Check here for a summary of how I'm charting the plays.
Newton (20/8, +12) - Newton played better on tape than I remembered during the game. Defense was strong, and he made a bunch of good passes to open shooters that were just missed, on top of his 3 credited assists. He had a stretch at end of 1st to start of 2nd where he had a couple shaky plays and his neg was the highest it's been since champ of PKI, but his mistakes were just "louder" than his numerous good plays today. That's why the re-watch and charting helps with seeing the full picture. Butler wasn't a great matchup for him since they almost never foul, negating one of his strengths.
Hawkins (12/7, +5) - Somewhat quiet day for Hawkins. Only attempted 5 3s, his fewest in any game he played more than 10 minutes all season. They made him a focal point of the defensive gameplan, and were overplaying his curl; He successfully drove a few times off of it. Had 1 nice and-1 finish, but still needs to get better finishing off the bounce. On defense, he's guilty of an unnecessary hand check or two per game, but otherwise solid.
Jackson (20/7, +13) - Great D, 2 high flying blocks, started spraying the ball in the 2nd half (6 credited assists, 4 additional passes for wide open looks missed). couple high flying rebounds. Just a guy using his athleticism and vision for all kinds of things. Had his first 2 turnovers over the last 4 games in the first couple minutes of this game, but settled down after he hit that big crowd quieting 3 and only had 1 more all game. His assist rate is currently the highest for a UConn player since Jalen Adams' junior year.
Karaban (9/6, +3) - Struggle of a shooting (and finishing) day for Karaban. Missed a bunch of wide open shots. Added some value on the offensive glass.
Sanogo (39/8, +31 MVP) - Dominant game from Sanogo. Strong first half and absolutely monstrous 24/3 in the 2nd half. Most total positive plays in one game so far this season. He absolutely took over the last 8:30, with a 15/1 in that timeframe (16/2 from a minute earlier when he hit that 3). 7 offensive rebounds, 13 FGs, even a few assists. Excellent 1v1 post defense and walling up, good shot contesting (even though no blocks). Underrated play: we pushed it to double figures in the final run (Sanogo had scored or assisted our last 12 points) and they called timeout. Matta called a play and Adama then immediately stole the inbounds pass, completely demoralizing them for the remaining 5 and half minutes and we pushed the lead another 10 points. Sanogo is up to 3rd in the KenPom PotY.
Diarra (3/3, +0) - Not a lot of standout activity in 8 minutes. Didn't take a shot, a 0 +/- and 0 for Net plays. Only assist came on the last pass to Calcaterra for the exclamation point 3.
Alleyne (9/4, +5) - Another good game from Alleyne off the bench. Strong defense, 3/5 from 3, but also made a couple nice dishes off of drives. Did miss one layup and had a couple of his passes deflected. Led the team with +27 +/-.
Calcaterra (7/1, +6) - Joey really flashed some good passing in this one. 4 potential assists in 12 minutes as an off guard is excellent. 2 pesky orebs also. Only beat once on D.
Clingan (14/4, +10) - He's just a game changer. He grabs every rebound and for the most part shuts off the paint. They went on a bit of a run while he was in there in the 2nd half to cut it to 4, but it was a couple fluky plays (outlet pass off Diarra's hands/head, we missed a layup, missed an open 3, they made one nice post move, moving screen... well this one is a bit of a pattern, refs loving calling him on it for the same stuff everyone else does). Even in that 3 min stretch he did 6 good things to 2 or 3 bad things (depending on if you think it was Clingan or Newton's fault for that outlet pass).
Newton (20/8, +12) - Newton played better on tape than I remembered during the game. Defense was strong, and he made a bunch of good passes to open shooters that were just missed, on top of his 3 credited assists. He had a stretch at end of 1st to start of 2nd where he had a couple shaky plays and his neg was the highest it's been since champ of PKI, but his mistakes were just "louder" than his numerous good plays today. That's why the re-watch and charting helps with seeing the full picture. Butler wasn't a great matchup for him since they almost never foul, negating one of his strengths.
Hawkins (12/7, +5) - Somewhat quiet day for Hawkins. Only attempted 5 3s, his fewest in any game he played more than 10 minutes all season. They made him a focal point of the defensive gameplan, and were overplaying his curl; He successfully drove a few times off of it. Had 1 nice and-1 finish, but still needs to get better finishing off the bounce. On defense, he's guilty of an unnecessary hand check or two per game, but otherwise solid.
Jackson (20/7, +13) - Great D, 2 high flying blocks, started spraying the ball in the 2nd half (6 credited assists, 4 additional passes for wide open looks missed). couple high flying rebounds. Just a guy using his athleticism and vision for all kinds of things. Had his first 2 turnovers over the last 4 games in the first couple minutes of this game, but settled down after he hit that big crowd quieting 3 and only had 1 more all game. His assist rate is currently the highest for a UConn player since Jalen Adams' junior year.
Karaban (9/6, +3) - Struggle of a shooting (and finishing) day for Karaban. Missed a bunch of wide open shots. Added some value on the offensive glass.
Sanogo (39/8, +31 MVP) - Dominant game from Sanogo. Strong first half and absolutely monstrous 24/3 in the 2nd half. Most total positive plays in one game so far this season. He absolutely took over the last 8:30, with a 15/1 in that timeframe (16/2 from a minute earlier when he hit that 3). 7 offensive rebounds, 13 FGs, even a few assists. Excellent 1v1 post defense and walling up, good shot contesting (even though no blocks). Underrated play: we pushed it to double figures in the final run (Sanogo had scored or assisted our last 12 points) and they called timeout. Matta called a play and Adama then immediately stole the inbounds pass, completely demoralizing them for the remaining 5 and half minutes and we pushed the lead another 10 points. Sanogo is up to 3rd in the KenPom PotY.
Diarra (3/3, +0) - Not a lot of standout activity in 8 minutes. Didn't take a shot, a 0 +/- and 0 for Net plays. Only assist came on the last pass to Calcaterra for the exclamation point 3.
Alleyne (9/4, +5) - Another good game from Alleyne off the bench. Strong defense, 3/5 from 3, but also made a couple nice dishes off of drives. Did miss one layup and had a couple of his passes deflected. Led the team with +27 +/-.
Calcaterra (7/1, +6) - Joey really flashed some good passing in this one. 4 potential assists in 12 minutes as an off guard is excellent. 2 pesky orebs also. Only beat once on D.
Clingan (14/4, +10) - He's just a game changer. He grabs every rebound and for the most part shuts off the paint. They went on a bit of a run while he was in there in the 2nd half to cut it to 4, but it was a couple fluky plays (outlet pass off Diarra's hands/head, we missed a layup, missed an open 3, they made one nice post move, moving screen... well this one is a bit of a pattern, refs loving calling him on it for the same stuff everyone else does). Even in that 3 min stretch he did 6 good things to 2 or 3 bad things (depending on if you think it was Clingan or Newton's fault for that outlet pass).
