The UConn Blog - UConn Men's Basketball 2013-14 Season PreviewEscalators are for cowards.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49593/uconn-fav.png2013-11-08T17:26:20-05:00http://www.theuconnblog.com/rss/stream/48457552013-11-08T17:26:20-05:002013-11-08T17:26:20-05:00UConn Men's Basketball 2013-14 Season Predictions
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<figcaption>David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>As the opening tipoff approaches, our staff gives their predictions on how the season will play out.</p> <p></p>
<p><i>With the season's opening tipoff about an hour away, The UConn Blog staff makes their predictions for the upcoming season. Hopefully these turn out a little better than our predictions for football.</i></p>
<p><span><b>How does the top three shake out in the AAC at the end of the regular season?</b></span></p>
<p><b>Mac:</b> Louisville is going to be a tough egg to crack, but I think UConn has it in them to take down the defending champs and claim the first American regular season title. Between the College Gameday showdown at Gampel and the season ending showdown at the KFC Yum Center, these could be some of the most exciting college basketball games of the season. Memphis is going to be good too, but my prediction is UConn, Louisville and then Memphis, in that order.</p>
<p><b>John Rook: </b>Louisville UConn Memphis</p>
<p><b>Andrew Callahan:</b> UConn Memphis Louisville</p>
<h4><b>Who wins the AAC Tournament?</b></h4>
<p><b>Mac:</b> That's a much tougher call, because anything can happen in a tournament setting. For the sake of simplicity, I say the championship game will be between UConn and Louisville again, and whoever wins the regular season title will also win the tournament title.</p>
<p><b>Andrew Callahan:</b> Memphis</p>
<p><b>John Rook:</b> UConn-hear me out.</p>
<p>Pound for pound, Louisville is a better team than the Huskies, who still have rebounding issues and will rely on younger players to contribute. However, it's really hard to consistently win at a high level in college basketball. You don't have a lot of back-to-back national champs or conference tournament winners. Getting through a bunch of good teams means you have to survive at least one poor showing on your part, one great showing by someone else. It never fails.</p>
<p>Louisville ran through everyone last year. I don't think they do it again. I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals are picked off before the AAC Tournament final, opening the door for UConn.</p>
<p>In the Huskies, you're going to have a very, very hungry team. Most of the roster went through NCAA purgatory last year, and I'm sure the sting of sitting home in March remains. There won't be any quit in them. I think that, with their talent, will drive them to a conference tourney title.</p>
<h4><b>MVP?</b></h4>
<p><b>Mac:</b> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123385/shabazz-napier" class="sbn-auto-link">Shabazz Napier</a>, no question. The team will obviously depend on <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145232/ryan-boatright" class="sbn-auto-link">Ryan Boatright</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145231/deandre-daniels" class="sbn-auto-link">DeAndre Daniels</a> throughout the season, but at the end of the day Shabazz is the unquestioned leader and this team will go as far as he can take them.</p>
<p><b>Andrew Callahan:</b> Shabazz Napier</p>
<p><b>John Rook:</b> I'm picking Shabazz Napier for this one. He makes this team go. If he makes good decisions with the ball, distributes, gets the team running, and plays with controlled emotion, then the Huskies will be hard to beat.</p>
<h4><b>Surprise Prime-Time-Player?</b></h4>
<p><b>John Rook:</b> I'm going with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/228681/amida-brimah" class="sbn-auto-link">Amida Brimah</a> on this one. It sounds like, down the road, Facey could be a pretty special wing player, and I like some of what I've seen from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/228673/terrence-samuel" class="sbn-auto-link">Terrence Samuel</a>, but both of those guys will be battling for time against some really talented players. Brimah has to beat out <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123384/tyler-olander" class="sbn-auto-link">Tyler Olander</a> and Phil Nolan for the center position.</p>
<p>Plus, it appears Brimah is a natural shot blocker despite his lanky frame. The Huskies desparately need a big man who can reject shots into the second row from time to time, and I have a feeling that will get him a lot of playing time as the season progresses.</p>
<p><b>Mac:</b> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174709/phillip-nolan" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillip Nolan</a></p>
<p><b>Callahan:</b> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174711/omar-calhoun" class="sbn-auto-link">Omar Calhoun</a></p>
<p><b>Aman: </b>Amida Brimah, I think he can bring block parties back to Storrs.</p>
<h4><b>Biggest Win of the Season?</b></h4>
<p><b>Mac:</b> UConn over Louisville at Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 18.</p>
<p><b>Callahan:</b> Ditto</p>
<p><b>John Rook:</b> Louisville at Gampel is an obvious one, but I'm gonna go with Boston College. I know I've been waiting to beat up the boys from BC for a while now, and renewing that rivalry is going to be sweet. I expect a nice blowout win for the Huskies there and, personally, I might enjoy that as much or more than any other win this year.</p>
<p><b>Aman: </b>Florida early in the season, that's when everyone starts taking us seriously</p>
<h4><b>Upset Watch?</b></h4>
<p><b>Mac:</b> At SMU on Jan. 4, this squad could be sneaky good and I could definitely see them taking out the Huskies on their home court.</p>
<p><b>Andrew Callahan:</b> I, again, agree with Mac</p>
<p><b>John Rook:</b> This is tough because, honestly, I just don't know these new AAC teams all that well. So, I'm going with Harvard. They have always given the Huskies trouble, they always seem to be a good team, I'm sure they have some good veteran leadership, and they always seem like a club the Huskies SHOULD beat, whether that's fair or not.</p>
<p><b>Aman: </b>at Washington</p>
<h4><b>Breakout Season?</b></h4>
<p><b>Mac:</b> Amida Brimah, he has the physical tools to be a dominant center and if he can adjust to the college game quickly, he could become a key player for the Huskies right away.</p>
<p><b>Aman:</b> Omar Calhoun, I think he will be an absolute monster and we may be talking about whether or not he declares at the end of this season</p>
<h4><b>Key to the Season?</b></h4>
<p><b>Mac:</b> Frontcourt play. UConn is obviously going to have plenty to work with in the backcourt with Napier, Boatright, Calhoun, Kromah and Samuel, but if the big guys can't grab rebounds and defend the paint, the Huskies could be exposed by teams with talent big men. This will be especially important on the nights where Napier or Boatright don't have their shooting touch, and keeping the other team off the board becomes more important.</p>
<p><b>Callahan:</b> The rebounding will never be above average this season, but the Huskies can get by as a team that is only mediocre on the glass.. They cannot, however, rely on their backcourt and turn the ball over at the same time. If they limit opponents' extra possessions solely to the occasional offensive rebounds by taking care of the ball, they'll score and be just fine.</p>
<p><b>Aman:</b> DeAndre Daniels. If he can be the star that UConn fans think he can be, then we're a much better team than advertised. On a related note if Daniels and the new guys can help fix the rebounding discrepancy, that would be huge.</p>
<h4><b>Bold Prediction?</b></h4>
<p><b>Mac:</b> Phil Nolan will have a breakout year and become a key part of the Huskies' frontcourt rotation.</p>
<p><b>Callahan:</b> Calhoun leads the AAC in three pointers made</p>
<p><b>John Rook: </b>6 AAC teams in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" class="sbn-auto-link">NCAA Tournament</a><b> </b></p>
<p><b>Aman: </b>See below</p>
<h4><b>How far does UConn go in the NCAAs?</b></h4>
<p><b>Mac:</b> UConn should be a Sweet Sixteen team at worst, I think anything less than that would be a big disappointment. The team certainly has the potential to reach the Final Four and win the championship, but I think it would be a stretch to call this a "championship or bust" season, so maybe it would be fair to split the difference and say this team reaches the Elite Eight, and we'll see how it goes from there.</p>
<p><b>Andrew Callahan:</b> Elite Eight</p>
<p><b>John Rook:</b> I just really love experienced guard play when it comes to winning in March. Shabazz and Boatright make up one of the best, most dynamic 1-2 guard combos in the nation. They can score in a variety of ways. They are pesky on defense. Napier has become one of the better ball distributors around. I say they make the Elite Eight</p>
<p><b>Aman: </b>Homer Alert- National Champions. I think of this team as having Butler's teamwork with high-major talent. Teams like Butler and VCU have made deep tournament runs thanks to experience and teamwork, we have that with the advantage of upper echelon talent.</p>
<p>Guard play and Defense wins in March/April and we do those things very well. Last year's team drastically exceeded expectations, and we have the next great college basketball coach on our sidelines, so I feel comfortable predicting the University of Connecticut cutting down the nets for the fourth time in 15 years.</p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2013/11/8/5082364/uconn-mens-basketball-2013-14-season-predictionsMac Cerullo2013-11-08T14:17:56-05:002013-11-08T14:17:56-05:00State of the Roster: Swing Men
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<p>Swang.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We continue our positional preview with the swing men-- Kevin Ollie’s glue guys who can be used anywhere from the 2-5 collectively. These versatile athletes allow UConn to take advantage of favorable match-ups and effectively exploit other team’s weaknesses. There are two solid bench guys and one potential stud among them, and all three are probably gone after this year.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Neils Giffey</b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I love Giffey. He hustles, he can pass, rebound, play lockdown defense, and on top of it all he’s rocking a <a href="http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2013/11/01/sports/uconn/761285.txt">sweet beard</a> this year. ADimeBack's Tyler Wilkinson wrote a pretty good <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://adimeback.com/ein-x-faktor-niels-giffey/">preview</a> specifically about Giffey where he mentions that Niels was one of two players along with DeAndre Daniels to log 10 rebounds last year. While that is a pretty disappointing fact for the rest of our roster it speaks volumes to the variety of things Niels can do on the court.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Giffey is exactly the kind of role player any successful basketball team needs. Last year he shot 41% in 21mpg, and although he’s didn't really fill up the stat sheet, his heady play and aggressive defense made him an invaluable part of the team and a fast fan favorite.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I imagine Giffey will be coming off the bench as a 3 to rest Calhoun in traditional lineups and as a 4 in small lineups with Napier, Boatright, Calhoun and Daniels/Tall Guy. That grouping is capable of inflicting serious damage on the rough AAC courts this year.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Lasan</b> <b>Kromah</b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The graduate transfer adds another experienced, versatile veteran to the rotation. Last year at GW he averaged 11 points and 4 rebounds in 24mpg. I haven’t seen the guy play, but I expect his role to be similar to Giffey’s. He can play the 2 or the 3 and given his age we can probably depend on him to provide a calming veteran presence the way RJ Evans did last year (see, I told you there were similarities!).</p>
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<p>It remains to be seen how many minutes he earns in the rotation, but since we aren't playing the Big East schedule I would imagine he gets plenty of opportunities to play in the interest of keeping our stars fresh.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>DeAndre Daniels</b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">AKA The X-Factor. DeAndre Daniels is the super talented junior who many believe can make the leap this year. After a quiet freshman year and a decent yet inconsistent start to his sophomore year, 2011’s 10<sup>th</sup> ranked recruit ended the season by stringing together a series of impressive performances—most notably his head to head match-up with Big East Player of the Year Otto Porter. Most people who saw that game believe that Daniels outplayed the future 3<sup>rd</sup> overall pick.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">This off-season, DeAndre has been hitting the gym hard in hopes of hearing his own name called in NBA Lottery next year. So far in the preseason he has looked the part, with 21 and 10 against SCSU and an efficient 11 and 5 in 11 minutes against Concordia. After being left off of the preseason All-AAC teams, Daniels will be playing with a chip on his shoulder as he begins a 2013-14 campaign that could end with him on the AAC First Team. He can play the 5 in small ball lineups and as a 3-4 presents a match-up nightmare for slower power forwards or weaker small forwards. Especially if we’re losing the rebounding battle, I could see Ollie playing him at the 3 and adding two Tall Guys on the floor so we can have three legit rebounders in the game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daniels will be the man this year to key our deep tournament run. If he can become a bona fide star, we go from being the solid 18th ranked team that the public thinks we are, to a dangerous team capable of going all the way (There! I said it). It's all there, the talent, work-ethic and desire to achieve from the youngster out of LA, let's hope he can put it all together in what is likely his last year in Storrs.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Outlook</b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Daniels is a little bit of an outlier on this list and could be lumped in with the tall guys, but I wanted to highlight his versatility by including him in this group.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These guys allow the Huskies attack to have multiple identities without any drop in quality of play. We can play small, large and everything in between thanks to these human Swiss Army knives. I’m in love with the idea of mixing and matching different lineups, and so very thankful that Daniels, Kromah and Giffey allow us to do just that. Also, with so many games that amount to schedule fodder (Houston, UCF, etc.) the bench guys should still get plenty of run.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before you go pray to the basketball gods for a Huskies win tonight, remember to thank them for our swing men and the versatility they afford Saint Kevin. Amen.</p>
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https://www.theuconnblog.com/2013/11/8/5081468/state-of-the-roster-swing-menAman Kidwai2013-11-07T18:34:43-05:002013-11-07T18:34:43-05:00AAC Preview: The Contenders
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<figcaption>Andy Lyons</figcaption>
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<p>A look at the two teams expected to challenge UConn for the inaugural American championship: Louisville and Memphis.</p> <p><span>The American may not have the same brand appeal as the old Big East, but damn does it have some tough teams at the top. UConn, Louisville and Memphis are all expected to be among the top teams in the country, and the three should provide some thrilling conference matchups as the season goes on.</span></p>
<p>There are other teams in the American that should be pretty good too, but if UConn wants to claim the first American men's basketball championship trophy, these are the two teams they'll have to beat to earn it.</p>
<h4>Louisville</h4>
<p><i>AAC preseason rank: No. 1</i></p>
<p><i>KenPom preseason ratings: Overall - No. 1, Offense - No. 2, Defense - No. 1</i></p>
<p><i>2012-13 finish: 29-5, 14-4 Big East (T-1st), Won National Championship</i></p>
<p>By just about every metric, Louisville looks to be an extremely dangerous team again this year and is expected to contend for its third straight trip to the Final Four and its second consecutive National Championship. Rick Pitino's squad returns six of its top eight scorers from last year's championship team, including senior point guard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123828/russ-smith" class="sbn-auto-link">Russ Smith</a>, who ranks among the top players in the country, and also adds JUCO star Chris Jones, who averaged 21.8 points per game at Northwest Florida a year ago.</p>
<p>Senior Luke Hancock, juniors <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145620/chane-behanan" class="sbn-auto-link">Chane Behanan</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/144205/wayne-blackshear" class="sbn-auto-link">Wayne Blackshear</a> and sophomore <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174765/montrezl-harrell" class="sbn-auto-link">Montrezl Harrell</a> all return to the team's frontcourt as well, although Behanan remains suspended indefinitely due to a violation of university policy, and Hancock – who won Most Outstanding Player in last year's Final Four – is dealing with a nagging Achilles injury and won't be ready for the start of the season.</p>
<p>One player Louisville will be getting back earlier than expected is junior guard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/150600/kevin-ware" class="sbn-auto-link">Kevin Ware</a>, who unexpectedly returned to the court during Wednesday's exhibition game against Pikeville and nailed a three pointer in his first shot attempt. It was the first action Ware has seen since suffering his devastating leg injury during the Cardinal's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" class="sbn-auto-link">NCAA Tournament</a> game against Duke, but while he acknowledged that it felt good to get the jitters out of the way, he is not in game shape and will likely need more time before he really feels like himself again.</p>
<p>With Smith and Jones expected to carry the load, Ware will have time to ease himself back into the lineup. Freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174761/mangok-mathiang" class="sbn-auto-link">Mangok Mathiang</a>, however, will not have that luxury. Until Behanan and Hancock return to the court, the Cardinals will be relying on the 6-foot-10, 200 pound Mathiang to be a difference-maker upfront, and even afterward, he will likely be relied upon to fill the void left by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124760/gorgui-dieng" class="sbn-auto-link">Gorgui Dieng</a>.</p>
<p>PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:</p>
<p>G - Russ Smith, Senior, 18.7 PPG</p>
<p>G - Chris Jones, Junior, 21.8 PPG (at Northwest Florida JUCO)</p>
<p>F - Wayne Blackshear, Junior, 7.6 PPG</p>
<p>F - Montrezl Harrell, Sophomore, 5.7 PPG</p>
<p>C - Mangok Mathiang, Freshman, DNP last season</p>
<h4>Memphis</h4>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;"><i>AAC preseason rank: No. 3</i></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;"><i>KenPom preseason ratings: Overall - No. 16, Offense - No. 21, Defense - No. 15</i></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;"><i>2012-13 finish: 30-4, 16-0 Conference USA (1st), NCAA Tournament Round of 32</i></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Since taking over for John Calipari four years ago, head coach John Pastner has maintained Memphis' status as a nationally relevant program, and last year he led his team through one of its best seasons yet, finishing with a 30-4 regular season and a perfect 16-0 mark in conference play.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">One of the big obstacles that Memphis has always had to overcome, however, is its strength of schedule. In Conference USA, Memphis could clobber everybody but never get any respect because nobody else in the conference was perceived to be that good. Memphis won't have that same problem in The American, with teams like Louisville, UConn, Cincinnati, Temple and potentially SMU, the Tigers will have plenty of opportunities to show that they're the real deal.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">And considering the talent they have on their roster, they definitely look like they're the real deal. Senior Joe Jackson returns from last year's team and figures to be the team's unquestioned leader, and the team also adds nine new players, including highly-touted transfers Michael Dixon Jr. from Missouri and David Pellom from George Washington, along with seven freshmen, led by blue-chip recruits Austin Nichols and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/228741/nick-king" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick King</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">How well this team gels will probably play a major role in how far the Tigers go this year, but based on talent alone, Memphis should be considered a favorite in the American and will likely earn a high seed come tournament time.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">PROJECTED STARTING FIVE (via collegehoopsmadness.com):</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">G - Joe Jackson, Senior, 13.6 PPG</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">G - <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/176437/geron-johnson" class="sbn-auto-link">Geron Johnson</a>, Senior, 10.4 PPG (2011-12)</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">G - <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123878/chris-crawford" class="sbn-auto-link">Chris Crawford</a>, Senior, 10.4 PPG</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">F - <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/176431/shaq-goodwin" class="sbn-auto-link">Shaq Goodwin</a>, Sophomore, 7.4 PPG</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">F - Austin Nichols, Freshman, DNP last season</p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2013/11/7/5078568/aac-preview-the-contendersMac Cerullo2013-11-07T15:12:22-05:002013-11-07T15:12:22-05:00State of the Roster: The Guards
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<p>On the eve of the season opener, we're going to walk through three positional groups and the role each member of said group will play.</p> <p>With the opener of a highly anticipated UConn season just a day away, it's time to look at the strength of this team<span>—it's backcourt. Entering this year, Connecticut has one of the most dangerous group of guards in the entire country, led by veterans <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123385/shabazz-napier">Shabazz Napier</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145232/ryan-boatright">Ryan Boatright</a>, along with some very exciting young talent.</span></p>
<p><b>Shabazz Napier</b></p>
<p>For the past two seasons, Napier has become the heart and soul of this UConn squad. After winning a national championship his freshman year playing behind <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52415/kemba-walker">Kemba Walker</a>, Napier has seen his minutes increase each year, averaging 37.3 MPG in the 2012-2013 campaign. In addition to his vast playing time, the Roxbury, Massachusetts native averaged 17.1 PPG, 4.6 APG, 4.4 RPG, 2.0 STL last season, all while shooting 44.1% from the field, 39.8% from three and 81.9% from the free throw line.</p>
<p>In Napier's sophomore season two years ago, he was not originally looked at to be the leader—a role that was placed on shooting guard Jeremy Lamb. While Lamb had all the talent in the world, now playing with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA, he was never a leader for this team, and that showed up on the court at times that season. After a string of difficult losses, it was Napier who called the team out for lacking heart. That, to me, is when things changed for the young point guard. After losing to Iowa State in the first round of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a>, the Huskies moved on—without Lamb, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99998/alex-oriakhi">Alex Oriakhi</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123386/roscoe-smith">Roscoe Smith</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/144204/andre-drummond">Andre Drummond</a> and legendary coach Jim Calhoun—to a season with a brand new head coach, less talent, and a one-year postseason ban. It was Napier, though, that led this inexperienced Connecticut team to a rather remarkable 20-10 record, paving the way towards this ever-important 2013-2014 season.</p>
<p>Expect Shabazz Napier to not only be the best player on the team, but for him to be one of the best guards in the entire country this season. You already know he expects that of himself.</p>
<p><b>Ryan Boatright</b></p>
<p>After averaging 15.4 PPG, 4.4 APG and 1.5 STL last season, along with averaging over 30 minutes played in each of his first two years, many hope this year will be another major stepping stone for the junior. At 6'0, 168 lbs, Ryan Boatright isn't exactly <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146180/michael-carter-williams">Michael Carter-Williams</a>, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in speed, ability and effort. Boatright's steals, points, assists and minutes have gradually increased over his first two years, and with a stronger group of talent around him this season, one number that will likely increase is his assists.</p>
<p>Last season this Connecticut team was basically Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright and everybody else. This year is a different story, with forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145231/deandre-daniels">DeAndre Daniels</a> on the precipice of a breakout season, a talented guard with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174711/omar-calhoun">Omar Calhoun</a> with a year under his belt as well as some new faces. Boatright has shot 42% from the field in each of his first two seasons—a number you'd like to increase a bit more, but if he can create his own shots and better looks for others, he will be doing his job.</p>
<p><b>Omar Calhoun</b></p>
<p>While the 6'6, 200 lbs sophomore guard won't likely be starting anytime soon, Omar Calhoun will play a large role in the backcourt this season. In his freshman campaign last year, Calhoun averaged 11.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG and 32.1 MPG. While he's considered by all to be a 2-guard, Calhoun is big enough where you may see him at small forward this year, especially in games where Kevin Ollie wants to go small.</p>
<p>Calhoun only shot 32% from behind-the-arc last year and 40% from the field, but he appeared as is he was coming into his own as the season went along and he got more comfortable in coach Ollie's system. This could very well be a break-out-type season for Calhoun, and if that's the case... Watch out.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/228673/terrence-samuel">Terrence Samuel</a></b></p>
<p>UConn's backcourt has a new face entering the 2013-2014 season—19-year-old Terrence Samuel. In the 2013 Jordan Classic Regional, Samuel scored eight points (4-6 FGA), recorded four rebounds and two assists in only 15 minutes of action.</p>
<p>At 6'4, 190 lbs, one of Samuel's biggest strengths is the size at his position. "<span>He has sneaky athleticism and his ability to be a floor general and pass the ball makes him pretty good. When he gets rolling [in the open court], he’s tough to stop" Samuel's former high school coach said.</span></p>
<p>Samuel is best utilized as a point guard, where he can run the floor and pass to his teammates. With Napier and Boatright, who both often play the 1, it will be interesting to see where Ollie will insert Samuels when his number is called. With his size it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Samuels at the 2 or even the 3. While it's unlikely that his playing time will be significant at first, Samuels has the tools and talent to make it to the pros one day. This could be a situation very much like when Napier was a freshman playing behind star point guard Kemba Walker. In that case, let's hope the end result is similar.</p>
<p><b>Outlook</b></p>
<p>There's no question that the guards are the strength of the Connecticut team. With talented players such as Napier, Boatright, Calhoun, Samuels and even the walk-ons, all signs point to UConn having one of the most dangerous and explosive backcourts in the entire country.</p>
<p>The Huskies have a combination of small speedsters, sharp shooters, pesky defenders and big athletes at their disposal. It has yet to be seen how playing time will be divided amongst these four talented guards, but something tells me you'll rarely see a team <i>not</i> led by Napier.</p>
<p>Whatever happens this season, it's going to be a fun one. If this backcourt reaches it's true potential, it could be an unforgettable one.</p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2013/11/7/5076878/state-of-the-roster-the-guardsRich MacLeod2013-11-07T09:45:29-05:002013-11-07T09:45:29-05:00State of the Roster: Tall Guys
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<p>On the eve of the season opener, we're going to walk through three positional groups and the role each member of said group will play.</p> <p>With basketball and its athletes evolving to a point where positions are all blending into each other, it's a little unfair to use the traditional 1-5 labeling for players. What is <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">Ryan Boatright</a>, a 2? He certainly isn't a 1, that's Shabazz. What does that make Calhoun? Does that mean Giffey's a 4?... Like the BCS, it's an antiquated system. As part of our preview for this season we'll be doing a positional preview of the Huskies roster in three groups: Guards, Swingmen and Tall Guys. Today we begin with the vertically advantaged.</p>
<p>There are four guys who I would lump into this category: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123384/tyler-olander" class="sbn-auto-link">Tyler Olander</a>, Phil Nolan, Amidah Brimah and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/228675/kentan-facey" class="sbn-auto-link">Kentan Facey</a>. I discussed Brimah and Facey at length in an <a href="http://www.theuconnblog.com/2013/10/24/5024338/meet-the-new-guys">earlier article</a>, so today I'll be focusing more on the returning folks and then everybody's role on the team.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Tyler Olander</b></p>
<p>Olander finished last season with 21mpg, 4.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 apg and 0.9 bpg. That rebounding number is criminally low, so I would imagine Ollie is looking (praying) for better candidates to fill that time. Expect Olander to have a slightly smaller role this year with the other all three of the other players in this group taking time away from him.</p>
<p>Last year Olander was the nominal starter at Center, but didn't necessarily play starters minutes yielding time to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/127908/enosch-wolf" class="sbn-auto-link">Enosch Wolf</a> and the small ball lineup. Against more traditional teams he could have some strong outings this year with better running mates down low, but conversely, if a matchup dictates that we play small I think he'll be playing less than before. Last year we simply didn't have the personnel to put him on the bench in those situations.<br>So far in the preseason Olander's minutes have been scarce. Ollie said after the Concordia game that it was due to conditioning; I think it has more to do with younger, more talented people who need the developmental PT with a side order of still in the doghouse for transgressions against the law. Regardless, just know that Olander has put up some solid outings for us in his three years. Who can forget when he dropped 16 and 7 on 8 of 9 shooting in a big win at Notre Dame last year? (I kind of did, Go Olander!) I'm also pretty sure he scored the first bucket in the National Championship... Anyway don't be surprised if Olander has a few solid games this year. Overall though, I would expect his production goes down as Ollie looks elsewhere for impact players down low.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174709/phillip-nolan" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillip Nolan</a></b></p>
<p>The 6-foot-10, 3-star recruit logged a little over 10 mpg last year as a freshman, nothing crazy but enough to get a taste for the college game, particularly against the grueling Old Big East schedule. In fact, after Enosch Wolf was suspended late last season, Nolan saw a significant lift in playing time, averaging over 20 mpg during the last five games.<br>While his statistical accumulation was meager, Nolan showed signs that he could develop into a dependable post presence for the Huskies. This offseason he has added some muscle and thus far in the preseason he's been asserting himself down low. I'm hopeful that Nolan can seize this opportunity to earn a large chunk of the minutes in this crowded front-court rotation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/228681/amida-brimah" class="sbn-auto-link">Amida Brimah</a></b></p>
<p>We gave you a scouting report on Brimah going into the season, but if preseason is any indication (hashtag grainofsalt) he may contribute slightly more than we anticipated. He'll certainly be racking up blocks this season against the likes of Yale, Detroit and BU but it'll be interesting to see how he fares against major competition. He's built like a beanpole, but according to KO he isn't as "raw" as people have been saying- so that's a positive.<br>Again, since we aren't in the Big East anymore and every game isn't a battle, Brimah will have tons of opportunities to hone his game against the lesser opponents across our schedule and should still get meaningful time against Florida, Memphis, Louisville as a defensive stopper/shot alterer/foul taker. A Hasheem Thabeet-ish freshman year, minus dropping the ball whenever it's thrown to you, would be great</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Kentan Facey</b></p>
<p>I think this guy has what it takes to be a stud for the Huskies... in the future. This year the athletic stretch 4 will be asked to contribute on the rebounding front. Rebound, Rebound, Rebound Kentan, we need it so badly. He'll be a sound defensive presence and won't be asked to do too much offensively while he develops his game and we have four mouths to feed anyway.<br>I'm confident that Facey can meet the expectations of a limited role this year and build a foundation for the future. Paired with any of the other guys in this group he can definitely do some damage and I can also see him playing the "5" in our small ball lineup.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Outlook</b></p>
<p>Our situation down low is probably the biggest reason pundits aren't expecting us to make any significant noise this year. Unlike the guards, a look at our front-court situation begets a litany of questions: Who are these guys?! How much can we realistically expect two freshman to contribute? Can Phil Nolan step up his game? Is Tyler Olander really still there? I thought <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145231/deandre-daniels" class="sbn-auto-link">DeAndre Daniels</a> was a 4? You guys were outrebounded by Vermont last year? What will the rotation look like?<br>We aren't sure how playing time will shake out and we can't be certain that our rebounding woes have been cured by an offseason workout program and two tall freshmen. The entire season will be an open competition for crunch time minutes, which should be good motivation for all four players. But if we continue to be out-rebounded by lesser opponents, this group will be under heavy scrutiny and we will have to gradually lower this teams ceiling. If you'll allow me put my super obvious sports commentator hat on:<br>"Basketball is a game of possession and rebounds are critical" <br>You're welcome internet. Anyway, for this season to be successful this group really just needs to bring us up from crappy to average at rebounding and post defense and we should be fine. I think these four are up to the task.<br>My prediction? Nolan and Facey emerge as the go-to guys with Brimah coming off the bench when we need some Defense. What's that, you want a bolder prediction? Olander's role diminishes across the season but he drops a 20 and 10 on Memphis to win the AAC Tournament, a la Drew Bledsoe on the 2001 Patriots. How you like them apples.</p>
<p>GO HUSKIES.</p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2013/11/7/5076754/state-of-the-roster-tall-guysAman Kidwai2013-11-06T09:48:19-05:002013-11-06T09:48:19-05:00AAC Preview: The Up and Comers
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<p>Previewing the two teams most likely to upset UConn in conference this season: Cincinnati and SMU.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Barring the kidnapping of half their respective rosters, Louisville, UConn and Memphis will all make the NCAA tournament this spring and do a lot of collective damage. Two of the three AAC teams that follow them on the conference’s preseason poll also have the potential to march into March. But as of this moment, they’re a clear step below. Presently, this pair is unranked and receiving little national recognition.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>Still, when UConn goes on the road to take on Cincinnati and SMU, circle your calendar. The Huskies will be on upset alert.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>Why?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>These two make up the AAC’s dangerous “up and comers”.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cincinnati</b><span> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AAC preseason rank: 4<sup>th</sup></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><i>KenPom preseason ratings: Overall- 45<sup>th</sup> Offense- 74<sup>th</sup> Defense- 19<sup>th</sup></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><i>2012-13 finish: 22-11, 9-9 Big East (t-10<sup>th</sup>). NCAA tournament round of 64</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>New year, same look.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>The Bearcats appear ready to enter 2013-2014 as another rugged bunch that will front strong defense and only a couple consistent scorers under head coach Mick Cronin. Senior shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick has returned after another successful campaign where he averaged 17 points per game as a preseason all-Big East first teamer. He’s lost his backcourt mate Cashmere Wright, who had long run the show in the Queen City from his point guard position.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>Wright leaves town along with JaQuon Parker and big men Cheikh Mbodj and Kelvin Gaines. Neither Mbodj nor Gaines provided much an offensive threat, though both supplied a sizable interior defensive presence when on the floor. Mbodji in particular grew to be a very effective shot blocker and rebounder during his time under Cronin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>Surrounding Kilpatrick will be a group that boasts little starting experience but considerable depth at most positions. Cincy’s second-leading returning scorer is senior forward Titus Rubles, who picked up nearly six points and six rebounds a year ago. After Rubles, five-star freshman Jermaine Lawrence figures to be relied on heavily for scoring from the three or four position. The youngster stands at 6’ 9” and is described as an excellent athlete with versatile offensive ability, just like another freshman swingman DeShaun Morman.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>Fellow first-years Troy Baupain and Kevin Johnson are likely to compete at the point guard spot with sophomore Ge’Lawn Guyn. According to various recruiting sites, Baupain is the more typical point guard. Redshirt sophomore guard Jeremiah Davis III played in only four games last season prior to breaking his leg. The Indiana native figures to come off the bench once again, but he reportedly can knock shots down from distance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span><span> </span>Excluding Lawrence and Rubles, minutes on the inside figure to be split up amongst Justin Jackson, Shaquille Thomas and Jermaine Sanders. Jackson plays as a more defensive-minded, undersized big, while the 6’ 6” Sanders proves his worth mostly on the offensive end with a balanced game. The talented Thomas disappointed as a freshman, so he’ll be in direct competition with more prototypical big men David Nyarsuk and freshman Jamaree Strickland. Nyarsuk hovers at a hefty 7’ 1” and provides intimidating shot blocking ability.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">PROJECTED STARTING FIVE (courtesy of collegesportsmadness.com):</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">G- Ge’Lawn Guyn, Sophomore, 2.4 ppg<br> G- Sean Kilpatrick, Senior, 17.0 ppg<br> F- Jermaine Sanders, Junior, 3.1 ppg<br> F- Jermaine Lawrence, Freshman, DNP last season<br> F- Justin Jackson, Senior, 3.8 ppg</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMU<span> </span><span> </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AAC preseason rank: 6<sup>th</sup></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><i>KenPom preseason ratings: Overall- 76<sup>th</sup> Offense- 100<sup>th</sup> Defense- 61<sup>th</sup></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><i>2012-13 finish: 15-17, 5-11 Conference USA (11<sup>th</sup>). No post-season</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>Larry Brown is at it again.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>The Hall of Fame coach has helped guide and mold a group that should enjoy premature success and will a chance to surprise this spring. The Mustangs return all five starters from a very unspectacular first year under Brown, yet they only boast two seniors. Armed with an outstanding recruiting class next season, 2014-15 could be a very special time for this program.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>Meanwhile this season, point guard Nick Russell prepares to lead a group that finished in the top-quarter of scoring defense a year ago. He operated as SMU’s leading scorer and assist-man, tied only with junior forward Jalen Jones at 14 points per game. An athletic forward, Jones finished as the team’s top rebounder ahead of center Cannen Cunningham, who fell just shy of averaging 10 points a contest. Cunningham is known as a force down low and a big reason why this team finished 39<sup>th</sup> in field goal defense over last season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>These Mustangs will not shoot the ball wall from downtown if freshman shooting guard Keith Frazier doesn’t get them going. The first year perimeter player was highly recruited out of nearby Dallas for his scoring ability. Some places ranked him as high as inside the top-25 of last year’s class. Transfer forward Yanick Moreira was considered one of the best players in junior college ball last season, and youngster Ben Moore will join him up front. Sterling Brown, another shooting guard, will enter the mix as another highly touted freshman. Brown received interest from Michigan State, USC and Minnesota out of high school.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span> </span>These first-year players will be the key for SMU to make a significant jump in year two of the Larry Brown era. On the surface, the Mustangs appear to own all the ingredients that are needed to grow into a successful team. So as always, it will just be a matter of how the master coach can mesh them all together.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">PROJECTED STARTING FIVE<b> (</b>courtesy of collegesportsmadness.com):<strong><span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">G- Nick Russell, Senior, 14.0 ppg<br> G- Ryan Manuel, Junior, 12.1 ppg<br> F- Jalen Jones, Junior, 14.0 ppg</p>
<p>F- Shawn Williams, Senior, 8.5 ppg</p>
<p>C- Cannen Cunningham, Junior, 9.3 ppg</p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2013/11/6/5072630/aac-preview-the-up-and-comersAndrew Callahan2013-11-04T17:50:40-05:002013-11-04T17:50:40-05:00Why I'm Excited for Basketball Season
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>One man's take on the excitement and intrigue in store for Husky fans this season</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have to say, after a few months of writing almost exclusively about UConn football, which is sort of like being an obituary writer for a major metropolitan publication—the names and dates might change, but the outcome is always the same—it is more than exciting to finally be talking about something positive again.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That's right...UConn basketball is back, baby!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cue up some good ol'fashioned “Hoosiers” music, get Shabazz Napier on a ladder to measure the height of the rim at Gampel, and get ready to root for a winning team again.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After all, as much as we clamor for success on the gridiron, UConn is still all about the hardwood. Our identity, at least for now, is still defined by what happens between November and March. We are, all of us, the spawn of Jim Calhoun, wearing our Husky paraphernalia with pride...because that's what he and his program gave all of us.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are A LOT of things I'm excited about this year, most notably the fact that UConn gets to play for the prize once again. No more NCAA-sponsored purgatory, that is until some representative on a noble quest to preserve peace and justice in college athletics uncovers some dastardly UConn plan to provide its athletes with free Ramen noodle soup during road trips. Ohhh...the scandal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, here are just a few of the things I'm excited to see this year.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Kevin Ollie, Year Two</b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was on board with the Ollie signing from the get-go, partly because of my undying faith in Jim Calhoun. Sure, it was possible that the old ball coach let his friendship with Ollie cloud is judgment, but I was happy to operate under the assumption that, if Calhoun saw something in Kevin, there must be something there.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You also couldn't discount Ollie's resume—popular four-year point guard at UConn, NBA player for 13 years, learned under such coaching greats as Chuck Daly and Larry Brown. If there was someone available to UConn in September of last year with better chops than that, I didn't hear his name mentioned.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yet, you never know how someone will perform at a job until they are in it. Ollie quickly put any reservations to rest. With an opening night win against Michigan State, Ollie and his squad let the world know that, despite foolish NCAA bans and sudden transfers, UConn was still a program with which to be reckoned.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, however, the bar has been raised. Last year is over. This year comes with real expectations.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Huskies are ranked, have an experienced and talented back court, and play in a new conference that seems ripe for more victories than were available in the old Big East.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Simply put, Ollie has heightened expectations and his team will be expected to perform.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make no mistake, I have a reserved seat on the Ollie bandwagon and I don't plan on selling anytime soon. It would take a lot—A LOT— to get me off those stairs and on the escalator. But no one should delude themselves into thinking this season comes with more of that old UConn feel. If the Huskies aren't one of the top two or three teams in the AAC, punching an easy ticket to March Madness, then some people are going to start the quiet whispers that could eventually lead to a groan.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I, personally, believe Ollie is about to lead UConn to a very successful season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Deandre Daniels, Step Right Up</b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">UConn is mostly known for its talented guards. Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Kemba Walker...they all roll off the tongue. Throw in AJ Price and (potentially) Jeremy Lamb and UConn's reputation as an NBA guard factory is well deserved.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, Don't discount the great small forwards UConn has produced over the years, either. Rudy Gay might be the most talented player, athletically, to ever come out of Storrs, and Caron Butler has established a career for himself as a clutch performing “glue guy” who takes on a leadership role wherever he lands.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of course, this current UConn squad has plenty of guard talent. The team is anchored by Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright, and we are all expecting more from Omar Calhoun (more on these guys later). However, I think the most exciting player on the roster is DeAndre Daniels.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He's 6'9”, athletic, has a nice touch jump shot with some range, and a quick first dribble/step. He showed last year he can post some guys up and others he can take off the dribble.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All the skills are there. If he were a baseball player, he'd be a classic five-tooler. All he needs is consistency.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I remember seeing Daniels two years ago, in those early November/December games against lesser teams. He became my favorite newbie player. Daniels looked like that perfect combination of size, sneaky speed, and athleticism.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then....he disappeared.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That was Daniels' freshman year. It became the first part of his sophomore year. Some flashes of greatness and a lot of no-shows.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On February 23, Daniels scored four points and grabbed five rebounds against a lowly DePaul team. This, after a strong 17-5 performance against Cincinatti a few days before. It was a perfect microcosm of Daniels brief career to that point. He could only show his qualities for so long before throwing up another head-scratching clunker.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And then Daniels and UConn played Georgetown. The team lost a one-point heartbreaker in overtime, but Daniels was brilliant. He thoroughly outplayed would-be Big East Player of the Year Otto Porter, scoring 25 points, snaring 10 rebounds, and playing great defense.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Was it a light-switch moment?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It certainly seemed that way. Daniels finished the year by posting scoring/rebounding games of 18/8, 23/10, and 19/8. Overall, in his last seven games (including his clunker four point DePaul special) he averaged 17 points and seven rebounds.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is that DeAndre Daniels?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It can be. The question is, will he be the Daniels of the last seven games (especially the last four) or the guy who seemed incapable of putting up back-to-back great performances?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The answer to that question will go a long way to telling how far UConn can go, since Daniels, of all UConn players, has the chance to be truly special.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I Feel The Need....The Need....For Speed</b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There's not a hell of a lot I can say about UConn's back court. Shabazz Napier went from being the most frustrating player I'd ever watched at UConn to one of my favorites. Last year, he curtailed his crazy, bang-your-head-against-the-wall, “SHABAZZ!” moments, replacing them with a lot more fist-pumping, jumping-up-and-down-in-excitement, “SHABAZZ!” moments. He was a true point guard last year, and playing on essentially one leg at the end of the season against Providence to win the last home game and earn their 20<sup>th</sup> victory showed real guts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ryan Boatright...is a show. He's so fast, so dynamic, so fun to watch, you almost feel like you should be paying a little extra each time he's on the floor. Toward the end of the season Boat had a few too many costly turnovers, and he hasn't quite found that Kemba-like balance of when to hit turbo and when to back off, but that comes with experience. After all, it's easy to forget that, in Kemba's sophomore year, he was plagued by the same sorts of things.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last year, Shabazz and Boat showed they could thrive in the same back court. With another year under their belt, the combo might be lethal...but will definitely be a blast to watch.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>That Other Calhoun</b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It's pretty awesome to think that Calhoun was only a freshman last year. I mean, seriously, there were times when he was clearly the best player on the court for the Huskies, and that's saying something. After a complete no-show in his first game against Michigan State (one point in 25 minutes), Calhoun went on to score in double figures in 18 of his next 28 games. He also began using his size a bit better late in the year, as from February 3 on, he didn't have less than five rebounds in any one game.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Calhoun had an injury at the end of the year, accounting for two sub-par games, but it's clear he has “star” written all over him.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He needs more bulk and more of an ability to take people off the dribble. He has speed and a good first step, which he needs to use more often.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His shot is unusual, to say the least, but it goes in so why change it?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It will be interesting to see if Calhoun steps up or takes a step back. Is he a victim of the sophomore jinx or a rising star who will help make UConn's starting five one of the most dynamic in the nation?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Rebound! Please!</b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under Ollie, UConn was able to adjust to a lot of different things. In a way, they were able to adjust to the fact that they never adjusted their ability to rebound.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Somehow, someway, they produced wins while being thumped on the boards by...everyone.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Crashing the boards might still be a problem. It's not that the roster is really, really small. After all, five players are 6'9” or above. UConn showed that they can win without winning on the glass, but is that a tried and true recipe for success over more than one year? And whereas last year the season was always destined to end on the last day of the regular season, this year there are dreams of tournament victories dancing in everybody's heads.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can UConn be a successful MARCH team without true rebounders?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The New Guys</b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kentan Facey. Terrence Samuels. Amida Brimah.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These are the new faces in UConn land. How will they fare? Will they succeed? How much growing time will they need?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those questions are especially important when it comes to both Brimah and Facey. They have some size and some strength. They will be counted on, even as freshmen, to help on the boards. Facey, also, is someone who comes with a little bit of hype. Can he be a spark plug off the bench, providing real energy and athletic scoring/defense when he enters the game?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For all the crappiness Paul Pasqualoni and our football program have brought into our lives, we are being karmically rewarded with what should be an outstanding basketball season.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">98 hours until tip-off.</p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2013/11/4/5066528/why-im-excited-for-basketball-seasonJohn Rook2013-11-04T00:02:41-05:002013-11-04T00:02:41-05:00The OC: Boston College
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DVCNxXiCc4-vOaDwNFDDI0TdGaE=/0x185:2530x1872/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22420169/20130315_jdm_sx1_023.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>At long last, the matchup New England has been waiting for.</p> <p>Husky fans have had this one circled on their calendars since the date was announced over the summer, and now, at long last, the wait is finally over. In three weeks, UConn and Boston College will finally meet in an actual athletic competition, reigniting the long dormant rivalry and giving fans at both schools a fresh chance to hack each other apart.</p>
<p>Truth be told, I think most people would prefer to see these two schools face off on the gridiron, but the fact remains that this will be the first time UConn and Boston College basketball have met since January of 2005, and after years of bitterness, lawsuits and <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/boston-college-ad-admits-to-blocking-uconns-path-to-acc?urn=ncaab,wp5260">backroom politics</a>, UConn will finally have a chance to lay the smack down on the school who many could argue is the reason why UConn isn't already in the ACC.</p>
<p>Fittingly, the game will be played at Madison Square Garden, and the winner will advance to face either Indiana or Washington in the 2K Sports Classic final. The game will be played on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.</p>
<p><b>Last season</b></p>
<p>16-17 (7-11 ACC), Missed postseason.</p>
<p>BC had a very young team last season, but despite their youth the Eagles did play pretty well at times. Throughout the course of the season, the Eagles stole a couple of a couple of quality wins while narrowly missing a handful of colossal upsets, including a one-point losses to both Duke and Miami in Chestnut Hill.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the Eagles were fairly inconsistent and generally couldn't match up with the talent and experience fielded by the rest of the ACC. A 1-6 start to conference play in the month of January put the Eagles in a hole early, and even though they finished strong with three-straight wins to close the regular season, BC ultimately did not have a strong enough resume to warrant a postseason look after they fell to Miami 69-58 in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/acc-basketball-tournament" class="sbn-auto-link">ACC Tournament</a>.</p>
<p><b>How they look</b></p>
<p>The good news for BC is that just about everyone who contributed to last year's team is coming back. Junior forward Ryan Anderson figures to be the star of the team, he averaged 14.9 points per game a year ago and was the team's most consistent rebounder by a fairly wide margin at 8.0 rebounds per game, and sophomores <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/179811/joe-rahon" class="sbn-auto-link">Joe Rahon</a> and Oliver Hanlan showed great promise as freshmen last year as well.</p>
<p>The biggest weakness for this BC team remains rebounding. Outside of Anderson, the man the Eagles will be counting on most inside should be junior center <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145117/dennis-clifford" class="sbn-auto-link">Dennis Clifford</a>, who is a big body at 7-foot-1, 250 pounds, but only started about half of the Eagles' games last year and averaged just 2.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Junior forward <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145110/eddie-odio" class="sbn-auto-link">Eddie Odio</a> will also be leaned on heavily inside at 6-foot-8, 209 pounds, but like Clifford, he was only a part time player last year who will need to step up in a big way for the Eagles to have a realistic chance to compete in the ACC.</p>
<p><b>Projected Starting Lineup</b></p>
<p>G- Joe Rahon (6-foot-2, So., 10.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG)</p>
<p>G- Lonnie Jackson (6-foot-4, Jr., 8.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG)</p>
<p>G- Oliver Hanlan (6-foot-4, So., 15.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG)</p>
<p>F- Ryan Anderson (6-foot-9, Jr., 14.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG)</p>
<p>C- Dennis Clifford (7-foot-1, Jr., 2.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG)</p>
<p><b>Prediction</b></p>
<p>Boston College fans have a lot to be optimistic about in the future, but this team is probably at least another year away from being a real <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" class="sbn-auto-link">NCAA Tournament</a> threat. That being the case, UConn should win this game, but if Anderson, Hanlan and Rahon all play well, it could end up being closer than most would expect. My prediction: UConn wins 69-65.</p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2013/11/4/5063434/the-oc-boston-collegeMac Cerullo