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Brian asks: when are we going to start recruiting some sharp shooters aka Rashad Anderson, Jeremy Lamb, Ray Allen
Whenever I see questions like this, I always wonder how much actual attention the querent (that’s you, Brian) has ever actually paid to UConn basketball. Jeremy Lamb, in particular, seems an odd player to reference. Over Lamb’s college career, he shot under 35% from three, and he never had a season where he was as good from three as Rodney Purvis has been this year, both by volume AND by percentage. Purvis, of course, being the player about whom you said “I can’t wait for [him] to graduate.”
While Purvis does appear to be on track to graduate this year, he just recently stated he will be returning next season, much to your dismay, I’m sure. In addition to Purvis’ three-point shooting, Ollie will be adding long-range sniper Vance Jackson, a top-100 player from California who ranks as one of the best shooters in this year’s incoming class.
Jaletto asks: do you expect anyone on this team to transfer? Who would you replace on the coaching staff, and with who?
Russ touched on the transfer topic in last week’s bag, specifically about Sam Cassell, Jr. I don’t see a transfer as likely, Cassell would be the one to go if it happens. With Omar Calhoun and Phil Nolan graduating, there will be bench minutes to be had. Kentan Facey and Steve Enoch are already ahead of Nolan on the depth chart and should both benefit (playing time wise) with Shonn Miller’s departure. Mamadou Diarra and Terry Larrier will earn plenty of minutes, but there appear to be enough to go around and no clear favorites at the moment.
The coaching staff part of this question interests me more. I think the best case scenario for all involved is that one of Karl Hobbs or Glen Miller gets a shot at a head coaching job at another university. Both are wonderful guys with a resume full of important contributions at UConn, but I do feel changes are necessary. Ricky Moore has been a dynamo on the recruiting circuit, often credited with the Huskies’ recent success in the southeast. The real trick will be to diversify the skill sets of the staff to make sure that they’re getting the most out of their resources. Ollie is young and tireless, but it would be wise to surround him with a strong offensive-minded assistant. I don’t have a specific candidate in mind, but I hope they get creative in their hiring.
Penfield asks: anyone have a good jungle juice recipe?
Jungle juice? Open your liquor cabinet. Take out all non-brown liquor. Pour into a giant vessel. Add some kind of juice (powdered optional) and Sprite. Consume until the pain goes away.
But if you want something that will get you drunk while also being delicious, allow me to suggest the following:
Meghan’s Never Fails to Get Everyone Drunk Sangria Recipe
• 1 magnum (because who are we kidding) of dry red wine (Rioja if you want to be authentic, but any dry, cheap red will do. I generally use Barefoot cab sav, but I’ve used pinot noir, merlot and malbec, and it’s all fine).
• A bunch of fruit (oranges, lemons, limes and apples are my go-to)
• Calvados (French apple brandy, but if you can’t find it, just brandy of some kind)
• Orange juice
• Sugar
• Sparkling wine or ginger ale
Slice up the citrus, and squeeze some of the juice into a pitcher. Cut up the apple(s), and throw them in, too. Add about a cup of orange juice. Pour in about 6 jiggers of brandy. Add a couple tablespoons of sugar (or more if you like it sweeter, it’s your world) and stir until the sugar dissolves. Pour in all of the wine and stir. Best to refrigerate for a couple hours or overnight, but if you ain’t got time for that, it’s cool. Add in the sparkling wine of your choice or ginger ale, serve over ice in very large glasses. Make sure to put the boozy fruit in there, too. Be drunk.
