Reviewing UConn

[BoukClub]

I've read and enjoyed Omaha Guy's team-by-team reviews. It was a good way to get a feel for the state of UConn's new conference foes. In the interest of completion, I've decided to do an Omaha Guy-style review of the newest (old) member of the Big East, the University of Connecticut Huskies:

OUT:
*Christian Vital
*Alterique Gilbert (grad transfer to Wichita St.)

STAY:
*James Bouknight
*Tyler Polley
*Josh Carlton
*Isaiah Whaley
*Sidney Wilson
*Jalen Gaffney
*Akok Akok (possible redshirt for 20-21)
*Brendan Adams

IN:
*Andre Jackson
*Javonte Brown-Ferguson
*RJ Cole (transfer from Howard)
*Richie Springs (redshirt)

My 0.02: It was a tale of two seasons for UConn and its second-year head coach Dan Hurley. OOC games and the first half of the American slate saw the Huskies struggle to 11-10 with three bad losses (St. Joe's at home; blowout @ Cincy; blowout @ So. FL) and one big win vs. Florida. Entering February, the team was best characterized by its lack of outside shooting (lone marksman Tyler Polley was lost to an ACL), inconsistent bigs, and a preternatural ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory under two minutes. After a loss to Nova in Philly on 1/18, Coach Hurley said he felt the program was close to turning a corner after four dark years, and that teams had "better get us now." It was the bravado and hope that POSD (Post-Ollie Stress Disorder)-inflicted fans-- some of whom were beginning to question whether Hurley was the right man for the job-- needed to hear.

The wins indeed followed. UConn ran off 8 of their last 10, including back-to-back upsets of an AAC leader (Tulsa, then Cincy), and big wins against top-25 teams Memphis and Houston. Christian Vital (1st Team All AAC) played like a Naismith contender down the stretch as the Huskies ascended to #52 in KenPom and emerged as The Team no one wanted to see in the AAC Tourney. Most impressive was that UConn surged without starter Polley and talented Frosh Akok Akok (Achilles), relying on a seven-man rotation. In retrospect, UConn might not have hit its stride but for the injuries, as Polley beget Bouknight (3rd Team AAC) and Akok beget Isaiah Whaley, a late-season revelation.

For the first time in a long time, there is promise and excitement in Storrs. The Huskies ended last season one of the hottest teams in CBB, Bouknight looks special, and we're coming home to the BE! Even though UConn graduates two big names in Vital and Gilbert, the names arguably outweigh their value, as the Ollie holdovers were never a great fit in a Hurley system (Hurley proved to be unfailingly loyal to his step-children, refusing to jettison or recruit over them). Fans are hopeful that Polley and Akok make a healthy return some time next year. Incoming Frosh Andre Jackson could be as exciting Bouknight, transfer RJ Cole can fill it up, and UConn is expected to add a grad transfer (likely a Big). Whaley looks like he can emerge into a double-double threat, something that has sorely been missing from Storrs since the early '10s.

[RxJay]

Thanks for the great review. I really like the concept of the round robin with the 11 teams and don’t think the BE could have found a better addition. Welcome back.

[OmahaGuy]

This is awesome! I didn't do a UConn review because I don't know enough about them yet. But thanks for this! I'm excited to have your Huskies in the league and I look forward to getting to know your team better in the coming years!

[Husky_U]

Good job BoukClub.

Update:

Out: Sid Wilson (which was expected as Hurley said he was recruiting 2 open spots)

[TBC Alum]

OT: I saw the Gilbert transfer in conference to Turd. Is that allowed in the BE?

[BoukClub]

Good job BoukClub.

Update:

Out: Sid Wilson (which was expected as Hurley said he was recruiting 2 open spots)

Thanks. You're right, not surprising about Wilson. Athletic ability is off the charts, but he doesn't look like a fit for a high major program.

[MADXSTER]

Love me some UConn right now. Also can't wait to start Hating on them.

[BoukClub]

Love me some UConn right now. Also can't wait to start Hating on them.

And I think I speak for most UConn fans when I say we can't wait for the hate! Being relegated for years to a conference that just doesn't care about basketball made me realize that I took our time in the Big East for granted. I always thought that the Old Big East was going to exist forever, and that UConn would be a major part of that conference... right up until it wasn't. I became legitimately depressed about the program after the hysteria of winning in '14 wore off. Tortured myself by watching and re-watching "Requiem for the Big East."

I could never get excited about the Tulsas and the East Carolinas of the world enough to bother learning their rosters, or follow how they did outside of a game with UConn. Now, I plan to be Husky fan first, a Big East fan second, and I will most definitely watch and root for our conference foes on a regular basis.

[BoukClub]

2020-21 hierarchy of rooting interest in any given game:

1. UConn
2. Georgetown
3. St John's
4. DePaul
5. Seton Hall
6. Providence
7. Nova
8. Creighton
9. Xavier
10. Marquette
11. Butler
12. Connecticut universities
13. Every other team in the country
...
...
...
347. Duke

[billyjack]

Love me some UConn right now. Also can't wait to start Hating on them.

And I think I speak for most UConn fans when I say we can't wait for the hate! Being relegated for years to a conference that just doesn't care about basketball made me realize that I took our time in the Big East for granted. I always thought that the Old Big East was going to exist forever, and that UConn would be a major part of that conference... right up until it wasn't. I became legitimately depressed about the program after the hysteria of winning in '14 wore off. Tortured myself by watching and re-watching "Requiem for the Big East."

I could never get excited about the Tulsas and the East Carolinas of the world enough to bother learning their rosters, or follow how they did outside of a game with UConn. Now, I plan to be Husky fan first, a Big East fan second, and I will most definitely watch and root for our conference foes on a regular basis.

Before you even get to the awesome BE conference games after New Year's:

Cool thing is in non-conference in November, where it seems like FS1 has a BE game on every night, and often 7pm/ 9pm doubleheaders. You'll be looking forward to Saint Peter's at Seton Hall, or UC Irvine at Butler, or Western Illinois at Creighton, or yes, even Brown at Providence (cuz we often lose). And don't get me started on Drake at DePaul.

...and i'm actually being serious here...

By Thanksgiving you'll know every BE lineup, and you'll know the 3rd guy off each bench, coaching tendencies, and look forward to Patrick Ewing chew out a ref or bark at a Hoya for a stupid shot, and you'll wonder if Christian David should get more run, or if Coleman-Lands should take fewer threes. And why is Drexel in a zone at the Finnegan? Are they freakin crazy?

The FS1 announcers are awesome and know each team. No more freakin Dicky V or Bilas or Seth Greenberg fellating the ACC in the studio... no more freakin ESPN. One of the top FS1 analysts is UConn's Donnie Marshall. The studio talk revolves around in-depth analysis of each of our 10 teams. And no more UConn halftime show where the freakin studio babbles on about Duke and Kansas non-stop. Big East heaven... like "Field of Dreams" but on the hardwood...