UConn Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2021-22 season

Power Forward

Starter: Isaiah “The Wrench” Whaley

UConn will have one of the deepest frontcourts in recent memory and perhaps one of the better frontcourts in the country. An earlier article for Busting Brackets has UConn with the 13th best frontcourt going into the season.

After sitting in on practice Jon Rothstein didn’t have Isaiah Whaley in his predicted starting lineup, but what does he know – he’s just the leading college insider for CBS? The Wrench has improved dramatically each season and there is no reason to think he won’t do so again. Whaley started all 23 games last season averaging 27.6 MPG, 8.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 2.6 BPG (good for 14th best in the country).

Whaley’s rise has been transcendent. He has become an all-around player. He went from barely playing to being one of, if not the most important player on the team. Whaley knows his role and plays it to perfection. He brings energy when the team needs a boost, and his defense catapults the offense. He doesn’t need the ball to contribute either. Whaley cleans up on the boards and now has a jumper you have to respect, something I think we will see much more this season.

Bench: Akok Akok, Tyler Polley, Samson Johnson, Richie Springs

Here’s another lineup dilemma for me when predicting starters. You can’t not start Whaley, can you? But, as a freshman, Akok Akok started 24 of 25 games, averaging 28 MPG, 5.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 2.6 BPG. We all know Akok went down with a horrific Achille’s tear and missed pretty much all last season. But he is back and looking bigger and better than ever.

Akok Akok is an elite defender and shot blocker. He also can stretch the floor and shoot it from deep, although he only shot 26.1% from 3-point range as a freshman. How do you keep him off the floor? It will be interesting to see how Hurley distributes minutes amongst the frontcourt, but he has plenty of options.

Speaking of options, Samson Johnson and Richie Springs will be making a push for minutes at the 4 and 5 as well. Johnson reminds me of Akok Akok. He is a long, athletic shot blocker who can stretch the floor on offense. Springs is an elite rebounder but hasn’t seen much action in his time at UConn. He has been working to improve his overall game, including his shooting. The future is bright for these two and this level of depth will allow Hurley to make in-game adjustments, especially to the frontcourt.