Connecticut Huskies Basketball Fanatics

Apologies abound as I have been remiss without any recent postings.  Believe it or not the season is now more than half over, with 12 regular season games to be played, then the Big East tournament and hopefully some March Madness in NCAA tournament.

Expectations, expectations, expectations....

Preaseason rankings had the Huskies ranked in the top-10 in most polls and the top-3 in the Big East.  With four of the starting five returning from last year's National Championship team and a heralded, if not late, top recruiting class, talk of a repeat was not unreasonable.  The graduation/declaration of NBA eligibility of all-everything point guard Kemba Walker was acknowledged to be a significant loss, but the returning cast and newcomers was thought by most to be up to the task of challenging for another title. 

Jeremy Lamb was expected to be the acknowledged team leader in both scoring and leadership.  Not far behind, Shabazz Napier was to display the benefits of playing the role of understudy for Kemba and direct the team from the point guard position.  Likewise, returning center/power forward Alex Oriakhi was believed likely to continue his late-season improvement and become a more consistent scorer and dominant inside force UConn would need to compete for another national championship.  Key swingman Roscoe Smith was predicted to mature into a more significant scoring threat, while forward Tyler Olander was forecast to continue to surprise beyond expectations. 

Incoming freshman Ryan Boatright had to sit out the first six games, but no worries there as UConn's typically light early season schedule wasn't expected to be much of a challenge and only afford Boatright additional practice time to take on the expected understudy role that Shabazz held last season.  It was the additions of DeAndre Daniels and Andre Drummond, however, at small forward and center respectively, that got most UConn fans excited.  Both likely one and done players were expected to give UConn some inside presence and scoring potential that would lift them to a second consecutive national title.  

The reality....

After last night's tough 70-67 lost at home to Cincinnati, the Huskies are currently 14-4 overall and smack in the middle of the Big East standings with a 4-3 conference record.  Not a horrible position considering where the team was last year at this time before taking off on their unbelieveable post-season run, but not where Husky fans would like to see them.

Of some concern is that the Huskies are only 2-2 on the road, with their victories coming against Notre Dame (breaking their 29 game home court winning streak in doing so) and against perennial cellar dweller South Florida.  The Huskies rolled through their non-conference schedule with just one loss, a close 68-63 loss to future Big East full-time member Central Florida.  Ryan Boatright proved to be more than up to the task of understudy to Shabazz by averaging 10 points and providing a spark off the bench as well as consistent ball handling abilities. 

I think most will concur that Andre Drummond has in general lived up to realistic expectations for a freshman, although he has disappeared in some games and has failed to dominate the competition.  Season averages of just about 10 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game likely do, but should not disappoint Husky fans who need to remember that he is still a freshman.  Last night's stats confirm his hit or miss performance as he scored just four points while shooting 2-9 from the field, missing two free throws, grabbed 6 rebounds, blocked just one shot and had three turnovers, all from the biggest man on the court. 

DeAndre Daniels has been a huge disappoint, just look at last night's box score for confirmation.  Started, played six minutes, went 0-1 from the field, zero rebounds, zero assists and one foul.  Currently averaging four points and less than three rebounds per game is not what was forecast and not how first or second round NBA draft picks perform.  Ryan Boatright is again suspended pending additional NCAA investigations, his absence has certainly hurt the Huskies depth but may allow sophomore Niels Giffey to gain additional playing time.  I will have to speak out against Coach Calhoun as he is obviously one of the Huskies better outside shooters and needs to play in order to continue to build his confidence. 

Forward Tyler Olander has deservedly received more playing time and the Huskies might even benefit by drawing up some plays for him.  As a big man with a nice shooting touch he can draw some defenders away from the basket and open up some inside scoring opportunities for both Oriakhi and Drummond.  Olander's more than capable of making the entry pass and is make good decisions with the ball as evidenced by his 48% field goal shooting, up from 37% last season. 

Unfortunately, both Alex Oriakhi and Roscoe Smith have regressed from last season mostly due to the arrival of Drummond and Daniels clearly throwing off the team's interior chemistry.  Last season Oriakhi was the clear leader of the big men while the Huskies received solid contributions from Charles Okwandu (graduated), Jamal Coombs-McDaniels (transferred), Olander and Smith.  While the addition of Drummond has allowed Oriakhi to shift from center to his more natural power forward position, Alex has appeared to lose some of his confidence as "the" man on the inside.  Coach Calhoun recognizes this and has made numerous changes to the starting line-up but has yet to find success.

The future, not all bleak....

My biggest concern at the moment is the lack of back court depth, especially with Boatright continuing to sit out.  With him back, the Huskies have a chance to get back on track and challenge for a title.  While I still expect them to struggle, I am optimistic that Coach Calhoun will solve the interior chemistry issues.  If Boatright is forced to sit for any length of time, the Huskies back court will continue to suffer and take a toll by forcing Shabazz to try to make more plays than he should (or is capable of) while also wearing down Jeremy Lamb, who has now played 40 minutes in three straight games.  Lamb is the heart of the Huskies at the moment.  Calm, confident, cool and collected, if he gets worn down the Huskies have no chance of advancing deep into the NCAA tournament.  Shabazz has already proven himself a worthy replacement for Kemba and has doubled his scoring from last year to roughly 14 points per game.  If Boatright is unable to return and Shabazz has to continue to shoulder almost the entire point guard responsibility (he has played at least 33 minutes in every Big East contest and his lowest minutes in the season has been 27 minutes), then coupled with a worn down Jeremy Lamb and an underperforming inside game, Husky fans may be forced to readjust their expectations for a Sweet 16/Elite Eight appearance and hope that everyone on the team (Coach Calhoun included) returns for the 2012-13 season. 

Category: NCAAB

Syracuse and Pitt are leaving the Big East.  Sad in a way since the 'cuse were, along with UConn, one of the founders of the Big East (basketball only) conference back in 1979 via the brain-child of Dave Gavitt.  Now he's gone, RIP, and soon the Big East looks to be gone.  I have to say good riddance to both 'cuse and Pitt, with even more venom that I said goodbye to B.C., Va. Tech and Miami, FL.  With the exception of original Big East member B.C., I understood their decision to leave.  B.C. was going for greed, the U and the Hokies for better football power, understood.

But as a basketball first fan (see the title of this group, Huskies Basketball Fanatics) Pitt and the 'cuse leaving really does hurt....the Big East, were it to remain in any fashion, will certainly never be the same.  UConn vs. Syracuse, always a game to look forward to.  Anyone remember our lean years as a basketball team in the early 80s?  Well we still took on and beat the 'cuse in the 'dome a few times.  We weren't even a regional power but Earl Kelley from the early 80s gave us hope.  I'll try not to digress any further as the topic at hand of the Big East going away like the rotary telephone is too important.  Just as the Huskies seem to be on track to revitalize their basketball program, and as Coach Calhoun has a real opportunity for back-to-back national championships and the chance to name his successor (Kevin Ollie, anyone?), the Big East implosion could derail everything.  

Recent reports suggest the following: Syracuse & Pitt to the ACC, confirmed. The ACC will now consist of 14 teams and likely will seek in the next two years to expand to "Super-conference" status by expanding to 16.   The Huskies and Rutgers are both being mentioned as possible candidates.  After having lived in D.C. for 18+ years, I know that ACC basketball is right up there with Big East basketball, but not something I'd want to replace if given the choice.  UConn in the Big East is clearly one of the top dogs, UConn in the ACC would be along the lines of N.C. State, UVA (think Ralph Sampson) and maybe Maryland.  The top dogs in the ACC will, for the forseeable future, remain Duke & North Carolina.  And with good reason.  As good as Cincinnati has been in basketball in the Big East, they cannot replace Georgetown, Villanova or Syracuse.  Sad sigh. 

So the impact on UConn basketball is going to be tremendous, likely in a negative way. Back to the demise of the Big East.......WVA is now reportedly in talks with the SEC.  And at this point who can blame them?  West Virginia is a football school first, although I'd have to hope that the history of Jerry West and presence of Huggy Bear could stoke the basketball flames to bring the sport to near parity.  WVA, much like Connecticut, doesn't have any professional sports to speak of, so college athletics retains a high visibility and passion to the residents.  I hate to ramble on and digress in my thoughts, but I just don't see the Big East sticking around much longer. 

At best, with Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma St. all talking today, and likely agreeing to head further west to join the Pac-12 (along with Texas Tech) I could see some merger between the Big East and remaining members of the Big 12.  Sadly, I see a much likelier fallout of the Big East basketball only schools going their own way and the remaining football/basketball schools falling to the wayside, hoping to be picked up (ala UConn's apparent courtship of the ACC) by a BCS conference, or more likely returning to their roots, such as Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida headed to Conference USA.  All I know for sure is that the Big East will never be the same again.

But to end this sad story on a positive note, how about Andre Drummond folks?  The 6'11" freshman center immediately makes UConn a top-5 if not the #1 team in the country.  He's a previously undecided #1 recruit from 2012 who suddenly agreed to attend UConn and play basketball for the Huskies this season.  Along with the top 10 guard DeAndre Daniels and the returning core of likely starters Shabazz Napier, Jeremy Lamb, Alex Orakhi and Roscoe Smith, the Huskies, for at least one more year, will remain top dogs in the Big East and a national basketball power once again. 

Thank you Coach Jim Calhoun and Kemba Walker.  And good riddance Syracuse and Pittsburgh!

Category: NCAAB

In case you haven't heard the big (great) news, UConn has recruited DeAndre Daniels, the #10 overall rated high school (prep) player in the nation!  6'7" and about 185 pounds, he is a small forward with reportedly great ball handling skills and good shooting range.  Daniels had previously verbally committed to Texas and then reconsidered with Duke and Kansas in the mix as his top choices.  Somehow Coach Calhoun managed to meet with DeAndre and his family to convince him to come to UConn for the 2011-12 season.  Given that the Huskies were losing four players who played significant roles in their national championship season, Kemba Walker, Charles Okwandu, Donnell Beverly and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, the recruitment of Daniels is quite a coup!

The Huskies should enter the new year with some well deserved confidence and youthful exuberance that will serve them well.  They will still need someone to step up and replace Kemba as the team leader, but I'm certain that Calhoun will find that individual in the weeks leading up to the start of their season.  The Huskies starting line-up should give most foes reason for pause, although playing in the rugged Big East will certainly not mean that the Huskies can punch in a top four Big East regular season finish.  I'd imagine a starting line-up with Shibazz Napier at PG, Jeremy Lamb at SG, Alex Oriakhi at C, Roscoe Smith at PF and DeAndre Daniels at SF.  Coach Calhoun may also continue to start Tyler Olander at center at the beginning of the game moving Oriakhi to power forward and pushing Smith or more likely Daniels to the bench.

The team will still have some depth with freshman PG Ryan Boatright coming off the bench along with small forward Neils Giffey and one of either Olander/Daniels/Smith on the interior.  It remains to be seen how centers Enosch Wolf and Michael Bradley develop in the offseason and whether they will be able to make any significant contributions.  If one or both improves to the point where they can contribute 10-15 minutes of solid playing time, the Huskies will be a in a much stronger position down low in terms of rebounding and foul trouble to their bigs.  One would hope that Oriahki can become more consistent and that Olander will continue to develop. 

With the prospect of one and done Daniels coming on board, I'm sure Coach Calhoun has to be thrilled to come back to Storrs, CT for at least one more season with a small chance of back-to-back national championships.  If he can manage this difficult task with reduced scholarships and a big target on their back as defending champions, he can proudly and deservedly retire at the top of the game. 

Category: NCAAB

It could be worse for the Huskies.  Jamal Coombs-McDaniel has decided to go the way among others of former Husky Curtis Kelley.  Coombs-McDaniel and Coach Calhoun apparently are parting ways on decent terms agreeing that Jamal will get more playing time at another school.  This is too bad as we saw his potential in the middle of February when he scored 25 & 23 points in consecutive Big East games.  His 6'7" height, experience and ability to handle the ball will be missed. 

On the otherhand, things could be worse.....UConn could be in the position of Maryland, which is now looking for a head coach in the beginning of the summer after Gary William's sudden retirement.  Some may recall that Williams coached in the Big East for a few years at Boston College before heading to Ohio St. and eventually his alma mater Maryland.  I wonder if the departure to the NBA of super sophomore center Jordan Williams, formerly of Torrington, CT, has something to do it it???? 

Certainly the loss of Coombs-McDaniel can be overcome more easily than the loss of Coach Calhoun. The Huskies will still have an experienced line-up featuring Alex Oriakhi, Shabazz Napier, Jeremy Lamb, Tyler Olander and Roscoe Smith.  Throw in the experience that Niels Giffey along with incoming freshman point guard Ryan Boatright and we've got seven players who should all see significant time in the starting line-ups....depth looks to be a major concern for next season, although seldom used big men Michael Bradley and Enosch Wolf will be counted on to contribute.  Aside from Giffey and Boatright, I'm not sure who will come in to play shooting guard and forward...perhaps the Huskies will get a JC player or late signee.  Best of luck Huskies!

Category: NCAAB

Just in case ya'll were not aware, Kemba has scheduled a press conference today that will likely confirm he will enter the NBA draft in conjunction with his graduation from UConn after just three years.  Congratulations to Kemba for showing some spunk in his academic pursuits, I don't know how many folks graduate in even four years anymore! I know that when I graduated from UConn after four years in 1989 many of my peers were on the five-year plan. 

Best of luck to Kemba in his future NBA endeavors.  Hopefully he will get selected by a team that puts him in a good situation where he can gain some experience as a back-up and understand how the NBA game works. I'm certain that Kevin Ollie will help him out with some sage advice on how to prepare and fight through the 82 game NBA grind and learning the ropes, especially with all the travel and money that will be coming his way. 

What this means to the 2011-12 Huskies is that Shabazz Napier will be main point guard for the Huskies and serve as the mentor for incoming top-100 freshman PG Ryan Boatright from Aurora, Illinois.  With Napier's quickness, Jeremy Lamb's continued progress, hopefully a big step forward for Jamaal Coombs-McDaniel and some more consistent play out of Roscoe Smith and Alex Oriakhi, the Huskies will have a target on the back but should be in the mix for the top four spots in the Big East next season.  Of course, if Coach Calhoun retires then all bets are off. Let's go Huskies!

Category: NCAAB