Any team other than Connecticut would most likely be devastated by losses of players such as Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrien, A.J. Price, and Craig Austrie, but if anybody can reload after losing that much talent it is Huskies coach Jim Calhoun. With yet another solid recruiting class and a great returning backcourt, UConn could make their way back to the Final Four if everything works out as planned.
The Huskies are certainly not lacking talent on the wing, where Jerome Dyson has been a consistent scorer throughout his entire UConn career. While Dyson may not be the greatest outside shooter, he does a superb job of finishing around the basket. Stanley Robinson may not be a typical wing player, but the 6-9 small forward is one of the best athletes in the country and should provide a big senior season; last year, even with missing the first semester, he tallied over 8 points and just under 6 rebounds per game while getting back into the swing of things. Expect to see Robinson's numbers increase dramatically on his way to being a probable first-round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
The frontcourt is where Connecticut has their biggest concerns. Nobody is going to directly fill the shoes of Adrien and Thabeet who averaged over 13 points per game each, while combining for nearly 21 rebounds and more than 5 blocks a game as well. Next in line is 6-9 forward Gavin Edwards who, although having never started a game for UConn, is an experienced and athletic player who is tough on the boards. Charles Okwandu missed most of last season and only played in ten games, but the 7-1, 255 pounder has the skills and tough mindset to be a dominating Big East center.
As the Huskies look to replace the dominant Adrien and Thabeet, there are a couple returning players in the mix, but expect Ater Majok and Alex Oriahkhi to be considered as well. Majok, who will be eligible in December, is an athletic 6-10, 233 pound forward and Alex Oriahkhi, a McDonald's All-American, is a strong player around the basket and has all the necessary skills to compete for a starting job right immediately. Additionally, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel is a very talented wing, while Jamaal Trice should provide a defensive presence there as well. Another highly touted freshman is multi-faceted guard Darius Smith, who will also be looking for some time on the floor for UConn this year.
