Have to chime in here too much bad info coming out. Here is the facts:
I am a Uconn alum, played sports there, well connected to the Uconn Athletic program
Stanley Robinson left school. That is correct. He is enrolled for the fall semester, is working out with the team, will rejoin the team in the 2nd semester.
Nate Miles a top 5 recruit, got arrested, and had a restraining order issued against him, 15 min. after it was issued, he violated it (smart kid) and bolted for Idaho St. CC where he scored 55 in the teams 1st game. Big time player, no character. May be at Uconn next yr if Calhoun can pull some strings, otherwise he will be suspended from Uconn and not allowed back
In regards to the comment that Uconn was an offensive team last year, that isn't even close. They led the nation in blocked shots for the 6th straight year, and finished #6 in FG percentage defense at 38.9%! Offensively they shot just 46.3% number 56 in the country, and that is with Thabeet and Adrien doing nothing but scoring on put-backs and dunks for the most part. Their 3pt shooting was horrible, and ranked #142. Not sure where you got the info that Uconn was a stellar offensive team, anything but!
Onto this year:
They will be a much better team in January than they will be in November and December, for 2 simple reasons. They will have Stanley Robinson back, and the minutes Edwards gets in his absence will improve their depth, as well as Ater Majok a 6-10 kid with a big upside, but still raw, and AJ Price should be back to 100% by then off ACL surgery
They got rid of the "cancers" on the team, in Wiggins, and Kelly, both transferred out.
They should be a much better shooting team and are very deep at guard. Price,Dyson, and Austrie are all solid, and add in Kemba Walker, who has shot lights out (promising no guarantee), they have a 6'4" very quick, and athletic skilled guard that will allow them to go 3 guards and run. They have really 4 point guards, or 4 shooting guards, they are interchangable. Walker can play the 3 and create serious matchup problems, on blow bys and take it to the tin, or dish to Thabeet and Adrien both experienced finishers around the hoop.
Thabeet and Adrien both should finish averaging a double-double this year, not many teams in the country that have that, if any. Thabeet simply changes the game, as guards can take more risks, or funnel players into the lane, for altered or blocked shots, and Adrien is there to clean up on the weak side. Teams will play a lot of zone against Uconn, and Austrie is their best PG at breaking down the zone, all should be better from beyond the arc this season, add Walker, and Scottie Haralson (sharp-shooter struggling early), and Donelle Beverly, the Huskies have plenty at the guard position.
When conference play begins they will have Robinson, another gifted athlete, that has a tendency to disappear in games, or take over. If his game has matured, he could be special, if not he is still a gifted athletic player that will make a big contribution. There is also Ater Majok at 6-10, that has a tremendous upside, and is not playing yet, because he has not gotten cleared by the NCAA clearing house, although from what I understand that is coming within the next several days.
The Big East will be a powerhouse this season, so even if the Huskies are as good as advertised, they will lose some games. There are as many as 10 teams that will compete for a spot in the Tourney this year, and it is very possible 9 to a record 10 get in, that's how potent this conf. is.
I think that is ridiculous, but there is the possibility that many get in if everything breaks right.
Not sure if Uconn is the number 2 team in the country, but all the parts are there, and more on the way. If Nate Miles was here, they'd be a final 4 can't miss, without him they are a serious contender, and I'd bet on them being there, more than not being there. Lots of games to play, injuries, etc. everything has to go right, but the parts are there, and the experience is there, and certainly the guard play is there.
