible to stop when the guards get him lobs or quick feeds under the basket. The big man has improved his footwork and makes great use of his length inside, and posted a fantastic 67% mark from the field. He can now make short jumpers and hook shots, too - and he improved at the charity stripe, going from 57% as a freshman to 65% last year. If Brimah can make a similar stride forward this year, he'll become a lethal weapons. UConn opponents would have to choose between collapsing on Brimah or trying to limit Gibbs, Purvis and Hamilton on the wing - and it would open up the Husky offense to a new level of proficiency. Brimah has a new sidekick this year, as graduate transfer Shonn Miller arrives from Cornell. Miller broke out in a huge way last season for the Big Red, stuffing the stat sheet nightly and posting 11 double doubles. A wiry, athletic combo forward who's very capable on defense as well as the boards, Miller should combine with Hamilton to make like insufferable for opposing wings who try penetrate inside. And even if they do get into the paint, Brimah's windmill arms will be waiting. UConn's defense has the potential to be truly imposing next year. Miller is also an accomplished scorer who can shoot from the outside - he's splashed 57 career three point shots. He should compliment Brimah very well and add a whole new dimension to Ollie's frontcourt - but must also show that he's ready to face the type of physical frontcourt players which UConn will see on the road of contention.
With so much new talent arriving, there is now considerable depth, and Ollie can mix and match up front for the first time. Kentan Facey and Phillip Nolan both bring starting experience, and know how to make an impact defensively. With the addition of Miller, Facey is no longer likely to see a starting role. The former top 100 recruit has great size, athleticism, and quickness inside but hasn't been able to put it all together just yet. Last season, he took a stride forward and averaged better than 21 minutes per game by filling a valuable role as a rebounder alongside Brimah. However, he didn't make great strides as the year wore on, and then missed four games towards the end of the season due to a concussion. Nolan figures to be Brimah's main backup while Facey battles Miller for minutes at the 4. Nolan has gotten stronger and become a better positional defender as his career has gone on, but he hasn't really taken a big step to match his talent. He's a capable rim protector and doesn't shy away from the battles inside. After all, he's been all through the entire rollercoaster of APR punishment through the national title, down to a first round NIT loss last year. Obviously, the only fitting way for Nolan to finish his career is with another Final Four run.
Three years ago, Omar Calhoun was a member of the same class which saw Nolan arrive in Storrs. The most highly regarded prospect of that class, Calhoun was great as a freshman. And he has never been the same player since. A combination of lingering injuries, bruised confidence and the crunch for minutes on a talented roster have seen Calhoun diminished to a bench player. He's a senior now, though - and motivated to finish his career on a high note. He missed the first seven games last season but returned to score in double figures six times. Calhoun can provide a nice offensive spark off the bench, and gives the Huskies a triple threat with good size. Calhoun should remain an important cog in this team's rotation, and will surely look to lead by example on this more veteran Connecticut team. Like Calhoun, Sam Cassell Jr had hoped to make a bigger impact last season, but inconsistency and inefficiency were a theme. Cassell shot just 28% overall from the floor, and made just 13 of 49 triple tries, but has scoring instincts and should up those percentages with more experience. He's capable of playing in a variety of lineups due to his size and diverse skills - but serious minutes will be tough to earn on this loaded roster.
Two freshmen also come aboard, and both bring nationally-recognized talent that will be hard to keep on the bench. Combo guard Jalen Adams looks like a fitting heir to the Shabazz Napier/Ryan Boatright ideal of small, speedy lead guards. Ollie has praised Adams as a great shooter who can provide an offensive spark with his ballhandling and his creativity. "I'm going to weigh on him to come in and do the different things we know he can do, ball-handling, pushing the ball," Ollie said of his freshman guard during the offseason. "That's one of his strong suits, and I'm going to try to display that each and every day." Ollie's other freshman, Steve Enoch is a big guy who can run the floor and get points with his athleticism in the paint. Enoch projects as a Facey-like presence off the bench immediately, and with more offensive polish down the road, a bigger contributor.
This season is going to come down to two main factors for Connecticut: consistent offense and finding everyone a role that they're comfortable and effective in. This one of the more talented rosters in America. And despite what appears on paper to be a near-perfect blend of athleticism and awareness, size and speed, skill and hustle, youth and experience, it all has to come together.
Ollie's teams have won it all and they've failed to even earn a spot on the dance floor. His recruiting efforts, communication skills and general burgeoning reputation indicate that his teams should end up fitting more often towards the high end of that spectrum. Yet Ollie's sample size as a coach remains small. Will he demonstrate, this season, that he's fit for comparison with the best coaches in the country? And will his team feature a group of individuals who all pull in the same direction, and can this team reach its massive potential?
With SMU and Cincinnati nipping at UConn's heels, the Huskies know that they must figure it all out quickly. And if they do, there might be no stopping this program once again.
Connecticut Huskies
2014-15: 20-15 (10-8 in American Athletic Conference play, tied for 5th place), lost to Arizona St in the first round of the NIT
Head Coach: Kevin Ollie (3rd year)
Projected Starting Lineup
PG Sterling Gibbs - 6'2", 185 Senior: 16.3 ppg, 3.8 apg, 44% 3FG @ Seton Hall
SG Rodney Purvinis - 6'4", 207 Junior: 11.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.2 apg
SF Daniel Hamilton - 6'7", 195 Sophomore: 10.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.7 apg
PF Shonn Miller - 6'7", 212 Senior: 16.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg @ Cornell
C Amida Brimah - 7'0", 240 Junior: 9.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.5 bpg
Key Bench Players
G Sam Cassell Jr - 6'3", 195 Junior: 3.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.9 apg
G/F Omar Calhoun - 6'5", 210 Senior: 5.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 apg
F Kentan Facey - 6'9", 218 Junior: 4.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.4 bpg
F/C Phillip Nolan - 6'10", 237 Senior: 1.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.4 bpg
Key Newcomers
G Jalen Adams - 6'2", 175 Freshman: Consensus Top 25 prospect
F/C Steve Enoch - 6'10", 225 Freshman: Consensus Top 100 prospect
..........................................................................................
A team which has won the National Championship makes for quite a tough act to follow. That is something UConn and head coach Kevin Ollie discovered last season. The realization was understandably frustrating: but it appears to have paved the way for UConn to return to prominence this year.
Despite the massive hype surrounding Ollie and his program after the Huskies went from #7 seed to national champs in just a few short weeks last spring, 2014-15 just couldn't measure up. There was talent, experience, and a defense that limited opponents and gave UConn a chance to win every night. Things just didn't come together, though, as the Huskies were too inefficient and couldn't eke out key wins against the better teams on their schedule.
So Ollie hit the recruiting trail - and has now reeled in enough proven talent that there should be absolutely no way UConn fails to be in squarely in contention for a top four seed all season long. Will all that talent come together more cohesively than it did last season?
That's the million-dollar question.
Losing four year starter Ryan Boatright is a big blow, as the senior point guard was a huge part of the NCAA title run and last year, the team's leader. And yet, even Boatright's all-out effort and statistical brilliance couldn't quite get his teammates over the hump and into the NCAAs. Now, his role will be filled by a different kind of veteran guard. Connecticut is the third school in four years for Sterling Gibbs, a former star recruit who is coming off of a career-best season at Seton Hall. Gibbs failed to make much of an impact as a freshman at Texas, but in the past two years has emerged as a strong outside shooter (he made 44% of his triples last year) and good overall point man. He's also improved as a defender, and Ollie will demand more of him on that end of the court. If any player should be prepared to step in and adjust to new surroundings, it should be Gibbs. He must not only maintain his level of quality play: he must adapt efficiently to his already-established teammates in such a way as makes UConn into a more precise offensive team. Last season Boatright gave it his all, and Gibbs must match his efforts while keeping an even deeper stable of scorers happy.
Joining Gibbs in the backcourt will be an extraordinarily talented pair of multipurpose guards. Daniel Hamilton arrived last season as a highly-touted freshman with the skills to impact a game in all manner of ways. And that is precisely the type of ability which Hamilton flashed all year long. Now, with a full year of competition and a summer spent refining his handle and outside shot, Hamilton could well become one of the best players in the nation. Last season, Hamilton very nearly posted a triple double a few different times - it's really just a matter of when, not if, he'll reach the plateau of that most elite statistic. And yet, Hamilton has room for significant improvement. He turned the ball over too often during the first couple of months in his freshman season - eight times last year he game away four or more miscues - including games of eight and six giveaways in losses to West Virginia and Temple. Over the final nine games of his freshman campaign, though, he improved in that regard, and it was no surprise that it coincided with some of UConn's best play all year. With more consistency from outside and fewer turnovers - and it almost feels like that nit-picking given all the things Hamilton does - the sophomore should challenge for an All-American selection and many other accolades. Complimenting the versatile Hamilton on the wing, Rodney Purvis is a more powerful guard who is capable of going for 25 points against any opponent in the nation. The thing is, Purvis last season was something of a poster child for UConn's offensive inconsistencies. To put it in perspective, he posted games of 29, 28, and 21, yet failed to score more than five points in a game seven times. While Purvis dealt with an ankle injury early in the season which limited him for a bit and forced him to miss a key loss to Texas, he came on strong down the stretch. In UConn's final ten games last year, he averaged 15.7 points per - including a combined 57 in two games against SMU. Ollie and fans alike are really hoping that is the form which Purvis displays throughout his junior season.
When a major media writer ranked Purvis as the 83rd best player in the nation this summer, Purvis let it be known that he thought the ranking was "funny". When another personality from that same media source claimed that some other guards in the country were on "another level" from UConn's backcourt, Purvis again spoke out.
Suffice to say, he's raised the expectations bar for UConn this summer: and both Purvis and his perimeter pals have got the talent to back it all up.
Amidah Brimah returns for his junior year having already flashed the ability to emerge as one of the nation's best centers. A mobile, long-armed 7-footer who may be the most intimidating shot blocker anywhere, Brimah made great strides offensively last season - and not just because of his 40 point night against Coppin State. Brimah is nearly impossible to stop when the guards get him lobs or quick feeds under the basket. The big man has improved his footwork and makes great use of his length inside, and posted a fantastic 67% mark from the field. He can now make short jumpers and hook shots, too - and he improved at the charity stripe, going from 57% as a freshman to 65% last year. If Brimah can make a similar stride forward this year, he'll become a lethal weapons. UConn opponents would have to choose between collapsing on Brimah or trying to limit Gibbs, Purvis and Hamilton on the wing - and it would open up the Husky offense to a new level of proficiency. Brimah has a new sidekick this year, as graduate transfer Shonn Miller arrives from Cornell. Miller broke out in a huge way last season for the Big Red, stuffing the stat sheet nightly and posting 11 double doubles. A wiry, athletic combo forward who's very capable on defense as well as the boards, Miller should combine with Hamilton to make like insufferable for opposing wings who try penetrate inside. And even if they do get into the paint, Brimah's windmill arms will be waiting. UConn's defense has the potential to be truly imposing next year. Miller is also an accomplished scorer who can shoot from the outside - he's splashed 57 career three point shots. He should compliment Brimah very well and add a whole new dimension to Ollie's frontcourt - but must also show that he's ready to face the type of physical frontcourt players which UConn will see on the road of contention.
With so much new talent arriving, there is now considerable depth, and Ollie can mix and match up front for the first time. Kentan Facey and Phillip Nolan both bring starting experience, and know how to make an impact defensively. With the addition of Miller, Facey is no longer likely to see a starting role. The former top 100 recruit has great size, athleticism, and quickness inside but hasn't been able to put it all together just yet. Last season, he took a stride forward and averaged better than 21 minutes per game by filling a valuable role as a rebounder alongside Brimah. However, he didn't make great strides as the year wore on, and then missed four games towards the end of the season due to a concussion. Nolan figures to be Brimah's main backup while Facey battles Miller for minutes at the 4. Nolan has gotten stronger and become a better positional defender as his career has gone on, but he hasn't really taken a big step to match his talent. He's a capable rim protector and doesn't shy away from the battles inside. After all, he's been all through the entire rollercoaster of APR punishment through the national title, down to a first round NIT loss last year. Obviously, the only fitting way for Nolan to finish his career is with another Final Four run.
Three years ago, Omar Calhoun was a member of the same class which saw Nolan arrive in Storrs. The most highly regarded prospect of that class, Calhoun was great as a freshman. And he has never been the same player since. A combination of lingering injuries, bruised confidence and the crunch for minutes on a talented roster have seen Calhoun diminished to a bench player. He's a senior now, though - and motivated to finish his career on a high note. He missed the first seven games last season but returned to score in double figures six times. Calhoun can provide a nice offensive spark off the bench, and gives the Huskies a triple threat with good size. Calhoun should remain an important cog in this team's rotation, and will surely look to lead by example on this more veteran Connecticut team. Like Calhoun, Sam Cassell Jr had hoped to make a bigger impact last season, but inconsistency and inefficiency were a theme. Cassell shot just 28% overall from the floor, and made just 13 of 49 triple tries, but has scoring instincts and should up those percentages with more experience. He's capable of playing in a variety of lineups due to his size and diverse skills - but serious minutes will be tough to earn on this loaded roster.
Two freshmen also come aboard, and both bring nationally-recognized talent that will be hard to keep on the bench. Combo guard Jalen Adams looks like a fitting heir to the Shabazz Napier/Ryan Boatright ideal of small, speedy lead guards. Ollie has praised Adams as a great shooter who can provide an offensive spark with his ballhandling and his creativity. "I'm going to weigh on him to come in and do the different things we know he can do, ball-handling, pushing the ball," Ollie said of his freshman guard during the offseason. "That's one of his strong suits, and I'm going to try to display that each and every day." Ollie's other freshman, Steve Enoch is a big guy who can run the floor and get points with his athleticism in the paint. Enoch projects as a Facey-like presence off the bench immediately, and with more offensive polish down the road, a bigger contributor.
This season is going to come down to two main factors for Connecticut: consistent offense and finding everyone a role that they're comfortable and effective in. This one of the more talented rosters in America. And despite what appears on paper to be a near-perfect blend of athleticism and awareness, size and speed, skill and hustle, youth and experience, it all has to come together.
Ollie's teams have won it all and they've failed to even earn a spot on the dance floor. His recruiting efforts, communication skills and general burgeoning reputation indicate that his teams should end up fitting more often towards the high end of that spectrum. Yet Ollie's sample size as a coach remains small. Will he demonstrate, this season, that he's fit for comparison with the best coaches in the country? And will his team feature a group of individuals who all pull in the same direction, and can this team reach its massive potential?
With SMU and Cincinnati nipping at UConn's heels, the Huskies know that they must figure it all out quickly. And if they do, there might be no stopping this program once again.