Monroe-C
Wright-PG
Freeman- G/SF
Clark-G
Sims-PF
Those are probably going to be your starters. These are JT III's best players IMO.
They could still have troubling rebounding. A lot of it will come down to Sims and the guards crashing to boards. You know what Monroe is going to give you.
They will have a thin bench consisting of Thompson, Vaughn, and Mescherokov, but their top 5 is right up there with any other team in the Big East.
Brandon Triche - 6'3 PG, who Jimmy is in love with and practically pushed Flynn out the door floor. He is a local kid who can play. When he was a soph he went heads up with Flynn's team for the state championship, and for all accounts got the better of him. He tore his acl that summer, or else he would have been a top 40 recruit. Could actually be a better fit, since he is more of a pass first pg, that can create his own shot, knock down open shots, and play some defense. Physical guard who will fit right in the Big East.
Andy Rautins SG - Has got better each year, and continues to improve. Dead eye shooter, who has improved his penetrating, and is an extremely under rated passer
Wes Johnson SF - Can't wait to see him play. Boeheim said he was the best player at practice last season. All around player, who is extremely athletic
Rick Jackson PF - Improved a great deal last season, and word is he continues to get better. Monster on the glass, with a nice back to the basket game. Must improve ft shooting.
Arinze Onaku C - Good for 14 and 8, and would be more if he can make ft's. Another solid low post threat.
Bench:
Scoop Jardine - Started some games as freshman. Has lost 25lbs, and is in the best shape of his life. Can't ask for a better back up pg
Mookie Jones
Kris Joseph - Need one of these 2 to elevate their games, and Cuse could make some damage.
Probably didn't want that in depth of a response, but I coudln't help myself haha
Homedawg, some great stuff from you in this thread... looks like you did your homework. I can't agree with you on your #11 ranking of uconn in the big east. With Walker and Dyson coming back, I see them as having the best backcourt in the conference. I would have to put them at #3. Hell, I've seen them ranked as high as #7 in the country!
I can understand that. I just think some teams have improved, but Connecticut got considerably worse. For a Uconn team they are actually pretty thin on front end talent. They have some nice recruits in the front court, but other then Robison they will be extremely inexperienced. I like Walkers game, but I see him flourishing with more talent around him. When you lose your all big east point guard, and all big east center, who have anchored your team for the past 3 seasons there is going to be a drop off.
Right now this is how I see their lineup
PG - Kemba Walker - Solid PG, who should be even better this year.
SG - Jerome Dyson - Solid scorer
SF -Stanley Robinson - Freak athlete, but some what inconsistent
PF - Gavin Edwards - Nothing special
C - Alex Oriakhi - Should be a player, but he's young.
Bench
Donnel Beverly
Jamal Coomes-McDaniel
Ater Majok (available 2nd semester)
As you can see they are talented, especially in the back court, but are extremely young in the front court, and bench. I think Connecticut is rated way too high in all these pre season polls. I don't see them as a top 25 team.
Agree. Crean is a better coach than Weber.
Illini needs to get rid of Weber and get back to the High Flyin' Illini days.
There is no reason when there is a talent pool of players like those that come out of Chicago to draw from, that Illinois isn't a top 10 program every year and Final Four type team every 3rd year.
