It’s easy to get into trouble when trying to quantify the abstract. For instance, by studying Ryan Boatright’s 17.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, you’d invariably conclude that he was UConn’s most important player last season. After all, he did lead the team in scoring, assists, steals, free throw and three-point percentage. What’s far more challenging is to assign value to his role as team leader, co-captain and emotional lynchpin. Leadership and talent often go hand-in-hand, but until one or both go missing, it’s difficult to detangle the relationship between them.
Despite Boatright’s departure, this year’s UConn team will feature an immensely talented roster. Boatright’s raw stats should be easily exceeded by the incoming foursome of Sterling Gibbs, Shonn Miller, Jalen Adams and Steve Enoch. But it remains to be seen who will take over Boatright’s role as the leader of the team, both on the court and in the locker room.
Amida Brimah was Boatright’s co-captain last season, and will return with high expectations as one of the Huskies most important pieces. Daniel Hamilton may be the team’s most talented player and could parlay a strong season into a first round NBA draft pick. Miller is lauded for his maturity and left Cornell as their star player. All three will be counted on immensely this season.
None, however, will play as big a role in guiding the team as Gibbs and returning guard Rodney Purvis.
Playing for Seton Hall last season, Gibbs was essentially their Boatright. He led the Pirates in scoring, assists, steals and three-point shooting.
Purvis came into his own towards the end of last season. As Boatright battled injury, Purvis excelled, scoring in double-figures in eight of UConn’s last 10 games, including a 19-point second half in the AAC title game against SMU that kept the Huskies in contention.
This offseason, Purvis has ascended as the face of the program. He has gotten involved in recruiting visits, earning the unofficial title of UConn Ambassador. He has bonded with youngsters at on-campus summer camps, and posed for pictures with literally everyone he meets. His infectious positivity has endeared him to Husky fans.
One of Gibbs and Purvis will need to assume the role of team leader, and the other will need to embrace the position of sidekick. What complicates the equation is the composition of UConn’s offense.
Purvis seems the obvious choice to lead the team, pushing and pulling them through the doldrums of a long conference schedule, and in every practice, helping his teammates ascend to their true talent levels. But the Husky offense will run more efficiently with him playing off the ball, potentially taking a secondary role to Hamilton, who should get the bulk of the scoring opportunities. Is it possible to be the team’s leader while committing to a lesser role in the offense? That’s a pretty big sacrifice, especially for a player as talented as Purvis.
Similarly for Gibbs, he is arriving in a very different situation than the one he fled at Seton Hall. This UConn team needs a true point guard — one who can control the distribution of shot attempts, control the tempo on offense, and run an increased amount of offensive sets that UConn was incapable of mastering a year ago. That’s a drastic role shift from prime scoring option to floor general. Will Gibbs be willing to cede the leadership role on the bench and in the locker room, while maintaining firm control of the Husky offense?
Exploring UConn’s history, you can find almost any example to suit your desired narrative. The Huskies have won championships with star-laden rosters in 1999 and 2004. They’ve also ridden one undeterrable leader to titles in 2011 and 2014. In between, we’ve seen supremely talented teams struggle to coalesce in 2006 and 2012 as individual roles and motivations became clouded.
This year’s Huskies will need to find the formula that best works for them and it will undoubtedly require some sacrifice from their starting backcourt of Gibbs and Purvis as they work together to bring another trophy to Storrs.
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