Chief’s Brief’s - Butler Edition

[Chief00]

Clingan, Spencer and Diarra carried us, while Newton, Castle and Karaban experienced off shooting nights. But, altogether we shot 47% FG anyways. However, half way thru the second half Spencer was our only guy who made a 3. Clingan was a monster on the bounds with 15 rebounds. As usual Newton made some big plays late.

While we held Butler to 32% in the first half, I thought our defensive intensity was less than what I have seen in other games this year and that carried on into rebounding where we got out rebounded despite Clingan good rebounding. However, we continued to make assists.

Davis is definitely a fine shooter and requires more defensive attention than we gave him. We gave him space and that gave him confidence.

Johnson continues to over play on the high hedge and it puts him in no man’s land and leaves him out of position on post defense and rebounds. Play after play, I fail to see an upside to this approach. Last game it resulted in 22 feet from the basket fouls. Tonight he fouled Davis on a three. What more evidence do some of you high hedge defenders need? Coach Hurley reconsider?

Injuries impacted both Karaban and Newton tonight. I don’t know if Newton needs to get tackled to go to the foul line when he drives? Again, the nation’s top team shoots less foul shots than a Big East opponent. Nothing new there.

 

[Dove]

Game was never in doubt.

 

[SallyH]

Where was Castle?

 

[MJKI]

When Clingan gets reffed like this in the NCAA tournament he will be unstoppable*. He was allowed freedom of movement and wasn’t called for small ticky fouls and he dominated. We won on a night where we had Clingan, Cam and nothing else. This is a great time

 

[Dove]

When Clingan gets reffed like this in the NCAA tournament he will be unstable. He was allowed freedom of movement and wasn’t called for small ticky fouls and he dominated. We won on a night where we had Clingan, Cam and nothing else. This is a great time

Did you mean 'unstoppable?'

 

[MJKI]

Did you mean 'unstoppable?'

Yes I did haha

 

[Bomber36]

Ugly looking, but in the correct column.

 

[jojipoji]

The team looked tired.

 

[Gutter King]

Should have been a blowout, but a W is a W. We went through the motions a bit tonight. Best thing was that T-New's injury was minor. He's really got to start playing better defense though. At least give us Hawkins level D.

 

[HeGotGame]

C+ performance and still won easily over a likely NCAAT team.

On to the next.

 

[JohnnyJr]

Samson is a crap rim protector but that hedge has definitely led to a few shot clock violations. His rebounding numbers are garbage and he can’t be our starting 5 next year

 

[Mister P]

How comical was Teleforts plea to the ref saying he was hit in the face when Newton blocked his layup with 1.2 seconds left in the first half. It wasn’t even close

 

[dingaling]

I like the high hedge and showing different defensive schemes. Seems to throw teams off. I havent seen where it really hurts us. I think our best defensive game was Creighton and we employed that. I thought it was very effective. I think better than Johnson hanging back in the lane. He's no Clingan in drop coverage.

 

[Palatine]

Samson is a crap rim protector but that hedge has definitely led to a few shot clock violations. His rebounding numbers are garbage and he can’t be our starting 5 next year

Yes, because a player can never improve especially over the off season.

 

[Palatine]

Nice to see 28 minutes for the big guy from Bristol.

 

[upstater]

The team looked tired.

This was my take. So many missed bunnies simply means no lift in the legs.

You could tell it was a struggle.

 

[JohnnyJr]

Yes, because a player can never improve especially over the off season.

He’s been here 3 years, it’s not even the offensive numbers he’s not giving us defense and rebounding from that spot

 

[jibsey]

Samson is a crap rim protector but that hedge has definitely led to a few shot clock violations. His rebounding numbers are garbage and he can’t be our starting 5 next year

Pretty obvious that if he’s our star 5 next year that will not do. He can be a somewhat adequate bench 5.

 

[caw]

Defense up to 13 on Kenpom, jumping Purdue. Crazy how good UConn's defense has been the past 6 games.

 

[Jhuskie89]

Lousy crowd

 

[Gutter King]

Samson is a crap rim protector but that hedge has definitely led to a few shot clock violations. His rebounding numbers are garbage and he can’t be our starting 5 next year

He had great length/hands out there in the first half, really disruptive without fouling. Samson is going to be a weapon next year and will get better....but we will need to get muscle in the portal for sure.

 

[Scoe]

Samson is a crap rim protector but that hedge has definitely led to a few shot clock violations. His rebounding numbers are garbage and he can’t be our starting 5 next year

Why are we talking about next year?

 

[Chin Diesel]

The team looked tired.

Bored.

 

[Dibbie]

How comical was Teleforts plea to the ref saying he was hit in the face when Newton blocked his layup with 1.2 seconds left in the first half. It wasn’t even close

I think it was Castle who got him before Newtons block

 

[giddyup]

Two games in a row where we had to battle and definitely looked low energy. Cam’s value can’t not be overstated. He has an amazing ability to hit key shots and kill opponents’ momentum swings.