For those bridge jumpers..

[Amaseinyourface]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

 

[paultzman]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

It is not end of world for sure, but it is not about metrics. We desperately needed more physicality & Thomas would have provided that. We were mauled on the boards & pushed around last year. Watch Xavier tapes. Thomas' potential rebounding ability will not be replaced easily. It is what it is & I will continue to root the boys on. That said, I am not inclined to say this loss can be absorbed easily.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

It is not end of world for sure, but it is not about metrics. We desperately needed more physicality & Thomas would have provided that. We were mauled on the boards & pushed around last year. Watch Xavier tapes. Thomas' potential rebounding ability will not be replaced easily. It is what it is & I will continue to root the boys on. That said, I am not inclined to say this loss can be absorbed easily.

Im not trying to suggest we are as good as we were yesterday. I too was looking forward to his added toughness, but in no way am ready to concede that this season is a lost cause just yet.

 

[Moose]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

It is not end of world for sure, but it is not about metrics. We desperately needed more physicality & Thomas would have provided that. We were mauled on the boards & pushed around last year. Watch Xavier tapes. Thomas' potential rebounding ability will not be replaced easily. It is what it is & I will continue to root the boys on. That said, I am not inclined to say this loss can be absorbed easily.

Im not trying to suggest we are as good as we were yesterday. I too was looking forward to his added toughness, but in no way am ready to concede that this season is a lost cause just yet.

Don't worry. Tom changed his prediction from 16 to 14 wins so Thomas really had no impact

 

[Marillac]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

Marillac is the biggest homer around, but hates freshmen. You can't expect ANYTHING from Amar this year. Jones has talent, but he has never rebounded in high school, prep, or his one year at St. John's. We need guys that will go get the basketball and play D. Thomas was that guy. Jesus this sucks.

Our best bet is Dom at the four and running with three guards. How the f*ck is Dom 6'6 and under 200 pounds? Has he ever seen the weight room? He should be 220-230 as a senior.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

Marillac is the biggest homer around, but hates freshmen. You can't expect ANYTHING from Amar this year. Jones has talent, but he has never rebounded in high school, prep, or his one year at St. John's. We need guys that will go get the basketball and play D. Thomas was that guy. Jesus this sucks.

Our best bet is Dom at the four and running with three guards. How the f*ck is Dom 6'6 and under 200 pounds? Has he ever seen the weight room? He should be 220-230 as a senior.

I dont buy the listed weights for most guys as is. Dom only weighing 5 more pounds than Phil? yea right. Jamal at 169? no way.

Anyway my point is that all though we may not have a dominant front court, its not like were running out a bunch of high schoolers vs pros. We have size, and we have guards. Seems like the right combination to have in college basketball.

 

[Mean Gene]

I agree with you Amaseinyourface.

Villanova's starting 5 and bench on their 2008-2009 final four team was:

Corey Fisher 6'1 200
Corey Stokes 6'5 220
Scottie Reynolds 6'1 190
Reggie Redding 6'5 209
Dante Cunningham 6'8 221

Their bench was:
Dwayne Anderson 6'6 215
Maurice Sutton 6'11 220
Shane Clark 6'7 205

They only played eight guys that year with a small team and still made it to the Final Four.

 

[paultzman]

I agree with you Amaseinyourface.

Villanova's starting 5 and bench on their 2008-2009 final four team was:

Corey Fisher 6'1 200
Corey Stokes 6'5 220
Scottie Reynolds 6'1 190
Reggie Redding 6'5 209
Dante Cunningham 6'8 221

Their bench was:
Dwayne Anderson 6'6 215
Maurice Sutton 6'11 220
Shane Clark 6'7 205

They only played eight guys that year with a small team and still made it to the Final Four.

And quality of coaching I assume is a factor?

 

[Mean Gene]

I agree with you Amaseinyourface.

Villanova's starting 5 and bench on their 2008-2009 final four team was:

Corey Fisher 6'1 200
Corey Stokes 6'5 220
Scottie Reynolds 6'1 190
Reggie Redding 6'5 209
Dante Cunningham 6'8 221

Their bench was:
Dwayne Anderson 6'6 215
Maurice Sutton 6'11 220
Shane Clark 6'7 205

They only played eight guys that year with a small team and still made it to the Final Four.

And quality of coaching I assume is a factor?

Yes Paultzman, absolutely. Let's hope Whitesell has been here long enough now to have a real impact on these guys.

 

[Marillac]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

Marillac is the biggest homer around, but hates freshmen. You can't expect ANYTHING from Amar this year. Jones has talent, but he has never rebounded in high school, prep, or his one year at St. John's. We need guys that will go get the basketball and play D. Thomas was that guy. Jesus this sucks.

Our best bet is Dom at the four and running with three guards. How the f*ck is Dom 6'6 and under 200 pounds? Has he ever seen the weight room? He should be 220-230 as a senior.

I dont buy the listed weights for most guys as is. Dom only weighing 5 more pounds than Phil? yea right. Jamal at 169? no way.

Anyway my point is that all though we may not have a dominant front court, its not like were running out a bunch of high schoolers vs pros. We have size, and we have guards. Seems like the right combination to have in college basketball.

As you know, I am likely the biggest proponent on redmen.com of playing small and fast. That only works when you have five hungry, aggressive guys on the floor that will fight for rebounds. I can't say Jones has given us any reason to think he's that type of guy. Pointer at least has been in the past.

 

[Andrew]

I actually think we can be ok this year. We have four good guards and there is nothing wrong with a three guard offense. I am hoping Balamou and Thomas can spell Pointer if he gets in foul trouble. We have no backup for Obekpa so his foul trouble is my biggest concern. Anything from the De Larosa's or Amar would be a bonus. Lavin needs to know how to coach a team like this which is also a concern but would be with Thomas as well.

The real concern is that if Lavin strikes out in recruiting again this year (yes our scholarship recruits last year were Adonis and Amar)...... We likely will be one of the worst teams in the Big East in 2015-16 with a slim chance to turn it around anytime soon. Welcome back to the Norm years if that is the case.

 

[Ray Morgan]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

I congratulate you on your unbridled optimism. I picture you on the deck of the Titanic telling other passengers that a crack in the hull is a good thing as it makes the boat more aerodynamic.

This roster is a disaster in the making. Not a lot of physical or mental toughness with the potential for things to go south real fast. In the hands of a genius coach, maybe the season could be salvaged by playing to the strengths of the team. The fabled athleticism which was the calling card of Lavin's first full recruiting class is all but absent from this team, unless somehow Balamou sees big minutes. I saw him listed on the roster as a junior, so I guess the few minutes he saw last season was a total waste for him and the team. I have no faith that things will somehow turn out well. It will take monster seasons from Jordan, D Lo and Obekpa, and even that may not be enough for a NCAA bid that now seems like a pipe dream.

 

[Ray Morgan]

I realize Pointer is still on the team, as he is the last of the uber athletes left from Lavin's first full class. Least athletic team since Lavin started coaching makes it difficult to envision overcoming size and strength issues. This whole debacle seems to be the byproduct of poor planning.

 

[jumbo_peanuts]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

It is not end of world for sure, but it is not about metrics. We desperately needed more physicality & Thomas would have provided that. We were mauled on the boards & pushed around last year. Watch Xavier tapes. Thomas' potential rebounding ability will not be replaced easily. It is what it is & I will continue to root the boys on. That said, I am not inclined to say this loss can be absorbed easily.

I think the key words in your post are 'potential rebounding ability.' As I said in another post, there was no guarantee that he was going to dominate the boards. I remember when God's Gift was supposed to come in and be our big bruiser who helped us on the boards, and we all know how well that turned out.

And to be honest, if the season was that dependent on a JUCO transfer, then our season was pretty much shot before it even started.

 

[Avon Barksdale]

An important thing the OP left out was that three of the five starters won a title as freshmen with UConn as well as the great run they had winning 4 games in 4 days at the BET. They also had another NCAA game the next season vs. Iowa State. Thiss group has an NIT game vs Robert Morris and ZERO Big East Tournament success.

UConn was also coached.

 

[newsman13]

C - 6'10 220
F- 6-8 195
F -6'7 205
G- 6'0 175
G - 6'1 175

Thats the starting 5 for last years uconn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team. And we are worried that our size up front will limit us from making the dance? Take a step back. We have a legitimate starting center, two really big guards who are fantastic rebounders for their position, a senior SF, and 3 other guys who though may lack experience do not, in the least bit, lack size. Not to mention two more senior guards.

C- 6'10 236
F- 6'6 192
G - 6'4 20
G- 6'2 187
G - 6'4 193

Put in either Jones or Amar at the 4 and we are bigger than what they rolled out.

It is not end of world for sure, but it is not about metrics. We desperately needed more physicality & Thomas would have provided that. We were mauled on the boards & pushed around last year. Watch Xavier tapes. Thomas' potential rebounding ability will not be replaced easily. It is what it is & I will continue to root the boys on. That said, I am not inclined to say this loss can be absorbed easily.

Im not trying to suggest we are as good as we were yesterday. I too was looking forward to his added toughness, but in no way am ready to concede that this season is a lost cause just yet.

So you're predicting a big run in the NCAA tournament? To me, it appears to be a mediocre team that, once again, get's hit with the inevitable adversity at the beginning of the season. At least Lavin has another pair of excuses to keep the dogs away, the second being Jones' knee surgery.

 

[boo haarvey]

Forget UConn. I recall a pretty sold SJU squad which ran Bootsy Thornton, Eric Barkley, Lavar Postel, Regie Jessy and Anyhony Glover as the starting 5. Glover was the center and he couldn't have been more than 6'5. That sqad didn't have much of a bench as I recall. Chudney Gray was the 6th man and they played maybe one other guy.

Not saying the loss of Thomas doesn't hurt, but anything is possible. Don't underestimate the importance of chemistry.

 

[ras]

That's why Im so bummed about Thomas. He seemed like he was the hungry ,aggressive guy who would fight for rebounds.

 

[paultzman]

Forget UConn. I recall a pretty sold SJU squad which ran Bootsy Thornton, Eric Barkley, Lavar Postel, Regie Jessy and Anyhony Glover as the starting 5. Glover was the center and he couldn't have been more than 6'5. That sqad didn't have much of a bench as I recall. Chudney Gray was the 6th man and they played maybe one other guy.

Not saying the loss of Thomas doesn't hurt, but anything is possible. Don't underestimate the importance of chemistry.

Barkley, Jessie & Glover played together at Riverside Church since they were tykes. That is one reason they had great chemistry. That is a much better group than our current team. Our problem last year was team chemistry. What has changed? We'll see if "Unfinished Business" is alive and well in due time.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

An important thing the OP left out was that three of the five starters won a title as freshmen with UConn as well as the great run they had winning 4 games in 4 days at the BET. They also had another NCAA game the next season vs. Iowa State. Thiss group has an NIT game vs Robert Morris and ZERO Big East Tournament success.

UConn was also coached.

2 players who won the national championship but your point is well taken. Im saying they won it all with that lineup. We cant make the dance with ours?