Archive for the ‘General’ Category

A look at UConn’s 2013-14 roster…

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Here’s a look at UConn’s 2013-14 roster following the addition of George Washington transfer Lasan Kromah, a fifth-year senior with immediate eligibility. Kromah figures to absorb R.J. Evans’ minutes from a year ago.

A 6-foot-5 guard noted as a solid perimeter defender, Kromah played for UConn assistant Karl Hobbs as a freshman. Hobbs was the head coach at George Washington from 2001-11.

Shabazz Napier and Tyler Olander (AP)

Shabazz Napier and Tyler Olander (AP)

STARTERS

PG — Shabazz Napier, senior: Had one of the best individual seasons of any point guard in program history.

SG — Ryan Boatright, junior: Dynamic athlete and scorer. Struggled as point guard in Napier’s absence.

SG — Omar Calhoun, sophomore: Showed solid progress throughout freshman season.

F — DeAndre Daniels, junior: Long, physically-gifted wing who put it all together in final five games.

F — Tyler Olander, senior: Had a disappointing season as the starter (4.3 points, 3.7 rebounds).

BENCH

G/F — Niels Giffey, senior: Glue guy who struggled with jumpshot during junior campaign.

F — Kentan Facey, freshman: The highest-rated of UConn’s three newcomers. A lanky 6-foot-9 athlete who will be counted on to rebound and block shots.

F — Phil Nolan, sophomore: Averaged 6.3 rebounds in final three games.

G — Lasan Kromah, grad student: Long, active defender whose scoring numbers have dipped each year.

G —Terrence Samuel, freshman: Physical point guard in the Kevin Ollie mold.

F — Amida Brimah, freshman: Ridiculous wingspan (reportedly 7-foot-5), but underdeveloped offensive skills.

F — Leon Tolksdorf, sophomore: Spot-up shooter who played sparingly a year ago.

G—Brendan Allen, junior: Scholarship player last season reverts to walk-on status.

*G—Rodney Purvis, sophomore: Will sit out 2013-14 season as a transfer. Can practice with team.

*C—Enosch Wolf, senior: Suspended indefinitely since Feb. 11, Wolf has been permitted to return as a walk-on. It’s unclear if he’ll opt to do so.

UConn lifts suspension on Wolf, reportedly adds GW transfer Kromah

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UConn added one player Tuesday and welcomed another back from suspension (kind of).

Enosch Wolf (AP)

Enosch Wolf (AP)

Shortly after CBS’ Jon Rothstein reported that George Washington transfer Lasan Kromah was headed to UConn, the school announced that suspended center Enosch Wolf would be eligible to return as a non-scholarship player.

Wolf, suspended indefinitely after a Feb. 11 arrest, is expected to make a decision about coming back for his senior year within the next few weeks, according to UConn.

It seems his scholarship will go to Kromah, a 6-foot-5 guard eligible immediately as a graduate student. Recruited to George Washington by former coach Karl Hobbs (now an assistant at UConn), Kromah averaged double-figures in three seasons with the Colonials. He missed his entire sophomore year with a left foot injury.

This past season, Kromah posted averages of 10.1 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting just 22 percent from the 3-point arc. He’ll join a deep backcourt of Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright, Omar Calhoun and incoming freshman Terrence Samuel.

If Wolf chooses to return, he’ll battle for playing time at the center spot with returning starter Tyler Olander, rising sophomore Phil Nolan and incoming freshmen Kentan Facey and Amida Brimah. DeAndre Daniels, among the most improved players in the Big East, figures to start as a stretch-four.

Prior to his suspension, Wolf had been the team’s most productive center, performing well against N.C. State (12 points, nine rebounds), Marquette (six points, seven rebounds) and Providence (six points, five rebounds). But on Feb. 11, the 7-foot-1 junior was charged with third-degree burglary, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct following an early morning altercation with a female student. According to the police report, Wolf “grabbed the hair of the victim and pushed her head” and “knocked the glasses off of the victim’s face with his hand.”

Charges against Wolf were dropped after his completion of a domestic violence diversionary program. Although his counseling was no longer court-mandated, Wolf told reporters on April 24 that he continued to remain in the program.

Wolf’s attorney, Rob Britt, said the counseling helped Wolf “address alcohol, which was an important part of the equation.”

UConn guard Calhoun undergoes hip surgery

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Rising sophomore Omar Calhoun recently underwent two hip surgeries to help alleviate discomfort caused by femoral acetabular impingement (FAI), UConn confirmed Wednesday.

The surgery (one hip was operated on at the end of March, the other at the end of April) may also help Calhoun avoid future problems, a school spokesperson said. FAI is a condition of too much friction in the hip joint. It can be caused by simple wear and tear.

Calhoun, who averaged 11.1 points per game as a freshman, is expected to be ready “well before” the season starts, a school spokesperson said. Recovery time could take 3-4 months.

Along with Calhoun, UConn returns its two other starting guards — Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright. The Huskies lost a fourth guard — R.J Evans — to graduation, but added the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Terrence Samuel out of Brooklyn.

 

Napier announces return for senior season

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***

After nearly two months of contemplation, UConn point guard Shabazz Napier has decided to return to school.

A first team All-Big East selection, Napier announced his decision via UConn athletic communications Friday afternoon.

Shabazz Napier (AP)

Shabazz Napier (AP)

“I want to thank coach (Kevin) Ollie and the UConn coaching staff for their understanding and cooperation as my family and I needed space and time during this process of deciding what move was best for us,” Napier said. “I want to thank my teammates for allowing me to lean on their shoulders when I needed some support.”

As a junior, Napier compiled a remarkable season, among the most impressive of any point guard in program history. His 17.1 points, 4.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 39.8 percent marksmanship from 3-point range led the Huskies, and his intangibles were equally valuable. The 6-foot-1 Boston product transformed himself from an erratic sophomore who publicly called out his teammates to a confident, composed junior, the type of leader UConn needed as it faced a postseason ban.

The Huskies played a school-record seven overtime games, and Napier was nothing short of brilliant in each one. In 45 minutes of overtime this season, he scored 56 points.

“I think Shabazz’s decision is great for him and great for the university,” said UConn head coach Kevin Ollie. “I believe that first and foremost, it will give him a chance to earn his degree, which is something I know he’ll really cherish. At the same time, he’ll continue to hone his skills as a lead guard and contribute to us continuing the success of UConn basketball, but also he will keep cultivating the kind of atmosphere I want our student-athletes to be around. He was a big part of that with his leadership on and off the basketball court.”

Napier was considered a likely second round pick had he declared.  With its leader back, UConn returns all five starters and its top seven scorers from a year ago. The Huskies, who finished 20-10, figure to be in the mix for a spot in the preseason top 25.

Sophomores Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels have also informed the coaching staff of their intentions to remain in school, according to the UConn athletic department.

“We think we have a great team for next season,” Napier said, “and we’re excited about playing for a conference championship and in the NCAA Tournament.”

Charges dropped against UConn center Wolf

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ROCKVILLE — Charges against UConn center Enosch Wolf were dropped in Rockville Superior Court Wednesday, clearing one hurdle in his return to the basketball court.

Enosch Wolf (AP)

Enosch Wolf (AP)

Arrested on Feb. 11 in a domestic dispute, Wolf was charged with third-degree burglary, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. The 7-foot-1 junior was suspended indefinitely pending legal and university review.

Wolf completed the court-mandated counseling, but continues to receive counseling on his own.

“I’m really happy that the court part is resolved,” Wolf said. “I will keep staying in the counseling myself because I realize it has a positive effect on me and helps me stay focused.”

Wolf’s attorney, Rob Britt, said the counseling has helped Wolf “address alcohol, which was an important part of the equation.”

“What I’ve seen in him is a decision-making process that involves a lot of thought,” Britt said. “There is much less spontaneity in what he is doing. There is much more of a decision-making process and contemplation of what’s in front of him.”

With the legal process complete, Wolf awaits university review. Head coach Kevin Ollie told The Hartford Courant last week that Wolf’s fate will be decided by a number of administrators.

“We’re all monitoring his progress — the president’s office, community standards and the AD, so it is not just my decision,” Ollie told the Courant.

Without Wolf, the team’s most consistent center, UConn went 4-4 in its final eight games. Junior forward Tyler Olander, who absorbed most of Wolf’s minutes, broke his left foot against South Florida on March 6. Olander underwent surgery, and then was arrested for trespassing while on spring break.

Olander was accepted into a pretrial diversionary program in Florida. His charges are also likely to be dropped.

If Wolf returns next season, he’ll be joined in the frontcourt by Olander, rising sophomore Phil Nolan and athletic freshmen Kentan Facey and Amida Brimah. DeAndre Daniels and Niels Giffey are likely to see duty at the power forward position, as well.

UConn elevates Moore to assistant coach

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After one year as the assistant director of basketball operations, Ricky Moore has been elevated to assistant coach, UConn announced Tuesday.

Ryan Boatright, Ricky Moore, Kevin Freeman (AP)

Ryan Boatright, Ricky Moore, Kevin Freeman (AP)

Moore joins assistant coach Karl Hobbs and associate head coach Glen Miller on Kevin Ollie’s staff. George Blaney, an assistant this past season, will remain with the program as a special assistant/advisor to Ollie.

Prior to joining the UConn staff in 2012, Moore served as an assistant coach at Dartmouth. A lockdown perimeter defender on UConn’s 1999 national championship squad, Moore will be involved in games, practices and recruiting.

“I’m really excited to add Ricky to our coaching staff,” Ollie said. “When Ricky was here as a player, he epitomized what UConn stands for and I know he will do the same thing as a coach.”

Following his college career, Moore played 11 seasons professionally, enjoying stints in Austria, Ukraine, Sweden, Turkey, Germany, the CBA and NBDL.

“I have a lot of faith in Ricky as a recruiter and a coach,” Ollie said. “He’s had experience on the road and I know the kind of strength and enthusiasm he has for the game and our program. I’ve already seen it in the role he had with us last year. Going into this new era of UConn basketball, I’m looking forward to having him on the road recruiting and using his coaching style to help us on and off the court.”

Moore hails from Augusta, Ga., the hometown of Ahmed Hill, one of UConn’s top 2014 targets. Hill, a bouncy 6-foot-4 guard, is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 26 prospect in the class.

UConn commit Brimah signs letter of intent

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Amida Brimah, the third commitment in UConn’s 2013 class, signed his letter of intent Monday afternoon.

A 6-foot-11, 215 pound center with a reported 7-foot-5 wingspan, Brimah averaged 16 points, 11.7 rebounds and 7.2 blocks for Archbishop Carroll High (Miami) this past season. He was the first commit that Kevin Ollie secured as head coach.

“Amida was one of the most passionate basketball players I saw during the entire recruiting period, and I fell in love with his passion for the game,” Ollie said. “He showed leadership both on and off the court, and then he was the best player in the game.”

Brimah joins 6-foot-9 forward Kentan Facey and 6-foot-4 guard Terrence Samuel in UConn’s 2013 class. The Huskies also recently added former McDonald’s All-American Rodney Purvis from N.C. State. Under transfer rules, Purvis can practice in 2013-14 but cannot appear in games until the 2014-15 season.

Outside of Purvis, UConn has not received commitments from any 2014 prospects.  Daniel Hamilton, a 6-foot-6 wing from Los Angeles, is scheduled to visit Storrs during the first weekend of May, according to Rivals.com. The website lists Hamilton as the No. 28 prospect in 2014.

 

ACC grant of rights latest roadblock for UConn

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ACC Presidents approved a grant of media rights Monday that extends through 2026-27, according to an ESPN report. The agreement effectively locks up all teams for the next 14 years, preventing other power conferences from poaching.

If an ACC school chose to leave, its media rights, including revenue, for all home games would remain with the ACC regardless of league affiliation, according to ESPN’s report. Simply put, it would make very little financial sense for any ACC school to flee, which complicates UConn’s future.

It’s widely believed that UConn would have a higher long-term ceiling — in all sports — if it were in a different conference. And for quite some time, the ACC seemed the most likely destination. Back in November, an ACC vacancy opened when Maryland accepted a bid to the B1G. UConn and Louisville were considered the top potential replacements, and the ACC quickly chose Louisville to fill the opening.

Ever since, the common belief was this: UConn, seemingly the most complete sports school not included in the power conferences, must wait for another ACC vacancy and then make a hard sell.

But Monday’s grant of rights drastically alters the situation. The above scenario no longer exists, and it seems another escape route has been blocked.

Stuck in the AAC, UConn could draw interest from the B1G if the conference decides to expand (the league would choose from schools in the SEC, AAC, Conference USA or Mountain West because the ACC, Big 12 and Pac 12 have grants of rights). In that regard, Monday’s news could work in UConn’s favor. With the ACC out of the realignment picture, there are less teams “available” for the B1G and Big 12.

The B1G currently has 14 teams, but there’s been rampant speculation that the league will expand to 16. OhioState President E. Gordon Gee told The Columbus Dispatch in January that expansion talks were “ongoing.” Although it would make little geographical sense for UConn to join the B1G or Big 12, it’s certainly a better alternative to the AAC.

Of course, UConn could still wind up in the ACC if the conference seeks a 16th basketball school. Thus far, ACC commissioner John Swofford has been adamant about sticking with 15 teams.

 

 

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