UConn Basketball 2016-17

RedOctober3829

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UConn will be playing Syracuse at MSG on Monday December 5th. That adds another game to already a good non-conference schedule. They have road games at Georgetown and Ohio State and are in the Maui Invitational with UNC, Oregon, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Georgetown. They are trying to add a game on the West Coast before they go over to Maui.

As of right now, UConn has the #6 rated recruiting class in the country by 247sports.com. PG Alterique Gilbert is the highest rated of the bunch at #34, but PF Juwan Durham is #36 and SF Vance Johnson is also top 100. Mamadou Diarra is another 4-star PF as well. They just got a commit from Christian Vital who decommitted from UNLV after Dave Rice was fired. Terry Larrier, a 6'8" swingman, transferred in from VCU last year and will be eligible to play this season. He was A-10 All-Rookie his freshman year and was a top 50 recruit his senior year in high school.

They have lost Daniel Hamilton to the draft and Rodney Purvis and Amida Brimah have declared but not hired an agent. They also lost Sam Cassell, Jr(grad transferred to Iona), Shonn Miller, Omar Calhoun, Sterling Gibbs, and Phillip Nolan to graduation. If Purvis and Brimah come back, here is what I'd expect the starting lineup to be.

PG Jalen Adams
SG Rodney Purvis
SF Terry Larrier
PF Juwan Durham
C Amida Brimah

Bench: Kentan Facey, Alterique Gilbert, Vance Johnson, Steven Enoch, Christian Vital

If Purvis and Brimah don't come back, I can see Adams sliding over to the 2 guard and Alterique Gilbert will play the point.
 

StuckOnYouk

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I would imagine Purvis and Brimah are back - certainly Brimah.
I agree with your lineup although I wouldn't be shocked if Facey is at the 4 if Durham is still rehabbing his knee injury.

A lot of good young talent coming in. Ollie can certainly recruit even without being in a power conference. If we ever get in a P-5 he will likely recruit as well as any coach in the nation.
 

RedOctober3829

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Some recruiting updates:

John Petty, Alabama's reigning Mr. Basketball and a top-10 wing in the Class of 2017, cut his list to five schools early Saturday morning.

The 6-foot-6 Petty, who plays for Huntsville (AL) J.O. Johnson High School and Team Penny on the Nike circuit, is down to Kentucky, Alabama, Kansas, Connecticut and Florida State.
https://www.sny.tv/college-recruiting/news/five-star-wing-john-petty-cuts-list-to-five/193980134

Mohamad Bamba, the #3 overall recruit in the Class of 2017, made an unofficial visit to UConn. It's huge to get him on campus as it looks like it will come down to Duke, UK, and UConn.
 

DukeSox

absence hasn't made the heart grow fonder
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Dec 22, 2005
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Nah, got bored with my team up 45 and was flipping channels
 

BigSoxFan

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I'd take a return to Big East for all sports except football and ice hockey in a heartbeat. Football can die a quiet death, or find the best home possible that doesn't bankrupt the rest of the athletic dept. Hockey East is a good home for ice hockey.
You ready for the annual Turd Bowl this weekend, Doug? First to 3 wins.
 

Doug Beerabelli

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I've got a busy day Saturday, but absolutely. I think I have to record it. NE D1 bowl division football is in a bad, bad way.

I certainly am a UConn fan due to growing up in my youth, but not sure if you knew I'm a BC alum (BCLS). I generally don't hate on BC teams/athletes, but the whole ACC thing with UConn runs deep with me for some reason, so I do dislike the athletic dept. I don't give $ to the school for that purpose. They finally stopped calling me within the last year.

Daz coached at my high school alma mater, Coach Blue (that's Pasqualoni) attended my alma mater and coached there a bit. Same goes for Clears. Lots of connective irrationality to go around these parts.

I really think the coaching staffs should be switched for this game, just to see what happens. Would be fun.
 

BigSoxFan

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Hatred of the BC athletic department is something that BC and UConn fans can bond over. I do think that watching Daz vs. Diaco will be hilarious and sad.
 

RedOctober3829

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Hamidou Diallo is visiting UConn this week and will be in attendance for the Auburn game on Friday.

This news about Diallo just came out via David Borges of the New Haven Register. It seems as if Diallo could enroll in school in time for the 2nd semester if he wanted to as he's eligible. If he chooses UConn, that obviously would be a big-time addition for the second half of the season.

David Borges ‏@DaveBorges 4s4 seconds ago
Hamidou Diallo has gotten through NCAA clearinghouse, up to him whether he wants to enroll in for second semester. UConn isn't only option.
 

Clears Cleaver

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What a joke. Kid may enroll to play one semester for a team with no NCAA tourney hope just so he can go pro? Why would you even want him if he's just going to take minutes from kids who might be part of your program for years?

The cynic in me says if this is true Ollie is doing it to prove his recruiting worth to an SEC school that may come calling.

It's so hard to like college sports, this story makes it even harder. His high school website only talks about basketball. Their twitter handle is @psahoops It's a joke. He's coming to Uconn to enroll in one class, play 15 basketball games and leave for the pros. Why exactly do u want this? And why is he choosing Uconn? Other than they suck and there's playing time available?
 

RedOctober3829

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What a joke. Kid may enroll to play one semester for a team with no NCAA tourney hope just so he can go pro? Why would you even want him if he's just going to take minutes from kids who might be part of your program for years?

The cynic in me says if this is true Ollie is doing it to prove his recruiting worth to an SEC school that may come calling.

It's so hard to like college sports, this story makes it even harder. His high school website only talks about basketball. Their twitter handle is @psahoops It's a joke. He's coming to Uconn to enroll in one class, play 15 basketball games and leave for the pros. Why exactly do u want this? And why is he choosing Uconn? Other than they suck and there's playing time available?
Ollie has been recruiting Diallo for years so I wouldn't think he'd be doing this to prove his recruiting worth. He's been recruiting the top prospects ever since he came to Storrs.

I'd want Diallo selfishly to see them win more games. They have so many injury issues that they can honestly use another body and Diallo happens to be a top-5 pick. He chooses UConn to get to the NBA Draft. It's a win-win. If he signed for next season he'd only be there 1 year so I don't see that much of a difference. If Kevin has a scholarship available to use now(not sure if he does or not) for this year you absolutely pull the trigger.
 

StuckOnYouk

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This is a slam dunk, Clears step away from the computer.

Ollie has been after this kid for a couple years and the NCAA has already cleared him to play right away, no education issues whatsoever.

Even when we've won championships, how often have we gotten top 10 talent? We usually get the leftovers, although the leftovers we get are still pretty damn good.

But I'll never complain about beating Calipari out for a recruit.
 

Clears Cleaver

Lil' Bill
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Aug 1, 2001
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this team could have Lebron and still not make the NCAAs. I know Ollie has been recruiting him for years. And PSA is a total joke of a school that is now a UConn satellite school. Great.

And now he's going to take minutes away from a kid that will be with the program for 4 years (unless this means Rodney purvis never plays again, then whoo hoo!). so he can showcase himself for the pros. I honestly hope he announces he's not playing in the NIT or the AAC tourney to avoid risking injury before the draft. LOLOLOL.

I am all for beating Calipari and all for getting top talent to Storrs. and Ollie has gotten some five stars, but this situation does nothing for the school or the team at all. now if all these reports are BS and he comes back to play next year, then FANTASTIC. Because next year with Adams, Gilbert, Larrier, Vital, Langford, et al with this kid and you have a national championship contender. This year you have a one-man sideshow for 15 games with no upside for the team other than a kid who enrolled for one class and is looking to take 20+ shots a night. it's pathetic that a program would pander to that.

I get that Ollie has committed to this kid, but all he is is a distraction from a terrible, injury-riddled team. Maybe that's better than watching Rodney play 30 minutes a night. I guess there is hardly a reason to watch this team and maybe this kid is it, but I don't have to like it. Sadly, he'd be the highest drafted "Husky" in a long long time
 

Plantiers Wart

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What if he signed over the summer and was injured until now. Or if he had academic issues that kept him out until second semester. Bring him in and let him play. The season was lost without him. Let him play, win some games, and make the tourney.
 

BJBossman

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Dec 6, 2016
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Some recruiting updates:

John Petty, Alabama's reigning Mr. Basketball and a top-10 wing in the Class of 2017, cut his list to five schools early Saturday morning.

The 6-foot-6 Petty, who plays for Huntsville (AL) J.O. Johnson High School and Team Penny on the Nike circuit, is down to Kentucky, Alabama, Kansas, Connecticut and Florida State.
https://www.sny.tv/college-recruiting/news/five-star-wing-john-petty-cuts-list-to-five/193980134

Mohamad Bamba, the #3 overall recruit in the Class of 2017, made an unofficial visit to UConn. It's huge to get him on campus as it looks like it will come down to Duke, UK, and UConn.
They need Bamba. So badly for next year. Words don't do it justice.
 

BJBossman

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Dec 6, 2016
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this team could have Lebron and still not make the NCAAs. I know Ollie has been recruiting him for years. And PSA is a total joke of a school that is now a UConn satellite school. Great.

And now he's going to take minutes away from a kid that will be with the program for 4 years (unless this means Rodney purvis never plays again, then whoo hoo!). so he can showcase himself for the pros. I honestly hope he announces he's not playing in the NIT or the AAC tourney to avoid risking injury before the draft. LOLOLOL.

I am all for beating Calipari and all for getting top talent to Storrs. and Ollie has gotten some five stars, but this situation does nothing for the school or the team at all. now if all these reports are BS and he comes back to play next year, then FANTASTIC. Because next year with Adams, Gilbert, Larrier, Vital, Langford, et al with this kid and you have a national championship contender. This year you have a one-man sideshow for 15 games with no upside for the team other than a kid who enrolled for one class and is looking to take 20+ shots a night. it's pathetic that a program would pander to that.

I get that Ollie has committed to this kid, but all he is is a distraction from a terrible, injury-riddled team. Maybe that's better than watching Rodney play 30 minutes a night. I guess there is hardly a reason to watch this team and maybe this kid is it, but I don't have to like it. Sadly, he'd be the highest drafted "Husky" in a long long time
I think just making the tournament is a pretty good reason to get him. But as it's been posted, it doesn't sound like he's gonna do that. He'll be here next year (if he chooses UConn).

This team needs shooting. It simply can't shoot.

All this talk about running an NBA offense, but if you can't shoot it like NBA players it's not going to help you all that much.
 

BJBossman

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Dec 6, 2016
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Losing their #1 recruit as well.

Which sucks

The sky may actually be falling at this point...unless Ollie pulls out a few recruiting miracles.
 

BJBossman

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Dec 6, 2016
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Juwan Durham also transferring... what in the world is going on? At this point I can't help but be terrified for this program.
Between the biggest choke in years from the women, and now the mass exodus on the men's side...it's a bad week to be a Husky.