“We will systematically break you down”

[Kemba Time]

Dan Hurley has used this term enough times that it deserves its own thread. Everyone is looking for the driving force behind what this team is doing and our coach keeps saying it out loud:

“We will systematically break you down”

It’s the way we prep, it’s what we run that wears you out on both ends, it’s the way we take your best punch and hit you with a even better one, it’s the way we’re constantly probing for your weakness, the way we take away the one thing that is working for you midway through the game and a mindset of unrelenting toughness.

It’s impossible to prepare for and even harder to stop once the train starts rolling.

We’ve seen it all season long: You might be able to hang with us for 10 minutes, maybe even a half or or, last night, for 30 minutes but at some point “We will systematically break you down” and just like that, it is all over for you.

Now it’s time to trust the best damn coaching staff in the country to prepare the best damn team in the country to systematically break down one more team on Monday night.

 

[AllHusky]

Yes, though Bama did a good job of prepping for us on both sides of the ball. Very impressive. We were out of rhythm on offense frequently, and their offense was difficult to defend. Thinking Oats is a pretty good coach. Really a bit shocked that they hung with us as long as they did. Kudos to the Tide, go Huskies!

 

[jibsey]

Dan Hurley has used this term enough times that it deserves its own thread. Everyone is looking for the driving force behind what this team is doing and our coach keeps saying it out loud:

“We will systematically break you down”

It’s the way we prep, it’s what we run that wears you out on both ends, it’s the way we take your best punch and hit you with a even better one, it’s the way we’re constantly probing for your weakness, the way we take away the one thing that is working for you midway through the game and a mindset of unrelenting toughness.

It’s impossible to prepare for and even harder to stop once the train starts rolling.

We’ve seen it all season long: You might be able to hang with us for 10 minutes, maybe even a half or or, last night, for 30 minutes but at some point “We will systematically break you down” and just like that, it is all over for you.

Now it’s time to trust the best damn coaching staff in the country to prepare the best damn team in the country to systematically break down one more team on Monday night.

I think you nailed something that is often said by Hurley and the players themselves about how good Luke Kimani and staff are at game planning. I mean seriously, this has been going on for 2 years now. And we have the players to execute it.

 

[Deepster]

I’ve heard them compared to a python or boa constrictor at times. They just don’t stop squeezing and when you exhale? They tighten until you’re asphyxiated.

 

[mauconnfan]

Sorry but Bama couldn’t be confident at halftime. I mean 70% from 3’and solid from 2 yet behind at the half? They would’ve been up 10 or more on most of the SEC.

 

[BlueMAB]

 

[Hi-Low]

Sorry but Bama couldn’t be confident at halftime. I mean 70% from 3’and solid from 2 yet behind at the half? They would’ve been up 10 or more on most of the SEC.

Bama at halftime....

 

[HuskyBoi]

The fact that we won the way we did after honest struggles all game shows how good we really are.
In the back of my mind I had the slightest worry and flashbacks to the Kansas game when we had issues getting into a rhythm. And then some flashbacks first half to when Creighton shot the lights out from three.

But even further back in my mind is the fact that we have Dan Hurley and the best starting 5 in college basketball that will come back and end you one way or another. Karaban was struggling to get his shot and hit an absolute dagger with 4 min to go. Newton then added to that despite his forced three attempts earlier in the game.

These guys have the answers for everything.

The three losses we had this season helped us fix our calmness and game planning.

In Hurley, we trust.

 

[Deepster]

For chrissakes. We’re anything but doomed. This garbage makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[AllHusky]

For chrissakes. We’re anything but doomed. This garbage makes me sick to my stomach.

DOOMED

 

[AllHusky]

 

[CTBasketball]

Alabama has to play the perfect game to win.

And they played a perfect first half.

And they trailed going into the locker room.

 

[uconnfan68]

Dan Hurley has used this term enough times that it deserves its own thread. Everyone is looking for the driving force behind what this team is doing and our coach keeps saying it out loud:

“We will systematically break you down”

It’s the way we prep, it’s what we run that wears you out on both ends, it’s the way we take your best punch and hit you with a even better one, it’s the way we’re constantly probing for your weakness, the way we take away the one thing that is working for you midway through the game and a mindset of unrelenting toughness.

It’s impossible to prepare for and even harder to stop once the train starts rolling.

We’ve seen it all season long: You might be able to hang with us for 10 minutes, maybe even a half or or, last night, for 30 minutes but at some point “We will systematically break you down” and just like that, it is all over for you.

Now it’s time to trust the best damn coaching staff in the country to prepare the best damn team in the country to systematically break down one more team on Monday night.

It's the constant movement and the shot clock. We have no problem milking it until we need to score. It just grinds the opponents down, physically and mentally.

 

[BlueMAB]

For chrissakes. We’re anything but doomed. This garbage makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[WillB4]

I thought the fact that AK took the ball to the basket early, got fouled and put those in setup his 3 put shots.

 

[BlueHen]

Alabama has to play the perfect game to win.

And they played a perfect first half.

And they trailed going into the locker room.

Agreed. Alabama came in averaging 90 points a game. They wanted a track meet. They ran well in the first half, but still trailed. We didn't let them run as much in the second half.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Sorry but Bama couldn’t be confident at halftime. I mean 70% from 3’and solid from 2 yet behind at the half? They would’ve been up 10 or more on most of the SEC.

We really effectively limited their volume. They probably needed to shoot 35 and make 15, and while they had the percentage they needed, they just didn't shoot enough.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Sorry but Bama couldn’t be confident at halftime. I mean 70% from 3’and solid from 2 yet behind at the half? They would’ve been up 10 or more on most of the SEC.

It had to be a bit disheartening for them, after playing as well as they did in the first half, but still being down, knowing the only thing they could hope for was our choking if the game was close down the stretch.

 

[HCCForever]

They shot the three well but were not able to run like they always do. It was mentioned on the broadcast they had zero fastbreak points.

I was impressed with Sears ability to get some shots off even with great defense. His shot at the end of the first half is one example.

 

[mussels]

UConn's desire to dominate is a sight to behold

Alabama played well and kept the national semifinal close for a long time. But the Huskies could smell the blood in the water.

theathletic.com

The writing in The Athletic is great:

“There often seems to be something feral at work here. A made shot turns into a stop. Then another made shot. And another stop. And the walls start sweating. And another shot falls. Maybe a Karaban 3 from the top of the key. Or a Castle cutting from the corner for a dunk. Or a Clingan gimmie. Then another stop. You should see the UConn sideline. They foam from the mouth. Hurley and Kimani Young and Murray stop stomping their feet on the sideline and yell for more. There’s some old-school at UConn, so the Hurley & Co. aren’t out there in sweatsuits and sneakers. Dress shoes on hardwood shake the court.”

“Because that’s the thing about the 2023-24 Huskies. As Murray puts it, if there’s a defining factor to this version of UConn, it’s this “maniacal feeling about winning games.” They thrive on hurting you.

They like the taste of blood.”

 

[JustbrewitMan]

It had to be a bit disheartening for them, after playing as well as they did in the first half, but still being down, knowing the only thing they could hope for was our choking if the game was close down the stretch.

Seemed to be Oats’ motivational game plan for the team…during one of the timeouts I remember him in the 2nd half saying something to the effect of “they’re not used to close games…keep it close and they’ll break” (or something to that effect).

Just like Hurley stretches truths for motivational purposes, I think if you asked him in private, he’d have told you they were actually in deep trouble. 3pt shooting was cooling off, our offense was starting to really click