The A Dime Back Mailbag is surviving and advancing. This week we’ve got questions about the Kansas game and its realignment implications, Terry Larrier’s role next year and proper bracketing strategy.
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).
@GlobalHuskies asks: Beating Kansas in Iowa helps or hurts our chance for a Big 12 invite. Discuss.
First off, you should follow Global Huskies on the twitters as they provide frequent updates on former UConn players playing overseas.
To answer the question, I don’t think the result of the game will have any impact. The schools in the Big 12 know that UConn can ball. It’d be impossible to follow college basketball over the last 20 years and NOT know that. Because UConn wins a lot, you see.
That said, I actually do see some benefit to the program if Husky fans show that they are willing to travel 1,200 miles to watch important games. UConn earned a lot of attention in 2014 when their fans essentially conquered Madison Square Garden to witness the Huskies’ most-recent tourney run. Ticket prices shot through the roof and the university used the experience as a launching pad for a major marketing campaign. A loud and highly-visible contingent in Iowa tomorrow would show that UConn’s reach can extend (essentially) into the Big 12 occupied territory of the fly-over states.
Additionally, being paired with a major university in the Big 12 is somewhat fortuitous as university presidents and athletic directors often attend and commingle. UConn President Susan Herbst did not attend Thursday’s first round game against Colorado but is flying to Des Moines today in advance of tomorrow’s game. Several other Big 12 officials are rumored to attend as well. The contest provides another opportunity for Herbst to network and promote UConn’s potential value to the Big 12.
@UConnHoopsNYC asks: How does Purvis’ potential return reflect our lineup for next year? Could Larrier take on a Shonn Miller role?
If Purvis, Hamilton, and Brimah all return next year, the roster will be even stronger. Losing 5th-years Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs will hurt, as will the departures of stalwart seniors Phil Nolan and Omar Calhoun, but with a dynamite recruiting class coming in, as well as the transfer Larrier becoming eligible, the Huskies should be in terrific shape. While Larrier at the 4 is a bit of a stretch (get it?), he and Hamilton have the size, athleticism, and rebounding the handle the two forward spots between them, and it will allow them to continue to create space for driving guards. Jalen Adams looks to come in and take over as the full-time PG alongside Purvis, with incoming freshman Alterique Gilbert also getting a lot of minutes. The ball-handling on this team will be much better than this year, and a hopefully healthy Brimah will be backed up by a more seasoned Steve Enoch, as well as incoming freshmen Mamadou Diarra and (if he doesn’t redshirt) Juwan Durham. Sharpshooter Vance Jackson looks to see plenty of time at both forward spots as well. The only concern I’d still have is about backcourt depth. Whether Ollie is able to bring in another freshman or goes the grad transfer route, hopefully he’s able to find another bench guard so as to avoid overexposing Sam Cassell, Jr.
Coffill asks: you can pick UConn all the way or you can make an intelligent bracket that has a chance to win your pool. Fandom or cash money?
All of ADB (minus Russ the troll) picked UConn to win it all. Personally, I always pick UConn to win it all when they’re in the tourney. Never bet against a desired outcome, a wise man used to say. I never want to have my money and my rooting interest on opposite sides. Moreover, the last three national championships have won me four pools and more money than I’m willing to the tell the IRS about. So in short, always bet your loyalties. Every time. History tells us it will work out often enough to cover your bets for, well, the rest of your bracket-betting life.
I also bet UConn to win it all. My buddies and colleagues laugh at me, and then I remind them of 2/4 and 4/15. Between my brackets and some timely Vegas bets over the past several months, it could be a nice little payday come early April.
LETS GO HUSKIES!!!