23-24 UConn Basketball: Stephon's Castle

RedOctober3829

RedOctober3829

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Tristan Newton is coming back to school per John Fanta. That is huge. Still have to hear about Andre Jackson, but I believe he's going to stay in the draft. On the transfer portal front, Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer has UConn among the 4 visits he is allotted. Spencer is a 6'4" guard who played his first 3 years at Loyola(MD) and last year at Rutgers. He averaged 13.2 PPG and averaged 43% from 3 and 89% from the line so he'd be a nice 1-year replacement for Jordan Hawkins. If Spencer comes and Jackson leaves, here is what I would think would be the starting lineup. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247sports.com

PG Tristan Newton--SR
SG Cam Spencer--SR
SF Stephon Castle--FR(#10 overall recruit)
PF Alex Karaban--R-SO
C Donovan Clingan-SO

Rotation Players
Guards: Solo Ball(FR #44 overall recruit), Hassan Diarra
Wings: Jaylin Stewart(FR #65 overall recruit), Jayden Ross(#70 overall recruit)
Bigs: Youssouf Singare (FR), Samson Johnson(Jr)

Schedule
Here are the big games in the non-conference for UConn. It is a doozy.
November 19-20: Empire Classic at MSG. Matchups for the first day are unknown. Teams are UConn, Texas, Indiana, and Louisville
December 1: at Kansas
December 5: vs. UNC at MSG(Jimmy V Classic)
December 15: vs. Gonzaga in Seattle(part of home and home which will be at MSG next year)
Next season, they will be going to Maui with the other teams being UNC, Michigan State, Memphis, Iowa St, Colorado, Dayton, and another team TBD)
 
StuckOnYouk

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Great to see. I’m not anticipating too much since he’s a freshman and we usually don’t land top 10 recruits so I’m not used to expecting a kid to come to Storrs and dominate right away.

But he could be a star with the talent we already have from last year and with Cam Spencer transferring in.
 
StuckOnYouk

StuckOnYouk

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Hurley and staff once again killing it on the recruiting trail. Their hit rate once they get a kid to take an official is outstanding. I don’t think I’m biased in saying I wouldn’t trade this staff for anyone’s in the country.

Sounds like we might be in the mix for a few more top 50 or so prospects for the 2024 class.

Can’t wait to defend the title.
 
RedOctober3829

RedOctober3829

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StuckOnYouk said:
Hurley and staff once again killing it on the recruiting trail. Their hit rate once they get a kid to take an official is outstanding. I don’t think I’m biased in saying I wouldn’t trade this staff for anyone’s in the country.

Sounds like we might be in the mix for a few more top 50 or so prospects for the 2024 class.

Can’t wait to defend the title.
Click to expand...
I’m waiting for the day that Cooper Flagg reclassifies to the class of 2024!
 
bosox188

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According to the Egyptian Basketball Federation (and Google Translate), Jana El Alfy tore her Achilles tendon in the 11-12 game of the U19 World Cup. She will fly from Spain to the United States for the surgery. Just unbelievable.
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Obviously no other program has more to be grateful for in the big picture, but the Paige era has been nothing but one heart-wrenching injury after another. Ugh.
 
BaseballJones

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She's entering her freshman year, yes. She maybe wouldn't start, but she's really good and was slated to get legit playing time.

Their bigs now are:

6-3 Edwards (All-American level player)
6-5 Brady (really good but coming back from her own knee injury from last year)
6-2 Patterson (athletic as all get out but not so skilled; forced to play a bunch last year due to injuries but she's got a long way to go)
6-6 DeBerry (really struggled last year; obviously has size, but she's not ready for the big time yet)

In other words, this is a major blow to their front court depth. Brady, Patterson, and DeBerry are all going to need to show up this year. Edwards can't do it all.

They've got killer guards though, if everyone stays healthy (hahahahahaha).

Bueckers
Fudd
Ducharme
Arnold (stud freshman)
Samuels (really good freshman)
Muhl
Griffen (more of a wing than a pure guard but still, not a big)
Shade (another good freshman)

So tons of guards on the roster, high quality too. But they'll struggle inside against bigger teams. El Alfy was a key player for them. Ugh.
 
StuckOnYouk

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Been a Duke strong lean for awhile but UConn is making in roads. Hurley and the Huskies are hot stuff right now.
 
BaseballJones

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RedOctober3829 said:
Interesting article on the Big East vs. Big 12 debate for UConn.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/candid-coaches-is-it-better-for-uconn-to-stay-in-the-big-east-or-try-to-join-the-big-12-or-acc/
Click to expand...
Just my own opinion, but no doubt in my mind that UConn should stay in the Big East. Stay independent in football. Play a modest schedule with decent teams and a couple of big time opponents (collect some $$ along the way). Hopefully get to the point where you can win 8 games a season, go to a decent bowl and maybe win those. Of course it means UConn will never be in the national championship picture, but, uh, they never were going to be in the national championship picture. Just be solid in football, draw a good crowd, make a little money, and kick ass in basketball, do well in hockey (both men's and women's), baseball, field hockey, soccer, etc. That would be a really, really good athletic department. Don't let chasing football money cripple the rest of the programs.

Just my two cents, and of course, I'm not in charge of anything.
 
StuckOnYouk

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The only problem about the Big East is the TV pays what $5 million per? UConn spends like a P5 school which is why they are successful in a variety of sports.
 
Traut

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BaseballJones said:
Their bigs now are:

6-3 Edwards (All-American level player)
6-5 Brady (really good but coming back from her own knee injury from last year)
6-2 Patterson (athletic as all get out but not so skilled; forced to play a bunch last year due to injuries but she's got a long way to go)
6-6 DeBerry (really struggled last year; obviously has size, but she's not ready for the big time yet)

In other words, this is a major blow to their front court depth. Brady, Patterson, and DeBerry are all going to need to show up this year. Edwards can't do it all.
Click to expand...
Two weeks ago, I filmed a commercial with Amari DeBerry. We chose her because she is tall - which we use in the commercial. She was telling us how much pain she was in and how the surgery has made a ton of difference in how she feels.

Anyhow she was incredibly nice and fun. And given the talent she came out of high school with and her size coupled with being very nice - I’m really rooting for her.
 
RedOctober3829

RedOctober3829

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Game times came out today for the Big East schedule.

Here are the home games
12/23 vs. St. John's 8 pm FOX(XL)
1/2 vs. DePaul 6:30 FS1(Gampel)
1/14 vs. Georgetown TBD FOX(XL)
1/17 vs. Creighton 7:00 FS1(Gampel)
1/28 vs. Xavier Noon FS1(XL)
1/31 vs. PC 8:30 pm FS1(Gampel)
2/6 vs. Butler 8:30 pm FS1(XL)
2/17 vs. Marquette 3:00 FOX(XL)
2/24 vs. Villanova 8:00 FOX(Gampel)
3/3 vs. Hall 12:00 CBS(Gampel)
 
bosox188

bosox188

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Could have been a lot worse so I won't sweat over it. Last preseason Andre broke his finger so might as well follow the script while we go for back-to-back titles.
 
Dan Murfman

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Disappointing but it's okay too. With Castle being a one & done and Flagg next year we might have started to be looked at as a one and done factory like Duke
 
JOBU

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Hurley still can’t win a close one. With that said it probably wasn’t that close and I never truly expected Flagg would come to Storrs. Flagg just has stereotypical “Duke Boy” written all over him. Fits the profile to a T.
 
BaseballJones

BaseballJones

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JOBU said:
Hurley still can’t win a close one. With that said it probably wasn’t that close and I never truly expected Flagg would come to Storrs. Flagg just has stereotypical “Duke Boy” written all over him. Fits the profile to a T.
Click to expand...
What does this mean, exactly?
 
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