Huskies’ roster athletic, talented and deep
There is now a defined start date to the 2020-21 season. And, with the NCAA approving a waiver for Tyrese Martin to play right away, UConn now has a defined 13-man roster.
What can we expect from that roster? Athleticism, depth, talent, competition at nearly every position, the ability to consistently apply full-court pressure.
In short, for the first time since Dan Hurley took over the reins 21⁄2 years ago, the Huskies have a team that will be able to play his type of style. Exactly the type of
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team Hurley wants.
Martin is an intriguing final piece of the puzzle, a 6-foot-6 perimeter player who is as athletic as anyone on the roster and is a highlevel defender and finisher. He’s a big, strong, mature (age 21) wing, but can also play guard or small-ball four-man. Envision a lineup at times with Martin and sharpshooter Tyler Polley on the floor with dynamic two-guard James Bouknight and, say, R.J. Cole at point and Josh Carlton at center. That’s a lineup that can score at every position, from all over the floor, and still has pretty good overall size, particularly at guard.
Martin is talented and versatile — indeed, a good representation of the entire UConn roster. There is so much depth here that one could imagine multiple starting lineups throughout the season. There will be competition for playing time almost everywhere.
“That’s the way it should be here,” Hurley said. “I was talking to Kevin Freeman and Taliek (Brown) about the history (at UConn). There should be guys competing for minutes. Good players will have to come off the bench.”
About the only guaranteed starter at this point is Bouknight, the sophomore who could be an NBA draft lottery pick next spring. Everywhere else, there is healthy competition. At point guard, Cole, a junior who sat out last season as a Howard transfer, may have the edge. But don’t count out sophomore Jalen Gaffney, who filled in admirably in the latter part of the season after taking over for strug
gling Alterique Gilbert in the starting lineup. Gaffney can also slide over to the two; Cole is pretty much strictly a point.
At the wing opposite Bouknight, Martin figures to battle for minutes with Polley and highly-touted freshman Andre Jackson, another ultra-athletic wing who could be this year’s version of what Bouknight brought a year ago.
Of course, Martin and Jackson could also start together if Hurley wants to go with a smaller lineup. And don’t count Brendan Adams out of that competition, either. If the 6-4 junior steps up the improvement he already showed last season, he’ll be in the mix.
Then there’s power forward. Does Hurley go with a bigger lineup with Isaiah
Whaley, the 6-9 senior who was one of the best players in the American Athletic Conference down the stretch last season? Does he go with Polley as a dynamic shooter who can also defend, but certainly needs to improve his rebounding? Is freshman Richie Springs, who sat out last year as an academic redshirt, a diamond-in-the-rough? And perhaps the biggest question of all: When will Akok Akok, last year’s starter, be ready to return from February’s season-ending Achilles tear?
Carlton, a senior, has been a stalwart at center, but took a big step back last season and will be pushed by freshman Adama Sanogo and Whaley. Carlton has shed 20 pounds from his frame and reports are he’s looked good in practices. Springs and fellow freshman Javonte Brown, a 7-footer, may also be in the picture, but Brown
only turns 18 on Saturday, is very raw, and — pure speculation — could possibly be a redshirt candidate.
Of course, health was a major issue for the Huskies last season and already looms as one this year. Polley, whose season ended with an ACL tear in January, is looking very good and should be fully healthy soon. But Jackson (knee) and Adams (foot) haven’t been healthy since they arrived on campus this summer and have yet to engage in live action. And by most accounts, it seems Akok would be a longshot to play before the New Year.
In Hurley’s final season at URI in 2017-18, he was able to play six guards and find enough minutes to keep everybody happy. It wasn’t easy, but the Rams ran and pressed their way to the NCAA tournament’s second round for a second straight season before losing to Duke.
Hurley will have to juggle minutes again this season, but it’s a good problem to have. Official practices begin on Oct. 14. And, as we learned on Wednesday, the games can begin on Nov. 25. That gives Hurley plenty of time to figure things out with a team that, for the first time in his UConn tenure, will be able to play Hurley’s type of style.
RIM RATTLINGS
According to an NCAA source, the Big East is aiming to play a 20-game league schedule this season, per normal. There had been some speculation the league could play more, since nonconference games may be tougher to come by. The league is also looking to begin conference play in mid-December.