[dbaumParticipant]

With the UConn team being eligible to participate in the next NCAA tournament, how successful can the Huskies be next year and within the tournament?

Last season there was nothing to play for with the NCAA sanctions on the team and still had a pretty successful season. 20 wins under Coach Kevin Ollie’s first year (with wins against Syracuse, Michigan State, Notre Dame) and most of the players are returning next year.

The conference realignment will hurt them in the long run for recruiting and competition, but can UConn still be considered a team that can make some noise?

[Sewok15Participant]

Yes I think the team they had this year could have made some noise in the tournament. They will be a team to watch for sure next year with Napier, Boatright, Daniels and Calhoun all coming back. They will have some of the best guard play in the country next year and should be a top 15 team.

As for the future at UConn is doesn’t look as bright as it once did with the Big East falling apart. The good thing is that they hired an excellent coach in Kevin Ollie. He had a 13 year NBA career despite his shortcomings. I think he will be able to recruit a lot of borderline blue chip prospects out of the New York area. He will have the advantage of recruiting players with the pedigree of knowing what it takes to have a long successful career in the NBA. He also seems to be a solid in game coach as you would imagine since his awareness was always his best attribute as a player.

[dbaumParticipant]

I agree with you 100%. UConn has a good amount of recruits coming out of the New York City area. I believe Kevin Ollie will be a good replacement for Jim Calhoun and will keep them relevant years going forward.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

Calhoun coming back?

[The QParticipant]

Absolutely.

Lets not forget they’re returning 4 double digit scorers, losing nothing of real value and were playing well down the stretch before some injuries caused them to limp towards the finish.

But they’re returning a 3 and 4 year starter at the 2 guard spots, Calhoun should take a big leap and daniels was playing much better than he was at the beginning.

If Nolan and the 2 frosh can provide defense and rebounding down low, they’ll be a dangerous team.

I think they can be a legit top 10 team next year depending on some NBA defections, and that makes them a legit title contender.

However, I don’t think they’re gonna be in that new conference long term. Even the president of the university has come out and said she wants them in the ACC. It’s only a matter of time IMO.

[NJBrown5Participant]

Yes, in due time the Huskies will get back to the top of the college basketball world. The one thing they need to reach that next level, though, is a big. The closest thing to a surefire big that they have is DeAndre Daniels, who played very well this year. However, at 6’8″ and 195 lbs., he’s too small and wiry to hold his own against bigger players across the country. Also, he’s got an underrated perimeter game that he’ll continue to improve on next season that will help him rise up many draft boards for the 2014 season.

UConn’s 1-4 is set (Napier, Boatright, Calhoun, and Daniels). They just need that solid big man, and they’ll start to plenty of noise again.

[The QParticipant]

Facey and Nolan were both pretty highly rated players.

Nolan is a more rugged guy. Facey can be more of a scorer.

Plus they got a C from FL who is supposed to be a strong defensive guy, albeit raw offensively.

Plus they got PURVIS coming in to replace Napier (with boatright moving to PG) in 2014.

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