It’s the Friday before a long weekend and much like you at work, we’re mailing it in.
Remember: If your question wasn’t answered or you’ve been living under a rock and are just hearing about this, you can submit your questions here or on Twitter (@ADimeBack).
Hedged Husky asks: what 4s are available on grad transfer market?
There are a few options, fortunately, which should help ease the pain of missing out on Justin Jackson. The top prize here would be Alec Peters (6-9, 230), who is expected to transfer from Valparaiso following the departure of coach Bryce Drew to Vanderbilt. However, Drew is definitely going to be trying to lure Peters to follow him, and Peters is likely to have a great deal of suitors. Peters averaged 18.4 points and 8.5 rebounds on 51% shooting (44% from 3) in the Horizon League.
Another impact player who would likely be an easier get would be Paris Bass (6-8, 200), who averaged better than 18 points and 8 rebounds last year for Detroit, also in the Horizon League. It’s unclear if Bass would be an option for the Huskies, however, as he had some academic issues and missed the beginning of last season. He managed to turn it around enough to graduate, but it’s unclear if Kevin Ollie would take a risk on an academic question mark.
Moving over to Conference USA, there’s Norville Carey (6-7, 228). Carey sat out this year in the midst of an NCAA investigation into former head coach Donnie Tyndall so he could graduate and play elsewhere this season. Carey averaged 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds on 55% shooting for Southern Miss in 2014-15. It’s unclear where his transfer recruitment stands, but being able to offer a starting job for a marquee program can’t hurt, not to mention the fact that Carey is a native of Bristol, CT.
Finally, there’s Christian Jones (6-7. 230), from our former Big East brethren, the St. John’s Red Somethings. Jones would be a more modest addition, but still enough to play starter’s minutes if Kentan Facey isn’t able to step up and handle the 4 and neither Juwan Durham nor Mamadou Diarra are ready. Jones averaged 8.4 points and 5.2 rebounds on 48% shooting last season.
Storrs South asks: Bob Diaco or Ryan Gosling
Red asks: how many WNBA teams could [UConn’s five Olympians] beat if this 5 were given no subs?
Red asked this a while ago when the US Women’s Hoops team named their roster, and I just happened to rediscover it. To recap, the five UConn alums on the roster are: Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart.
I probably passed on this question at the time because I didn’t feel comfortable enough in my WNBA knowledge to not sound like an idiot. But I’ve actually been keeping up with the league over its first month of action (their league pass is dirt cheap), and I am unequivocally certain that UConn’s olympians would not only beat every WNBA’s starting five, they would destroy them.
Los Angeles is the only team that would even stand a chance (they’re 5-0) and mainly because Candace Parker is using her Geno hatred to assert Jordan-esque levels on vengeance on the league right now. Still, UConn over everything.
