Our staff takes a look at some of the key players on the Huskies’ roster.
UConn men’s basketball’s quest for three-peat kicks off Wednesday night, as Dan Hurley and the Huskies unveil banner No. 6 and welcome Sacred Heart to Gampel Pavilion. As we get closer to Wednesday night, we have put together a ton of quality content ahead of the start of the season. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date all season long!
In this year’s two-part roundtable, our staff make some predictions about the upcoming season — feel free to share your own thoughts, predictions and hot takes in the comments! For part one, we will take a guess at who will be some of they key players on this year’s squad.
Team MVP
Shawn McGrath: I feel like Alex Karaban is the only option here. He’s the only starter from last season that’s back and is the unquestioned leader of this team. Head coach Dan Hurley has been using his media availabilities to encourage his forward to become more than a “lead by example” kind of guy. Even if he doesn’t do that, he’s the lynch pin for this squad. He’ll be relied upon to keep it together with so many faces in new roles.
Patrick Martin: Hassan Diarra. This is a bet on trajectory. His overall shooting percentages improved from 29.4 percent from the floor and 17.9 percent on 3-pointers his first year at UConn to 48 percent from the field and 38 percent from downtown last year. He doubled his rebounding total and tripled his scoring output year-over-year. He won’t sneak up on defenses this year, and his increased usage could level off the improvement. If he becomes a steady, table-setting floor general that sets the tone on defense, UConn is where it needs to be.
Dan Madigan: I think this team will go as far as Alex Karaban can take them. He won’t have to do 20 points a game in this offense, but will need to continue to be ultra-efficient and play at an All-American level for the Huskies to have a chance at a three-peat. I’m excited to see how he adjusts to being the focal point of the offense this season.
Ryan Goodman: Aidan Mahaney. Newton was the correct answer last year, being the first UConn men’s player to earn First Team All-American since Shabazz Napier in 2014. While Mahaney will not be able to fill those massive shoes, if he can take his game to a whole new level — which I believe he is fully capable of doing with Hurley — this team will have the best chance to three-peat since UCLA in 1973.
Scoring/rebound/assist leader
McGrath: A staple of Hurley’s offenses is the movement and unselfishness. Anyone can get hot and score a bunch of points on any given night. That said, if Aidan Mahaney can shoot like he did at Saint Mary’s, then he’ll be among the highest scorers. If Samson Johnson isn’t vacuuming up a bunch of rebounds, then it means he either was supplanted by Tarris Reed Jr. in the rotation or something went completely wrong. As far as assists, Hassan Diarra figures to have the ball in his hands a bunch and had nine helpers against Rhode Island. He’s as good of a pick as any.
Martin: Karaban is so elite at getting easy looks via cuts, slips, and offensive rebounds. That’s a solid floor of four to five buckets a game, plus an increased shot diet being The Man. Reed is going to gobble up rebounds once he gets settled in. Assists harkens back to my MVP pick, Hassan Diarra, who has enough shooting around him he can pull all the right strings and get guys in the right spots.
Madigan: I think Karaban will lead in scoring and rebounds, but the Huskies will have multiple guys in double figures like in years past. I think Diarra’s defense and experience in the offense will have him on the floor a lot and allow him to rack up a ton of assists on the year.
Goodman: For scoring, Karaban has to be the pick here. I like Solo Ball to potentially challenge for it, but Karaban has scored almost 900 points over his first two collegiate seasons and will be asked to carry a bigger load on the offensive end after putting up 13.3 points per night last year. Samson Johnson should lead on the boards if he has the starting five-spot but Tarris Reed might be the best pure rebounder on the team. If Diarra is able to hold down the starting point guard spot then he’ll lead in assists, but I think Mahaney takes it and finishes the season as the top distributor.
Impact newcomers (freshmen or transfers)
McGrath: Unless Hurley wants to play Karaban or Jaylin Stewart at the five spot for a significant amount of time, then Reed Jr. will need to make an impact. This team has a ton of big, athletic wings and guards that will overwhelm many smaller teams, but they wouldn’t be able to handle someone like Ryan Kalkbrenner or other sizable big men. Johnson has a penchant for picking up fouls and Reed Jr. will need to pick up the slack if and when that happens.
Martin: Liam McNeeley, a pedigree pick. Hurley and the staff will have him ready for Big East physicality, and by the time February rolls around, he’s going to be the end-of-the-shot-clock guy. I have this weird feeling he’s going to draw a ton of fouls and hit some clutch free throws, too.
Madigan: Aidan Mahaney might need some time to get used to life at the high-major level, but the Saint Mary’s transfer has deep range, great passing skills and a little bit of tenacity in him. He’s going to be a key scorer in this offense, whether that’s as a starter or as the sixth man of the bench.
Goodman: McNeeley is the easy way out but that doesn’t mean it’s the incorrect choice. I’m sticking with the fifth-best recruit in UConn history, who has one of the most unique blends of size, skill, and elite shooting ability in the entire country. He’s going to be such a fun watch (while it lasts).
X factor/key bench piece/non starter you want to shout out
McGrath: I’m excited to see how Jayden Ross takes the sophomore leap. Youssouf Singare is a developmental piece, Stephon Castle is off to the NBA and Solo Ball and Stewart, the other members of his class, factored into the equation as freshmen and figure to play significant roles this season. He was active defensively against Rhode Island, with three steals, and shot well on 3-pointers. He’ll be among the several wings fighting for minutes and I’m intrigued to see how that plays out.
Martin: Jaylin Stewart, the only freshman that worked his way into the NCAA Tournament rotation. Ask Marquette fans what they think about the sophomore after he poured in nine points in the second half of the Big East Tournament championship. McNeeley’s calf injury gives Stewart the perfect runway to feast on low majors and get his confidence up.
Madigan: I think people forget how good Solo Ball was last year. When Castle went down with an injury, Ball stepped in for his fellow freshman and the team didn’t skip a beat as he produced against high-quality competition. He’s a versatile scorer, incredibly athletic and might be UConn’s best rebounding guard. I think he’s primed for a breakout year.
Goodman: Whoever starts at the three-spot for the Huskies. Is it Jayden Ross or Jaylin Stewart? If either of those guys can be a consistent defender, it will go a long way for Dan Hurley and this team. Scoring is just an added bonus, as the UConn likely won’t need a ton of offense from those guys with the other scorers they have.
Over/under 3.5 UConn players on All Big East teams (Four across first/second/honorable mention/freshmen team last year)
McGrath: Over. Karaban is a shoo-in for first team, McNeeley is highly likely to make the freshman team, then they just need two of the next 15 or so best players in the conference. Unless they cannibalize each other’s stats, two players surely will emerge, whether it’s Ball, Diarra, Mahaney or someone else.
Martin: Under. Karaban and McNeeley have pole position, and maybe one of Mahaney/Ball/Stewart/Samson/Diarra grab a spot, but I don’t see a world where its more than one. It’s not that they’re undeserving, but the team is too damn deep for postseason accolades.
Madigan: I’m going over. Karaban and McNeeley are near locks and I think Mahaney and Ball sneak in as well.
Goodman: Over. Karaban and Ball take first or second team, with Mahaney getting honorable mention and McNeeley a virtual lock for the All-Freshman team if he can stay healthy.