3 Hottest Takes

[Chin Diesel]

There was zero buzz on this board all week leading up to Thanksgiving about what to serve and how to serve it.

Check it out for yourself.

Do a word search for "spatchcock" and see what you get for results.

Dressing vs stuffing. Nada.

Cranberry sauce. Home made or from the can?

Hurley's aggressions turns refs against us? Look at FT shooting disparity for all three games.

Heritage turkeys? You wouldn't even know that's a thing from reading this board.
Random ethnic recipes for Poles or Italians? Didn't read it here.
Brining before roasting??? Deep fried??
Who did Hurley pass over before grabbing Mahaney? What previous successful UConn guard under Hurley was the comp?
What type of pies to serve and why pumpkin is the worst and not even really pumpkin but a squash.
Green bean casserole? The grossest of the gross whose sole benefit is to let you know from your stool when it passed through you.
Samson Johnson. Four years in and more career fouls than career rebounds.
What is the serving arrangement. Sit down country-style, buffet line? Arranged seating or first come first serve.

Big Ed is right. Arrogant and spoiled.

What to do today with leftovers??

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Whoever changed the title of this thread, your new title sucks.

 

[temery]

Whoever changed the title of this thread, your new title sucks.

But it'll get past vendor filters who seem to think HOT Takes refers to something nsfw.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Hurley's temper got the best of him in Maui mostly because he didn't think losing was even remotely possible, especially in the first game.

A lot of coaches start a season with too high of expectations. Hurley was at the top of that list.

Now that he has a more realistic grip on what he has to work with, I don't see him buying into nor being part of the distractions that could be holding back team progress.

And please no more of this absurd 3repeat fantasy. It was little more than a counterproductive distraction. Fun to toss it out there for a week or two, but it needs to stop.

Same with bringing up back-to-back champs in every conversation.

No more distractions, burn all the pedestals.

Hurley and this team are still going to have a great year.

Yeah go to the mattresses and get ready to grind out every day like it might be your last.

 

[Lambeau]

3 hot takes:
1-Reed, Jr scoring 23 pts/40 min--same as Sanogo and Clingan
2-Reed, Jr rebounding 26/40 min--more than Sanogo (12) or Clingan (22)
3-Reed, Jr shot blocking is even competitive--3.2/40 min compared to 1.9/40 Sanogo and 4.8/40 Clingan

 

[temery]

Yeah go to the mattresses and get ready to grind out every day like it might be your last.

and maybe rethink practice without refs or anyone calling fouls. Doesn't see to have a positives, at least at this point, with this team.

 

[my2cents]

Obviously, UConn fans are spoiled and believe the last two years are our new normal, and alas, that's not to be.
I would look at new defensive schemes.
Use our depth to zone press from 90 ft and see what happens.

 

[HuskyHawk]

1. Turkey is fine. Preferably smoked. Chicken is better. Duck is greasy and gross.
2. When you’ve already got the biggest bullseye on your back since Florida went back to back, yapping it up about why you should be. #1 is a dumb strategy. Shut up. Go about your business quietly and professionally. Reduce the temperature. Talk about how amazing it is were ranked so high given what we lost.
3. UConn basketball will be fine. It may not be fine in 2024-25. Making the tournament would be a success story.

 

[mussels]

There was zero buzz on this board all week leading up to Thanksgiving about what to serve and how to serve it.

Check it out for yourself.

Do a word search for "spatchcock" and see what you get for results.

Dressing vs stuffing. Nada.

Cranberry sauce. Home made or from the can?

Hurley's aggressions turns refs against us? Look at FT shooting disparity for all three games.

Heritage turkeys? You wouldn't even know that's a thing from reading this board.
Random ethnic recipes for Poles or Italians? Didn't read it here.
Brining before roasting??? Deep fried??
Who did Hurley pass over before grabbing Mahaney? What previous successful UConn guard under Hurley was the comp?
What type of pies to serve and why pumpkin is the worst and not even really pumpkin but a squash.
Green bean casserole? The grossest of the gross whose sole benefit is to let you know from your stool when it passed through you.
Samson Johnson. Four years in and more career fouls than career rebounds.
What is the serving arrangement. Sit down country-style, buffet line? Arranged seating or first come first serve.

Big Ed is right. Arrogant and spoiled.

What to do today with leftovers??

This.

We all need to look in the mirror before we start pointing fingers at Hurley and the team.

 

[Kenny11]

We have too many guys. When you have a deep team where starters don’t create separation from bench players and vice versa the chemistry is never going to be good until there are a couple injuries or the coach decides to eliminate a couple players from the rotation. Basketball is always going to be a game of rythym.

 

[Chin Diesel]

We have too many guys. When you have a deep team where starters don’t create separation from bench players and vice versa the chemistry is never going to be good until there are a couple injuries or the coach decides to eliminate a couple players from the rotation. Basketball is always going to be a game of rythym.

Almost like tou pay a staff to do exactly that.

I am a firm believer some hard discussions need to be hard to the players about PT. Game film don't lie.

 

[gtcam]

3 hot takes:
1-Reed, Jr scoring 23 pts/40 min--same as Sanogo and Clingan
2-Reed, Jr rebounding 26/40 min--more than Sanogo (12) or Clingan (22)
3-Reed, Jr shot blocking is even competitive--3.2/40 min compared to 1.9/40 Sanogo and 4.8/40 Clingan

Reed is not Sanogo or DC - thats my take

 

[gtcam]

We have too many guys. When you have a deep team where starters don’t create separation from bench players and vice versa the chemistry is never going to be good until there are a couple injuries or the coach decides to eliminate a couple players from the rotation. Basketball is always going to be a game of rythym.

This is why UConn pays DH and the staff their salaries - to coach
Maybe no more practices without calling legit fouls might be a good step 1 - bring in some refs (like DH has any he can call and ask!!!!) to watch a serious intersquad practice game and point out areas of concern?

 

[businesslawyer]

Reed needs to start as the more physical presence just like Adama and Clingan. He doesn’t have Adama’s offensive skill, but he’s bigger and more athletic. I don’t know why Hurley hasn’t tried it. Many of us have been calling for it for a while now. I get that he wants to be loyal to Samson but there’s no way they’re seeing him as the clear starter in practice. I trust that the defense will come together and lineups will be figured out, but it’s not going to be an easy road, and each hard lesson will hurt tournament seeding. We are so much more talented than Colorado and Dayton; there’s no way we should have lost those games.

Until either of them proves they can play more than 24 minutes or so without fouling out, it makes little difference who starts.

 

[RuffRuff]

Until either of them proves they can play more than 24 minutes or so without fouling out, it makes little difference who starts.

Not sure I agree. The backup has a better chance of playing other teams backups for a higher majority of minutes. The starter is on a more “regular” schedule and goes out there knowing he’s the “guy”.

It doesn’t matter much but Samson loses every tip. Can we win one for gods sake just to set a little tone?

Samson got 26 to Tarris’13 minutes last game and not due to fouls. He had an ok game but 6’8” Key on Dayton was 15/9, and was a better player. Hard to get a read on the staff directionally with the 5. Very limited ceiling on this team if he remains the guy all year, and he’s honestly hard to watch sometimes as just waiting for some goofy screw up.

The lob is a nice sweetener when the rest of the stuff is going well, but would prefer to see the foundational stuff established the immediate.

 

[controlfade]

Not sure I agree. The backup has a better chance of playing other teams backups for a higher majority of minutes. The starter is on a more “regular” schedule and goes out there knowing he’s the “guy”.

Not sure I agree with this either. This is only true if you are playing situational based on the other teams subbing. Quite honestly, who starts or doesn’t really doesn’t matter. It’s who is playing the majority of minutes.

 

[RuffRuff]

Not sure I agree with this either. This is only true if you are playing situational based on the other teams subbing. Quite honestly, who starts or doesn’t really doesn’t matter. It’s who is playing the majority of minutes.

Knowing your role in sports is fairly important in my book. Why some guys are better as starting pitchers and some guys closers. There has been a lot of banter around Diarra being better “off the bench”, so then does it matter whether he starts or not? You usually want to start a game strong and set tone. I’d rather do that with physicality, maybe get their 5 into early foul trouble with a strong low post presence like Reed.

 

[businesslawyer]

Not sure I agree. The backup has a better chance of playing other teams backups for a higher majority of minutes. The starter is on a more “regular” schedule and goes out there knowing he’s the “guy”.

It doesn’t matter much but Samson loses every tip. Can we win one for gods sake just to set a little tone?

Samson got 26 to Tarris’13 minutes last game and not due to fouls. He had an ok game but 6’8” Key on Dayton was 15/9, and was a better player. Hard to get a read on the staff directionally with the 5. Very limited ceiling on this team if he remains the guy all year, and he’s honestly hard to watch sometimes as just waiting for some goofy screw up.

The lob is a nice sweetener when the rest of the stuff is going well, but would prefer to see the foundational stuff established the immediate.

Not defending Johnson’s play. His lack of strength generally and hand strength particularly is shocking, and given his quickness and hops his inability to rebound outside of his zone is hard to believe. But to be fair, his backup was invisible the last two games after playing great on Monday.

 

[Rico444]

1. Turkey is my least favorite poultry.
2. The sophomore class is grossly overrated.(I contend Stewart still has highest upside)
3. This team will have an uphill battle to make to make the tournament.

We need to find a way to get Stewart more minutes. He defends and rebounds, and his offensive potential is obvious.

 

[RuffRuff]

Not defending Johnson’s play. His lack of strength generally and hand strength particularly is shocking, and given his quickness and hops his inability to rebound outside of his zone is hard to believe. But to be fair, his backup was invisible the last two games after playing great on Monday.

The hands kill me - like I don’t know how anyone can play the 5 without strong hands, possibly a top 3 requisite of the position. Can’t be fumbling entries, rebounds and loose balls nonstop.

 

[Spaceman213J]

The hands kill me - like I don’t know how anyone can play the 5 without strong hands, possibly a top 3 requisite of the position. Can’t be fumbling entries, rebounds and loose balls nonstop.

He was a little undersized, but the issue with the hands remind me of Kirk King. He got his hands on a lot of balls, but fumbled a bunch away or had them knocked away. I think one game, Billy Packer was even commenting on how small his hands were. With Johnson though, it almost seems like nerves. He appears jumpy and seems to have a real hard time from moving on from the previous play.

I really thought, watching tape of him in high school, that he was going to be an absolute star at UConn. He's been a nice piece... an important piece... but to think he could ever fill the hole created by the departures of Sanogo and Clingan is a big mistake. Both guys were walls on the defensive side and aside from Edey, what 2 centers the last two years had as good of or better footwork than Sanogo and Clingan.

I think Stewart needs to get more time. He seems to have some basketball instincts and abilities to make plays.

 

[RuffRuff]

He was a little undersized, but the issue with the hands remind me of Kirk King. He got his hands on a lot of balls, but fumbled a bunch away or had them knocked away. I think one game, Billy Packer was even commenting on how small his hands were. With Johnson though, it almost seems like nerves. He appears jumpy and seems to have a real hard time from moving on from the previous play.

I really thought, watching tape of him in high school, that he was going to be an absolute star at UConn. He's been a nice piece... an important piece... but to think he could ever fill the hole created by the departures of Sanogo and Clingan is a big mistake. Both guys were walls on the defensive side and aside from Edey, what 2 centers the last two years had as good of or better footwork than Sanogo and Clingan.

I think Stewart needs to get more time. He seems to have some basketball instincts and abilities to make plays.

I love Stew - always looks super enthusiastic on the bench, bleeds the uniform and always comes in looking like he wants to kick butt. His leash is super short right now for some reason. He’s built like a dude and has felt like he’s trying to do more around what he’s built to do. Hopefully the leash extends a bit as the rotation firms up.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

We need to find a way to get Stewart more minutes. He defends and rebounds, and his offensive potential is obvious.

I keep coming back to this as well. He is an excellent passer, and has offensive upside, ready right now. I assumed the Ross talk from DH was being used to motivate both Ross and Stewart. But now I'm thinking there is a defensive deficiency in Stewarts rotation that DH must see?? I see glaring defensive mistakes across the board with all the perimeter defense, but I can't figure out why else he wouldnt get more run. Against Dayton, Liam powering through injury, playing 3 days in a row, and 0-9, and Stew got 7 minutes? I'm thinking if not Stewart now, or after the Memphis first half, then when?