Time Tells No Lies

(typed after November 17^th game vs Maine)

(My apologizes for not creating a blog during the season, it never crossed my mind as I was writing just for the fun of it. These articles have not been altered for content after having been written.)

Dear Jim Calhoun, 

 

Long time Connecticut fan here, first time writer. I first would like to offer my congratulations for your third NCAA Championship and my best wishes for a repeat. I'm not here to question your coaching choices, or abilities. I am writing this to remind you of the one absolute rule in any sport: Time Tells No Lies. 

 

Three games into the year, three lesser-quality opponents (no disrespect intended to Maine, Columbia, and Wagner), ten minutes. Ten minutes represents the combined time around that Kyle Bailey, Enosch Wolf, and Brendan Allen have played. In these three games, the Huskies led by an average of 19 points with 5 minutes left in the game. At that point in time any number of the three mentioned players above should have taken off their warmups and played the final five minutes. Bailey and Allen could alternate between point and shooting guard positions to see which was the better ball-handler and leader on offense (Kemba was a better shooting guard than point guard, but played point at the start of every game). Worst case scenario is that freshmen Ryan Boatright will be ruled ineligible and dismissed from the team. If that happens, Shabazz Napier is left all alone and cannot play forty minutes. Bottom line: Pick Allen or Bailey or even Ethan White or P.J. Cochrane as the second string point guard, and have them get to work.

Those not chosen to back up Napier at point should get to work as shooting guards to back up Lamb since he's the guard for now. Just like Napier, Lamb can't play the full game. I shouldn't say that about either though. More accurately, Napier and Lamb can play the full forty minutes, but neither should if UConn wants to be successful. Niels Giffey is my choice for backup shooting guard though. He's seen action last season, has a decent stroke from beyond the three-point line, and has seen more playing time than any of the mentioned players above.

Enosch Wolf is another story. I've seen very little of him throughout last season and that trend seems to be continuing. From the few plays I saw of him against Maine, I am inclined to question his ball control and ability to see the defense in front of him. He did record a blocked shot when he shifted over on a baseline drive late in the game against Maine. Wolf is 7 feet, 1 inches tall and 260 pounds, and looks to be lanky for that weight. I'm not encouraged by his play, but I would like to see him expand as a player because he, like Bailey and Allen need to develop early to function as insurance policies.

Michael Bradley, the 6-10 freshmen who gave up his scholarship so Connecticut could recruit and put on scholarship Andre Drummond (though I believe Wolf being taken off scholarship would've been a better move, but then could not be explained as well as Bradley and Drummond being long-time friends) has not played a single minute in a Husky uniform. He sat out all of last year because of the transfer rule, and then had foot surgery during the summer and will be available in early December, Big East playtime. Bradley is a promising prospect, and I'm excited about him, Drummond, and veteran and team leader Alex Oriakhi forming a front court that would average 6-10 in height and 250 pounds, but I'm realistic. Bradley, like Drummond will have to learn how to play in the Big East.

DeAndre Daniels was the big steal in recruiting for UConn. Ranked #30 in the country, and seemingly off their radar for targets, they sneak in and scoop him up. Daniels has shown his talent in the first three games, averaging 24 minutes a game, 9.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2 blocks a game. Each game he has increased his minutes and points. Daniels will be a great addition at Small Forward, backing up the surprisingly offensive Tyler Olander and defensive Roscoe Smith. Olander has been a sure player the first three games and was a starter last year, filling in at the beginning of games until the offense switched Walker to the two-guard and Lamb would be at SF. As for Roscoe, I still remember Smith for throwing up a last second shot from well beyond half court at Texas last season...with seven seconds left and almost costing UConn the game. Despite this, he's proven himself as a starter and a good player. Having four possible players at the forward positions (I'll get to Drummond in a moment), will solidify the front-court Bottom line: The front-court is not a problem in Storrs, CT.

Drummond should not once say the words NBA, draft, lottery, or talk about if he's thinking about any of those things until next April. He has too much to worry about already. With regard to “expectations”, Drummond should only concentrate on getting better. This man is capable of many things, but is able to fail just like so many others. Drummond has to grow into his body and play like it. 6-11, 275-pound forward/center, runs the floor like a forward, tons of energy and talent. I like all that about him, but he should be able to play like his size. The way Drummond plays in the center through the first three games reminds me of Hasheem Thabeet. When Thabeet began Big East play, he was lost. Drummond is a better player right now than Thabeet ever was, and he has an endless amount of growth he can do. As of right now, he is soft in the middle, and in the Big East that is a serious flaw. I don't want to watch Drummond get shoved, plowed over, and blocked out by guys that are four inches shorter, twenty pounds lighter, but have better post skills than him. Bottom line: Alex Oriakhi, take Drummond under your wing and show him how to play Big East basketball. Make him into the kind of swing player he can be.

Three games in, the defending champs are 3-0 (as they should be). They have flaws that are correctable, a coach that should be able to see these flaws, and fix them before Big East play starts.

Designate a backup PG

Designate a backup SG

Designate a backup C

Polish Drummond's skills

This checklist isn't asking much, and with the talent the Huskies have, it'd be a shame to see them waste the time they have right now to correct their flaws and come into Big East play without any obvious flaws. I almost forgot, Mr. Calhoun, another reason to tend to this checklist...YOU AREN'T COACHING THE FIRST THREE GAMES OF THE BIG EAST SCHEDULE FOR UConn. I leave you to your coaching, and hope you don't just rely on what worked last year, because it won't work forever. Time tells no lies, it waits for no one. So get to perfecting a team that could be perfect with your coaching. As they say, “no time like the present”.