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For the second time in four years, the UConn Huskies put together a remarkable run to claim the National Championship. The graduation of Shabazz Napier is a significant loss but Kevin Ollie returns enough talent for UConn to once again be a player on the national stage.
UCONN HUSKIES
Last Season: T-3rd, 12-6 in AAC, 32-8 overall
Predicted AAC Finish: 1st
Projected Depth Chart:
C: Amida Brimah (So)
F: Phillip Nolan (Jr)/Kentan Facey (So)/Rakim Lubin (Fr)
G/F: Daniel Hamilton (Fr)/Terrence Samuel (So)
SG: Rodney Purvis (So)/Omar Calhoun (Jr)
PG: Ryan Boatright (Sr)/Sam Cassell Jr. (Jr)
Gone: PG-Shabazz Napier, F-DeAndre Daniels, SF-Niels Giffey, G/F- Lasan Kromah, C-Tyler Olander, PF-Leon Tolksdorf (transfer-American)
2014-2015 Outlook:
With Napier gone, Ryan Boatright now takes over as the team leader and full-time ball-handler. In the past few seasons with Kemba Walker and Napier, the point guard play has dictated the success of the UConn program which is why Boatright needs to step his game to the next level for the Huskies to reach their potential.
He won’t have to do it all by himself though as UConn has a rather deep and talented backcourt. NC State transfer Rodney Purvis becomes eligible after sitting out last season. He never found his niche in his lone season with the Wolfpack but is a big-time scorer who will serve as a tremendous compliment to Boatright. JUCO transfer Sam Cassell Jr. should be a major contributor off the bench while Omar Calhoun looks to bounce back after a disappointing first two years in Storrs. Terrence Samuel has the potential to be a glue guy in a reserve role.
Highly-touted freshman Daniel Hamilton adds length and athleticism on the wing and should help replace some of the production the team loses with DeAndre Daniels’ exit to the NBA. He provides Ollie with the flexibility to use a smaller lineup by playing Hamilton at the four and using a four-guard look.
A staple at UConn seems to be a rim protecting big man and that is what Amida Bridah brings to the floor. Phillip Nolan is another lengthy, athletic post player but has also added about twenty pounds to his thin frame this off-season. Ollie should be able to use Brimah and Nolan together which will cause opposing offenses trouble inside defensively but that duo lacks a real low post offensive presence. Seldom-used Kentan Facey and the physical Rakim Lubin will compete for minutes behind Brimah and Nolan.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/20 vs. Charleston (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
11/21 vs. Dayton/Texas A&M (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
11/23 vs. West Virginia/George Mason/New Mexico/Boston College(Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
11/30 vs. Texas
12/18 vs. Duke
1/3 at Florida
1/17 at Stanford
OTHER AAC PREVIEWS:
#7 UCF KNIGHTS
#8 SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS
#9 HOUSTON COUGARS
#10 TULANE GREEN WAVE
#11 EAST CAROLINA PIRATES
SEC PREVIEWS:
#1 KENTUCKY WILDCATS
BIG 12 PREVIEWS:
#1 KANSAS JAYHAWKS
#2 TEXAS LONGHORNS
PAC-12 PREVIEWS:
#1 ARIZONA WILDCATS
#4 UCLA BRUINS
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.