2010 College Basketball Predictions: Connecticut
November 9, 2010
The UConn Huskies have dealt with some off the court issues heading into the 2010-11 season, but the season finally gets underway on Wednesday with the first exhibition game against AIC. With the outcome of a pending NCAA Investigation still to be determined, nobody is really sure what to expect out of this very young UConn team.
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The captain and leader of this team is junior point guard Kemba Walker. Walker last season averaged 14.6 pts, 4.3 reb, and 5.1 ast a game. Early on he has been the most dominating player in practice and after competing against Team USA in the offseason he seems ready to have a breakout season.
After Walker, the Huskies need someone else to step up. Gone are Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, and Gavin Edwards have all graduated. Highly touted recruit Atar Majok left the University at the end of August.
This team is young and rough around the edges. Calhoun wants to make sure everyone knows the first half of the season is going to be a struggle, but that he wants them to peak heading March.
Frontcourt: The inside looks to be revolving around Center Alex Oriakhi. Last season he averaged 5.5 points and 6.6 rebounds a contest. Oriakhi is going to have to get the job done down low, because of the Huskie’s lack of depth. He has the size at 6’9 250 lbs to develop into the go-to guy down low.
Charles Okwandu is a senior center who stands over 7’0 tall. Okwandu has seen limited playing time, but should have an opportunity to see minutes this season.
The freshmen of this class could have a make or break impact on UConn’s performance this year. So far everybody is raving about the hometown kid, Tyler Olander, who played at E.O Smith High School in Connecticut. Olander has plenty of length at 6’10, has the ability to shoot the ball on the perimeter and is a fiesty rebounder.
Another freshman to watch is Roscoe Smith. He has played at power forward, but should see more time at the three. The 6’8 swingman from Baltimore is very talented and is probably UConn’s best recruit of the incoming group.
Backcourt: Donnell Beverly will join Walker in the backcourt. Beverly has been a decent player for UConn and now finally at full-strength he looks to add some depth to the team.
Jammal Coombs-McDaniel has the potential to have a breakout season. He can hit from the outside but could never did get it going last season.
The last two players are freshman Shabazz Nappier and Jeremy Lamb. Both these players can shoot it from beyond the arc, something that is unconventional for a Jim Calhoun team. The Huskies are going to play a different style of basketball and it will have to adjust as the year goes along.
Prediction: A lot of experts believe that UConn is going to be down this season. Consider Jim Calhoun’s history: he hasn’t missed the NCAA tournament in two straight seasons in over twenty years. He always seems to be able to regroup his troops. These players are embracing the underdog role and will look to knock off the Top teams in the Big East.
I see the Huskies ending hte season in 5th or 6th in the conference with 22 or 23 victories, and returning to the Big Dance!
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