Help on the way for 19/20?

[NorthernDancerColt]

I was thinking this with Jayce Johnson as well. I'm not very imaginative, but I have trouble picturing what next year's team and playing style looks like if he's getting the minutes he's probably demanding, given the transfer options available to him. I don't think he'd be coming to be part of a Ed-Theo-Jayce three headed monster.

I've never seen Ed shoot any 12-15footers, but maybe we are all too quick to judge him based on how he looks sometimes when he puts the ball up inside. Jerome Whitehead's semifinal game winner vs UNCC in '77 looked pretty funky too if I remember. When you're undersized playing the 5, your close-range contested shots are gonna look a little weird. Does his mid-range shot look as funky? Somebody remind me if I'm forgetting.  All I'm saying is, I'd bet Ed is capable of being a very solid 4. Theo is more foul prone than Ed, so Jayce is a crucial acquisition at the 5.

The other explanation as to why Jayce would come here, but possibly sacrifice minutes....maybe he wants to win.

[brewcity77]

Does his mid-range shot look as funky? Somebody remind me if I'm forgetting.

I'd guess most of us are forgetting because he took very few midrange shots.

[We R Final Four]

Yes—very funky.

[MU82]

I remember Morrow taking 2 shots from more than 8 feet out. Both were bricks. Maybe he took more and made a few; I just don't remember them. He had enough trouble hitting anything that wasn't a dunk. But he still was a valuable role player last season, and I think he will be so again. Almost any team in the country would take an unselfish rebounding machine who plays defense and does the other dirty work.

[Marcus92]

Every basketball team needs guys who can defend and rebound inside. We've got 3 good ones in Theo, Ed and Jayce.

Maybe Ed can expand his mid-range game. But I'm not sure that's even necessary. If our big guys can improve in the post and pick-and-roll, that could be plenty. We'll probably see a fair share of 4-out-1-in -- but maybe double post offense, as well. How many opponents can defend both a big forward in Ed and a 6-9 or 7-0 center in Theo or Jayce?

Back to the defense and rebounding, that's also key to transition offense. Adding Jayce, plus Greg and Koby, could take our defense into Top 25 territory -- and really amp up our running game. I'm excited to see how it comes together.

[D'Lo Brown]

Can anyone explicitly describe why Ed will need to take jump shots for us to do well with him playing the 4? I think we are getting pretty far into what we are used to with the team over the last several seasons and forgetting some perspective. Some of the great Uconn teams that I grew up watching played multiple center-type players alongside outside sharpshooter and slashers. If you gain enough offensive rebounds, defense, etc by adding Ed at the 4, you can survive/thrive the lack of jump shots he provides. Further, you want to get the best players on the court - why should we play a worse player than Ed at the 4 simply because they have a jump shot?

I mean, seriously, even if Ed improves his jump shot, how often do we want him to be making his own offense as opposed to Sacar, Koby, Markus, or even Brendan or others? IMO we are debating over something that even if it improves, it's still kind of a moot point, no?

[Aircraftcarrier]

I am thinking that Howard and McEwen are going to be like Lilliard and McCollum of Portland.Two very good guards can take you a long way.Also Elliott does many things well on the basketball court

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Can anyone explicitly describe why Ed will need to take jump shots for us to do well with him playing the 4? I think we are getting pretty far into what we are used to with the team over the last several seasons and forgetting some perspective. Some of the great Uconn teams that I grew up watching played multiple center-type players alongside outside sharpshooter and slashers. If you gain enough offensive rebounds, defense, etc by adding Ed at the 4, you can survive/thrive the lack of jump shots he provides. Further, you want to get the best players on the court - why should we play a worse player than Ed at the 4 simply because they have a jump shot?

I mean, seriously, even if Ed improves his jump shot, how often do we want him to be making his own offense as opposed to Sacar, Koby, Markus, or even Brendan or others? IMO we are debating over something that even if it improves, it's still kind of a moot point, no?

It is highly unlikely IMO that he is asked to take many jump shots, that's just not his game.  I'm far more concerned about his ability on the defensive end trying to guard a 4.  I didn't think he guarded very well in space last year, and really can't see him being effective guarding a stretch 4.

[MU82]

It is highly unlikely IMO that he is asked to take many jump shots, that's just not his game.  I'm far more concerned about his ability on the defensive end trying to guard a 4.  I didn't think he guarded very well in space last year, and really can't see him being effective guarding a stretch 4.

Agree in general, because I really don't think Morrow will play much 4, but there aren't many legit, truly dangerous "stretch 4's" out there.