3 Hottest Takes

[dennismenace]

3 hot takes(OK 4)

1. Hurleys excessive exuberance for his players hurts them with unreasonable expectations(Ross might be the best/worst example). Calm down and be more centered.

Agree. Interesting point. I just watched the rerun of the Dayton game and in the ESPN "Jay Bilas 94 ft walk with Alex Karaban" he asked if having a coach as tough as Hurley is in every practice got players down and Karaban replied: He's just the opposite on game day in the shoot around when he pumps everyone up and tells them he's got their back. That's an interesting take.

 

[bendm]

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.

So Starting Ross and stew over Liam and Alex wouldn’t matter? Nonsense. We’d be in a double digit hole by the first tv timeout. Starting poorly matters. Early foul trouble matters.

 

[444JR]

Hot take rotation to get more size on the court and go all in on investing in Ahmad Nowell..

Starters:
Nowell - point guard
McNeeley - position-less wing
Stewart - position-less wing
Karaban - position-less wing
Reed Jr. - center

Bench:
Diarra - 6th man
Samson - rotation center
Ball/Mahaney - bench scoring
Ross - rotation wing

Waiting in the wings:
Abraham - really think he’ll be useful
Singare

 

[controlfade]

So Starting Ross and stew over Liam and Alex wouldn’t matter? Nonsense. We’d be in a double digit hole by the first tv timeout. Starting poorly matters. Early foul trouble matters.

Lol, just cause you start the game does not mean you are playing the first 10-15 minutes.
We have been in early foul trouble already and starting poorly.

 

[Icehawk]

I like that 444. If they are getting burned early bring Diarra in but I think our strongest players are primarily wings. Can Stewart handle a guard?

Samson Johnson shouldn’t start because of his tendency to foul quickly (like 20s in!) which sets a bad tone and kills momentum. He has always been good coming in and changing up what the other team expected with his relative speed.

I think they should simplify, go back to some more basic schemes that the team can nail and then work up to some of the more sophisticated ones as the team gels and they get game experience.

Our coaches are good and I trust the only thing on their minds is how to right the ship, it’s still early and the season is far from over. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.

 

[444JR]

I like that 444. If they are getting burned early bring Diarra in but I think our strongest players are primarily wings. Can Stewart handle a guard?

Samson Johnson shouldn’t start because of his tendency to foul quickly (like 20s in!) which sets a bad tone and kills momentum. He has always been good coming in and changing up what the other team expected with his relative speed.

I think they should simplify, go back to some more basic schemes that the team can nail and then work up to some of the more sophisticated ones as the team gels and they get game experience.

Our coaches are good and I trust the only thing on their minds is how to right the ship, it’s still early and the season is far from over. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.

Totally agree, especially the defensive rotation to Diarra if we’re getting burned by shifty guards. Tarris and Jaylin seem to have great chemistry and playing inside out through Reed should help set up better looks for McNeeley and Karaban.

I think the coaching staff gets it right. Dan can only torture himself so much before he adjusts. The adjustment, whatever it is, will have this team competing on all fronts for the championships that really matter: Big East Regular Season, Big East Tournament, NCAAT.

I have an unyielding belief that this team will scrap its way to a respectable season that lays a foundation for more rings in the 2025-2027 seasons.

 

[bendm]

Lol, just cause you start the game does not mean you are playing the first 10-15 minutes.
We have been in early foul trouble already and starting poorly.

The first tv timeout is after 4 minutes And Samson always has at least 1 foul by then. Maybe if we start reed and get some easy basketball we won’t keep starting poorly. when there’s a clear difference in quality between the players in question, which there is here, it matters who starts

 

[August_West]

What to do today with leftovers??

Throw them in the garbage and find something edible.

 

[uconngb]

It’s probably a bigger knock on BE than compliment to UConn.

This

The conference is a MESS

 

[Kolumbo]

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??

I think I'd rather see a turducken, the Madden variety, than a spatchcock. That just seems a little too weird. It also reminds me, when at a restaurant, if I ask for wings, don't ask me "bone-in or boneless." Wings are wings, tenders are tenders.

 

[upstater]

I thought Nowell would get a chance this game but it didn't happen. Makes you wonder why at this point.

He needs seasoning. He was out of control a few times. But that's fine, looks good for a freshman. Can't force shots, however.

 

[lateralous]

He’s coached defense before succesfully. My instincts are this team is early in its development defensively and will be decent by February. This feels like a late blooming team overall and that is what I’d expect with this turnover. Good in February and March when we learn to compete defensively. Not going to be a great watch for the next 30-45 days I fear.

I agree. While I remain shocked at just how far off the rails this week in Maui went, I’m not actually all that worried long term. I mean, this idea that Hurley was just cooking up another buzzsaw back in the lab that wouldn’t need a significant portion of the season to gain experience and define roles was always a little optimistic to me. Stephon freakin Castle, playing like 25 minutes a game, took until about mid-February to really figure things out. Why would a bunch of freshman, seldom used sophomores and a couple transfers be any different? It didn’t help that our two time defending national champion coach pretty much fed into our pre-season expectations with his offseason media blitz but in hindsight some early season struggles shouldn't be a surprise.

 

[lateralous]

This might not be much of a hot take, but after an absolutely putrid game both offensively and defensively, McNeeley will be our best player by the end of the season. It’s hard for these guys to adjust to the size and speed of the college game, but the skills are definitely there. The key is work ethic and attitude. Looking forward to the day when Liam is absolutely crushing it. That day is soon!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I think McNeeley is going to end up being the alpha dog for this team that we all hoped Alex would become. I think it’s clear that Karaban has always been and will continue to be the glue that holds the team together but I don’t think he’s ever going to be the guy that can take over a game when needed. McNeeley looks like he has the skillset and demeanor to eventually be that guy THIS season.

 

[RuffRuff]

1 - Hurley gonna need to discover a new type of lucky underwear. I’m recommending minions.
2 - We miss Andrew Hurley as the ultimate glue guy. Need to grab someone in the portal.
3 - New big screens may be giving off gama rays impacting the defensive side of the brain

 

[Iluvsuebird]

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.

Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story. DH was hot from the initial whistle. Watch the game again.

 

[temery]

Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story. DH was hot from the initial whistle. Watch the game again.

That makes no sense as a reply to my post.

My guess is Hurley had temper tantrums in the womb. Probably wanted a contact foul on his mom's doc every time s/he pushed on her belly.

 

[Umami Zen]

My takeaway(s) from the Hurley Media Availability session yesterday. He regrouped and got feedback from his inside circle (mentors) re: his coaching style with this particular team. They need a different approach from him (less frustrated-better body language-positivity) than the previous NC teams. They had a different group of guys with their own needs. He'll still hold them to a level of excellence and daily improvement-but deliver the message differently.

I give Dan credit. He's never too proud to ask for help-feedback in order to evolve and change as a coach and person.

Let's roll out the ball tonight and see who is ready to "announce themselves" and begin to turn this thing around.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

My takeaway(s) from the Hurley Media Availability session yesterday. He regrouped and got feedback from his inside circle (mentors) re: his coaching style with this particular team. They need a different approach from him (less frustrated-better body language-positivity) than the previous NC teams. They had a different group of guys with their own needs. He'll still hold them to a level of excellence and daily improvement-but deliver the message differently.

I give Dan credit. He's never too proud to ask for help-feedback in order to evolve and change as a coach and person.

Let's roll out the ball tonight and see who is ready to "announce themselves" and begin to turn this thing around.

Are you saying he finally read posts from the Boneyard's finest minds & is gonna finally take their sage advice?

 

[Umami Zen]

Are you saying he finally read posts from the Boneyard's finest minds & is gonna finally take their sage advice?

Crazier things have happened. Amirite?

 

[Tenspro2002]

I think McNeeley is going to end up being the alpha dog for this team that we all hoped Alex would become. I think it’s clear that Karaban has always been and will continue to be the glue that holds the team together but I don’t think he’s ever going to be the guy that can take over a game when needed. McNeeley looks like he has the skillset and demeanor to eventually be that guy THIS season.

I agree with this.

The biggest stretch from this offseason -- beyond maybe pumping up Ross, who didn't play a competitive minute last year -- was the expectation that an uber-glue-guy would suddenly morph into a go-to guy, when that's not his game, personality, etc. And that's actually a compliment to Karaban and speaks to the fact that he would actually have a well-defined NBA role when he's drafted. But the offense isn't going to run through him.

McNeeley is the closest we have to a Newton/Spencer/Hawkins on the offensive end and has the skill and mentality to be a facilitator and primary scorer.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

1) Turkey is awesome. It's the perfect blank canvas for what you're really after anyway - salt, fat, and sugar! And its very blandness is what allows you to mix and match the Holy Trinity to your personal culinary delight.

2) Donovan Clingan covered up a major flaw in Dan Hurley's defensive scheming. If you funnel drives to your shot blocker (yes, we do this, it's partly why our guards look like turnstiles on 'd'), that shot blocker better be physical enough to handle the confrontation. Clingan was that guy. Johnson will never be that guy.

3) We're still going to win the Big East regular season title.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

#1 and #2 are spot on, #3 is a pipe dream.

 

[tennmike]

I was hoping Solo Ball would have a Devin Carter kind of box score stuffing impact. With Karaban out, it's time to step up and lead all over the court.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Yea but you're kidding yourself if you don't think Memphis and Dayton will be solid teams in March Madness. They were invited for a reason after all

That's a solid point. I hope they do well, as it benefit us. But they are no gauntlet!!!

 

[ctchamps]

3 hot takes(OK 4)

1. Hurleys excessive exuberance for his players hurts them with unreasonable expectations(Ross might be the best/worst example). Calm down and be more centered.

Why don't we wait a few more games before dismissing his statements about Ross. The kid only played 101 minutes in garbage time prior to this year (as compared to Ball with 449 minutes and Stewart with 329 minutes both primarily in the rotation). Let's see how he does over the next month or two.

 

[freescooter]

He’s coached defense before succesfully. My instincts are this team is early in its development defensively and will be decent by February. This feels like a late blooming team overall and that is what I’d expect with this turnover. Good in February and March when we learn to compete defensively. Not going to be a great watch for the next 30-45 days I fear.

Problem with that view is we could play our way into the NIT in 30-45 days. You really don’t want to be a bubble team or worse, need to win the NEWBE tourney to get a bid. That, as they say, is risky business.