What are you hopeful for next season?

What do you hope for out of the players? Individually or collectively?

I think the sky's the limit with this staff.  It's way too early to speculate on who'll do what but I think we have more answers than questions compared to this year's squad so buying into the system remains the primary goal.  Some guys have doubts about the front court but we accomplished an awful lot this year starting three guys who measured 6'5"- 6'6".  Our PG situation also has to be better than discovering Hardy and letting him learn on the job.  I'm pretty optimistic overall and looking forward to watching the group evolve.

 Pretty much agree with bobre.  It would be foolish ( at least for me) to sit here and predict what each of these freshman are going to contribute, numbers wise. Starts with the defense.  I think the group will be much better in transition than the half court.  Lets utilize our youth and athleticism.

 With Dunlop looking like he's coming back, i think theses kids will get top notch coaching and advice. Sky's the limit during these guys career.  With so much competition, it will be easy to weed out those not buying in or not getting it.

 Hoping we are a few games over .500. with a gradual improvement throughout the season.

I know the thread is about what we are hopeful for next season but I'm going to change it up a little bit and say what I am excited about next year....

1.) Having enough talent to compete with any team in the country on a given night
2.) Having more than two guys that can bust a zone with their outside shooting
3.) Having length and athleticism that is going to cause all kinds of problems for teams going against our zone
4.) Having a legitimate shot blocker in the middle that people will fear
5.) Having an amazing amount of depth and unlimited possibilities in line-ups
6.) Having a group of guys that fit one style of play

I can keep going on but I have work to do.  I love the potential of next years team, I know we will take plenty of lumps but this team is going to be fun to watch!

Just hope there is a season. No wait that's the NFL and NBA. Just hope there is potential shown for greatness and a continual improvement throughout the season .Maximum bid to Ncaa, good possibility NIT, minimum-one of the 2 joke tournament which for a young team would still help them gain further experience.

  I am very optimistic with these young kids, especially since most of them have already indicated they expect to continue last years success. Gotta love guys like Harrison with his confidence and cockiness. Afterall, it's been a long time since we have had so much talent plus an outstanding coaching staff.
It will be great when we sign god's gift, need that big body. Not sure if Pelle is a strong rebounder.

Don't think you can underestimate the impact of the success of last years team on the newcomers - and by success, I don't mean just wins and losses.  I mean attitude, perception, confidence, fan support, admin support, media support, community support.  When coach Lavin's team failed int the past, it wasn't for lack of talent - it was because the atmostphere around the program had turned toxic - and it took 2-3 years for talented players to recover and remember they WERE talented and COULD be successful (Steve's 2003 10-18 team started 4 future NBA players, had four other future NBDL players.  Many of those players would go 11-17 the following year.  But as seniors, Ced Bozeman and Ryan Hollins were starting in the NCAA title game....

Again, last year's success has bought TIME for these newcomers - they can start out slow without the community turning on them.  Coach Lavin can play hi s early season mix-and-match  substitutions and starters without the excessive and even crippling second guessing that could have followed a LOSING season in his first year - fans have already seen there a successful method to the madness.

I expect the team to start slow, but finish very strong.   22 or 23 wins, and a return to the NCAAs.

I can't find the link at the moment, but on a UCLA board, a rankingof JC prospects was posted showing Bruin recruit De'End Parker is the #4 ranked Juco coming into D-1 this year.  It had to hurt them to post the article, as it also showed that Steve Lavin and St. Johns has the #2 prospect coming in Nurideen Lindsey.

Last years team reached the NCAAs (and finished fourth in the Big East) with  only ONE player who was ranked in the top 100 of their clas coming out of high school.  This years squad will have SEVEN (and possibly 8, depending on where Greene's final ranking comes in), as well as a first team JC All American (and possibly 2, if God's Gift arrives).  We're not just going to have top 100 talent at EVERY position, we're going to have top 100 talent BACKING UP every position as well.

I just want to see everyone get better and not get injured and hopefully we can push into the tourney.  Also I hope Harrison is named Big East Rookie of the Year.

I hope we finish the class up with some big bodies and show improvement as the season progresses.
The Tournament is gravy. We are building for 12-13, unless this freshman class is one of the best ever. And that's not fair to expect.

Yes, they're highly ranked, but winning in March requires experience and talent. We'll have what we lacked last year.

I hope we finish the class up with some big bodies and show improvement as the season progresses.
The Tournament is gravy. We are building for 12-13, unless this freshman class is one of the best ever. And that's not fair to expect.

Yes, they're highly ranked, but winning in March requires experience and talent. We'll have what we lacked last year.

I doubt the staff use more than one scholarship for the 2011 class.  It seems it'll probably go to God's Gift.  One big body in the paint is fine by me.

In some ways, I'll agree experience helps (that is usually when some level of talent is involved), but usually talent or whomever is hot usually prevails in March.  Experience is somewhat overrated, if you ask me. 

All in all, I'm hopeful the newcomers continue to improve throughout the duration of the season.  By the time, we roll around to mid-January that they are beginning to click and gel for the stretch run. 

I hope two things for next season:

1. Head Coach is fully recovered.
2. To improve the record of 2006-07 Connecticut team. They finished 17-14.

In 2006-07 Connecticut had eight freshmen (a top 5 class) and a sophomore with no college experience (A.J. Price). They only had two players from the previous season with more than 10 minutes (sophomores Jeff Adrien and Craig Austrie).

With Phil Greene now on board and 6 top 100 recruits I think CR's vision of 22-23 wins and the NCAA's is feasible.

Of course it's what this staff does with all that talent that matters and with Dunlap apparently on board I can see them getting better and better as the season unfolds. They are going to be a joy to behold in the BE tournament.

Am I the only one who feels like he's been transported to a parallel universe?

hopefully with "gods gift" onboard the "second team" of greene/garrett/pointer/sampson/GG will dominate.

Collectively: Over 20 wins, a Big East championship and to finish at least in the Sweet 16! 

hopefully with "gods gift" onboard the "second team" of greene/garrett/pointer/sampson/GG will dominate.

That a better potential tean than any we've had in decades and that's the second team.  Unbelievable!

I'm hopeful that everyone falls into their roles and is happy with them.

Mo Harkless, Nuri Lindsey, and D'Angelo Harrison should be taking bulk of the shots.

I hope that everyone puts on 10lbs with summer strength program.

My hope is for an NCAA appearance next season. We are going to be so talented and deep that theres not reason even with our youth that if things go our way we cant have another great season. Im also realistic and realize that we are going to have some growing pains because we are so young and a little thing up front as of right now. This next year is going to be exciting and the NCAAs should b the goal but just enjoy this year guys because we haven't seen talent like this here in a long time.

Thankful we will have the talent and staff to be competitive with anyone.

NCAA Tournament with at least 2 games played. Sweet 16 would be great.

Having more than one player that can shoot from 3.

Getting an NCAA tournament win would be nice.